WIA worth it?

Lunchbox

Lunchbox

Well-Known Member
I've never been to WIA or OBAP before and wanted to know if it's worth it for United? I have been told that United has said at the job fair that they do not track who goes and it will not help you get an interview. Is this true? I'm on the fence about going but I don't want to waste. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
 
United you get points for attending a job fair I have heard. You said you're on the fence about attending WAI, which means you cannot get a fast pass to talk to United now since they are sold out. OBAP is in August.
 
nuball5 said:
United you get points for attending a job fair I have heard. You said you're on the fence about attending WAI, which means you cannot get a fast pass to talk to United now since they are sold out. OBAP is in August.
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Well then, that makes my decision easy about WIA. I'll shoot for OBAP then. Thanks for the help.
 
I remember they said in so many words during the "webinar" last year that attending a job fair is tracked (points), and you do get face time with a recruiter or pilot. Its a great way to connect with someone in hiring and put a face to an application. It shows you're willing to go to great lengths to get noticed.

Think of it as a long airport "productivity sit" but you cant sit down and you're waiting in line for a cup of coffee FOREVER.
 
Table Two said:
I remember they said in so many words during the "webinar" last year that attending a job fair is tracked (points), and you do get face time with a recruiter or pilot. Its a great way to connect with someone in hiring and put a face to an application. It shows you're willing to go to great lengths to get noticed.

Think of it as a long airport "productivity sit" but you cant sit down and you're waiting in line for a cup of coffee FOREVER.
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In the military pilot version of UAL's webinar, the slide they showed said this (I'm quoting it, not posting it, since I don't own any rights to the slide show):
Job Fairs ; How many should I attend and do they make a difference?

- No pre-determined number

- We do not record that you attended a job fair but if you do and you truly impress one of our Recruiters as a top candidate, in may move you forward toward an interview.
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Job Fairs are a BLAST!

They're a break from the "norm".
There are countless networking upportunities, both "official" and "unofficial".
You will reconnect with people you may have lost touch with.
You will make new friends.
You have the opportunity to help others.
You can find out ahead of time if your suit works or not.
It will force you to keep your info/ resume up to date.
You can practice your interview skills.
You can help support an organization you believe in.

And, MAYBE, it will result in getting the call...

I personally try not to look at it like I'm spending time/ money with the expectation of directly influencing my career progression. That will drive you nuts! I've been to four...

Or, don't go. Less competition for me. ;)
 
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Acrofox said:
I've gotta ask... Are there actually any WIA at WIA, or BAP at OBAP, or GP at NGPA, or is it just thousands of fresh-faced straight white male regional guys with crew cuts and power ties vying for a bit of face time at this point?
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The events, themselves, sure. But the career fair portion is largely like Fonzi living in the space above the Cunningham families garage and it's largely the same group of people.

A lot of people bounce in for just the career fair and high-tail it out of there and don't realize that the real networking happens at the hotel bar.

I hear some people are asking "Ahh, I see under volunteerism, you listed OBAP/NGPA/WIA, what do you do for each organization?" :)
 
Toobdrvr said:
They're a break from the "norm".
There are countless networking upportunities, both "official" and "unofficial".
You will reconnect with people you may have lost touch with.
You will make new friends.
You have the opportunity to help others.
You can find out ahead of time if your suit works or not.
It will force you to keep your info/ resume up to date.
You can practice your interview skills.
You can help support an organization you believe in.

And, MAYBE, it will result in getting the call...

I personally try not to look at it like I'm spending time/ money with the expectation of directly influencing my career progression. That will drive you nuts! I've been to four...

Or, don't go. Less competition for me. ;)
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☝This x1000. If I had never recieved a call out of a job fair, every one of them would have been worth it for all the reasons @Toobdrvr listed. Go, make friends, enjoy the event for more than just the "me" factor.

I know the angst associated with paying to go to a job fair. If you truly support the organization's mission (and for the love of God, know what it is at least) I don't see it as a negative thing. You are supporting the organization and getting out of it all of the above benefits as a bonus. For myself, the job fairs resulted in more than one phone call, and a new job. But more than that I saw my friends, met new ones, had fun, and had the opportunity to better myself as a professional pilot. Worth it 100%

For the OP, at the United FFD event in 2014, I was told that they do track your visits with recruiters, but only up to 3 visits. A 4th visit won't get you anymore points, but it will help keep your face fresh in the minds of the recruiters. Idk if it's different now, but that's what I was told.
 
Don't mean to derail the thread, but speaking of OBAP are there any members on here? I was thinking about joining and trying to volunteer at some of the events they have since I finally get off reserve next month and have some extra time on my hands.
 
B200 Hawk said:
It's too bad these conferences are not used for what they are intended for now. Such a scam.
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Women in Aviation is about getting more women in aviation and those that are.

OBAP is literally a collection of black aviation professionals.

NGPA is certainly a national association of gay pilots.

Anyone can attend the career fair if one is held. Otherwise, wouldn't it be counterintuitive to say "Whoah partner! You're not gay/black/female, you can't come!"? :)

At the Arizona Matsuri Festival today in downtown PHX, not everyone was Japanese! It's all good.
 
Hacker15e said:
In the military pilot version of UAL's webinar, the slide they showed said this (I'm quoting it, not posting it, since I don't own any rights to the slide show):
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I was at one of the FFD open houses and the head honcho of hiring said exactly that.

But really, if you really want to work at United (or anywhere else for that matter) you gotta turn over every rock you can. Show up with a good attitude and you never know what's going to happen. It might not be the golden ticket, but there is a reason airlines attend these things.

At the very least I had a fun time at OBAP because I couldn't stop running into people I knew. Rope some friends into going if you can, at least you'll be waiting in line with people you like.
 
Lunchbox said:
I've never been to WIA or OBAP before and wanted to know if it's worth it for United? I have been told that United has said at the job fair that they do not track who goes and it will not help you get an interview. Is this true? I'm on the fence about going but I don't want to waste. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
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United Airlines recruiters are attending a job fair. Do you want to work for United or do you have a casual interest at working for United? What would you consider being 'worth it?'
 
Acrofox said:
I've gotta ask... Are there actually any WIA at WIA, or BAP at OBAP, or GP at NGPA, or is it just thousands of fresh-faced straight white male regional guys with crew cuts and power ties vying for a bit of face time at this point?
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I'm a straight man, and I attended all four days of NGPA. And I made some amazing friends in the process. (And yes, there are definitely GP at NGPA.) The career fair itself was almost a non-event compared to the amount of fun I had hanging out with an awesome group of aviators and I'm definitely going next year. And hanging out with @Derg of course...

I don't have to be (for example) gay to (wholeheartedly) support diversity and inclusion in professional aviation.
 
Autothrust Blue said:
I'm a straight man, and I attended all four days of NGPA. And I made some amazing friends in the process. (And yes, there are definitely GP at NGPA.) The career fair itself was almost a non-event compared to the amount of fun I had hanging out with an awesome group of aviators and I'm definitely going next year. And hanging out with @Derg of course...

I don't have to be (for example) gay to (wholeheartedly) support diversity and inclusion in professional aviation.
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Did you happen to meet a guy named Ryan D. Compass Capt. Great guy and so popular, like almost everyone knows him.
 
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