CitationShares Dilemma
 

I have a job offer from CitationShares for the CE-550 and an offer from a 135 company for a 560XLS. The 135 pays approx. 12-15,000 more a year but long term, CS will offer more opportunities and pay. In addition, at some point, CS will probably get a raise.

I am having a difficult time deciding. The 135 job is at my current company in my hometown. At CS, I would need to move about 4 hours away. Also, I am in the "Huge" interview pool at NetJets. Should I stick it out where I live now and make the better money or go to CitationShares, a good company that would provide good experience?

Any thoughts, suggestions, comments would be greatly appreciated!!

Lucky!!!

I'd go to CS, but your decision will probably depend on how likely or long it will take to get an offer at Net Jets.

I'd take the CS job. I would not pass on a good job just to wait on a better one (NJ) that might never materialized. People go to interviews with a clean FAA record, do well in the sim, say all the right things to the HR folks, and still not get the job. Sad, but it happens.

What I'm trying to say is- this part 135 gig, you might be there a loooong time if the NJ interview doesn't go well. I guess it depends on how much you like your current company.

A good scenario would be if you could interview at NJ once you're at CS. You would be almost care-free, less pressure and stress.

good luck

Keep in mind the one year 20g training contract at CS.

The best decision is the one that you and your family make with the info available at the time the decision is made. Do not make decisions based on "maybe","might" or "loose promises". Once the decision is made, do not look back and say "would'a, could'a or should'a".


EXTW

PS Sorry I was no help.:(

Take the CS offer... its a gift. Listen to UCLA, he's spot on. I just turned in my notice of resignation at my 135 gig and couldn't be happier.... I also had an offer to move to CA in our CE-550's/560's plus more money and still opted for the CS job. If your 135 gig was anything like mine (lots of "on-call", lots of 3 and 4 day trips extended to 4 and 5 days which made planning anything with my family nearly impossible, and poor benefits, especially for a family, no set pay scale, etc), then the choice should be easy.

CS seems like a top notch company. Even though they're not up to speed with NJA or FX as far as pay is concerned, the current payscale is still good. But, this is coming from a guy getting abused for the last 2+ years.:rolleyes:

I'd say use quality of life as a tie breaker. I'm not sure what the 135 gig offers, but CS is 7/7 (at least for now).

Also, how important is the extra money? You can earn extra cash working OT at CS, but that cuts into your off time. If you plan on getting a pay raise at CS to match NJ, you may be disappointed (and locked in with a 12 month contract).

Does the 135 job come with a type rating and PIC time? Ugrades at CS will be L-O-N-G unless something changes.

My recommendation is make a list of pros and cons for each job.

Upgrade would be just over one year. The 135 job comes with a type rating and some PIC time. There are benefits to both jobs and I am not sure where I should be going with this. I feel a commitment to both companies now and need to make a decision in the next week. I would love to have only one offer to eliminate the stress of deciding or the ability to maintain relations with both companies once I make a decision but I am not sure if that will be possible.

I wouldn't worry too much about relations with one company or the other - this is extraneous worry you are putting on yourself that is irrelevant. If you handle things respectfully, in the correct fashion, you will not burn a bridge. On the other hand, if you handle it this way and the people you turn down are hostile - then you made the right call. Don't spend time focusing on this in my opinion.

Sounds like you would have a training contract wherever you go. This is a difficult situation. I don't like the fact that CS is so tight on exactly where you live - Netjets does not have this rule (just get to your domicile by a specified time) and they offer so many more domicile options. I would keep your Netjets interview and then flip a coin. Perhaps you will interview with Netjets in 6 months and then have the option to join a few months after - you can drag out the process and drive down the prorated training amount (if that is possible).

CS would not be a bad option if you decided to stay there - but I would still check out Netjets for the long-term.

The biggest problem is...the NJ interview may take a significant time, may not go well, or may not happen at all. Also, I am weighing the importance of Citation Bravo with a longer upgrade with XLS and a shorter upgrade.

[quote=BE200CPT;320646]The biggest problem is...the NJ interview may take a significant time, may not go well, or may not happen at all. quote]

my point exactly, check out flightinfo.com there's a couple of threads going on about the NJ interview. Only 3 out of 10 get the job, everything has to be pristine or they send you home, they are getting very picky, one wrong answer and its over, and blah, blah blah. Unfortunately the NetJets interview has become something else, (thank God things were easier in 2005 when I went in).

My advice, go with CS and keep after NJ (if still interested). If NJ calls, go to the interview, if they say No, oh well, who cares, you're at a CS, a good and stable company.

Wish I had that dilema, sounds like two good opportunities.

You have to do whats best for you, no one can decide that for you, Living where I want to live is always my number one decision, as of very recent I've forutnately been able to do this and I don't regret the change.

Don't let anyone convince you to go somewhere you don't want, you will regret it big time.

Personally I'd go where the qol is goin to be better, you'll be happier and won't regret getting yourself into a mess that could be very binding. I don't know what job has a better schedule, they both sound decent.

Whatever you do good luck and don't look back.

