Originally Posted by
hawgdriver
I'm looking for some advice. I have 1.5 yrs left on my ADSC and my plan is to Palace Chase this fall. I've been offered a job by a guard unit with the option of a part time or full time job. They are asking me to give a 2 yr commitment for the full time position which will start this fall. I still flight instruct on the side and have some other connections for flying jobs to make ends meet while waiting for an airline job. My wife also works and we have two small children. My goal is to go to the airlines as soon as possible. Currently, I have my app in with united. My question for all of you is; Do I roll the dice, take the part time job, and hope I get an airline gig by the fall or do I take the full time position and not be able to get an airline job until fall of 2015?
My advice, based on similar decisions I had to make, protect the "golden egg", which is the guard gig. Let the "pretend golden egg", which is the airline job, come to you so to speak. Pursue the airline gig if thats what you want but I wouldn't sacrifice the guard stuff for an airline job. That airline job can disappear at any time, and the guard gig will be there with open arms (for the most part). I wouldn't "roll the dice" in your situation. Seniority is important in the industry, however, it means nothing should a furlough or worse bankruptcy happen (I've experienced both). Don't mean to come off like "negative nancy" but a wife and two kids puts a different light on the situation. Fall of 2015 is not that far away, solidify your guard gig, that's your real "golden egg" IMHO. Loss of 2 years of seniority in the airline industry versus planting your feet in the guard, maintaining a good paying job with benefits, securing a retirement with pension and medical...for me it was a no brainer. Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, our paths are not the same but similar.