Whats the best job for getting my foot in the door?
 

Background info before the problem: I'm current 20 years old, taking a break from college wanting to get all my flight training out of the way now. I currently have absolutely no flying experience. And my goal is to fly for a major someday.

I didn't think all this stuff could come all the same time, but it did. I just got hired yesterday to work for a pizza delivery place making around $15/hour that really close to home. But when I got home after getting this job I had a message on the machine from US Airways asking about an interview to work the ramp, for Friday.. The problem with working for USAir is that it's almost 45 minutes from home, and the pay is probably half of the pizza place, but the experience is defiantly top notch. Today when I woke up, I had a message from my local airport asking me if I want to interview for an "Airplane Attendant" position... so now I'm stuck on where should I work for out of these 3 places (if im offered the positions).. balancing the most beneficial in every aspect, networking, money, travel time, experience... I donno what to do... Any suggestions?

Take the local airport job, deliver pizzas on the side. You'll make a lot of contacts/pilots at the local airport, you'll meet other rampers at the further airport. You'll meet girls delivering pizza. Your young live a little but the local airport will spawn more oportunities to go with a pilot here or there, gain some experience, make some corporate contacts.

Either way, enjoy it get your ratings build your time and experience and don't stress over any of it. You'll be fine.

Get back into school. Get your ratings at ATP after you graduate.

Don't take breaks in education to scratch the itch to fly or play with girls. Both are a waste of time. Planes / flight training will always be there and the next girl will be better looking, more educated, and worth the wait...


-LAFF

You really do work for ATP don't you?

haha LAFF you make me laff :P all i had to do was see who wrote it and I already knew what it was gonna say.

Take the airport job, I had a job offer at a local airport back when i was in college and turned it down to wait tables so i could make more money. But i to this day wish i would have taken the airport job because my buddies that went to work there made all kind of connections flew corporate side jobs etc. I made it where i wanted to go anyway but i got here from instructing. Charter and Corporate connections would have been much more fun building my time up. TIFWIW.

Best job for getting your foot in the door is finishing college. No breaks. Go through summer then get your ratings when you have the spare time. Took me two years to get my private. I worked all through college too. However I'm 24yrs old and almost at 2000hrs. So go figure.

but see im not at the liberty to go back to school this semester, i'm already out. i've noticed that no one has mentioned US Air and that was actually what i thought most were gonna recommend. I figure I would get much more out of working for an airline, as I would meet pilots and be able to get internal recommendations when the time comes. plus the travel benefits are always great. :)

err.. and if it matters, i AM going back to college.. just not this semester because I can't.. so i figure while I'm out i might as well be productive and get atleast my PPL, maybe commercial, and get a job that can get my feet in the door.

Getting and internship is a great way to make contacts.

I know some guys who got a job in dispatch which is also a great route. You get to great experience and knowledge about 121 operations and experience flight planning and flight following.

Crew scheduling has worked for some in the past but I would avoid that, it is a very thankless job that will not make you popular with flight crews. :mad:

Look at Regional websites and see of they offer an internship. There are many out there.

No worries. I took a couple semesters off from college to fly as well. I'm 23, 2700 hours, living life and having a blast. I fly skydivers in the summers and flight instruct for the rest of the time. I am taking my last class right now and will graduate before my 24th b-day with a BS in Business Admin. I have already started on my MBA, but I'm not going to push it right now.

Have a good time, be a ramp rat, bum planes, fly with all the old guys that offer to take you up and most important: LISTEN!