FedEx Question?
 

I was looking at the qualifications for "consideration as a FedEx pilot",
and nowhere can I find where one needs 3 recomendations from within?
What are the chances of someone with no FedEx buddies hiring in?

https://www.pilotcredentials.com/car...qualifications

If you're a white male: ZERO To NONE

Look at the first line under the word "Qualifications".

That line used to say "Minimum qualifications to be considered..."

That changed to "Typical qualifications..." when they wanted to hire some pilots who didn't quite
meet the "mimimum" qualifications, but who were eminently qualified, shall we say, demographically.
Or so the story goes...

"Personal recommendations" aren't listed so they won't get sued when they want to hire a
demographically qualified pilot who doesn't have a personal recommendation.

It also says you need 1000 PIC Turbine, but to be competitive you would need more. I was fortunate to have the Three contacts, but I also had a sponsor that stood in front of the ACP and practically told him that FedEx won't survive without this guy (me)! I'm not quite sure if that was entirely accurate, but you get the point.

Southwest, for example, will interview 250 pilots a month to pick 50. But they don't have the multi-level screening process that FedEx does. FedEx relies on recommendations from their own pilots to reduce the stack of applicants from that 250 potentials to 50 before making it to interview day.

For a Southwest interview, you can go to Higher Power to get the type rating and if you do well you can bet on an interview soon after. Will you get the job? You still need recommendations. You can get an interview without the type rating as well if you have higher PIC time, 4 year degree, etc. I got called without the type, so I know they are calling those without.

At FedEx, by the time you interview it is your job to lose. The sim check is kinda tough but fair, and so is the interview itself. I'm not bagging on Southwest at all, I appreciate that you can at least have a chance to interview without knowing anyone. But once there, you are still competing with those pilots with 3+ internal recommendations.

I got lucky with FedEx. The cards fell into place. I know zero pilots at UPS, Continental. I know a couple pilots at Southwest, and may have had a shot there if I had screwed up the FedEx interview. Who knows.

If you can get a hold of a seniority list at FedEx or other airlines and go through the names you may run across some you actually flew with, or at least knew at some point.

The other options as other threads pointed out are getting an "internal" by driving or tossing boxes, getting into their corporate flying dept., or working in the training center for a year or two. If you know any Senators or Fortune 500 CEO's it might help too.

Good luck.

The last I heard we had over 10K applications. Granted, alot of those are guys/gals with the "typical" qualifications. The folks in pilot hiring are not going to reach into that stack of 10K and randomly pull out one app and say "let's call this guy."

That's why you need 3 recommendations and pilot's can only sponsor 1 buddy to a 'meet-and-greet.' At least that's what I remember. As USNFDX said above, unless you're of another persuasion, you need to know someone inside. You'd be surprised of the number of guys you may know on the list, especially if you're ex-military.

Thanks for the info guys, where would one find a list of pilots?

You got a hundred dollars?

"Thanks for the info guys, where would one find a list of pilots?"

You're probably not going to get a list from one of us unless we actually know you. Your best bet is to give out your actual name on this and other boards to see if anybody knows you.

It's called a Catch-22. You have to have the list to know if you know anyone on the list. ;)

I totally understand... Thanks for the info.

list of pilot names
 

Or ... I got am email last week from a guy looking for a FedEx recommendation. He said he knew me from the Air Force. I wasn't in the Air Force? Nice try ...

Mark

Thats quite a Catch.

The best there is.

(I'm paraphrasing)

Contacting a FedEx pilot
 

Mail may be sent to FedEx pilots:

Name
c/o FedEx
P.O. Box 727
Memphis, TN 38194-0137

This is for stamped mail, not over night letters.
Now you have one way to re-establish contact with an old co-worker.

Good luck

Go Fish
 

Or you could just start naming people that you know and we will let you know if they work here.

Seriously, you need to think of one guy that you think might work at Fedex or UPS and go from there.

I'm thinking...:confused:
Thanks..

All,
I would like to say how thoroughly disappointed I am to have read this thread. While I got some good info from it, it still discourages me to think that if I make it into FedEx, that my white male counterparts will instantly think of me as a "quota baby"! I don't know what else to say? Is this what my friends in FedEx say behind the other non-white employees backs? If so, what are they saying about me behind my back? I understand the frustration but this is not a qouta issue. It is a survivability issue and FedEx is being proactive. If you think you can survive as a homogenous organization, you will eventually find yourselves unemployed. The white male in this society has every opportunity placed at his feet and simply has to pick up the ball and run with it but would rather cry "woe is me"! You have a job that most would kill for regardless of ethnicity and you are still crying foul???

