When to apply?
 

How far out would you guys apply to a regional before coming off orders?

I am gonna come off orders in about 6 months, and trying to decide when I should fire the resumes out to everyone. I want to do it as early as I can so they know that I am realy interested but I dont want to do it too early where they say no and my stuff is just filed in the round filing cabinet or worse I get black listed.

Thanks

I would shoot for 2-3 months before. You can always explain your situation to them in a cover letter and/or over the phone when/if they contact you for the interview. I'm sure most of them are receptive to us military type.

Would that time frame also apply to someone that's a student? I'll be graduating this May and I'm trying to figure out when a good time will be to start sending my resumes out. I was thinking sometime between February and March.

A lot of applications will ask you when you will be available to work. Just don't LIE. If you are graduating May 1st, don't put "ASAP" on the app. Tell the truth and get your resume in. Don't lie about flight time also. If you have 750 hours when you submit your resume, but expect to have 850 when you graduate, do not fudge your application to reflect what you *think* you may have to make yourself look better because they are not stupid and will check these things. I know this seems like common sense, but people do it.

Thanks Tanker :)

Thanks - 2-3 months sounds like a good time frame. I guess that'll give me enough time to get all my stuff in order before sending the info.
thanks again

regionals
 

Tanker...

Is there a reason you are targeting just the regionals? Why not the majors or corporate?

Pilot7576

Well, I dont have enough total time yet. I am a guard guy, and I was planning on guard bumming, but my unit was brac'd pretty much in half, and I have a feeling that there isnt going to be that many options for me to bum. Mostly cause there is going to be too many other guys. The other deal is that my wife is pregnant, and I lose Tricare as soon as my orders go away, unfortunatly I dont qualify for exended benefits under the War on Terrorism rules, being in training and such. So that leaves me with the options I really never wanted to take which is the regionals.
Corporate would be cool but alot of them want high times too.

TankerBob, my three suggestions are for you to:
1) Check on whoring yourself out to another Guard unit who can't fill their TDYs. Check www.baseops.net.
2) Consider a TDY doing some staff work at TACC. I don't know where you're currently at, if you've got kids, if your wife's mobile, etc, etc. Just make sure that you maintain flight currency or you lose your flight pay.
3) Apply to every airline, including the majors, whose minimum criteria you meet or will meet within the next year.

Do it now! Send out resumes to any and all airlines you qualify for. And, update it every couple of months as you get more flying in. When called in for an interview, tell them when you would be available. DO NOT LIE! I waited and it took me around 10 months. But, during that time, my wife was working and I helped her out (home based business). We also used some of our savings to pay bills. In addition, I went to many interviews with regionals with the intention of turning them down (for the practice - had over 3000 hrs heavy muti from the USAF). Did the rotc thing in college and had no experience with interviewing.

Remember, many people have resumes in ahead of you and yours will go on the bottom. May take time for them to get to yours.

Good luck! :)