Delta opening new hire window?

89-LX said:
So can I have a LOR then?

Kidding aside, I always ask about the company, hiring, growth, contract, their plans, etc with every Delta jumpseater. They all seem cool, except for one who bitched about the regionals and how the CR9 is a better aircraft than his 757. But I seem to get quite a bit where I'm the PM, and I wouldn't feel it right asking when I can show them my radio working and gear swinging skills. I think it would be more appropriate to ask for further information from them when they can see my hand flying, radio work, crew communication, etc. Part of me just feels outright weird asking to stay in contact though. I feel like I'm in a toilet stall asking for the neighbor for toilet paper or something.
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That's why we have meet and greets AND a big one in Las Vegas next month.

You really have to meet the people at the places that you want to work. You don't know how many times I've been in the employee cafeteria in JFK eating some "Chicken a La Mysteré" and there is a table of regional pilots loudly complaining about how they don't have any contacts at Delta.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking the next guy who walks over, sees the widget wings and says as little as "Hey, can I ask you a question about Delta?" is going to end up with a business card and perhaps a new friend with lots and lots of contacts higher up the food chain that are always on the lookout for exceptional candidates.

Get out there, man. No one is going to come knock on your door to find you. Ever.

Come drink a beer with us in Las Vegas next month. You'll be surprised who you run into.

On LOR's, I've only flown with my fellow co-workers for the last 15-ish years and most of the people who I have flown with that had interest in working for us are already here or pursued other opportunities. But I can give a great character reference for people who I think would be a match for joining the team.

I can't give everyone that, obviously, but there are certain people that I meet that I know are going to excel, do a great job and pay it forward.
 
A little thought before I throw some hot dogs on the grill.

If I wanted to work for FedEx, I would be on that jumpseat at every opportunity and always have business cards in my pocket. Try to talk to the crews I'm flying with, talk to the people on the cabin jumpseats (you never know if they're a ramper or a manager) and try to get my story and contact data out to as many people organically.


I'd hit the "Flying Saucer" or any other place MEM crews hang out, try to figure out if some captain owns a sandwich shop and maybe even make that your "favorite sandwich".

I don't know. If you want to do something, you will make the contacts to make that happen.

Hell, there's a number of guys on here that work there, may not post a heck of a lot, but they're reading.
 
Derg said:
Depends on the topic.

If you're debating aviation issues in a cogent, reasonable manner, sure.

However, if it's "Battle Royale" every other post, you've just told me that you're going to be the type of guy where ground school comes to a screeching halt because you want to debate minutia or you don't have the ability to say, "Hmm, perhaps my previous employer did things this way, but this is the new procedure now".

All I want to hear through the gravevine about any of my recommendees is "He's a good guy" or (comically) "amazing a person could be so in to ping-pong", not "don't get him started on politics, oh boy, won't make that mistake again".

Courage and glory are things best left to paintball with the boys on weekends. Hardly anything in our epaulet-wearing, clip-on tie having, stoo-made-the-coffee-too-bitter world requires either.
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I will say that there is a lot of fear that the old networking gods will smite thee, and folks just shut up and color. I can't stand that.
 
block30 said:
My concern is that some folks are always out to say the "right" thing not what they truly believe-like a politician would. Whether here on the forums, back at the flight school, or at my current job- some folks are just petrified of the "aviation is a small world so don't rock the boat!" syndrome. A certain amount of disagreement and dissent are *good* things. I respect people who will stand for their principles, and say or do what does not conform when their judgment calls for such things. A certain amount of speaking one's mind (respectfully) I think is a mark of character and courage.
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I'm not a Delta pilot, and my company isn't exactly that same level of career gig for most, but...

I don't care if someone disagrees with me. There are dirty hippie communists on this board I'd write recs for tomorrow if they asked (though I don't write letters for people I don't know personally). I just need to be able to stand sitting in a small room in the pointy end with you for 18 days straight without strangling you. Oh, and coming out swinging against my place of work, then asking for a rec, is not the way to get a rec.
 
block30 said:
I will say that there is a lot of fear that the old networking gods will smite thee, and folks just shut up and color. I can't stand that.
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Believe me, there is a time and a place for everything.

