dcramer16
Well-Known Member
I feel like I'm going crazy. I've been on furlough for 6 months. I've made finding a job, a full time job, and still not much. Then a couple weeks ago, I applied for a job flying a Bonanza in NC for 45K/year. Not a dream job, but with a family all I need is something that will pay the bills, and something that will allow me to settle down and integrate myself into a community for years to come. I've got a kid who's school age, I'm in desperate need to settle down somewhere and grow roots...lol
I've never been good at being the "Squeaky Wheel" that gets the grease. When someone tells me to check back in two weeks, I normally wait two weeks, not two days, and of course, in two weeks, the position is always filled....Oh well. But in this case I was the best "squeaky wheel" I could be, and it worked. The guy said he was really impressed with me, and wished I was closer so I could be interviewed. I told him I would come out from Montana and would love to meet with him. He seemed pleased with that, but I could tell he didn't think I would come all the way out there. So, I went out there, drove about 2600 miles, and called him when I got into town. He seemed so excited I came all the way out, he acted like he was going to pee his pants. He invites me over to his house for breakfast the next morning to meet him and his wife.
So the next day I go for breakfast at his house. I'm not going to get into details of the interview just because there is too much to mention. But I have to say, it was the best interview of my life. There is no way I could have gone better.
For example, you know how sometimes you have to direct a conversation to be able to bring things up to make you look good? In this case I didn't even have to direct the conversation, they did it for me. For every subject they brought up about themselves, their hobbies, their work, or what they were looking for in a pilot, I was able to talk about so many things that seemed to earn me a few points each time. It couldn't have gone better. It almost wasn't even an interview. It was more like going over to breakfast and visiting with a few friends. So, two hours later, we're wrapping up and he tells me he's interviewed 4 other guys, and has one more to interview but out of the 6 of us, I'm on his "short list". He'll let me know in a few days.
I dropped by a Walgreens on my way out of town, got a really nice Thank You card and thanked them for breakfast and everything, and dropped it in the mail. I drove another 2600 miles home. By the way, I know you're wondering, why did I drive, why not fly? I get 36 mpg and a lot of free nights at hotels saved up on reward cards. It is expensive to fly out of Montana on the airlines, and it was actually way cheaper for me to drive. Plus I have clans and clans of family members in that area that I wanted to drop by and see.
So all in all, I spent over 70 hours and over 5000 miles driving in the 10 days I was gone from home. I get back home and hear nothing, and nothing, and nothing. So I called the guy up and checked in with him. He said "Well, I had no idea that I would get so many resumes, and I would have liked to hire everyone, but there was only one position to fill, and unfortunatly it's not gonna be you this time." At this time I felt like someone kicked me in the gut. I thought about ranting to him about my car ride, my hard work, dedication, the fact that I was over qualified for this position. But in the end, I politely thanked him, told him I hope his new pilots serves him well, and wished him all my best, and got off the phone....:banghead:
Fast forward 1 week, I hear through the Grapevine that the new pilot is a Regional Captain that is on furlough, and isn't even planning on staying there.:banghead:
For the last 6 months I have been telling myself everytime I don't get the job "Well, there's something better waiting around the corner." I have ALWAYS tried to keep a positive attitude about all this. Now I'm starting to notice that I'm not getting any of these jobs around the corner. I used to think it was hard work, honesty, integrity, and dedication that got you a job. Sorry to break it to you folks, but that's not how you get the job anymore. It's more about knowing the right people and/or being in the right place at the right time.
I'm not the type of person who thinks a job should be handed to me. And no, I don't think just because I drove across the country I "deserve" to have the job. I feel that the best person for the position should get the job and in this instance I know deep down that I was the right guy for this position. And I've never been the guy, never never never been the guy to sit around a sulk because I didn't get the job, or assume I would have been the best candidate. I've been shrugging my shoulders and brushing things off for the last six months, putting a smile on my face, telling my family it's going to be all right, telling myself that it's gonna be alright, that the right job will come along. TO HELL WITH IT. I'M SICK SICK SICK TO DEATH OF THIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE CRAP, AND MOST OF ALL I'm sick of this industry......[sigh]
I've given the best I've got to give. If sweet talking this guy for a week, driving over 5000 miles and having the best interview of my life, if that isn't enough to get me a job, nothing is. That is truly the best I've got....
