Here is real life advice from first hand experience. I had (and still have) a professional aviation recruiting business. It's a slow shut down, but I'm transitioning to full time pilot as I wind the business down.
Here is how every client that is a Part 91 or 135 department hired pilots from me (100% of the time). Keep in mind, they were pay me anywhere from $25k to $50k for finding their pilot. So the companies that hired me gave me pretty stiff requirements for their Captain/ PICs making $60k to $180k+ flying anything from Beechjet to Global Express.
1) NETWORKING - they would hire someone in a heart beat if I found them someone they were familiar with. Or someone who already knew someone else working in their department and that person they knew said this was a good pilot, "hire him/her". Did not matter if they were a Part 121 Airline pilot or not in this case. The internal referral is all it took if they met the hour requirements and basic mins. Through networking, that person was a known commodity and would secure the job over anyone else (even over a more qualified person on paper, since networking is king in the business/ corporate world.... that's why they'd hire me, I am well "networked").
2) PART 135/91 Flying - They wanted people with a type rating in their aircraft that is flying presently (or the majority of their experience in) the corporate/ air charter world.
3) PART 135/91 Flying - Same as #2, but if too much time passed by they'd look at getting someone a type rating who is typed in another aircraft similar to the one they are flying. And it would be someone again who has mostly non-121 flying experience.
4) There is no #4. Wait? What about the Part 121 Regional or Airline guys? Well, if they did not get the hob through rule #1, they were SOL. Why? Airline pilots who they did not personally know were too much of a risk. The stereo type quite frankly are that 121 pilots are lazy (hey, don't kill the messenger here... I'm not lazy and I may be a 121 guy some day!). It's just a 135/91 guy is not only a pilot, but also very high level customer service and many times the baggage person and coffee maker. It's a different world. They saw the airline people as too much of a risk since they truly did not understand the complete scope of what it takes to fly for a 135/ 91 department. They know the airline pilot comes from a seniority based world and is groomed for a different type of flying. The airline pilot also does not have the extra flight department duties and customer service responsibility of the corporate world. All this, leads them to conclude they "just are not a good fit for our culture". But remember rule #1. Networking! If they already know you, the risk goes away immediately. So I'd advise go to NBAA Convention every year and still hang out at FBOs as an airline pilot. That's what it takes. And if you like corporate aviation, you'd most likely be doing this anyone on occasion. After all, it's fun stuff to do for a pilot!
NOTE:
This is just based on my experience as a professional recruiter. I'm a straight forward person who does not BS. So sorry, no sugar coating here. So you probably will not hear this from some HR person who is trying to be political correct and not hurt any one's feelings. After all, that's what college teaches, especially in liberal arts and business programs. You know, life is fair and there is never a looser. Unfortunately this is not the case in reality. There are losers, there are wrong choices, and life is not fair! And it is not fair that a hard working airline pilot will struggle to find a corporate job if they are not well networked. But that's the way life works in the business world. it is not always fair. But here is the good news. If you know this, you can still succeed since networking is the king of this world.
So more on that good news. Networking is free for everyone. And it's EASY! Simply help out your fellow pilots. Learn all you can about the industry. Express your interest in business aviation if that's the place you'd like to end up. That's really all networking is. It's not about selling yourself. It's about helping others. In turn, someday you'll be in the right place at the right time to be helped by someone just as generous as yourself.
I'll say it again since many will not believe me. Networking really is easy! And it makes your career unlimited in direction. Here is a little free advice since people tell me networking is difficult for them.
* It's hard because you don't understand networking.
* It's hard because you think networking is making connections so you can 'sell yourself. But that's called sales!
* And yes, sales is hard.
* Networking is simply keeping your ears open and helping out your fellow pilots, and others too, with real life advice when you are able to interject.
* Networking is offering advise you gained from your life experiences to help others out.
* In turn, once you give some good honest advice, it's okay to then make your own goals known. They may then know someone who can help you. If not, never know when the person you helped will remember you in the future; at a time they can help.
* Hey, Jet Careers is Networking through helping others! See, it's easy!
In The Hitchhikers Guide to Galaxy a super computer was built. That super computer was built to compute the answer to the most difficult riddle ever. The complete meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything. The answer was 42. Not exactly the answer the world was looking for! Sometimes, you may not get the answer you are looking for in life. It happens...
But in our case here, I'd rather try this answer for our little riddle. The riddle of, 'What is the best way into corporate aviation along with the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?"
The answer is a simple mathematical equation. The equation is:
NETWORKING = HELPING OTHERS
Oh, and
and :laff: all you can. Don't
anic: or get :banghead: Dance like a :nana2: and :rawk: on...
Best of success to you all,
Joseph Alai
Rockstar Aviation
President/ CEO (outgoing)
