prpilot

Hi Lori. I've been flying professionally for about ten years. I've got 8,700 hours, roughly. I recently had an incident, and was fired for it. It wasn't entirely my fault (yeah, I know, they all say that) but with the company looking to downsize anyway, I was an obvious choice I guess. Anyway, I read one of your responses in another thread that the hours flown in the past 6 months are becoming more important to companies looking to hire pilots now. I'm 48, and so only have 17 more years of time in the cockpit. <If> I can find another job. So my question is: Should I take whatever job offer comes along, in order to keep flying? Or should I wait until the "right" job offer comes along?

Also, I have a second question. The company I was fired from has offered me the choice of resigning. This might improve my resume, but will preclude me from being able to collect unemployment. In this economy, I'm thinking it may be a while before I can find another job. And honestly, even if I resign, what good HR person isn't going to see right through the charade and know something was up? So, my second question is: Should I accept their offer to resign? Or just take the termination, and take my licks with trying to get an interview?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Gajre539

My thoughts on the subject... if offered the choice of resigning instead of being fired, take it. However, many airlines are asking the "Have ever been asked or offered to resign?" question. If you need to, take a regional job. You can always look around while you have a current flying job... someone correct me if I'm way off.

vagabond

This is my take on your second question about unemployment. You are correct in that, generally, people who voluntarily quit are not eligible for unemployment. Could you not ask your ex-employer to say that you were terminated for poor performance? The reason I suggest this is that the standard for termination/discharge is "misconduct" and poor performance is usually not considered misconduct.

The job market is horrendous right now and it's taking 6 months to a year to find another comparable job. I think that you would want to have that unemployment check safety net.

In the thousands of unemployment hearings I've had, future employers, being well aware of massive layoffs in this still continuing recession, don't attach the same stigma to people who have been discharged. And when you think about it, why would anyone in their right minds voluntarily quit his job in this bad economy? You better have a good explanation at the next job interview.

jcaplins

If they are downsizing anyway, and willing to give you a choice of being fired or resign... ask for the 3rd option of just laying you off.

jonnyjetprop

+1 if this option is available.

Take any flying job that keeps you current. You can always leave your replacement job for the dream job.

Cargo Man

You might be able to draw unemployment with a resignation. Call your Employment Security office (unemployment office) …They can look you up in the data base and answer your questions about benefits and different situations.

You will be asked by your future Chief Pilot about your last job. It could work to your advantage.