Finding a CFI Job Where You Don't Train

BrettInLJ

BrettInLJ

Well-Known Member
Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

Let's say I were to get my CFI ratings at an FBO that I was not going to instruct for later (ex., if they are on the other coast). How much time would it typically take to find a job as a CFI, by sending resumes, dropping by, etc.? I don't want to be in a situation where I would be unemployed and paying rent for very long.
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

I guess it depends on how picky you are. I had a CFI job a week or so after I graduated college but didn't take it because I didn't want to live so far away from home. About a month later I found my previous CFI job. There are CFI jobs everywhere, you just have to look for them!! (and sometimes you don't have to look that hard)
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

Thanks for the link. My worry would be that they probably get dozens or scores of resumes for each open position. Not training there would mean that there would mean that you are just another resume in the pile. I would not be too picky other than concentrating on the Southern California area (because I live here now and can visit all the schools) and also wanting to instruct at a school where they teach a fair number of advanced ratings (not just PPL). I would also be willing to move to the Northwest Washington state area, it's just I would have even fewer contacts and less knowledge about schools in that area. Same thing with the Phoenix area.

I probably would not move just anywhere for the first job that came along, but I would be flexible for the right type of school. I am thinking kind of far ahead, but I need to since I'm contemplating quitting my job and training full time. I need to plan for that zero income period after training.
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

Is there a reason why you wouldn't do the CFI training at the FBO you would like to work for? Maybe even talk to them in advance about working there once you got the CFI?
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

I would definitely consider that, but just not count on it. For example for quality, cost, multi-time, and time to completion purposes there may be a particular FBO I'm looking at in Florida, but they may or may not be open to hiring instructors that didn't go through their complete professional pilot program. I just wanted a gauge on how hard it is to get a CFI job, provided you are qualified and motivated, off the street, so to speak.
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

I go to college in Washington state and have been very busy this summer working for my college's flight program. However, as a newly minted CFII with about 350 TT last spring, I applied to numerous places in Iowa, where I usually live. I really wanted to live at home in Iowa, but it didn't work out. Here are the responses that I got:

FBO #1: "Sorry, our current instructors aren't busy enough to justify hiring another."
FBO #2: "I've already committed to hiring two guys from University XYZ, but I might be able to hook you up with a job down in Oklahoma."
FBO #3: "Sorry, we don't need anybody."
FBO #4: "I'm not able to hire you if you can't stay longer than the summer. I'm only looking for long term instructors."
FBO#5: "After we advertised that CFI position on the internet, we've been flooded with resumes. We'll get back to you."
Local Flying Club: "You could give instruction to club members if you join the club, but most of us don't really need instruction. Everybody already has their licenses and we just fly for $100 hamburgers."
Skydive operation: "Sorry, we sold the C-182 last year. All we have now is a Turbo Porter, and insurance requires 1000 hours in tailwheel aircraft for that. Good luck to you in the future."

I even had connections at a couple of those places. I finished my commercial and initial CFI certificate at FBO #1, but it didn't help. I did my private certificate at FBO #4, my former instructor is currently flying their charter Citation, and he put in a good word for me, but it didn't help.

I don't mean to sound too pessimistic...just sharing what happened to me. Stick with it long enough and you'll find something, but it might take a while.
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

I guess I have the opposite story as some others here. I walked in to a school where I wanted to live about 2 months proir to getting all my cfi ratings done. I sat down with the owner and told him that I was finishing up and I really wanted to move in to the area (for a number of reasons). He kept my name on file and the day before my cfii checkride he called and said that he had an opening and was wondering when i was moving in to town. I went back up for an interview and got the job.

So.... i guess you might want to try popping in to some places a little bit before you're ready to teach. get in the system, talk to the owner, make a good impression. I know that doesn't help the originator of this thread. Unfortunately. But since you've been looking a while you might get a call back from one of those places you first went too. CFI turnover is a pretty high thing.

just my 2 cents.

j
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

[ QUOTE ]
I go to college in Washington state and have been very busy this summer working for my college's flight program. However, as a newly minted CFII with about 350 TT last spring, I applied to numerous places in Iowa, where I usually live. I really wanted to live at home in Iowa, but it didn't work out. Here are the responses that I got:

FBO #1: "Sorry, our current instructors aren't busy enough to justify hiring another."
FBO #2: "I've already committed to hiring two guys from University XYZ, but I might be able to hook you up with a job down in Oklahoma."
FBO #3: "Sorry, we don't need anybody."
FBO #4: "I'm not able to hire you if you can't stay longer than the summer. I'm only looking for long term instructors."
FBO#5: "After we advertised that CFI position on the internet, we've been flooded with resumes. We'll get back to you."
Local Flying Club: "You could give instruction to club members if you join the club, but most of us don't really need instruction. Everybody already has their licenses and we just fly for $100 hamburgers."
Skydive operation: "Sorry, we sold the C-182 last year. All we have now is a Turbo Porter, and insurance requires 1000 hours in tailwheel aircraft for that. Good luck to you in the future."