I would look at it in terms of how likely it would be for the same job to be available in one year. If you turn down the 135 gig and went to CS, will the same job be available to you if you decide CS wasn't for you in 12 months? Is it now or never? On the other hand, if you politely turn down CS's offer for now, could you reapply in 6-12 months if the other one wasn't all it was cracked up to be? I can't say for the 135 job, but I'll bet there will still be hiring going on later this year or next year at CS. If you leave it very politely and diplomatically, there could be the chance of returning to CS later if the other one doesn't pan out.

food for thought.

"The 135 job is at my current company in my hometown. At CS, I would need to move about 4 hours away. "

- Do you own that home? How's the market where you are, can you sell it?What would a move cost in real $$ -- Factor that into the salary. Do what's best for your family situation/sanity/QOL.

All very good advice guys. Pilot 135, I think your statement is what this boils down two...ensuring I make a choice that allows for movement should something not work out as planned. The situation adds a lot of stress to life...yet again, its a good job market and better than no opportunities at all.

I'll bet its easier to decide now, isn't it? Wow, your timing is charmed.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/sh...ad.php?t=22367

Kdub is right. You're timing IS charmed. Hopefully with the news on CS' pay increase, money is ruled out of your decision making process since there is more to life than income. I agree with most other posts that you need to focus of your quality of life. Keep in mind though, your quality of life in the future. What are your long term goals? What do you need to do for your family to ensure stability? You have two excellent career opportunities it sounds like. Best of luck.

Hey BE200, can you say some things about your experience in the CS interview? What are your quals? How long did you wait to hear back once you applied?:)

B200Cpt,

I think your decision should be a little easier now after the CS pay raise. I would still go to the Netjets interview if you get one and check it out.

I'm sure this is a stupid question, but flame on... Does that mean (what I think it means) that to work for CS, you have to be willing to work for an entire year for 20K?

No, I believe that means that if you quit before 1 year is up, you owe them $20K for the training. Usually pro-rated, but you would have to ask CS about that. At Flexjet the training is pro-rated.

Aaah, that makes a lot more sense... Thanks. Sure would be tough to work anywhere for 20k.

So what did you decide BE200 Captain?

Yes, please don't keep us in the dark - we have too much emotionally invested in this decision.... Kidding. But please do tell.

I think he is in CS ground school and too busy to visit the forums :)

I think so. this month nothing but memory items and limitations.

UCLAbruins,

Did they give you the emergency procedures/limitations prior to your arrival to ground school so you could study them or possibly setup a study program of some sort to get ahead of the game? If not, would they?

I don't work at CS. I fly for NJ. And yes, they sent me some documents- limitations, memory items, all sim profiles, including stall/steep turn set-up and recovery. I got that about a month before I started basic indoc. This was early 2005, no clue how they do things these days.....

Sorry about not getting back earlier. I had trouble logging in and my old email was shut off so it took time to get a new login and username.

I was at indoc last week for CitationShares and on my week off. Next week, I'll be going down to Orlando FSI for aircraft training. I am looking forward to getting on the line and settling into the week on, week off schedule.

I appreciate all your advice, all of it helped me make a good decision.

I have been in contact with CS for about 6 months, I didn't meet the minimums the first time I applied. Once I took the ATP ride, I applied again. I was emailed the formal application one day later and had the phone interview three days after that. Formal interview took place approximately 1.5 weeks later, got the call on the way back home.

The interview consisted of a written (20 ATP questions), technical interview with the chief pilot and an interview with HR. The technical was primarily Jepp charts, climb gradients, t/o mins, situational questions and conversations about CitationShares.

My quals...2600 TT, 1100 ME PIC, 600 Turbine PIC. I had one recommendation. My background is all 135 and CFI.

Hopefully that answered your questions. Anything I missed, let me know and I'll be glad to help you out.

Congrats! Hope you're enjoying training!

Excellent, what aircraft did you get?

I got the Bravo. Our class consisted of 6 Bravo and 1 Excel.

Was that your interview group or everyone in your class? If it is your class, how many interview groups made up that class and how many were in your interview group? Thanks....just curious.

On my interview day, I was the only one. One person did not show up for the interview. There were three or four interview groups that made up the indoc class. One other person in indoc stated he was the only person during his interview as well.

I believe if you can get to the interview in person, you will have a great shot at the job if you emphasize safety and customer service.

Does Citation shares like to see turbine PIC time or is it possible to get an interview without any, I have about 2700 total time with a Learjet PIC type and about 1250 hrs multi but am still and SIC at my current company for a few more months. Thanks in advance for any help on this question.

I believe you need the PIC time. I spoke to a guy that had all his ME PIC time in a twin piston (421 maybe?) that got an interview but didn't get the job. I suspect he didn't get the job because of something he said or did during the interview. I have heard if they invite you for the interview (after the phone interviews) the job is yours to lose.

Best of luck to you.

It is possible to get an interview without it but from a recent email from a recruiter, they are looking more and more at TPIC. It is not a necessity and I have heard of a few people hired without the general PIC requirement because they made up for it in turbine SIC time. That is not a direct answer but I would say to be persistent. You sound like you have the experience and desire.

Hey.... I'm at MCO this week too.... and I just had indoc at CS 2 weeks ago as well.... so much for anonymity, hehe.