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[Chief Captain]

I usually cringe when I see flight schools hiring 255 hour CFI/CFII wonders, because they truly have a very limited pool of experience from which to draw upon for teaching. I'd rather hire a CFI and see them solo 15 students, finish up a couple of hard core Privates and doing BFR's, than someone with 1.3 in actual conditions teaching people how to fly instruments... but that's just me...

I'm not sure what you're getting to here...

I agree that 255hrs doesn't leave you with a lot to fall back on in a tough situation, and it isn't ideal, but everybody has to start somewhere. I had about the same flight time he did when I started teaching. he won't be the world's best CFI with 300TT, but after a while, he'll probably do a pretty good job.

I also agree that the folks with limited time probably aren't ready to start teaching instruments yet. If your only IFR experience was your IFR XC during your training, I'm not sure you have a big enough fund of knowledge to effectively teach IFR.

 

[djh1007]

I'm not sure what you're getting to here...

I agree that 255hrs doesn't leave you with a lot to fall back on in a tough situation, and it isn't ideal, but everybody has to start somewhere. I had about the same flight time he did when I started teaching. he won't be the world's best CFI with 300TT, but after a while, he'll probably do a pretty good job.

I also agree that the folks with limited time probably aren't ready to start teaching instruments yet. If your only IFR experience was your IFR XC during your training, I'm not sure you have a big enough fund of knowledge to effectively teach IFR.

I always enjoyed IMC flights, and have always tried to do my required currency work in IMC. Additionally, I done multiple several hundred nm IFR xc's, including an inadvertent icing encounter do to an inaccurate forecast. I don't know everything, but at least I have seen the conditions that I will be teaching students to fly in.

Again, not tons of experience, but certainly more than the minimum requirements. Is this any different than a CFI applicant going to ATP or American Flyers and getting all 3 CFI ratings at once?

 

[drunkenbeagle]

Check local laws, but non-compete clauses are generally BS unless there's a specific damage to the employer. You generally cannot prevent someone from working for a living in their own profession.

Generally true, but if they threaten to sue the place you move on to, it is possible to find yourself out of a job. Best way I have found to deal with non-competes is to refuse to sign them, or ask for money in exchange for doing so. (for most contracts to be enforceable, you actually have to receive something of value). I'm not a lawyer, this isn't legal advice, and don't believe what you read on the interwebs.

 

[Douglas]

I agree with Stomp16 exactly.
IMHO, a follow-up, follow-up letter is too much no matter what the contents, unless something earth shattering has changed.

 

[chrisreedrules]

Here is what I say when I am turned down for a job: "Thank you for your time and consideration. I will update my resume with you in a few months to reflect my growth as a professional pilot and I look forward to the opportunity to join your team". ...or something like that. Don't sound desperate. Don't act like you want it that bad. Like most things in life, if you "play it cool" it will come to you.

 

[Chief Captain]

I always enjoyed IMC flights, and have always tried to do my required currency work in IMC. Additionally, I done multiple several hundred nm IFR xc's, including an inadvertent icing encounter do to an inaccurate forecast. I don't know everything, but at least I have seen the conditions that I will be teaching students to fly in.

Again, not tons of experience, but certainly more than the minimum requirements. Is this any different than a CFI applicant going to ATP or American Flyers and getting all 3 CFI ratings at once?

That's a pretty darn good start. You should applaud yourself for going out and getting that experience. Far too often I see freshly minted CFII's teaching stuff that's inaccurate because of their limited experience.

For the record, I'm not a fan of any of those shotgun CFI programs. You don't need to study for a year to be competent, but if somebody did their CFI, CFII and MEI in 3 weeks, I wouldn't trust them to teach a bird how to fly.

 

[Alex N.]

I was in a similar situation when I was applying for a job. I interviewed at a company and the interview went well, but they were in the middle of restructuring so hiring a new CFI and bring him up to speed wasn't a priority. After the interview I kept looking for other opportunities and as I was going through an interview process with another school. I got a call to come in the next day for a checkout flight with the CP. My school also had me sign a non compete clause, but I highly doubt it that anybody in the company will go through the trouble of going after me if I was to go work for school across the field, cause at the end of the day I'm just a broke pilot what can they really sue me for.