Six Telltale Signs Of Career Burnout - Yahoo! Education

There was recently a few posts in this section of APC where people shared that they felt *better* once leaving the career.
Some of the signs shared in this article would sound familiar to those people.

Do you see yourself in this article?

I feel lucky.
I see some of these signs when I'm NOT working!

 

I was feeling these signs at my last job. (Corporate) Recently got a major airline job though and feeling more excited and motivated than ever. It goes both ways though and you have to do what you love. I love the airline world and that's just me.

 

After experiecing it, I would think it's more a matter of company than the whole career...plus, it depends on where we work (country, city etc) that plays a lot in the equation for me.
I would rather to fly a C152 near my town and do it as full time job than being in a LCC on 737 in Hong Kong for exemple (I have been in HK and I could not stand it personnally).

 

I forget where you worked but it's a whole different job when you leave the regional world, at least for me. I felt every bit of those 6 signs at Expressjet. I even decided I would rather get my wisdom teeth pulled then go on a 4 day. That's when I knew it was bad. Work will always be work but I don't feel helpless and unmotivated now, I am actually enthusiastic about it. Again, it might be because I'm only 6 months and the airline is doing well. I think the difference is I knew I had to leave XJT if I ever wanted a career, so everyday I was there. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders and making $30,000k after 6 years there really ****ed me off

 

As a guy on the outside I'm glad I don't feel most of those. There are days where I can come home and complain to my wife about some of the jobs most uninspiring moments. I currently work in management, which has a different degree of annoyance, typically personnel related so that's where the majority of my complaints come from.

When flying the majority of my complaints were about the hotels, but that was about it...while flying I know I really did dread the first day of the trip, the "monday"...as of right now I really love Friday's, Mondays' are still somewhat rough, but not as bad as knowing I was leaving home for 4 days and wasn't looking forward to who I was crewing with.

I've always been pretty even keeled, so balancing work/life is pretty important and my current employment situation allows that. I've been into motorcycling since I was doing flight training years ago, and my current job affords me a chance to commute to work on the bike, put on my suit jacket, and work for 9 hours before going home. I'm lucky to not take to much work home with me, albeit I bring home more on the management side of the house than I did on the workerbee side. My industry is still in demand (Defense) despite congress' inability to pass budgets, and I feel like I fit in with the hundreds of other pilots/navs I work with.

All in all, while i'm not in a cockpit fulltime, life's not bad.

 

My experience was less about burn out and more about dissatisfaction, insecurity, and the nagging belief that I was wasting my life.

Skyhigh

 

At least the insecurity is still there, right?

 

You just weren't cut out to be a Professional Aviator Sky. I think, in the end, you made the right decision to withdraw from the field. How are ya by the way?

 

BrianB,

You are right I am not cut out for the self destructive life of a modern pilot. My aim was for a better life; to build a financial empire, to raise a family, to become financially independent.

When I started airline pilots were respected professionals who earned a surgeons wage. Now they are closer to junkies who keep taking beatings from their employers because they can not turn away from the shiny jet.

Aviation today is natural selection at work. Young people who wish to avoid the rigors of adult life go to four years or more of aviation camp and blow 200K or more to become initially certified for a career that is in free fall. These are not the actions of a rational person with an interest in self preservation.

Had I known what lied ahead I certainly would never have taken my first flight lesson. You guys are not in a position yet to be able to take measure of all that this career is costing you. When you do I hope my written words do not come back to haunt you too badly.

Skyhigh

PS Thank you for your inquiry. The family is doing well. We have had a good summer. My business is taking off. As a result I have not had much time to visit APC over the last few months but fall is coming. I will be back then.

 

That was funny.

Skyhigh