Guys go travel and meet people/employers!
 

Just so everyone knows, I have worked at a dropzone all summer, and not one person has ever stopped in and made themselves known. This guy got the CFI job I posted about on here at the local FBO and I met him and he was a cool guy, well hes almost checked out in the 182 as our backup guy. We have needed a reliable backup guy ALL SEASON, but we didnt really have someone we knew would be quick and easy to train. You would be suprised how much we need a 2nd guy with 2 182s and only 2 of us. Point is someone else could have been this guy 2 months ago, and at least got 30 hours, and maybe I woulda actually been able to get a day off work when I needed it. Point is I have yet to see anyone come in, in person asking about work. We just get like 50 emails a month with resumes. Point is GET OUT THERE PEOPLE, VISIT EVERY EMPLOYER WITHIN 100 MILES. You might be suprised who calls you!

It's amazing how many resumes I get, both email and mail, yet only a rare few ever seem to stop by. The last guy that did got walked into five different employers, two of whom did immediate interviews. There is a job market, but this one is not on the interwebs.

I recently did a hiring workshop put on by the Department of Labor and they said something very similar. The internet is where job seekers start these days, but it is also one of the last places employers go to find somebody to do the job. They threw up a shocking statistic that only about 10% of people got hired through internet postings and somewhere in the neighborhood of 70% got hired through personal contacts. That doesn't mean that you have to know somebody working at your airline of choice, but firing off your resume and then not attending a career fair or visiting the HR department probably won't help you get a job.

I'm reminded of an article several years ago in "Airliners" where one of the regular authors said he was on a layover in Seattle and his run route took him by the Alaska corporate offices. He stopped in to check on his resume, in sweaty running clothes, and was walked around to meet with several hiring officials. He got the job.

The problem is everybody wants everything handed to them. As a 23 year old, I have this advantage that everybody in my generation is lazy as all get up. But there's a small percentage of my generation that knows to work and find a job. So I mean, more props for the people who have found a job by making yourself stand out.

Clue -

I recently completed that same workshop! :)
I posted the spread in a previous post on a some hiring thread.
It was very informative.
It seems that the internet is great for the researching and finding where the jobs my be - but you still have to put boots on the ground to get the job.
Sounds like some of our current military thinking who thinks you can win an insurgency or LIC with technology :eek:
Get out there - beat the pavement - make face to face contact with the people making the decisions and best of luck finding that job.

USMCFLYR

im glad you all agree, the point is, if I had not got the job I have now, I MAY NOT HAVE FOUND ANOTHER ONE, I will grant that and things look good from the inside out, but but but, I also got hired in the office, and worked hard, the owner liked me, and happily did what he could to get me flying, now I fly 100 hrs a month and I love it. I also get paid well because I can do office/fly and have multiple roles at the dropzone, and i assume I am seen as somewhat of an asset, not some guy that helps out flying and gets $6 a load. My point is we have needed since late july someone to be the guy who helps out for $6 a load, who would be first in line if one of the two of us quit, but we have not had anyone stop in for a job, and have actually wish we had someone at times, we finally have someone but he is just a fill in cfi from the flight school, and is bored and has time to help for low pay since hes on furlough from xpressjet. My point is, people need help/hire but they dont wana hire someone they dont know, go meet people esp local to where you live, see if you can help out in other places. If you have 300 hours, and want to get an entry level job, go look places ilke dropzones, meet the owner, he might need someone in manifest/hanger mastering, and work hard and do a good job, tell the guy your coming in with intent to fly, esp one with 182's and have the insurance minimums usually 25 type, you will get to fly, you might have to wait but you will get to fly. The nice thing about dropzones is they usually have a turbine like an otter, but you need to be reliable, work hard, and someone the owner wants to invest in, and you will get the chance for these things. You need to go out and make youself known, and when someone comes up short they will call you. Small aviation business's dont post online or hire people they dont know, they hire the guy who stops in every few weeks and they like. Just my 2 cents, but I got a flying job with 280 hours, I had to do my time and I am useful for other things besides flying, but I now have 600hourrish and I started flying like 3 months ago, and started working there last April.

The company i work for has people that walk up to the hangar all the time asking to talk to the CP or someone in charge. If we were hiring, these folks would probably be getting jobs. I got my previous job, flying organs/tissue for transplant, by walking up to the CP and asking if he needed a pilot. It worked. I got this one through a friend. I use the internet to look for jobs but don't expect to get one from it.

Hey rick -

If you would break your posts up a bit, they would be easier to read (just a suggestion)

I'm taking that the above was a little typo. You meant that you started flying 3 YEARS ago and have been working at the dropzone since April - right?

Btw - I flew jumpers for a little bit after college myself. It was a pretty good time. I only did it on the weekends and got the choice of free jump lessons or $10/load. I was hoping for an OCC slot so I didn't want to chance breaking/hurting anything so I went for the cash. The place I worked for was a small school though and the maintenance was a little shoddy (especially now that I look back on that time) but I appreciated the opportunity in any case.

I hope things continue on a good path for you rick.

USMCFLYR

I have about 550 hours total time right now, I started flying when I was 13 but around 160 hours my Dad sold the c150 and told me it was flying or college, that was when I was 17 and he was sure UAL was going out of business. Finally last Summer I got the chance to get my comm and inst.

Now I am 23, finished College in may, and started this summer with 260 hours. I now have 550 hours, and like my job, and I fly a good amount, and get paid ok. My point was I had to get to know the owner to fly, and had to work somewhere else on the dropzone first. In the long run it could pay off workin where i work though, the owner likes me, and owns turbine planes.

Looking through the fence
 

With all the security these days - I have driven around to many airports and so much of the time - looking through the fence - but can't get in to talk to anyone! You need to have a plane to get on the airport be able to actually "walk in".