Please disregard

Double D,

He's not talking about skin color. FDX's mins used to be 1000 PIC Jet. When that was the stated minimum there were a few ladies hired that did not meet this requirement. What got under every ones skin (no pun intended) was the fact that they let these people in under the minumum acceptable for everyone else. Kinda like reverse discrimination.. :)

Past....

Is there a pilot mentoring program?
 

A friend of a friend of a friend (too bad he is so far removed from me!)got into Fedex in the spring with just turboprop time. Through the grapevine, I was told this guy had been involved with a formal mentoring program with Fedex for five or six years, and that the captain he was assigned to sponsored him at a meet and greet. However, I have never seen or heard of this program through any other channel, so I wonder if that information is accurate, and if so, how does one become a mentee?

Obviously, it is the dream job and I'd love any avenue in to the company. Heck, I bet a lot of crews are on layover in Indy on any given day. Anyone want a home cooked meal? My wife is a superb cook. ;)

Correct me if I'm wrong but the ones that came in under the PIC requirement were about 10 years ago, for a brief time.

One of them balled up an MD-10 a few years ago.

EVERYONE ELSE on the seniority list made it the hard way. I know probably 20 female or minority pilots personally here, and they all have backgrounds way above the average paleface. My sim partner as a new hire was an F-18 pilot off a carrier during the Afghan campaign. I have the utmost respect for him. Don't worry about it Double D.

Huck,

I think it was the late 90's. Lots of great people here from all walks of life.

If your really serious about "getting in" at Fedex and don't have the connections but do have the quals, get a job at the hub, throw boxes, what ever and apply as an internal in two years. Iif you can fly and do both, all the better, just make sure you do meet the quals and keep in mind, it will get you an interview, not guarantee a job (offer).

All,
Thanks for putting my fears to rest.

Double D

DC,
I would be interested in hearing more about how to utilize "getting in" to my advantage. I am currently with FedEx doing as you suggest. I am an equipment operator. I got lucky enough to be hired straight into the position without throwing boxes, because of my aircraft experience, but when the sort backs up and the plane leaves we have to spend our time in the trenches. I also have friends that are flying for FedEx. Your advice would be GREATLY appreciated along with anyone else.

Double D

Double D,

There is no secret to the path you are taking. Once you have been employed for two years, you can apply, and as long as you are qualified, and Fedex is interviewing, you WILL get an interview. I would still get with your friends who are crewmembers, and they will know what to do. Have you flown with any of the pilots? If so, you need to get that person to sponsor you, and remember that they will talk to your supervisor at Fedex.

i don't even think it is two years. It is usually after 1 year when the job is posted on the internal posting network."That is the wall list that everyone stares at once a week." I believe they go up on Fridays. At least they did when I worked in the hub.

Interviews
 

What's the latest word on interviews? Last I heard there were trying to clean out the pool and would probably start interviewing again in Jan '07. Anyone?

Thanks for the replies. I guess my next problem is figuring out how to stay on the FedEx roles and build my hours. I was thinking of working for one of the regionals when I retire from the Marine Corps but we don't have casual employees at my location. Is it possible to take a leave of absence and still get an interview?

FWIW, I'd take a flying job over a non-flying one, any day. That prior employment with FDX ought to still look good....

You must be an active employee to get the guaranteed interview. Don't quit your job.

DD, if you change your status to "casual", none of your time counts, and the clock will start again when you go back to permanent part-time or full-time status. Sorry if this pokes a hole into any plans.
Best regards,
fbh,

p.s. feel free to private message me if I can be of any help.
p.s.s. last time I heard, it was a 1 year in position lock before you could internally apply.

I'll shut up now....

Double D,

Let it go and focus on being professional. Filling your mind with concern about what other people think will only take you out of your "A game" on the day that you need it the most--when you are flying or even worse on the day you interview.

I have an Academy classmate who once told me that I would not believe what some my fellow Fedex pilots say when they think they are in the presence of a like minded white male. Toughen up and focus on the task at hand. Get your flight time(1000 PIC in an appropriate aircraft), network, and prepare for your interview.

