Aviation "head-hunting" companies
 

Hey all,

Just got notified I will be out of a job in a few months and was looking into the aviation "head-hunting" companies.

I am considering these and I sure would like a little insight if it is worth it or just a big waste of my very limited money.

Big (nearly out of work) thanks!

- Jet Professionals

- Air Crew Solutions

- Future and Active Pilot Advisor's

If you have strong quals, they are reasonable at putting you in touch with potential employers. If you don't have biz jet time, a type or two, some jet PIC probably not worth the expense.

GF

Been registered with Jet Professionals for over one year; never gotten a call on anything. Six type ratings, PIC time, so on and so forth.

Can't speak for the second group and I am contemplating joining FAPA myself.

I think the ones listed here do more contract/temp assignments...

My experience with headhunters is that very few have the inside track, and they will usually get in touch with you through friends/contacts when they have something they want you for. At that point the "registration" process gets completed and you may go in front of clients for interviews.

Any outfit that charges YOU to register, etc....beware. Most likely revolving door jobs, overseas assignments copied from the web boards etc.

As GF said - don't plan on hearing about many of the decent gigs unless you have quite a bit of time in type, Management experience etc. Clients pay a pretty large cut to these headhunters.

Good Luck!

Just to add more detail.

Those you mentioned are more like brokers for contract jobs, domestic and int'l. Janice Barden, Aviation Professionals San Francisco, formerly New Orleans, is the premier "head hunter" for corporate flight departments. Some deal with her exclusively, many do not. Pretty intensive and selective program, including testing. The two guys I know who used her, not so much success, but others highly recommend API.

A little personal history. Seven years, I was looking to change careers. I let a friend, who had been in my reserve unit years prior, know I was interested. They were hiring and interested. Sent resume, interviewed, hired over the next few weeks. Networking counts, right? Well, maybe not.

Last year we were hiring, the Boss asked me to cull out the 100+ resumes that HR had received from a web posting. Short story, myself and another pilot worked the list down to 14, interviewed all, hired 3. One was unknown to all three of us, one had interviewed before and not hired but otherwise unknown, one had an "in", that is known to one of the three of us thru the reserves.

Bottom line: you have to have the quals and a reputation for being a "good" pilot, without that all the networking in the world won't get you hired. Networking gives credence to your reputation.

Nowadays, lots of HR departments in large corporations require "neutral" process in hiring pilots, hence web postings, interviews, few "inside" deals.

Pick some target departments, introduce yourself, confirm that hiring may be in the cards and stay in touch. Know the company's hiring process; don't miss out because of a technicality. Our HR postings are open for two weeks only; your connection is key here in knowing when to apply. Be ready and stay in touch, I know of two guys that got hired by walking in as a pilot tendering his resignation was walking out. I was one of those guys walking OUT.

GF

PS: I can't reveal my employer.

My personal experience - I'm currently in the 142 training environment so I have a ton of corporate contacts. I usually get the "fast track" info when a job becomes available. Have interviewed many times in the last 3 years and made the short list only to get rejected on the currency/recency of experience issue. Even personally know - outside of aviation - a couple of major aviation department directors. Was negated for those jobs because of recency and not typed in specific model of Gulfstream they fly (although I am typed in the G-IV).

I believe in the 'good ole days' it was a "this is a great guy so we will take a chance even if he's not typed." Now, if you don't have a type, 500 hours of PIC, and recency of experience, IMO you're toast (at least for the Fortune 50 jobs).

Additionally, my experience with these companies has been they don't use the "head hunter" method. They have company websites with thousands of candidates that have pre-registered to get notified when a job becomes available.

Great advice on this board.

Head hunters usually advertise temp jobs, and what's worse, some of them (ACASS) will make it almost impossible to 'convert' the gig to full-time because they'll require the employer pay them an inordinate amount of money before they're able to 'hire you' full time.

Yes, unfortunately it seems that many places require a type and 500 hours in type. There still are a few departments that would rather hire a 'fit' than a type+time in type, but sadly they are becoming an exception.

Give it time... as major airlines start to hire, you will see more movement in the corporate world as well.

Janice Barden and one or two others deal with the top 10% jobs primarily. The others seems to be more temporary/entry level jobs....