Who Here is Actively looking to get out?
11-13-2012, 04:36 PM
#372
On Reserve
Joined APC: Nov 2012
Posts: 19
I got out four years ago but am starting to look at getting back in. I left right as the Delta/NW merger as starting, Age 65 was in the first year, the economy was tanking, well you guys probably know the story. Timing is everything. If you are my age, you graduated high school right as Pan Am and Eastern were folding, the first Gulf War was beginning and it was pretty bleak. I was a little slow to see the boom that would occur in the mid 90s, but go hired right at the end of of the cycle in 2001. Had a few months of bliss before Sept. 11th, and, you know the rest. Hard to imagine working for 25 bucks an hour again, but I am taking a look.
11-14-2012, 10:36 AM
#373
Banned
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 461
4 years out and still don't miss it.
Sure, I'll miss out on the big commuter hiring boom, but I'll also miss the next series of layoffs too.
I.T. suites me much better. It's a lot like flying cargo, I'm left alone, the computers and servers rarely complain, I sleep in my bed every night, no commuting, no parking shuttle buses, no federal agents hovering over my shoulder, and limited paperwork.
Bonus: Server crash is less interesting than an airplane crash.
My company actually WANTS to promote me as fast as possible.
(go figure)
I'll probably volunteer as a pilot or mechanic from time to time to keep the skills sharp.
Sure, I'll miss out on the big commuter hiring boom, but I'll also miss the next series of layoffs too.
I.T. suites me much better. It's a lot like flying cargo, I'm left alone, the computers and servers rarely complain, I sleep in my bed every night, no commuting, no parking shuttle buses, no federal agents hovering over my shoulder, and limited paperwork.
Bonus: Server crash is less interesting than an airplane crash.
My company actually WANTS to promote me as fast as possible.
(go figure)
I'll probably volunteer as a pilot or mechanic from time to time to keep the skills sharp.
11-14-2012, 01:22 PM
#374
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Errplanes
Posts: 367
Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse
4 years out and still don't miss it.
Sure, I'll miss out on the big commuter hiring boom, but I'll also miss the next series of layoffs too.
I.T. suites me much better. It's a lot like flying cargo, I'm left alone, the computers and servers rarely complain, I sleep in my bed every night, no commuting, no parking shuttle buses, no federal agents hovering over my shoulder, and limited paperwork.
Bonus: Server crash is less interesting than an airplane crash.
My company actually WANTS to promote me as fast as possible.
(go figure)
I'll probably volunteer as a pilot or mechanic from time to time to keep the skills sharp.
Sure, I'll miss out on the big commuter hiring boom, but I'll also miss the next series of layoffs too.
I.T. suites me much better. It's a lot like flying cargo, I'm left alone, the computers and servers rarely complain, I sleep in my bed every night, no commuting, no parking shuttle buses, no federal agents hovering over my shoulder, and limited paperwork.
Bonus: Server crash is less interesting than an airplane crash.
My company actually WANTS to promote me as fast as possible.
(go figure)
I'll probably volunteer as a pilot or mechanic from time to time to keep the skills sharp.
11-14-2012, 02:52 PM
#375
Banned
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 461
Originally Posted by Crawl
How did you get into I.T.? Did you already have a degree, or work on it while you were still working at the Airlines? I'm interested.
Remember, the I.T. field is not a paradise. There are crap companies just like aviation has plenty of commuter and 135 positions that have low pay and bad working conditions.
Also like aviation, there are several niche areas that are in demand and would fit specific personalities and skills.
I was smart enough to acquire a technology degree instead of a aviation degree so it seemed to work out.
Usually people look straight into System Admin, which is the same as an entry level airline, boring. There are so many other options. I know of one company that specializes in wiring like fiber optic and Cat 5+6. It's good pay and physical enough to be interesting. Others work on hardware, which can be profitable but disgusting (some people are slobs).
The biggest problem is finding the entry level job at the right company. Working help desk is a go nowhere position. It will pay the bills but that's about it. Working as an entry level engineer with a good company that promotes from within is an excellent way to go.
Try to find a charity to volunteer your I/T services. It will give you exposure to a wide range of skills and allow you to progress on some levels and discard others quickly and without hurting your career.
If you live in the NW I can suggest one to you.
CE
11-24-2012, 08:03 AM
#377
On Reserve
Joined APC: Nov 2012
Posts: 11
Has anyone done web design as a second career? It seems like something you could study for and get a bit of experience at while you're still flying, and then fall back on it if you decide to leave full time flying. It sounds interesting, but I'm not sure if I would be any good at it..
11-24-2012, 09:57 AM
#378
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,045
In actuality my ailing real estate portfolio ended up supporting my under performing aviation career. Flying was supposed to be a cash generator but became a financial anchor.
I started flying as a teen and could see clearly what the industry was like, at the outset.
