Hunting for CFI job
 

So it sucks big time when my originally lined up CFI job is not going to happen because the school I am training out of is facing major budget cutbacks by the associated university.
This means, come May I have all my CFI certs, a worthless degree, enough hours to kill myself, and like many... no job. Originally, I wanted to stay with a larger, preferably part 141 school, as a flight instructor because the flight instructors are just that - more of a flight instructor and less a ground instructor. However, at this point I will take anything, anywhere so long as it gets me a modest amount of hours and puts a roof over the head. Food on the table at this point is optional.
So I guess I am not so much looking WHERE there are jobs, but HOW to get jobs. How do you find flight schools that are hiring/have openings. Once you find one, who do you talk with?
Thanks all.

There are often CFI opportunities at small airports in out-of-the-way places. The catch is that you have to be willing to relocate, and you might be hosed if enough work does not materialize.

I would be wary of operations which want you to relocate, then expect you to hang around the FBO unpaid until a student walks in. Basically they get the benefit of a full-time CFI, but only pay if there students...not good. If you find a deal like that, see if you can get paid for office/ramp work when not teaching.

You can always go freelance. The problem is that lots of unemployed airline guys are probably doing that right now, and if you don't have CFI experience, you will have a steep learning curve without a supervisor to fall back on.

In all honesty, if you can afford it, this might be a good time to earn a non-worthless master's degree.

Thanks for the reply,
Yeah with only a few hours of dual given (1 student really about ready for checkride ), free lance I would not be nearly ready for. I agree, I know at some FBOs you only get paid for the hours the student is with you which, as you said, involves lots of sitting around and not getting paid.
Master's is something I have considered... i already have a little bit of student debt (tried to avoid it as much as possible) which I'd like to get a little under control. Plus... I am a little burnt out from school. Maybe if I started a degree that would help because knowing its almost over is kind of hard.

Freelance may not be as bad an idea as it sounds. I know several people in my area that are looking for flight training, and two of them already own an airplane as odd as it sounds. I also know of two flight schools that are willing to let you train as a freelance CFI in their airplanes as long as the rental fee is paid. You bring your own students to the party. So, if I were in your shoes I would beat the pavement looking for students. With or without an airplane you can probably teach them somewhere somehow. Call around and propose a deal with local FBOs and/or individuals about using their airplanes. You will probably still need to fix gutters and hang drywall part time to make ends meet, but you will keep building dual given and total flight time if you really work at it. Obviously you should not go this way expecting to make a fulltime living but it will get you through thin times.

Pull out your sectional and go to every airport that is within reasonable driving distance, and bring business cards with you. It's tough to find a job right now as a CFI, but there is opportunity out there. Put your business cards at all the FBO's you can find. That includes mx shops, pilot supply stores etc... I have never met anyone in the aviation industry that doesn't want to help out someone who is trying to get their foot in the door. Also put your card on the windscreen of every airplane that you would feel comfortable instructing in. You never know who you might run into. There are people out there who like to stay ultra current and fly a couple lessons a month even after they have their ratings. There are people who like to take instructors on cross countries. Everyone has to do a BFR, and maybe they want to find someone to teach their kid.

I delivered pizza's at night for a year while building up my student list. I know another CFI that drives an hour each way to get to the airport everyday to instruct. Sometimes it's tough, but it builds character. Freelancing isn't always easy, but there are plenty of resources out there to help you out. Don't forget that you can ferry aircraft and do aerial photography too.

I guess I just wrote a whole lot, but ultimately NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! I've also never met a pilot that doesn't live by this.

Good luck, you seem like you have a level head on you, and I hope things turn out well.

Enough hours to kill yourself ... only a couple hours of dual? Yes you sound very experienced.

Which one. I'm sorry, but you really sound like you are owed a job. I've got my CFI, now where's my job. But hey, at least you weren't saying "I've got my Commercial, now where's my RJ". Also, you're not too good for teaching via brief. I'm a flight instructor, i teach in airplanes, not in front of white boards.

1) Get over yourself
2) Hit the pavement, GO talk to school owners hand them your resume directly.

I did exactly that when I started...
 

....sat in a rental operation's office, unpaid, in hopes that students/checkouts/flying would materialize. Answered the phones, helped out when I could, etc. Yeah, it sucked the first 30 days...nothing but rain and IFR weather. And then the weather broke.

90 hours that month. Every time I answered the phone and talked to someone new I had a better chance of scheduling them...and often times, I did. Basic aircraft led to more complex. The ownership ended up donating the time for my ATP training...I just paid the examiner and took the written.

I averaged 850 hours per year....and that was in the Midwest.

I ended up with more experience in different types of aircraft than any of my counterparts did working at a 141 University. More multi-engine time.

Do what you have to do. Pick the best of the worst and make a go of it. In this economy, that's all there is.

X

I second the last piece of advice....if you can, use this downturn to continue your education. If I were in your position, I would begin to look into my post-graduate education (especially into something non related to aviation!).

To follow up on my last comment....

There are lots of good pieces of advice on here so far. I would just add a few and/or reiterate a few things that have already been mentioned.

1) Be flexible--I cannot stress this enough. I have moved from one state to another five separate times to make this career happen. Once pre-Sept 11, 2001 and 4 times since. The first several years afterwards 9-11-01 were tough to find flying-jobs, but I moved when needed and it paid off. Of course, this is much easier if you are single with few commitments. Don't collect wives/spouses/pets/boats/toys/etc along the way. This sounds hard to believe, but I have had unemployed pilot-friends turn down jobs in King Air's and Learjets because they didn't want to move 100 miles away.

2) Be eager--Like another poster said, get out there yourself and meet with the owners in person, hand out resumes and follow-up every so often, even if they are not hiring. Show them that you want the job!

3) Be hungry--do what it takes. When you get a CFI job, work harder than anyone else. Do the things others won't do. Don't talk smack on anyone else, whether they are a co-worker, competitor, or customer----You NEVER know when someone you don't agree with may provide your best contact or next job!

4) Be smart--something I sometimes forgot. You are a new CFI with, quite frankly, limited experience. Remember there are going to be a lot of people who know more and have experienced more. Don't try to impress others with your war-stories. Just keep your head in the books and keep improving yourself...you won't be a full-time CFI forever. Remember that your students' lives depend on how you do your job, so do it well and move on to greener pastures when the time comes.

5) Be true to yourself--You will undoubtedly find lots of dreamers and schemers out there that might hire you, but not all of them will have your best interest in mind. My first CFI job was with a large, well-known Part 141 flight school, but it was a horrible place to work. Second CFI position was all Part 61/91, better in many respects than the first, but it was one of those operations that you sat around unpaid unless business walked through the door. I went broke. I kept looking for what was in my best interest, you have to do the same.

Good luck and fly safe.

Perhaps you didnt understand the point of my quote... I was refering to having roughly 300 hours total, IE: The kill zone. Enough hours to fly, but not enough experience to save ones tail... never mind. Amazon.com: The Killing Zone: How & Why Pilots Die eBook: Paul A. Craig: The Kindle Store

EVERYONE ELSE, thanks for really great input. Graduation is rapidly approach and I am poishing up the resume to start sending out. I am definitely willing to move as needed, and I have received that other advice (regarding persistence) from others and taken it to heart.

Again, thanks for all the input!