Here's the 90 degree turn I want to take you on. The more people meet you in person and the more reasonable, in person, that you are, the less they're going to think your forum persona is the alpha to the omega of who you are.

That's the key right there.

There are guys on this forum that come off as raving asses, but in person, they're nothing of the sorts.

Pick your battles. Know when to brandish your internet arms to fight them but also recognize when it's time to, well... go color, because it's not worth loosing your noodle over a YouTube video.

But most of all, us this (and other) resources as opportunities to meet people who can help you in the real world.
 
Establish relationships EARLY in the process so that when hiring does start it's not awkward to ask for a letter. Find a common ground that gives you an in with people...family acquaintances, hobbies, alumni associations, friends of friends who will vouch, etc. One of my now best friends at Southernjets was a guy who I randomly sent an email to via my university alumni association. I emailed him once, spoke on the phone several times, and kept in touch for over 4 years during the non hiring times. We became friends and over the course of time picking up the phone to check in was not awkward and our conversations moved from flying to a whole host of topics. Did I pursue the relationship? Sure but honestlty I just wanted someone to get info from a peer and it turned into a genuine friendship. Who cares how it started as long as I was sincere. I am indebted to him forever for his help and his support.

Be sincere, be appreciative, be patient, and build genuine relationships and you'll be successful. Throw resumes at jumpseaters and your chances of success are as likely as your chances of really pissing off the wrong person. Personally I would never go that route.

The thing is, people WANT to help people with whom they find a common ground and trust. Don't forget that you are asking them to put THEIR name on your application. Earn their trust.
 
89-LX said:
Question here, DAL is just about the only place I want to go.
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Well, I don't know much about hiring people, but I would think you would want to be well practiced before that coveted interview at Delta. The only way to really do that is to apply to other airlines that are interviewing. Of course, it's not wiser to disclose to other airlines that DAL is where you want to be because you won't get much interviewing practice since they will respond by shaking your hand and wishing you the best of luck with that! :)
 
Cav said:
Establish relationships EARLY in the process so that when hiring does start it's not awkward to ask for a letter.
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KEY! Do all that stuff BEFORE the process opens. Don't sit around playing Minecraft like you've got all the time in the world. You don't. Your favorite airline can start hiring overnight and by the time you have your logbook together, that last class completed and a couple LOR's in line, you're probably too late to ride the face of the wave.

Find a common ground that gives you an in with people...family acquaintances, hobbies, alumni associations, friends of friends who will vouch, etc.
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The bigger the airline, the more people have some connection to it. My dentist's son is interested in working at here. My hygenist's uncle is a guy I used to fly with back in DFW. You just have to dig.


OOoh! Rare cloudy day in Scottsdale, run time!
 
dasleben said:
I'm not a Delta pilot, and my company isn't exactly that same level of career gig for most, but...

I don't care if someone disagrees with me. There are dirty hippie communists on this board I'd write recs for tomorrow if they asked (though I don't write letters for people I don't know personally). I just need to be able to stand sitting in a small room in the pointy end with you for 18 days straight without strangling you. Oh, and coming out swinging against my place of work, then asking for a rec, is not the way to get a rec.
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I guess I'm not really sure if that is directed at me, or something in general...but I totally agree with what you are saying. No argument from me, and I apologize if I've offended. .And I see what Doug..err Derg is saying...picking your battles is very important. I did end up meeting someone who would fight almost literally *every* battle with everyone-no matter how big or how small. They were just unreal!!; My world was hell, and my wife could see it in me when I got home. :(

My concern... I guess really struck me back in my flight training days...suffice it to say there was a "bad" instructor on staff...*Everyone* knew it...up to the chief instructor. But everyone was so afraid of saying something for fear of networking type reprisals..people came right out and said they were afraid that some day, some how, addressing this particular instructor would haunt them. A very formative experience if you will. Once I became an instructor that was one of my anecdotes for my own students to noodle over and think about where they might stand in a situation like that. I like reading to the forums to see what other people think, and run some thoughts up the flag pole once in a while, to see what people think. There is so much experience out there to draw from.
 
