Newbee advice
 

Gents,

I'm about 3 years from retirement. Looking for advice/info on how to best prepare myself for the transition. I have 4000+ hours, mostly pointy nose time w/ ATP, should have a bit more when I punch . Not too excited about hauling people...I'd probably perfer boxes or Execs, but I'm eager to get the gouge from those who've gone before me.

Standing by for spears...:)

Few spears in this room--one team, one fight. Have observed occasional discussions with "differing points of view"...

Zach

Network, network, network! That pretty much sums it up!

PNTYNSPLT,
I am in a similar situation (4 yrs out). Advice I have received so far.....

1. As Shaggy said above Network...Sit down and list every single person you think might help you and contact them. Three years is plenty of time to rekindle (continue) your relationship with them. Bottom line - you never know who can help you...ask around. I am FTS (TAR) and the SELRES are some good people to be close friends with...they know you and know people who know people.
2. Start fixing your log book now. There are plenty of programs available to convert them to an electronic copy. Those AZs don't care if you get hired so start checking their work. 4000 hours of fighter time is a fair amount of hops so there is bound to be a few mistakes.
3. ATP and type ratings (if desired/needed) as you can get them.
4. Since application windows open and close odds are they will be closed when you are ready to apply. Pay the fee and put them in now. Update your availabilty date and hours as you get closer to being ready. Some say the original app date shows how long you have been interested. I can't confirm this but Murphy says do it now because he will close the window when you need it.

Good luck---Keep in touch.

Boyd

First, as I always add to these posts - find a more stable non-flying career.

Since that won't happen, I'd stay away from making comments like that - I know what you mean, but some will take offense to how you say it. I would stick to QOL issues when talking preferences and the positives vs. what you don't want (i.e. I think I would rather the week on/week off schedule of corporate, I like the small team feel of corporate, I've heard that the cargo jobs are easily commutable, etc.) Being a pointy-nose guy, you know how some can drop the "he doesn't even know what it's like, and he is already saying he doesn't like it" hammer.

I understand that you wouldn't say that at an interview, but people have said something in passing to the wrong person and that has made all of the difference - in a bad way. Besides, as the job seeker, the ONLY control you have over where you work is that you can guarantee where you won't work - and you do that by not applying. Where you will end up working is up to somebody else.

Point taken...Nicely thrown spear:-) I'm still weighing my options. Flying for pay on the outside it just one of them, sorry if I came across as too selective.

Didn't say you did - but with so many pilots with so many different backgrounds and so many predispositions (you fighter guys think you are better than us, those civilian dudes fly like...., etc) you never know how someone will take a comment that you thought was harmless.

Go to aviation job fairs...I went to an AIR, INC job fair and the classes. Many folks say they are expensive but for me it was a lot of information in one weekend and it helped me to prepare my resume and prepare me for the interviews. If I had to do this again I would probably go 6-9 months before I retired. Some of their classes even suggest a timeline, as I recall.

Build an application master information file (I made this up). Use your security background paperwork to build this. Write down the following:
Every address you lived after college and dates
Every job with address, supervisor, phone number, dates
Aviation and supervisor type references
Colleges, address, phone number, GPA, dates
Log book hours that you will use will probably be a different spreadsheet…
[Think I’m crazy? …you will need a variety of the info above for each application…if you do it before hand, you will pull out less of your hair…]

Then I would start applying and update my hours monthly. By the time you retire, you will have demonstrated your persistence and perhaps desire…which, of course, means nothing unless they are hiring.

Two to three months out, I would consider going back to the job fair depending on how much your network is helping. Sometimes, a face, a handshake and a resume is what you need to get an interview. I am pretty sure I got two interviews that way…but it is impossible to tell as I had a network helping me.

Speaking of networking… this technique was already mentioned…write down all your contacts and get in touch with them to find out how the business is doing. They may help you get an interview.

My 2 cents reference your logbook: If you only have military time, I would only bring your military flight records to an interview. I think they just want to verify your hours.

Finally, use the military transition assistance programs/information/help to build a non-flying resume (chronological and functional resume). It will be nice to have in case of furlough, medical issues, etc.

Good luck!

Estee,

Very constructive feedback...Many of the items you mentioned I'm already doing. I have quite a few former colleagues that have retired and are part of corporate flight departments (FEDEX, SW, Air Tran, JB...etc) and I keep in touch with them periodically.

I’ve heard that Air Inc job fairs are a good place to start from a few folks. I suppose I’ll make plans to attend the next one that’s local to my area to see if I want to throw my hat in the ring.

I keep meaning to digitize my logbooks. I’ve never really seen the need to track my flight time that closely...my ‘peeps’ have always taken care of that sort of thing. Of course you are correct; Flight and personal data needs to be well organized and accessible in a digital format prior to beginning a job search in earnest...I will do this soon.

I already have a ‘non flying’ resume since my background and education supports much more than flying for a living. I'm not limiting my search to aviation but my passion is to fly. So finding the “right” flying job is going to be the tie breaker...not just the first available aviation related employment.

I appreciate your comments. This was exactly the type of wisdom I was hoping to mine off the boards. Take care

The job fairs will also give you the chance to meet the people who will eventually sit across the interview table from you. It's very nice to have met your interviewer beforehand and have them recognize you...it made my interviews go better from the start. I cleaned up my mil-time printouts and put them in a nice spreadsheet...some of the older printouts were barely legible. Lastly, get some sanitized pilot lists of each carrier you're applying to from your friends already there...you'll be surprised at the number of folks you find that you've flown with before.

B2P