Gold seal in the airline industry

Chucco

Chucco

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone!

I have been trying to decide if I should pay the money for an IGI since I otherwise currently qualify for a gold seal. It was interesting to read other posts on some members' opinions of the value of one. Its not my intention to start another thread arguing about the real value of a gold seal, but only to ask about a specific application of one:

My current career goal is to make captain of the best airplane at the best airline I can find (:D gotta aim high, right?) Towards that end, I find myself wondering about its value in the airline industry. If I have a gold seal, do you think it would make any difference on a resume for an FO position or in an airline interview? I am thinking that it wouldn't matter too much since a CFI and an FO have different job descriptions. But maybe there is another aspect I haven't considered. Any airline pilots or people who have experience as recruiters or interviewers have some thoughts about it?
 
I wouldn't bother if that is the only reason you want to take the IGI. The vast majority of HR people looking over resumes for a 121 Airline gig probably don't even know what a gold seal instructor is.
 
Not sure if this will help but here is my take on it: Think of your journey to an airline captain seat like a drive to the desert. You pack your car and wonder to yourself if the three bottles of water you have thrown in will be enough to get you through your stay. You have two more bottles of water in the house but should you bother to throw them in?

Who knows? I would be really unhappy with myself if I broke down in the desert knowing I had left two full bottles of water sitting on my counter at home.

But then again, you could be fine without it.

Me personally, I would throw in the extra water.
 
BobDDuck said:
I wouldn't bother if that is the only reason you want to take the IGI. The vast majority of HR people looking over resumes for a 121 Airline gig probably don't even know what a gold seal instructor is.
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^ This

Plus, in the airlines the only thing that matters is the S word...seniority.
 
I don't think the gold seal makes much of a difference. Most people reviewing your qualifications may not even know what it is.
 
Congratulations on the Gold Seal.

A Gold Seal CFI represents a top performance standard. Any special recognition for excellence in any field, especially in aviation. should be noted on a resume. Given that FO and CFI are both aviation related, there most certainly are commonalities with the two job descriptions. An employer would look at your accomplishment as a good indicator.

What does the IGI have to do with of this?
 
It's like adding a cherry to your ice cream. It taste great with or without it. It's all about turbine time or # of space shuttle landings. You should include in your resume the time that you helped the Captain of a Regional Jet land in JFK because the FO had a hair-gel emergency.
 
I figure if I ever can't fly for a living I would like to continue instructing. It could be a good retirement gig, making $40-$50/hr cash part time if GA is still around in 30 years.

A gold seal will just help me market myself, so I did it.
 
Wouldn't you be able to charge students more per hour if you had a Gold Seal? :dunno:

In reality its like ice cream with a cherry on top and the number of space shuttle landings you have.
 
Chucco said:
Hi everyone!

I have been trying to decide if I should pay the money for an IGI since I otherwise currently qualify for a gold seal. It was interesting to read other posts on some members' opinions of the value of one. Its not my intention to start another thread arguing about the real value of a gold seal, but only to ask about a specific application of one:

My current career goal is to make captain of the best airplane at the best airline I can find (:D gotta aim high, right?) Towards that end, I find myself wondering about its value in the airline industry. If I have a gold seal, do you think it would make any difference on a resume for an FO position or in an airline interview? I am thinking that it wouldn't matter too much since a CFI and an FO have different job descriptions. But maybe there is another aspect I haven't considered. Any airline pilots or people who have experience as recruiters or interviewers have some thoughts about it?
Click to expand...

What if on your way to becoming that captain for the best airline, you get furloughed for a few years and now you need to go back to instructing? I'm gonna think you'd want to get that IGI/Gold Seal cause it looks good on your resume. I mean.... why not? You ARE qualified. Be proud of your accomplishments.
 
I never thought much of mine, but was surprised when one of my interviewers said something about it. I would say every little bit of resume fodder helps, if only a little bit.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm happy that I could to keep a good pass rate, but I think there is some luck involved there. Student had a good day, examiner in a good mood, pattern wasn't busy, etc. I've seen some very well-instructed students make silly mistakes on checkrides, and it didn't have much to do with the instructor's abilities. However, since my gold seal is practically there for the taking, I figure I had better grab it. Can't hurt, right?

Its reasonable that it doesn't make any difference on a 121 resume, and its good to know. Thank you again! Hopefully in a year or so I can start climbing that ladder to the captain's seat, and I'm hoping I won't have to start with earning $1000/mo for the first few years. The way things are now, my family and I just couldn't afford it.
 
Never understood the need for the gold seal. Just causes you to spend money on certificates that are unneeded.

Just toss your pass rate on your resume if you think a Gold Seal is a big deal and save the $300 from the AGI and IGI tests.
 
While it doesn't have much value outside of the instructional world, if the only thing holding you back from doing it is paying the $75 to take the IGI test, just go ahead and get it done, as no matter what, it does look good on a resume, regardless of however little value it brings to that particular situation.
 
Patrick said:
While it doesn't have much value outside of the instructional world, if the only thing holding you back from doing it is paying the $150 to take the IGI test, just go ahead and get it done, as no matter what, it does look good on a resume, regardless of however little value it brings to that particular situation.
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Fixed. For a poor CFI, that is a bit much.
 
Yeah tests aren't cheap anymore. If you are going to do it, you only need one of the two tests for a gold seal. IGI is certainly the easier of the two.
 
Not to beat the answer to death, but I have to agree that a gold seal on a flight instructor certificate would almost certainly be of no value when applying for any job that didn't require a flight instructor certificate.

If you wanted to do something to enhance your resume without tossing away so much money, look at the FAA Safety Team program and consider working towards the Master level set of Wings.

www.faasafety.gov
 
Maurus said:
Never understood the need for the gold seal. Just causes you to spend money on certificates that are unneeded.

Just toss your pass rate on your resume if you think a Gold Seal is a big deal and save the $300 from the AGI and IGI tests.
Click to expand...

I think for the most part, people end up getting their AGI/IGI right around the time they get their CPL just right before their CFI/II so they can teach ground. Once they get their CFI and fullfills the requirement for a gold seal, it's FREE to apply for it. So it's not such a waste of time or money to get the gold seal.

I'd like to know what the pass rates are for the nay sayers. Or, how many contributors in this thread actually has the pass rate for a gold seal and never got it cause it's a waste of money.
 
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