CODs4ever

In reading a lot of the hiring posts on here, I've seen several of the "Where should I go: Airline A or Airline B?" threads from people who have offers from multiple airlines.

Is it just the military guys/gals getting these multiple CJO's or are there also a lot of civilian pilots also getting to pick between two or more legacy/major carriers? It seems like more than a few airlines are seeing pilots leave during training (or leaving after a few months/years) to go somewhere else since the "grass is always greener" as they say.

Just kind of wondering how wide spread this phenomenon really is, or is it really just limited to a lucky few with "rock star" resumes and a handful of friends in all the right places.

Not intending to start a military vs. civilian thread, more interested in how common it really is to see multiple offers (maybe more so in 2016 and beyond....?).

Packrat

What you're seeing is a once in a lifetime confluence of retirements, airline growth/consolidation and low oil prices...the perfect storm for hiring. The last time this was even approached was the late '80s/early '90s.

Multiple CJOs today aren't unusual for guys with the correct pedigree...ex-military fixed wing drivers and fairly jet PIC time regional/fractional folks.

Remember one thing though...the hiring tide can turn on a dime. Ask any UAL /USAir guy who was hired from '92 on.

I wouldn't worry about multiple CJOs unless you're handed them personally. Remember, you have no decision to make until the job offer(s) are in hand. Personal example: I went to one interview and was packing to go to another one the very next week. I got a call from the second airline saying they had temporarily suspended interviewing but I'd get a call as soon as they restarted. Never heard from them again.

The bottom line: Its very personal. Everyone's case is different. Your mileage may vary.

CODs4ever

Trust me, I am not worried. At least not for myself, ha ha. Heck, I'd be happy just to get an invite to interview somewhere in 2016. But hey, on the bright side, when other people get two CJOs and then leave one carrier during training for another, that opens up another spot for the rest of us waiting patiently.

Albief15

I've had clients with 2 or 3 offers....several this month...

Common threads of a strong military candidate...

2 of the 3 below...

IP Quals
EP Quals
Weapons School...

Good flight times per weapons system....

IE.....1800-2000+ in a fighter is solid
4000 + in heavy....

Good service record.....

Sponsor or friends at airline(s)...

Other pluses....

Safety School
CRM instructor/facilitator
Squadron/Wing leadership positions

Other factors:

Some GA experience/ratings (some, not all...)



That said...some of the guys I've seen were not the BEST pilots qual-wise. However, the guy who went to a college, studied aviation, flew some GA and had a solid military career and APPEARS TO LOVE TO FLY AIRPLANES pop up quite a bit.

Biggest questions I've gotten this week are AA/SWA (WIC, Safety)
DAL/FDX (EP, IP quals in fighters)
UAL/DAL (a little more average....but solid)

Agree that a lot of what we are seeing is just the perfect storm of retirements and less pilots to choose from in the macro.

Here's another hint: Don't dingle up your app. Getting a professional review, or at least a good proofreader...can be a big help. Many pilots don't know the code on how to list their jobs, experience etc. Gaps in employment, spelling errors, and missing required items can also keep the phone from ringing. Details, boys....details....

JetDoc

This is why I chuckle every time I see something along the the lines of, "we have no pilot shortage here at XYZ airlines. We have 10,000 applications on file." Are these HR departments so delusional that they think that those 10,000 only applied to XYZ airlines and no where else? The fact is that 90% of those 10,000 have apps out everywhere and will go to the first place that offers a class date. Same thing with the guys with multiple CJO's. Offers have been made and some airline/s is/are not going to get a pilot they were counting on. Divide that 10,000 number by at least 3 and that is the true number you have to pick from. 18,000 mandatory retirements between 2014 and 2022. The numbers just aren't there.

CODs4ever

Yeah, and of those 10,000 same apps they have on file (each airline), how many of those apps are really competitive? Maybe 50%.....or it could be less than that. How many of them just barely meet the minimums?

JB, SW, UA, DL, AA, FDX --- all hiring big numbers in 2016. These six airlines alone could drain 3,000 of those 10,000 applications in one year.

Jughead135

I agree with your overall point--but, as the applicant pool shrivels (through hiring), apps that "just barely meet the minimums" will be "competitive".... The question becomes whether the minimums will be lowered in response....

tailendcharlie

Had 4 offers to choose from in 1987, selected the most logical choice & the one most everybody agreed was the best choice. Turned out to be by far the worst of the 4......

Pogey Bait

Just courious, what were the 4 airlines?

galaxy flyer

I was gonna mention that....there have been many times in the past where the cream were getting multiple CJOs, not unique here. And those pilots had records identical to these guys and gals. I had two pilots leave in the last five months for FedEx--one ex-army and the other civilian. Neither were regional guys, both mostly corporate, the army guy was a mix of rotary and fixed wing plus solid corporate.

And don't forget every year's pool is refreshed with new military separations and more high-time civilians. It's not a static group. I have a friend who went to SWA after two rides in the Soace Shuttle and he wasn't the only one.

GF