Yet another Newb
- Thread starter TN-DX
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BoilerOps
Well-Known Member
A word of advice, beware of the pay trap. 135 Operators know all they have to do to keep us from leaving for a major (like Dispatchers do at regionals) is pay us slightly better than we would start out at a regional (which is not hard to do). The problem is wherever you end up may or may not be a viable proving ground for a larger carrier down the road and the pay cut you have to take to get into a regional only grows with time.
womanpilot73
Well-Known Member
Welcome to JC! Congrats on getting your license as well!
Tips: Be flexible and willing to move. Also, don't avoid certain regional airlines based on negative opinions of them posted on this forum. There are definitely a few that none of us would ever really want to work at, but the bottom line is that first job is the hardest to get, so seriously - if offered, take what you can get to get some experience under your belt. Know that it's a temporary gig and use it for what it is - to get that much needed experience so you can land a better gig down the road.
Best of luck to you! ;-)
Tips: Be flexible and willing to move. Also, don't avoid certain regional airlines based on negative opinions of them posted on this forum. There are definitely a few that none of us would ever really want to work at, but the bottom line is that first job is the hardest to get, so seriously - if offered, take what you can get to get some experience under your belt. Know that it's a temporary gig and use it for what it is - to get that much needed experience so you can land a better gig down the road.
Best of luck to you! ;-)
Aeroscout840
Well-Known Member
Hey, Welcome to the party. Don't forget 121S either. Much better pay than regional, and great experience too.
TN-DX
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I guess I should have noted that I worked for a carrier based at JFK for 5 years and promotions with them took me around the country quite a bit so I am definitely willing to relocate and commute as well. 135 carriers are never ruled out but I'm sure like everyone else I REALLY want to be in CASS!
As for the guys starting class at the end of March...prepare for no sleep and the first three weeks of hating that green ATP book. If you haven't picked one up go grab one off amazon or from Barnes and Noble. Highlight the answers to all the questions except 135 and RTC and memorize! Shad is a great instructor and very knowledgeable and Kash is a great person to know...dudes got contacts everywhere!
They normally do hold a couple interviews towards the end of class but when I went we only had one cargo carrier come in. Got a very bad vibe from them and they were looking for someone locally so I didn't attend it. Good luck in class though!
As for the guys starting class at the end of March...prepare for no sleep and the first three weeks of hating that green ATP book. If you haven't picked one up go grab one off amazon or from Barnes and Noble. Highlight the answers to all the questions except 135 and RTC and memorize! Shad is a great instructor and very knowledgeable and Kash is a great person to know...dudes got contacts everywhere!
They normally do hold a couple interviews towards the end of class but when I went we only had one cargo carrier come in. Got a very bad vibe from them and they were looking for someone locally so I didn't attend it. Good luck in class though!
AnonymousDxer
Well-Known Member
The one thing I cant emphasize enough is to both network and take advantage of whatever interview offers you have.
Many dispatchers I know have gotten numerous interviews with the majors but always seem to get turned down. I was lucky to get hired by a major on my first try but the thing that allowed that to happen was being in the right frame of mind at the interview and to put on as good of an impression on the interviewers as possible.
The biggest downfall of dispatchers that seem to get stuck at the regionals is that they stumble somehow at the major airline interview. I know people that have taken a horrible resume and nailed the interview and gotten hired. I know people with great resume's that never seem to be able to get passed the interview. When you get a chance to get interviewed at a major, bring your A+ game to whatever interview you go to. You may or may not get another chance if you don't take advantage of what you have now.
Also remember to follow trends. If you know people at the majors, ask them about the experience levels and career paths of the people they hire. While it may not get you the job it can certainly increase your probability of getting hired by trying to match your resume with what seems to get people hired. If FedEx hires mainly internally and that's where you want to be, network and ask a FedEx dispatcher which internal jobs get hired the most frequently and how does one get into that job.
Yes, management does change and hiring practices evolve but you need to constantly adjust based on the current situation. The people that adjust get hired whereas those that stay in a bad situation don't ever move on to better things.
Many dispatchers I know have gotten numerous interviews with the majors but always seem to get turned down. I was lucky to get hired by a major on my first try but the thing that allowed that to happen was being in the right frame of mind at the interview and to put on as good of an impression on the interviewers as possible.
The biggest downfall of dispatchers that seem to get stuck at the regionals is that they stumble somehow at the major airline interview. I know people that have taken a horrible resume and nailed the interview and gotten hired. I know people with great resume's that never seem to be able to get passed the interview. When you get a chance to get interviewed at a major, bring your A+ game to whatever interview you go to. You may or may not get another chance if you don't take advantage of what you have now.
Also remember to follow trends. If you know people at the majors, ask them about the experience levels and career paths of the people they hire. While it may not get you the job it can certainly increase your probability of getting hired by trying to match your resume with what seems to get people hired. If FedEx hires mainly internally and that's where you want to be, network and ask a FedEx dispatcher which internal jobs get hired the most frequently and how does one get into that job.
Yes, management does change and hiring practices evolve but you need to constantly adjust based on the current situation. The people that adjust get hired whereas those that stay in a bad situation don't ever move on to better things.
manniax
Well-met in the Ka-tet
pljenkins
Resident Knucklehead
Andy Nguyen said:
Believe it or not, you're networking right now. Most of us on here are dispatchers, some of us are management, and a few of us are either indirectly or directly involved in recruitment. School will have contacts you can work also. Utilize every resource you can to gain the ear of those people who can help you on your career path.
Remember, we were ALL where you are at one time.
Kev
RNP 2112
Good direction, but IMHO some of the most pointless money I've ever spent. Organizationally it's a nice intent, but I found it nearly worthless in practical application. Website is as active as the Incan Empire.
You're in a better place here.
manniax
Well-met in the Ka-tet
Most ADF networking takes place at the business meetings and the annual symposium - not on the web site. It's good to meet people IRL and not just online.
manniax
Well-met in the Ka-tet
The ADF website is not the most "fresh, happening" place, I agree - but it's entirely maintained by volunteers also. The ADF does a lot of stuff behind the scenes that isn't always obvious just by browsing their web site, and they usually have a number of projects they can use help on - if people are willing to ask. They helped a LOT a few years ago to put a halt on Jeppesen when they were trying to "back door" contract dispatch authorization without putting it out for public comment, to name one example. (This was previous to Jeppesen's most recent attempt which did receive a lot of public commentary - and the ADF had a well-crafted response included then as well.)
BoilerOps
Well-Known Member
To add to that, the website is being worked on (among other things like the newsletter) but it was never intended to be the kind of forum that this is. It will be updated to better serve its purpose and our membership but the money you spent on dues was not wasted and would not have gone towards web development in any case since, as Manniax said, it's maintained by volunteers for free.
I knew no one when I joined the ADF and in less than 6 months I met Dispatchers, Feds, and members of management from all over the country (and every major airline). The ADF is a tool just like JetCareers is a tool but if you underutilize either of them they won't work to your utmost benefit. Don't expect the two tools to work the same and do the same thing, but do expect to have to know how to use them in order to get the most out of them.
There's an abundance of posts and posters on JetCareers and after you've been here a while you'll realize that not all of it is helpful or beneficial. Meeting people working in the industry in real life is the most effective networking you can do.
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