Obviously the business wasn't for you...or more likely, you weren't for the business. You've got thousands of posts whining about this and crying in your suds. Many in this thread are not in aviation because they've made a conscious decision to do something else. You're here because you want to convince more people to make such a decision. The truth, however, is that your efforts at a career were blind and shortsighted, and failed repeatedly.
Enough, already. You're embarrassing yourself.
I've "left" the business more times than I care to count. Never too far, though. Those who dabble in the airlines then give up have really missed the bigger picture. The industry is far too broad and pervasive to give up after sampling an entry level job.
I've moved to corporate, airline, ag, utility, test, maintenance, fractional , government, contract, and a host of other avenues as companies downsized, merged, sold, closed, and so on. I've taken jobs outside of flying, done a lot of work concurrent with other work, turned wrenches on aircraft as well as flying them (or instead of), and a lot of other things to keep a career going.
Those who build a career outside of aviation are acting intelligently and with foresight. Having marketable skills separate from flying, which has always existed on a razor-thin profit margin and stands as a leading economic indicator, is not only wise but essential.
Anyone who finds that their heart is no longer in what they do ought to move on, but those who find flying generally do so because of a deep-seated drive to fly. Giving up an airline job doesn't mean one must give up flying. It doesn't mean giving up flying for a living, either. There is always more than one way to skin the proverbial cat.
11-25-2012, 10:57 AM
#379
New Hire
Joined APC: Nov 2012
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by Badger7
Has anyone done web design as a second career? It seems like something you could study for and get a bit of experience at while you're still flying, and then fall back on it if you decide to leave full time flying. It sounds interesting, but I'm not sure if I would be any good at it..
I'm doing just that - web/software development. I had first studied web languages and networking about twelve years ago and really got into it after I was furloughed.
Some of the front-end languages are not hard to learn, but there is a steep learning curve when it comes to advanced stuff. Nowadays, HTML5 is the big buzzword, but I would say that JavaScript is very important to know as a corollary.
Please let me know if I can help to answer any questions you might have.
11-27-2012, 10:19 AM
#380
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Posts: 158
Originally Posted by JohnBurke
What kind of idiot actually gets into aviation believing that, or stays there? You've told us previously that you stayed there for 20 years believing that.
I started flying as a teen and could see clearly what the industry was like, at the outset.
Obviously the business wasn't for you...or more likely, you weren't for the business. You've got thousands of posts whining about this and crying in your suds. Many in this thread are not in aviation because they've made a conscious decision to do something else. You're here because you want to convince more people to make such a decision. The truth, however, is that your efforts at a career were blind and shortsighted, and failed repeatedly.
Enough, already. You're embarrassing yourself.
I've "left" the business more times than I care to count. Never too far, though. Those who dabble in the airlines then give up have really missed the bigger picture. The industry is far too broad and pervasive to give up after sampling an entry level job.
I've moved to corporate, airline, ag, utility, test, maintenance, fractional , government, contract, and a host of other avenues as companies downsized, merged, sold, closed, and so on. I've taken jobs outside of flying, done a lot of work concurrent with other work, turned wrenches on aircraft as well as flying them (or instead of), and a lot of other things to keep a career going.
Those who build a career outside of aviation are acting intelligently and with foresight. Having marketable skills separate from flying, which has always existed on a razor-thin profit margin and stands as a leading economic indicator, is not only wise but essential.
Anyone who finds that their heart is no longer in what they do ought to move on, but those who find flying generally do so because of a deep-seated drive to fly. Giving up an airline job doesn't mean one must give up flying. It doesn't mean giving up flying for a living, either. There is always more than one way to skin the proverbial cat.
I started flying as a teen and could see clearly what the industry was like, at the outset.
Obviously the business wasn't for you...or more likely, you weren't for the business. You've got thousands of posts whining about this and crying in your suds. Many in this thread are not in aviation because they've made a conscious decision to do something else. You're here because you want to convince more people to make such a decision. The truth, however, is that your efforts at a career were blind and shortsighted, and failed repeatedly.
Enough, already. You're embarrassing yourself.
I've "left" the business more times than I care to count. Never too far, though. Those who dabble in the airlines then give up have really missed the bigger picture. The industry is far too broad and pervasive to give up after sampling an entry level job.
I've moved to corporate, airline, ag, utility, test, maintenance, fractional , government, contract, and a host of other avenues as companies downsized, merged, sold, closed, and so on. I've taken jobs outside of flying, done a lot of work concurrent with other work, turned wrenches on aircraft as well as flying them (or instead of), and a lot of other things to keep a career going.
Those who build a career outside of aviation are acting intelligently and with foresight. Having marketable skills separate from flying, which has always existed on a razor-thin profit margin and stands as a leading economic indicator, is not only wise but essential.
Anyone who finds that their heart is no longer in what they do ought to move on, but those who find flying generally do so because of a deep-seated drive to fly. Giving up an airline job doesn't mean one must give up flying. It doesn't mean giving up flying for a living, either. There is always more than one way to skin the proverbial cat.
What I believe that Sky is getting at is, whether or not the familiar description you gave can or should be called a career.
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