Please don't take this approach. It's very bad form to agree to a job and then hose your new employer (who just spent upwards of $20K to send you to training), when you decide that you'd rather accept the UPS job.

You need to make a decision one way or another before you accept the bank position. It's the right thing to do.

Remember- there are very few really good corporate jobs out there. We ALL need to take whatever steps possible to PRESERVE those jobs. Even good employers that get screwed too many times will eventually resort to things like training contracts or type rating requirements for new hires.

If you decide that you want to go corporate, but keep the UPS deal open, then you should express that when you interview (or at least when you accept a job offer). Most employers know that certain jobs are "stepping stone" positions. But they also expect a bit of give and take in the process. My thought is that if you accept a corporate gig, you should plan on staying AT LEAST a year, unless there is a very specific reason why you're moving (IE the company treats you so poorly you can't tolerate it, or there's a safety issue, etc).

"Job hopping" looks bad to everybody, including the majors. I certainly would have concerns about loyalty if I was interviewing you and saw that you just accepted a position, and then continued interviewing.

This is an opportunity for you to discuss your career and salary goals with the bank, and perhaps come to some sort of agreement about what the future might look like in a year, 5 years, etc.

 

Nevermind. Go ahead and do that.

 

Don't be a sucker. When the boss is done with you, and I would worry about anyplace that has a corporate airplane that flies as little as you say that yours does, you will be out on your ass looking in. Think of yourself first, not the bank. That is the way corporate america looks at you my friend

 

I see what you are trying to say and it's very honorable however that employer would not think twice about laying you off if that's what was best for them. It's not hosing anyone, it's business. If you think about it too much and worry about your employer, you will end up hosing yourself.

 

There's no question, go to UPS and if your conscience is killing you send the first 20k back to the bank. Just remember the bank just looks at the 20k as a cost of doing business, they may think higher of you if they get the $ back, but don't count on it. It may just make you feel better.

 

Perhaps. However contrary to what you guys believe, there are actually some decent, stable corporate gigs out there, where employers aren't just in it for themselves. (Have you ever worked in one? I doubt it since you both appear to be 121 drivers.)

The more that the general pilot population abuses these good gigs (which this particular job seems to be), the less likely they are going to be to accommodate pilot situations.

I know that my company will ALWAYS have an aircraft as long as they are in business (The company has had a plane since 1976, and now has a fleet of 3 challengers and one citation in the extended family). But even if they did decide to call it quits, I know that my current employer would offer a rather substantial severance package.

If you want to work corporate, so be it. You take some of the risks of doing so, but I also think the rewards can be much greater (I for one will don't EVER plan on returning to 121 airline flying).

If you want to work airlines, that's fine too. But don't screw over an employer in the first two weeks. It's one thing to start interviewing after six months or a year. It's entirely different thing to accept an offer with plans to jump ship in a short time frame, unless such intentions are presented ahead of time. Particularly when a company is shelling out $24000 for Flight Safety training.

I for one rather enjoy not having to agree to training contracts and ridiculous requirements for job offers. Attitudes such as those posted by folks here, do nothing to prevent future implementation of 1,2,or even 3 year contracts, or pay for training requirements.

 

Think about doing what is right.

Flyer Josh has some good points.

UPS isn't ALPA, but if I hope that any professional pilot would consider what The ALPA Code of Ethics has to say. In paragraph 5, it states, "To an Air Line Pilot the honor of his profession is dear, and he will remember that his own character and conduct reflect honor or dishonor upon the profession." It also says, "He will conduct all his affairs in a manner which reflects credit on himself and his profession... He will remember that to his neighbors, friends and acquaintances he represents both the profession and ALPA, and that his actions represent to them the conduct and character of all members of the profession and ALPA."

If you're going to need to lie about family plans or whatever to make it to the UPS interview, I would say skip the corp job. If the bank is a decent company, run by decent people, be open about the UPS thing.

Explain to them that you'd rather be making 300K a year some day than 60k. Make sure they understand it's just an interview - not a solid job offer - not a sure thing. You may even be able to use the UPS thing as a negotiating tool - like to get a written promise that you get first pick at a decent ground job with the company if the flight department cuts back or goes away.

If you're open with the company, they may be flexible with your job. Maybe they would hire you in a temp status - working in the flight department, but not actually flying - allowing the manager of the flight depart ment to spend some time in the cockpit - while you keep your foot in the door, and collect a pay check as you wait to hear from UPS. In any case, I would recommend that you be a little open and very honest with them.

Honesty is not the most lucrative policy, but it is usually the best policy.

 

Getting called for an interview ...how many apply and how many get asked to come?

I had the same type of decision years ago (1979). I had been in training with FedEx for two weeks and got called back to United for my final interview. I believe they had you come in a total of four times back then. The word was that the final was just to say congradulations and tell you when to attend training. Lucky for me I made the correct decision.

I can't offer any advice really.

Good Luck...

 

I think I would try to hold out and go to the interview!

I have a lot of corp. flying experience and there are definitely some great jobs out there, but I would highly recommend that you stay out of the banking industry!!!! It is a very volatile sector with mergers happening every day. If the bank that offered you a job isn't one of the top 5 or 6 big ones, chances are that that bank with be bought out or merged with pretty soon.

Another thing to consider if you are leaning towards taking the bank job is to get terms of a severance package in writing before you start. Once a merger is announced it will be to late.

With the economy in fair shape, the corporate flight departments seem to be thriving. In the southeast there are a lot of quality jobs open as we speak.

Good luck with whatever you decide, but I would highly recommend finding a way to make it to the UPS interview.

jj

 

That is just what my friends that flew G-5's at Seagrams and flew for RCA said. The rolls of NetJet's and the likes are full of pilots that "knew" that their companies would always have planes.