Glad to get that off my chest. Now it's time to sit down and think of where I'm gonna go from here. I heard Walmarts still hiring.....:crazy:
I've never been good at being the "Squeaky Wheel" that gets the grease. When someone tells me to check back in two weeks, I normally wait two weeks, not two days, and of course, in two weeks, the position is always filled....Oh well. But in this case I was the best "squeaky wheel" I could be, and it worked. The guy said he was really impressed with me, and wished I was closer so I could be interviewed. I told him I would come out from Montana and would love to meet with him. He seemed pleased with that, but I could tell he didn't think I would come all the way out there. So, I went out there, drove about 2600 miles, and called him when I got into town. He seemed so excited I came all the way out, he acted like he was going to pee his pants. He invites me over to his house for breakfast the next morning to meet him and his wife.
So the next day I go for breakfast at his house. I'm not going to get into details of the interview just because there is too much to mention. But I have to say, it was the best interview of my life. There is no way I could have gone better.
For example, you know how sometimes you have to direct a conversation to be able to bring things up to make you look good? In this case I didn't even have to direct the conversation, they did it for me. For every subject they brought up about themselves, their hobbies, their work, or what they were looking for in a pilot, I was able to talk about so many things that seemed to earn me a few points each time. It couldn't have gone better. It almost wasn't even an interview. It was more like going over to breakfast and visiting with a few friends. So, two hours later, we're wrapping up and he tells me he's interviewed 4 other guys, and has one more to interview but out of the 6 of us, I'm on his "short list". He'll let me know in a few days.
I dropped by a Walgreens on my way out of town, got a really nice Thank You card and thanked them for breakfast and everything, and dropped it in the mail. I drove another 2600 miles home. By the way, I know you're wondering, why did I drive, why not fly? I get 36 mpg and a lot of free nights at hotels saved up on reward cards. It is expensive to fly out of Montana on the airlines, and it was actually way cheaper for me to drive. Plus I have clans and clans of family members in that area that I wanted to drop by and see.
So all in all, I spent over 70 hours and over 5000 miles driving in the 10 days I was gone from home. I get back home and hear nothing, and nothing, and nothing. So I called the guy up and checked in with him. He said "Well, I had no idea that I would get so many resumes, and I would have liked to hire everyone, but there was only one position to fill, and unfortunatly it's not gonna be you this time." At this time I felt like someone kicked me in the gut. I thought about ranting to him about my car ride, my hard work, dedication, the fact that I was over qualified for this position. But in the end, I politely thanked him, told him I hope his new pilots serves him well, and wished him all my best, and got off the phone....:banghead:
Fast forward 1 week, I hear through the Grapevine that the new pilot is a Regional Captain that is on furlough, and isn't even planning on staying there.:banghead:
For the last 6 months I have been telling myself everytime I don't get the job "Well, there's something better waiting around the corner." I have ALWAYS tried to keep a positive attitude about all this. Now I'm starting to notice that I'm not getting any of these jobs around the corner. I used to think it was hard work, honesty, integrity, and dedication that got you a job. Sorry to break it to you folks, but that's not how you get the job anymore. It's more about knowing the right people and/or being in the right place at the right time.
I'm not the type of person who thinks a job should be handed to me. And no, I don't think just because I drove across the country I "deserve" to have the job. I feel that the best person for the position should get the job and in this instance I know deep down that I was the right guy for this position. And I've never been the guy, never never never been the guy to sit around a sulk because I didn't get the job, or assume I would have been the best candidate. I've been shrugging my shoulders and brushing things off for the last six months, putting a smile on my face, telling my family it's going to be all right, telling myself that it's gonna be alright, that the right job will come along. TO HELL WITH IT. I'M SICK SICK SICK TO DEATH OF THIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE CRAP, AND MOST OF ALL I'm sick of this industry......[sigh]
I've given the best I've got to give. If sweet talking this guy for a week, driving over 5000 miles and having the best interview of my life, if that isn't enough to get me a job, nothing is. That is truly the best I've got....Glad to get that off my chest. Now it's time to sit down and think of where I'm gonna go from here. I heard Walmarts still hiring.....:crazy:
] Good luck!
