Bouncing Too Much?
11-05-2008, 05:41 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: CFI
Posts: 8
Bouncing Too Much?
Greetings all,
I have an issue I am hoping to get some help with. I have around 1700 TT and about 200 multi, and I've had five jobs in the last year. My first job was as a CFI at the community college I graduated from. I was only getting about 20 hours a month there so I accepted another CFI position from a much larger flight school and was getting about 100 hours a month there. I stayed there until I had my MEI and got an offer from a 135 company, which I accepted. I was with them for a couple of months and then lost that job when gas prices went up. From there I went to a skydiving operation where I was flying a Caravan until one of the other pilots crashed it. After that the only thing that I could find on short notice was at the community college I left in the beginning.
I have two questions:
1) Have I shot myself in the foot with all the job switches, even though some were not voluntary?
I've had some pilots tell me that there's nothing wrong with switching jobs frequently when you're trying to build time and then I've had others tell me it looks like I can't keep a job for more than six months.
2) Even with my MEI, I have zero chance of getting any multi time at the school I'm at due to seniority. If I don't get an interview/offer from the airlines and 135 companies I've applied to, should I look for a school where I can get more multi time (I have been told the worst thing you can do if you want to be a professional pilot is get too much single engine CFI time) or should I just stay put?
Ideally I'm trying to end up at a small airline or 135 that flies turboprops and/or small jets.
I have never left an employer on bad terms and all have told me they would write references if I needed them, but I know 90% of the time your resume is the first impression you give a potential employer and I'm a little worried that mine may not give off the best.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I have an issue I am hoping to get some help with. I have around 1700 TT and about 200 multi, and I've had five jobs in the last year. My first job was as a CFI at the community college I graduated from. I was only getting about 20 hours a month there so I accepted another CFI position from a much larger flight school and was getting about 100 hours a month there. I stayed there until I had my MEI and got an offer from a 135 company, which I accepted. I was with them for a couple of months and then lost that job when gas prices went up. From there I went to a skydiving operation where I was flying a Caravan until one of the other pilots crashed it. After that the only thing that I could find on short notice was at the community college I left in the beginning.
I have two questions:
1) Have I shot myself in the foot with all the job switches, even though some were not voluntary?
I've had some pilots tell me that there's nothing wrong with switching jobs frequently when you're trying to build time and then I've had others tell me it looks like I can't keep a job for more than six months.
2) Even with my MEI, I have zero chance of getting any multi time at the school I'm at due to seniority. If I don't get an interview/offer from the airlines and 135 companies I've applied to, should I look for a school where I can get more multi time (I have been told the worst thing you can do if you want to be a professional pilot is get too much single engine CFI time) or should I just stay put?
Ideally I'm trying to end up at a small airline or 135 that flies turboprops and/or small jets.
I have never left an employer on bad terms and all have told me they would write references if I needed them, but I know 90% of the time your resume is the first impression you give a potential employer and I'm a little worried that mine may not give off the best.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
11-19-2008, 07:51 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,735
I was in the exact same situation from 2003-2006. I started with one flight school since it was the only place that offer me a job. Then i went to another flight school since I didn't fly much at the first flight school. After that I went to 135 operation to get my multi time. Personally i don't see a problem, since you wanted to make more money, and gain more experience.
11-20-2008, 06:56 AM
#3
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,297
In general employment terms, job hopping is not a good idea, but it is different in entry-level aviation. Everyone understands that you are not jumping for more money in most cases, but rather to acquire needed flight experience. As long as you had good career-progression reasons for jumping (sounds like you did), it should not be an issue.
12-07-2008, 08:08 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: Aviation Consultant
Posts: 320
You're fine. I agree completely with RickAir here.
When you are building time it is actually expected that you will move jobs to acquire the necessary experience.
What folks are talking about when they say "don't job-hop" is lateral movement. Meaning exchanging one job for the same job at a different company. Too much of that indicates a problem child to the airline.
You haven't really job-hopped in the sense that each move you made was to increase your experience; multi-time, 135 time, etc. You were actually stair-stepping upwards. This will be evident in your resume where you describe your duties and what you flew at each job. No worries.
Were you are now is simply due to circumstance. Completely understandable and reasonable.
If you don't currently have the requisite multi-engine hours to apply to 135 or regional jobs then yes, absolutely look for a job that will give you more multi time.
I think it's important to remember why people progress through jobs to get to the ultimate job they want. This goes for any industry, by the way.
You start with fundamentals and gain the experience that paralells the next job which is a little more challenging. On and on until you reach your ultimate goal.
So, not knowing where you are with experience level, what are you qualified to do now? What do you need to get to the next level? There lies your answer of whether or not to move jobs.
Jobs are scarce these days - but they are out there. If I were in your shoes I wouldn't give up looking for a job that makes me more competitive in the long run.
Hope that helps,
Lori
When you are building time it is actually expected that you will move jobs to acquire the necessary experience.
What folks are talking about when they say "don't job-hop" is lateral movement. Meaning exchanging one job for the same job at a different company. Too much of that indicates a problem child to the airline.
You haven't really job-hopped in the sense that each move you made was to increase your experience; multi-time, 135 time, etc. You were actually stair-stepping upwards. This will be evident in your resume where you describe your duties and what you flew at each job. No worries.
Were you are now is simply due to circumstance. Completely understandable and reasonable.
If you don't currently have the requisite multi-engine hours to apply to 135 or regional jobs then yes, absolutely look for a job that will give you more multi time.
I think it's important to remember why people progress through jobs to get to the ultimate job they want. This goes for any industry, by the way.
You start with fundamentals and gain the experience that paralells the next job which is a little more challenging. On and on until you reach your ultimate goal.
So, not knowing where you are with experience level, what are you qualified to do now? What do you need to get to the next level? There lies your answer of whether or not to move jobs.
Jobs are scarce these days - but they are out there. If I were in your shoes I wouldn't give up looking for a job that makes me more competitive in the long run.
Hope that helps,
Lori
