What did you do after leaving?
 

So this is my first post but i've been reading this forum for awhile its the only one where i can find a leaving the career section. I am a regional FO who feels that i was lied too when I was in flight training, maybe I was dumb not quite sure. This job was exciting at first and continued to be for the 6 months after. Now I realize how screwed im getting and how far off a major job is. I despise going to work and leaving my family for 5 days. My counter parts who went to school for as long as I did have great jobs where they are respected. On the other hand I feel as if I'm treated like a child. So Ive come to the conclusion that I deserve better. I dont want to be one of the 50 year old guys begging for a job at women in aviation. So I'm starting my search on ways to get out. I would like to hear from a few of you on your action plans? If your self employed what are you doing ? How did you get there? Tell me how much greener the grass is on the other side.

Welcome Boxed Foods- interesting screen name, thinking about tv dinners maybe? You sound like a candidate for an online degree in something besides flying. I would suggest suggest seeing a career counselor about it, and while you are there ask for the Myers Briggs inventory. The Briggs is a non-judgmental test that determines basic personality traits and your career counselor should be able to give you a list of jobs that match with your personality. Money will be an issue, so look for in-state tuition which is much cheaper. Looks like you need to stick with the flying for a while though until your new career plan is hatched. Ideally you could use your advanced flying skill to get a job in airport management or some other extension of pilot experience. Good luck, you are not the first person who found the pot of gold strongly resembles a pot of lemons in many ways. No need to do something you do not like, but you will need to pay your dues for the next career.

What did you do
 

You should try to find a good corporate flying job if you're still interested in Aviation. Your QOL will be much better.

I left and went back to school to get an MBA. I hear all the time that everyone has an MBA now and it's not a differentiator, but it definitely opened doors for me. I took classes at night and worked during the day doing inside sales for a manufacturing company; they liked my ability to understand and explain technical systems . The job was ok for a while, money was better than regional FO pay but sales is sales and not my thing. I am starting next week at Fortune 500 energy company as a Financial Analyst. There are jobs out there to be had, you just have to relate your experience in aviation to whatever business you are trying to get in to. Good luck!

After leaving my seat as a regional FO, I explored other careers both in aviation and otherwise. At the same time, I've been working on my MBA at a local university. (Graduating in six weeks!) I recently started working in finance for Boeing, and am enjoying it quite thoroughly. However, I often miss many things about being an airline pilot and have considered going back several times over the last few years.

With any luck you have some other interests, skills, or training that you can use as a "leaping-off" platform from which to pivot your career.

Many regional FO's leave for greener pastures.....corporate mainly, or another regional with better work rules. Those that stay can expect to put in 3-10 years before making to an LCC or legacy.

I expect movement to be good with retirements looming and increasing over the next decade.

I left for government work (a desk). It's not the most exciting work, but incredibly stable, with good retirement, good pay (regional captain salary or better) and incredible benefits...it provides fantastic schedule flexibility with options for 8, 9, or 10 hour work days giving the option for 2, 3, or 4 day weekends depending on agreements between you and your supervisor. I put my CFI/I back to work and began doing city tours and instruction in a skyhawk...with an hourly rate similar to a new regional FO...keeps me flying once or twice a week.

I also have several friends from work who are doing the same. Depending on where you are in life though, you might find you miss the airlines considerably. One friend who made the same move as me started off very excited at the new job, and is now miserable. Another friend has decided to leave the job (partly because of an upcoming wedding, and partly to have some more "life experiences"). If it wasn't for having a wife and now 2 kids at home, I'd have likely gone back to the 121 world as well...or left for Flight Safety or something else similar...right now, the paycheck is to good, 401K is looking great, and the time home is huge.

Good luck in your choice!

I went back to sitting behind a desk doing systems engineering. The bad part, I have a window seat that allows me to see the final approach corridor at SLC. :(

Nice your a Slc guy too. Let me guess are you at Boeing?

Thanks for all the replies! I am waiting on a spot to open marketing for a hospice and homecare business. 65-80k a year with great benifits and real growth potential. I would be home every night with holidays and weekends off. After the last few months at my regional almost anything sounds better. Even if im not at the homecare business for my whole career it still gives me the option to go back to school if I need to.