ARCLIGHT

I would have a couple friends who have been hired look over your applications, or pay Aero Crew Solutions to go over your applications with you. From what I understand, any little queepy mistake can get your app tossed aside. There are also unwritten rules for applying to certain companies, like listing community service if applying to Delta. Speaking of Delta, if you're applying there and know anyone who flies for them, have them e-mail Pilot Selection. Doing that is guaranteed to get your app pulled and scored. For any airline, make sure you update your app regularly. For most companies, if you haven't updated within the last 60 days they won't even look at it.

Good luck and hang in there. With all the hiring going on, I doubt you'll have to wait much longer.

JohnUtah

Arc, thanks for the info. Where in Airline apps are you supposed to put any community service? Also, for each employer it asks for duties, are you listing a basic description of your job or title, or pulling the paragraph or so out of your resume to put in there?

Gilligan13

So you disagree with Hacker on the last page. What are the odds your plan works? Your spreadsheet didn't include the past 10 years where it wasn't possible since the majors weren't hiring.

Entitlements may but be bringing the budget down but that won't effect the people in the system. I don't ever seeing it change.

Retirement out of AD sounds like the best option. To bad flightinfo is a pay site. I'm not sure the family life is better at the airlines. That's another debate.

2loud

Everyone has excuses. Justify your decision anyway you'd like. It's your right. I'm not hear to sway people's decisions. If they want to stick their heads in the sand, by all means go ahead. Some are happy on AD but most are not. If it's your cup of tea, then stick with it. You don't need to justify your decision to anyone else. Actions speak for themselves-90% VSP takers in the last round is what I've heard; what's that tell you? Make plans (A,B,C...) and stick with it. Life is a gamble and you have to play to win. Just be prepared to lay in the bed that you made, that's all.
I got out just after 9/11, when every single Legacy carrier was furloughing pilots. Furloughees were flocking back to AD and when they saw me pull the trigger, they thought I lost my mind. There are no guarantees in life and no one has a crystal ball. Another 9/11 can put a huge dent on this industry. There are so many "what if's" but then that's life, isn't it? As for me, I'm sitting pretty at the moment and my life is infinitely better than when I was on AD. Hopefully, my reserve retirement will be around when I turn 60. In the meantime, I'll enjoy my "earned" seniority and a pretty dang good QOL.

ARCLIGHT

I put community service under My Employment/Misc. where it says "Please list any employment awards and achievements:" In that section I listed awards like IP of the Quarter, FGO of the Quarter, etc, the medals I've received, and community service.

In the job history section, I listed my duty title under "Positions Held" and for duties, I used highlights from my OPRs as a starting point, and focused on things that I thought would translate well to the airlines. E.g., "Chief Evaluator Pilot (Chief Line Check Airman) for an Air Force Major Command..." That's the approach some friends of mine took who recently got hired and it seemed to work out well for them.

If you're interested, PM me your e-mail address. A friend of mine who just retired and is about to start class at Delta did a very good write-up on application do's and don'ts. Since I didn't write it I don't want to just post it here, but I'll be happy to send it to you.

tunes

^ PM sent, thanks!

ARCLIGHT

All,

I should have thought this through a little better before I posted the offer above, since I don't know whether my friend is OK with my sharing his write-up with a broader audience.

I'll check with him, and if he says OK, I may just post the write up in this thread.

In the meantime, please don't send any more PMs asking me to e-mail the info.

Grumble

All things being equal, the math proves otherwise. Obviously there are variables beyond anyone's control with either path, but the last decades lack of employment opportunities are going to look vastly different this decade. The 10 years of stagnation have almost over night turned into continuous hiring and advancement. Delta and United alone have already hired over 2000 since the doors opened in early 2013.

ARCLIGHT

All, my apologies. I should have checked with my friend first before offering to share his work. He asked me to limit who I share it with and to not post it on APC.

Gilligan13

How could the government take away your retirement that you earned? I could see SS being gone.

When I said retiring from AD I meant for good. Not going to another job. But for most that doesn't happen or isn't possible.

Since you got out after 9/11 did you get a desk job while you waited for the airlines to hire?

I don't think VSP was 90% but a lot of grass in greener mentality. As we have seen not everyone is getting called. It's tough to raise a family on regional pay. I'm not saying AD is the best choice but as you said life is a gamble.