I did my job search in late 2004 while I was on active duty. The problem I had was that I went to UPT in 1999. I knew quite a few guys from my time as a young copilot who were hired by the majors. I did not know anyone who was hired after 9/11 because there were not any. Most of my initial IPs who were hired by the majors were furloughed in 2004 when I was applying to the airlines. The few friends I had that went to FDX/UPS were being swamped with requests from peers who were looking for work after being furloghed. These guys were a lot older than me and not my "peers" while on AD. I managed to get the contacts made and the recs but it was tough.

I do not agree that a guy on AD now should know a lot of people at UPS/FDX. Shaggy should swallow his pride and contact anyone he knows. I cold called some guys I had not had contact with for 5 years. It was hard and some of them politely declined to help, but others came through in a big way. I would mind my P's and Q's, however, even on a supposed anonymous board.

 

As a recipient of a cold call, I can say that I was lukewarm helping a squadron bud out. I had left the squadron YEARS before, never knew the guy, and thought he was fishing for a recommendation and I didn't know him from Adam. So I politely declined for a rec but gave him 4 names of other dudes from the squadron AND base and he knew one of the guys who eventually gave him a rec. It worked! Yes, it's uncomfortable cold calling guys but it works. Now we have a network "fraternity" and when somebody in the community is looking at FedEx for an interview, we shotgun out an email for two reasons and I hope I don't have to explain the differences.

Next ............ the hiring system at FedEx works. Yes, it could use some tweaking; yes, it helps if you know somebody, yes, the test s*x, and yes, it all seems "unfair." Most applicants don't understand the scale of the problem. There are 11,000 plus applications and most are more than qualified applicants. Nowhere on ANY application does it say "DUES PAID." Go to a basketball game this winter and a reasonable arena and you'll have around 10K there, probably more. 350 of those people are going to be hired in '07. (my nums may be off). We're not going to pick some nebulous nabob out of the stands to come down and shoot free throws at halftime. We're going to select a guy with a rec or an internal. A dude/dudette that comes in for a M&G. That's the way we do it.

Also couple that with some big-time bean counters who tell the CP how many he can hire from qtr to qtr. The CP doesn't make the call on the nums but he gets a say-so on the final call.

It s*x to be outside looking in -- I was outside for awhile after getting turned down 3x at legacy carriers. But the Big Man upstairs had better plans -- as usual, and I'm here, thankfully.

Lastly, if you hate the way we hire, you're really going to hate carrying that coffee jug.

 

Shaggy,

Part of working hard is finding someone to give you that rec. It may not sound fair, but that's the way it is. When I was applying, the only way to get an interview at SWA was to go to their school and get your ATP and type rating. That costs a lot of money and only guaranteed you an interview, not the job. Glad to hear you have gotten an interview at UPS, but I would put those matches down and stop burning bridges on this forum. You never know what the future holds. Good thing your info isn't attached to this thread or you just may have killed any chance of getting hired at FedEx or Eagle. I am sure they have have people in managment that read these boards. Be careful what you put in print.
Just MY 2 CENTS.

 

I just have to say, for someone that claims to be naive, you sure have some VERY STRONG opinions! I don't think your 2 cents is worth the paper its printed on!

Good luck in your efforts!

 

Shaggy,

You are going through an important transistion in your career, it is stressful. Do not sweat the small stuff because you have something thousands of pilots want, a shot at UPS. I would walk away from this forum and prepare for the big day. Let us know how you do.

 

Naw, went away in the new contract, but I guess you could make him carry it anyway!

 

Beagle,
Thanks man, walking away sounds like a good idea. God bless.

 

Wow Shaggy, maybe you should try to get back in the AF and do some more growing up before you go out there into the big wide world.

I had my app in for well over a year at Brown, never heard a peep. 20 years of active duty, 3500+ jet PIC, 5000 total.

Same story at SW, app in for a year, numerous recs, first interview cnx'd due to 9/11, got interview in Jan 02, typed in Mar 02, waited 25 months in the pool before finally getting a call for class in Apr 04. Had to decline due to below.

I had numerous recs at FedEx, still took well over a year to even get an interview. I was lucky to get hired after almost 2 years of trying.

You've had apps out for a month and gotten two interview calls, nobody is kicking you while you are down. They are simply trying to help you realize how fortunate you are and that you'd better get your shiat together and quit begging for help if you want to make it on the outside.

Nobody is going to file your flightplan for you anymore, you need to go make your future happen.

Good luck to you, let us know how it turns out.

FJ

 

Hmmm, I followed your post except for this part.


I always filed my own flight plan in the Air Force, but never at FedEx. Am I doin' somethin' wrong?





It was a metaphor, right?


What's a metaphor?


Well, it's for growin' grasses and stuff that'll attract deer so you can shoot 'em.






.

 

Been in for 12 years, 5 as a shoe clerk and 7 flying (Which includes a year at UPT as he says he checked out in Mar 01). One Operational assignment and claims to be an Ops Officer of a flying unit.

BULL$hit!

We may tease Tanker guys about scraping the bottom of the barrel, but I doubt this was the best they could do for an ops officer for a flying unit. The only concievable way they would take a junior Major and make him an Ops officer is if everyone else was dead and he was a below-the-zoner and was married to the Chief of Staff's daughter. And he had been flying the whole time.

Even then, the maturity shown by him on this board sounds like he has just enough tact to navigate his way around the ugliest Homo at a circle jerk.

Sounds like this is a poser trying to show that only the military gets linked in at FedEx, or a sluggo mil guy with a severe case of resume inflation.

Hell...even with that Pacer Craig thing going on (or whatever its called) I am sure there are still a few 135 NAVS that would make a better ops officer than a guy like that.

But by the way Shaggy, PM me with your info, and you'll get all the recommendation that you deserve.

Jakal....Out

(Maybe I shouldn't say "out" since I used a homophobic metaphor)