I am in a similar situation, also have a BS in Accounting. I don't think you'll have a problem at all. Accountants are always going to be in demand. How much experience do you have?

Any employer worth working for will understand your endeavors into aviation. This job requires many attributes that are valuable in any prospective worker.

You might have to start at the bottom, but even the bottom will usually start at $40,000 per year. Compared to regional FO pay, that is a substantial pay increase. Then, as the dust blows off, you'll be given raises appropriately.

I might be right behind you. This airline I am at is sinking. I love flying, but I am not so sure I love it THIS much. But, I am not ready to pull the eject lever yet, but might be within a few months.

Good luck!

 

I'm having the same issues. No one seems interested in me as they think I'm crazy for leaving such a lucrative and glamorous lifestyle (laugh) and I'm finding no one has a clue about our job. This makes it hard to convince them I have the skills that would make me a good employee. It's extremely frustrating, and honestly very disheartening. Lear - I think I'll have to try that resume lady.

 

It can be difficult to start over. After I was laid off I only had an Aviation and Business degree to fall back on. I had no other recent work experience that was outside of the flight deck. I left my gas station job 16 years prior to be a flight instructor. There were few opportunities. Most employers could not understand.

It forced me to start a business. It went against the grain of who I was but I am the better for it now.

Skyhigh

 

Great ideas everybody. I'll let you know what works for me....

 

A little update on my progress, in case anybody is interested:

I've been on a few interviews, all the result of referrals through the family network. I believe every interview went quite well, except for one small thing: I don't think my interviewers are taking me seriously as a candidate. I'll explain...

For each job, I had the basic skill set (acquired in college and applied in the real world). I explained how piloting CFIing have been good for me as a well-rounded candidate. Interviewers seemed receptive to my experiences, both as a pilot and in the business world. I got along great with all of them. But I think they all had trouble believing that I was really serious and committed to leaving the "glamorous" airline pilot life.

I have applied for a number of jobs I've found posted on various web sites, and haven't received a single bite. I've experimented with a couple of different resume formats. Nothing. And my in-network prospects seem to be drying up as the stock market further deteriorates.

Going forward, I'm planning to work on taking the CPA exam. With a few sections passed, I suspect I'll have better success. (It would show that I have both commitment and technical proficiency.) This extends my time line a bit, but it's probably not the best time to be a "new guy" in any job.

 

Have you considered applying at airlines for an accounting related job? Obviously, some of them need accounting help!
Seriously, I have met several people who left the flight side and moved to the corporate office. Airlines and other aviation businesses might be more willing to give you a shot. Then you might still have some limited travel benefits...

By the way, I just noticed that we are answering each other's different threads about career change. I'm trying to get out of corporate, and you might be trying to get out of airline flying. I hope we both find what we are looking for. Best of luck.

 

Any one with even a modicum of intelligence would be able to understand leaving an industry that has lost more money in the last 7 years than it made in the last 90 years, s probably a good idea and a good career move.

During my med school interviews, I was well prepared for just those kinds of questions. I had a copy of our 16 year no strike pay indexed contract, my social security statement that shows last 10 years of earnings, and salary surveys for the airlines. They were stunned that we make so little for so much responsibility. Like everyone else, they thought we all lived in million dollar houses and drove expensive cars and had expensive toys.

Actually, I think the decrepit nature of this industry actually helped me get into school.


Play up your positives. Even tho pilots are paid sH!t, the responsibility aspect will get you points. Management skills, organizational skills, dependability, responsibility-all the things pilots do on a daily basis can easily translate over into other job lines of work. Above all, look at the change in a positive light, that it's a good move for you and your family.

You can't go wrong.

 

I've considered it. Unfortunately, the only airline in my city isn't doing much hiring, and I'm not willing to move. Especially to the city my current airline's home offices are in.

Good luck with your career choice as well. It sounds like we both have a difficult path ahead.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I enjoyed reading your story, and wish you the best going forward. It sounds like you made a great move.

 

How about listing your relevanat work experience, then list your related work experience. I'm sure that their are some attributes or skills that are common to all vocations.



atp

 

At my regional, we had a pilot/accountant who also did taxes for several of the pilots that worked there. He turned it into quite a lucrative side business, and is now on leave to work full time at it. Not suggesting you go the full route, but if you can get your CPA, then do some tax work for fellow employees, that would look good on a resume.