Be realistic, plan for the worst, be happy when things are better -

- Envoy is going through some serious changes. Anyone who says we are not contracting (for whatever reason) is wrong. In the last 18 months we've lost roughly 1200 pilots (and the majority have not been due to flows). We were told last year that they'd hire 600. Reality was that only between 150-200 were hired AND finished training. So, right now opportunities for a new hire are shrinking.

- Many, if not all, regionals are in a "stuck mode". Many have very senior groups and many have had little or no growth (and many have had serious contraction). That creates frustration. You may see a lot of it on these boards. Take some of it with a grain of salt. Similarly, the industry is a rumor mill. I once started a rumor in ATL while headed to ONT only to see if it would beat me there. "It hasn't happened until it's happened"...that cuts both ways! Until I see an aircraft actually sitting on the ramp, anything management, union reps, or pilots say is rumor. Similarly, until I see a layoff notice, Envoy still exists. Rumors abound and change daily.

- Growth - not just fleet replacement - is the path to happiness. Happiness from moving off reserve, happiness from upgrade, happiness from higher pay, happiness from hours logged as PIC and the chance at starting again at a major (where happiness may be greater because you may make significantly more doing the exact same job).

- Crew scheduling everywhere can be hard. Commuting can be hard. Try your best to live in domicile. Your life will be more "your own" when sitting reserve (if not airport standby). If you can't, one leg to domicile. Realize you will lose parts of days off or whole days off commuting. Realize that while on probation, there may be times you CAN'T get home commuting. Even off probation, remember commuting means you are not "off work" until after the commute. Also realize that living outside of domicile will cost more (apartment, crash pad, whatever).

- To some degree, go where they will hire you. That today is probably everywhere ... but I know guys who have waited for their dream and seniority is passing them by...

- Try to remember to be happy and that you love what you do. I think most if not everyone on here can say that when the door is closed they really love their job. The other stuff (low pay, schedules, not being home) can eat away at you if you let it. If you're young...life might be easier and the industry is in transition and, barring something terrible, you will have opportunities wherever you go!

Good Luck!!!