I even had connections at a couple of those places. I finished my commercial and initial CFI certificate at FBO #1, but it didn't help. I did my private certificate at FBO #4, my former instructor is currently flying their charter Citation, and he put in a good word for me, but it didn't help.

I don't mean to sound too pessimistic...just sharing what happened to me. Stick with it long enough and you'll find something, but it might take a while.

[/ QUOTE ]

Take the above statement with a grain of salt. I have been offered 8 CFI jobs around the country once I started looking seriously. I just took one in Raleigh, NC moving from Bowling Green, OH. I think if it is what you really want to do, and people can hear it in your voice you're fine. Also, if you are willing to relocate I think that plays a huge role in your ability to find a CFI gig.
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

[ QUOTE ]
"I'm not able to hire you if you can't stay longer than the summer. I'm only looking for long term instructors."

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a valid response . . .
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"I'm not able to hire you if you can't stay longer than the summer. I'm only looking for long term instructors."

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a valid response . . .

[/ QUOTE ]

It is, but at least the CFI is giving his/her boss the benefit of having a concrete date for when he/she is leaving, which will give the boss time to find someone to replace him/her... A lot of CFIs come in, get to the magic number (X000 TT) and bail with minimal notice...
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

I wouldn't hire somebody for just the summer. If I did, you'd be limited to checkouts, ferry flights and Disco flights.

Wait, no Disco flights. Alot of MX check flights, though!
smirk.gif
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

[ QUOTE ]
A lot of CFIs come in, get to the magic number (X000 TT) and bail with minimal notice...

[/ QUOTE ]

To me, there's nothing wrong with that. The manager of a flight school should know going into it if you're going to be a career instructor or if you're using it as a stepping stone. If you're using it as a stepping stone, then your employer is going to expect you to leave to move on. I think they'd rather you get out so they can hire someone else that's going to be around a while than to walk on eggshells for months wondering if they're going to be left out to dry.

I do think that it's a good courtesy to let your current employer know when you start putting in resumes to move up or when you get phone calls for interviews. If a flight school has a couple of CFIs with 800-1000 TT that they know are moving on the first chance they get, there's no reason they should be caught off guard if those CFIs come in and say "Yeah, so XXX Air called and offered me a class date next week, and I'm taking it." As long as the students are taken care of, I see no problem with that.
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't mean to sound too pessimistic...just sharing what happened to me. Stick with it long enough and you'll find something, but it might take a while.

[/ QUOTE ]

Take the above statement with a grain of salt. I have been offered 8 CFI jobs around the country once I started looking seriously. I just took one in Raleigh, NC moving from Bowling Green, OH. I think if it is what you really want to do, and people can hear it in your voice you're fine. Also, if you are willing to relocate I think that plays a huge role in your ability to find a CFI gig.

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree. I'm not saying it's impossible to get a job, I just meant to share what happened in my situation. I was looking seriously, but I was looking seriously in a very specific part of the country. I wanted to get a job close to home, so I applied to all of those places around eastern Iowa, and couldn't find anything. But eastern Iowa is a small place, compared to the entire United States.

If you're willing to move anywhere, look at all the flight instructing positions on ClimbTo350.com and start sending out resumes. You're bound to find something.
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

[ QUOTE ]
I wouldn't hire somebody for just the summer. If I did, you'd be limited to checkouts, ferry flights and Disco flights.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's reasonable. But I wouldn't say that applies in all situations.

My first instructor was a college student who only worked at the FBO during the summer, and he was a great guy. Very hard worker, always available, very knowledgeable, and an excellent instructor in general.

I've since talked to a student about the new management at the FBO that only wants long-term instructors. The student is a busy professional who flies for fun, but flies often. He says he doesn't like dealing with the long term instructors because there are only a couple of them, they all have full time day jobs outside of aviation, and they are never available to fly. He'd rather go back to the young guys who are eager to fly because they're building time, they're making money, and they're wanting to pack as many hours into a summer as possible.
 
Re: Finding a CFI Job Where You Don\'t Train

I think the key to getting a CFI job is simply showing up in person. Most schools get stacks of resumes for a single job opening, showing up in person is a great move to show you are serious and professional. Be proactive in your search and flexible in where you want to live/instruct and it shouldn't take long to find a decent CFI job. Be selective. It's better to wait a few months and find a quality school than to have to quit and move on because of a shady operator. Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top