OK here is my current predicament and I want to hear what you guys think. I am a third year regional FO with a good shot of upgrading in 1 year. During my first year I worked part time at a flight school to help out with the bills, I was commuting to reserve and it only got tougher and tougher so I was inactive at my part time instructing job(which I used to just call and ask if they needed anything covered). After a few months of not working at this place, I received a termination letter in my mail, which states I was terminated due to their staffing needs and my inactivity. No call from HR, no call from manager or nobody.
I should mention that I worked full time here as an instructor and check instructor for a year and a half before moving on to my current regional.
I felt mistreated and they could have told me to resign, am I naive for thinking this? I will call soon and find out if I'm "eligible for rehire". Also I keep the termination letter within my records with copies and plan on full disclosure of this.
So the money question is, how does this look to a prospective employer ie: Major Airline?
Thanks in advance for your responses gents and lads.

 

I think the more important question maybe why were you an active 121 pilot and instructing at the same time?

This is strictly forbidden by all regionals I know of......

 

If you were terminated from the flight school who really cares? How is anyone going to find out about that? Also like you said you were not really "working" there anyways right?... right?...

 

This sounds a lot like a layoff, not a termination for cause. Just keep the letter so you can prove it.

Now you still have the issue of moonlighting. Did your company policy allow that, or did you get permission? A problem may arise because PRIA (federal law) requires that you report all aviation employers and the flight school will provide your dates of employment as part of that. The issue isn't that a part-time CFI got laid off, it's that you have a paper trail showing you were moonlighting (and possibly violating flight time limits?)

 

Guys I should have made this clear, I apologize. I worked strictly in the 141 check department, I only did oral examinations and remedial ground work. The closest I got to an airplane was reviewing a maintenance log to ask questions. My company GOM did allow this, as long as I wasn't flying and it did not affect my rest periods prior to duty on.
To rephrase the question: Do I check the box on the..."have you ever been terminated?"....question? I've never heard of the term "moonlighting" as far as I know, if the company allows it and I wasn't breaking any flight time limits, this is acceptable??

 

If you don't and they find out about it you will be terminated...for lying on your application. I don't envy you.

 

When we talk about "termination" in an interview context it really means fired for cause (as opposed to layoff/furlough).

If you were a part-time ground instructor and got laid off that is not going to hurt your career. The question is do you need to check the box?

You could go either way on it. This will not be a problem at an interview, but it's possible that a computer-based interview screening system might lower your score, moving you down on the list of those getting called.

I would probably not check the termination box, but mention the layoff at the interview just to CYA so it doesn't become an issue during a background check after you take the job. I think that even if the interviewers see it differently, they should understand that you reasonably believed termination meant something else.

But only you can make the call for yourself...there's some risk either way. When you list employers on apps they usually have a "reason for leaving" section...you can put "part-time,r laid off"...that will also CYA.

This assumes that letter clearly states those reasons you mentioned. Definitely bring the letter with you.

 

While we are on the subject, maybe you can help me with my situation. I was let go from my most recent non-aviation job. The job was through a staffing agency, with whom I have worked before. It appears, in the opinion of the agency, other agencies, and all my professional friends/acquaintances that it was a personal case of a boss just not liking me, and she made up some minor reasons to get rid of me, without warning, after only 4 weeks on the job. My agency has been on my side and trying to help me find new positions in that field (with no luck so far).

I can say "contract ended" for the reason for leaving, which is neutral and can be said for all but one of the temp agency positions I've had (6 in the last 3 years, one of which I resigned from). The recruiter at the agency says they will only verify dates of employment if called for a reference. When I interviewed at Eagle a few weeks ago (for the pipeline) they had me fill out/sign "permission to contact" forms for past employers only in the last 2 years. Thoughts?

 

I can speak to this with some authority, as I run a small advertising agency that hires contract employees (usually directly, but sometimes through staffing agencies.)

You are not actually an employee of your end client. In this case, you were legally an employee of the temp agency. I'm guessing that your W-2 came from that temp agency, correct? Unless the temp agency terminated you (which they did not), you have no 'termination' to report. Make sure you put the temp agency as your past employer, not the end client.

And at least in California, employers are only allowed to confirm dates of employment. Potential employers *cannot* ask about compensation or reasons for separation. Been there, done that.

Oh, also...if you were employed by a temp agency, you have the option of either putting the temp agency on your resume, or the end client. This is because, for example, you might work for 10 end clients in the space of a year, and that looks odd when you show 10 different jobs on your resume for that period. Instead, put "XYZ Staffing Agency...placements included BigCorp, MediumCorp, and LittleCorp." You get the idea.

Your contract ended, you were not terminated. Nothing to report

 

Ooops, wrong thread...