What is wrong with me?
 

Just curious as to what's going wrong when I apply for jobs. For example, there's a CFI job that also requires the CFII. I apply, but never seem to get a call. Lately I've been calling the school (showed up dressed up for Flight Safety) to follow up to make sure the resume and cover letter was recieved and if the position is still available. I usualy get the voice mail, but still no call backs. What am I doing wrong, is it bad karma, bad resume and cover letter, or am I not meant to be in this line work? I'd like to have some sort of flying job after I spent all this money and am feeling frustrated.

After being out on the street for almost 2 years... when you apply to an open job, they get your application... and roughly 300 other applications. Once (if) movement happens in the future, it should get better.

The only other thing I can suggest is to apply in person... get an internal rec, etc.

I hate to say it, but "welcome to the club."

I know how you feel to a certain extent jsfBoat. I just landed a part time contracting job and probably only because I had some really good networking and recommendations from the reference cheks they did with people they had known for 10-15+ years.

What a tough time to find a flying job. My GF today was saying that same thing about her outside the military job hunt. She was really down on herself and not understanding why someone with her qualifications isn't even getting a bite. Just stay positive. If you really want it in this environment then you are really going to have to work at it.
The point of my story above btw was to re-iterate how important getting of there and actually networking with a real, live person is too accomplishing your goals!

USMCFLYR

This is the normal aviation routine for economic downturns. The market is flooded with experienced pilots and each job opening probably attracts hundreds (possibly thousands) of resumes.

Realistically you need to network and have an inside connection. Lacking that, your best shot will be to try to get some face time with employers and potential employers. Keep plugging away, you might get lucky and stumble onto something.

I like to say "when the going gets tough the tough get going", and "you can't keep a good man down". Cheesy sayings but true. I am hunting for an engineering job right now and it's the same story. I am a dead-fit for 1 to 30 positions at a certain firm, recommendation in-hand from Robert Goddard as well, and they don't bother even calling to see if I am actually sitting here sending them information about myself. Tough times. You just have to keep working at it patiently. Both manufacturing and aviation are skimming off the low hanging fruit right now, looking for deals on talent. They are getting highly specialized, experienced people for a song and there is not a lot left to be had until the market improves.

Job hunts
 

I used to counsel students during career day at my alma mater and tell them that I got turned down for more jobs than I was accepted. And that closed doors lead you in directions you might not have otherwise considered. Keep at it.

I did manage to get a phone call for an interview for a flight school in Tulsa and am waiting for the phone to ring, they're giving me a phone interview since I lack the funds to fly there for one.

Cub, I live near Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach, they're looking to start hiring engineers and workers for the new piper jet. I'll try to get more details for you if you want.

Thanks, but I'm on it. They seem to be advertising more jobs than they actually desire to fill, the recession put a hold in the PiperJet program which is what those jobs were all for. The only bizjets going ahead now are those that were pretty much done before the current economic recession. There are countless aircraft projects currently on hold.

Chances are there is nothing wrong with you. It's just the state of the industry right now. Keep applying and keep trying. There is a lot of good advice here - talk to people, network like crazy....you never know who you will meet and what connections they might have.

Have you expanded your sights to overseas flight school (China?), how about drop zones? Broaden your horizons past the paths that everyone has tried to lay out for you. Here's another, I know of at least two bush airlines in Alaska that have hired recently (or are hiring), if you want the job you should find out which ones they are and send a resume (hint: Bethel, AK), better yet, call the Chief Pilots at them and talk to them personally.

In my experience every single one of my jobs was gotten by making a phone call to the chief pilot or over beers at a bar, and NONE by sending a resume in and hoping for the best.