dasleben said:
Not at all directed at you personally! Good post.
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Thanks...I should also add, though an occasional poster, I do read this forum a lot...and think folks show some level of courage by using their real names (which obviously I do not), and I do see subjects debated, dissenting opinions offerred. I respect all of that-and certainly that respect applies to Derg! My original post was not a swipe at an individual on here! Cheerio!
 
block30 said:
Thanks...I should also add, though an occasional poster, I do read this forum a lot...and think folks show some level of courage by using their real names (which obviously I do not), and I do see subjects debated, dissenting opinions offerred. I respect all of that-and certainly that respect applies to Derg! My original post was not a swipe at an individual on here! Cheerio!
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That's the thing, even if you don't use your real name on here, it's REALLY easy to figure out who somebody is. There's very likely one one or two degrees of separation between any of us on here, and all you need to do is have a buddy that works at the place you THINK somebody works and they'll say, "Oh yeah jtrain? Flew a trip with him last week! What do you want to know about him?"
 
Boy, I really hope I can network at NJC this year and it pans out with a job. I really wanna fly the big iron!
 
BTW, there are only three rotations with a layover in LAS on the 13th. And only two of the actually work. The third gets in at 0130 on the 13th and leaves around 1400.
 
Derg said:
KEY! Do all that stuff BEFORE the process opens. Don't sit around playing Minecraft like you've got all the time in the world. You don't. Your favorite airline can start hiring overnight and by the time you have your logbook together, that last class completed and a couple LOR's in line, you're probably too late to ride the face of the wave.
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No kidding. I got my "ins" at that other place solely through networking. I would have missed a LOT of opportunities and likely wouldn't be sitting with one foot (and most of a leg and hip) in the door otherwise if it weren't for people that helped me out. I had six internal recs, and I wouldn't have gotten that invite to the open house at all if it weren't for people I knew already at the airline. The open house was even invite only, so if you didn't have a current employee to send you the link, you were SOL....unless you happened to click on it while it was posted on that other aviation web site for an hour. When the call for the interview finally DID come, I didn't have to scramble to get letters of recommendation. Some were already attached to my application, and I already had all I needed for the interview printed out and signed, ready to go. Given everything ELSE I had to do in a few short days, the less stress the better. I also had a lot of help prepping me for the interview. Any time something happened as far as interviews or hiring opening up, one of my recs would always be e-mailing me making sure I at least knew about it. One of my recs even wound up being the "lifeguard" in charge of the hiring pool for a while. Makes rumor control a whole lot easier. If the rumors we're getting are true, I SHOULD be in class by the end of the year or shortly thereafter with enough guys in the pool behind me to get off reserve in not too long. If I had said "I have to wait until the next interview date," I'd be looking at being at the tail end of the group.
 
Derg said:
That's why we have meet and greets AND a big one in Las Vegas next month.

You really have to meet the people at the places that you want to work. You don't know how many times I've been in the employee cafeteria in JFK eating some "Chicken a La Mysteré" and there is a table of regional pilots loudly complaining about how they don't have any contacts at Delta.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking the next guy who walks over, sees the widget wings and says as little as "Hey, can I ask you a question about Delta?" is going to end up with a business card and perhaps a new friend with lots and lots of contacts higher up the food chain that are always on the lookout for exceptional candidates.

Get out there, man. No one is going to come knock on your door to find you. Ever.

Come drink a beer with us in Las Vegas next month. You'll be surprised who you run into.

On LOR's, I've only flown with my fellow co-workers for the last 15-ish years and most of the people who I have flown with that had interest in working for us are already here or pursued other opportunities. But I can give a great character reference for people who I think would be a match for joining the team.

I can't give everyone that, obviously, but there are certain people that I meet that I know are going to excel, do a great job and pay it forward.
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This is why I love to jumpseat on Fed Ex and Delta, You can start to get to know a guy when you have 2+ hours up front with them. Airline talk turns to talking about hobbies, then that turns to family talk. Network folks...
 
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