Compartmentalize, that's what pilot do.

Fedex and UPS are the best deals going. Don't let anything or anyone get between you and your goal--the Fedex paycheck. Simply put these are the only games in town. You won't change the minds of those who think you are undeserving. But, you can live with the comfort of knowing that most of those people who worry about how you got your job lack the ambition and creativity to be much more than speed bumps if you are committed to your goals.

"Man up" if you are a man. If you are not a man then "Man up" anyway. If you wan't a real problem add a Muslim sirname. Or, even better try being a naturalized Muslim trying to get hired in this market. There are a lot of people who would trade with you also. By the way, if it gets the mortgage paid, i'll pull gear for a "Grand Dragon" as long as he is standardized.

Jax,
I hear you loud and clear. Trust me, you don't survive 20 plus years in the Corps by letting the naysayers get to you and I definitely know how to man up. That said, I disagree with pulling gear for a "grand dragon". You have to be true to yourself.

DD

p.s. feel free to private message me if I can be of any help.
p.s.s. last time I heard, it was a 1 year in position lock before you could internally apply.[/QUOTE]

FBH
I can't send PMs yet.

DD

"pull" this!
 

DD,

Your screen name "DD" alone entitles you to "pull gear" for me anytime :D ... That said, you'd be (and so would anyone else looking for an "airline" job these days) extremely fortunate to get a job at FedEx. If I were you, I'd volunteer to "pull gear" and buy beer should you be one of the lucky ones to find yourself employed at a company that will likely be around when you retire.

Regards,


Mark

................

It is a "JOB" not a social experiment, higher moral calling, political referendum or anything else that has to do with being true to yourself. The only person you hurt by objecting to flying with the hypothetical "Grand Dragon" is yourself. He still has his 200K+ a year job you've done just what he wanted by bidding out his way, calling in sick, etc... We do not live in a perfect world. But, in todays world, eventually his actions and judgments will be evaluated by others based upon "the content of his character" and so will you. Also, by avoiding flying with him you've missed out on an opportunity, possibly a two week captive audience opportunity to change some of his views or add another "Exception" to his list.

Good luck and I do believe that it is one year to apply for internal job transitions. Also, if you get your interview through internal channels then you need to double your preparation efforts because you will not have had the tuning up interview prep process that goes along with getting a M&G. This job can pay for a fat mortgage and people are bringing their best to get it. Remember that! Contact some corp buddies who fly for us and get some recommendations. Even if you are an internal you are going to look pretty naked on the other end of the interview table if you have 20 years in the corp without some. Continue to learn the Fedex pilot corporate culture and figure out where you fit into it positively.

Double D, I have been involved in the hiring process at FedEx for the past 3+ years and I can say that skin color will not get you a job. Plain and simple, you earn the interview at FedEx. I have had guys come to me with a candidate and say "hey man, he's a minority, we really need to hire him.", My first response is to tell him that FedEx has no problems defending their minority hiring practices to anyone. I think if you look at the overall numbers you'll probably find we have done areal good job without even trying. We have done this by, for the most part, hiring the most qualified folks regardless of their "status." I will admit that in the past we have hired females that did not met the mins, but that was rammed down our throats by the HR folks. They basically told flight ops that if we wanted to maintain control of the system we had to play by their rules. So to keep the reins, we acquiesced. I can remember sitting in a bar on a layover with my SO and having her tell me she had "no qualifying PIC time." She got a call from CS inviting her to an interview. I thought she was bull****ting me, but she was right. So rest assured, if you get hired at FedEx it will be becasue you belong, you earned it, and I really think the days of "tokenism" are gone. Atleast from where I sit anyway....

Thanks for the reply. I believe you that FedEx is not hiring "tokens". I see this based on the few aircrew that I interact with on the ramp. My concern was that minorities were being automatically assumed to be hired based upon a quota system rather than on their merits. I am including women in the group also because I heard the jokes about one of my fellow officers when I was in my past squadron and I can tell you that she was hands down one of the top ten fighter pilots for her rank and experience level.

The sheer magnitude of hoops that have to be jumped through to get an interview would tell most that you have to know your stuff to be a FedEx pilot but yet to read the posts, it appeared that everyone was being painted with the same brush. That is what disappointed me. I am still proud to be a part time FedEx employee and still plan to work my way up to the flight deck in the next couple of years.