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It really is who you know...

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Old 07-18-2013 | 10:46 AM
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Default It really is who you know...

A little bit upset here.. Just missed a call from an old CFI of mine who needed an FO for a trip in a Citation...

I called him back 5 min later, but he already called another guy and I missed out...

The extent of my turbine time at the moment is .5 in a Challenger, so I really would have liked to have this opportunity...

Moral of the story: Always answer your phone!!! You never know when it might be opportunity calling..
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Old 07-18-2013 | 12:28 PM
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Missed opportunity happened to me while I was working on my Commercial. I did answer the phone. A buddy of mine call me in a panic asking how many hours I had. At the time I only had around 200TT. His company was looking for FO's in a King Air. I think the only way to get in is by who you know. If I only had my certificate. Never got the call since. Its been about 8 years.
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Old 07-18-2013 | 01:02 PM
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Originally Posted by lstorm2003
A little bit upset here.. Just missed a call from an old CFI of mine who needed an FO for a trip in a Citation...

I called him back 5 min later, but he already called another guy and I missed out...

The extent of my turbine time at the moment is .5 in a Challenger, so I really would have liked to have this opportunity...

Moral of the story: Always answer your phone!!! You never know when it might be opportunity calling..
OUCH! Sorry to hear that.
At least it sounds like you KNEW the right person/people in this case - just the timing was off.
Be sure and call him back and say that you appreciated the call and you hope he'll keep you in mind if he needs someone again.
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Old 07-18-2013 | 01:18 PM
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I was a CFI/line guy and was asked to go for a 20 minute ride (each way) in a Lear so they could get the radios worked on. I had my high altitude endorsement so I could log it as dual. When I went to change clothes, another CFi asked about it and if he could take it. I said sure, didn't really care about less than 1 hour dual received to sit for 4-5 hours.

What I didn't know until later, it was a job interview since they were looking for a FO. My friend was hired at Papa Johns that day, but it all works out as we are at the same place now.

It all works out in the end. We each had different opportunities through the years.

Last edited by Swedish Blender; 07-18-2013 at 01:37 PM.
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Old 07-18-2013 | 04:41 PM
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It really is who you know.

In regards to missed opportunities, I was working line service in Nashville one evening and a gentleman called looking for an FO on a Falcon 2000 for a 4 day trip to Naples. All he and the insurance were looking for was a multi engine rating. My check ride was three days after the scheduled departure.

When someone calls asking how much time you have in a certain airframe, you ask how much they are looking for and just happen to have that much.
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Old 07-18-2013 | 08:09 PM
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It really isn't who you know. That may get you so far, but after that, it's what you know.

I really tire of people telling other people in the industry that it's all about connections. I have a reasonably long and successful career behind me, more to go, and I have yet to use a connection to find or get a job. Certainly it can be done, and certainly some have great success networking their way up the career ladder. It most absolutely, definitely, is NOT necessary, and one can do just fine without using contacts to get somewhere.
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Old 07-18-2013 | 08:11 PM
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Who you know will get you there, what you know will keep you here.
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Old 07-18-2013 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by TXav8r13
Who you know will get you there, what you know will keep you here.
Wise words
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Old 07-18-2013 | 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by SurfNsun
You can know all the "right" people & know "everything" but if your timing is off you're screwed. Timing is everything...
The law of large numbers says that those opportunities will come again

To echo what a lot of people have said here already, lstorm keep your head high, it sounds like you already know a lot of the right people. USMCFLYR gave good advice , keep in touch and thank that contact for the opportunity. You never know what call you'll get tomorrow!!!
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