Looking for my first CFI Job
 

Private, Instrument, and soon to be Commercial pilot looking for a flight school to get my Multi and CFI’s, then gain employment with them after. I don’t know how the CFI job outlook is right now, but I’d like something that pays around $400-$500/week and somewhere warm, like Florida or California. Do these opportunities exist right now?

What should I expect when looking at CFI jobs, and is it common to be promised employment if you agree to get your ratings with them?

uhmmmmmm, good luck with that. Nieve is a word that comes to mind..I dont mean to burst your bubble, but youll be lucky to land any CFI gig, with zero dual given right now. If your lucky youll get one, but it may be somewhere cold, and you might make 200 a week, ne prepared for the state of aviation right now..

It's pretty rough out there for new CFI's....my buddy has tried sending resumes or contacting every school in South Florida and in the Atlanta area....

32 resumes sent...8 replies saying "thanks but no thanks" and no responses or call backs from the rest.

That's a sad story but kind of what I figured. I'm not on here much and definitely not up with what's going on in the CFI world.

Your best bet is to walk into the flight schools and talk to the owners and/or chief pilots. Most people just send in resumes and don't even follow up... That is not going to make you stand out. Gotta pound the pavement and network like crazy to find the jobs right now.

My advice is to find a good steady job, if you don't already have one, and bust your butt to save some cash so you can move when you do get that call. It could be a while before you find something or somebody could call you back as you're reading this. Being current, ready and staying positive will get you there.

I concur with what other posters have said. Not to be negative nancy, but you might be told of a future cfi spot and it falling through the cracks when the time comes. On a positive note, you need the ratings anway and hopefully by the time your done things might be better. I was just hired not long ago but haven't worked a second let alone a minute do to lack of students.....and inaddition to management(maybe).

In these times you wont find a job anywhere with zero dual given. Your best bet would be to find a smaller school (bigger than an FBO, but not a certificate factory) get your ratings with them and unless your a complete idiot they should hopefully hire you at least part time. Zero dual given looks better when they personally trainied you, and know you will use there teaching styles.

Expect to start at around $12-15 an hour and maybe 2 hours a day to start. Than as you have no life and live at the school for the next few months youll hopefully have meet enough students to pull 4 hours a day if your lucky.

Build up your time at that school and once you get some dual given you can jump ship to your dream instructing job (if there is such a thing!)

Yeah, it's rough out there. I'm a 2 year CFI knocking on 1,500tt, +1,000ME & over 1,000 Dual Given. Very competitive out there. I never thought that I would still be instructing after 2 years! The low time CFIs are up against a lot of guys who have 1000/1500/2000+ hours. A CFIs pay is very humble, but the job itself is very rewarding.

I will say that "desire feeds the will" and anything is possible.

I agree that it CAN be like what the others described, yet I disagree with the overall sentiment that you can forget getting a job as a CFI with 0 dual given right now. Statistically, you can increase your chances by being as proactive as you can.

IF you are willing to move, there are many CFI openings in the country. Just check out www uspilot com (totally free to register and view job postings, plenty of pay sites out there also)
You have to really look for the opportunities, and be proactive. Some hints:

1) Going in person to the school is definitely something that will make you stand out, do it whenever you can
2) Knowing someone inside the school, even another CFI, is even better
3) Do not overstate your experience, sell yourself for who you are
4) Really small part 61 schools often look for independent instructors - you might be getting only 2-4 hours per week to start on the weekends when other instructors do not want to work, but it IS a start and a foot in the door
5) Getting a job with the same school that trains you is excellent idea.. look at their student/instructor load and you will know what your chances are as it is unlikely to change anytime soon
6) Part 141 schools that have enrolled students are a good bet if you can get it, because those students HAVE to fly and follow the training course.. they do not have many options to slack off, since they usually prepay for the course
7) Part 61 schools, especially small ones, may be hurting because many of them are nothing but a school sign with a bunch of independent CFIs inside. Students fly when they want and they are not required to be on the schedule. So when they do not have money they just stop flying. There are part 61 schools that are tight ships and ran like part 141 so there is an exception to every rule. If it were me, I would be trying to get into part 141 school right now with a steady student load. Usually if you get your CFI with them it is a guaranteed interview, if not a guaranteed job.
8) You can find all part 141 training facilities in the country listed on the FAA website.. just look for the ones nearest to you

Of course, since you are not a CFI yet no one will talk to you about a job, yet. If you can afford it, get into a good part 141 school with a lot of students and a lot of airplanes. Chances are, when you get your CFI, some instructor will leave for one reason or another(probably because the job sucks :) and you can have that sucky paying job all to yourself ! ;)