What is with the hiring process?
10-16-2005, 05:56 AM
#21
Chief Jeppesen Updater
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Executive Transport Driver
Posts: 3,080
Originally Posted by WatchThis!
Are you saying a Neon Pick resume doesn't stand out? Or should it do so in a good way? 
10-16-2005, 02:57 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: Aviation Consultant
Posts: 320
As a former airline recruiter I'd like to add my humble opinion...
Like so many have said here you need to stay in the game - get a job, any job flying, even if it seems like a step backwards to you. You need to be proactive and show the recruiters that you are willing to do whatever it takes to further your career and stay in the cockpit.
There seems to be something else in play here other than your hours. Instead of comparing yourself to your peers with regards to experience you should take some time and really be introspective. This is sometimes very difficult to do, but necessary to be successful in any interview. What is different about you? Do you have excessive speeding tickets? Criminal background? Multiple training failures? (By the way, I believe Express Jet will not consider you if you've got a previous 121 failure). How's your attitude? This is the toughest thing for people to evaluate as you may not think you are arrogant, but you could come across that way. Have you done a lot of job-hopping? My point here is to honestly evaluate yourself...not compare yourself to others with regard to just hours.
If you haven't already, start networking. This is so important. The founder of APC has written a great article on networking in the resources section, I'd recommend checking it out when you have some time.
I hope this helps a little.
Good Luck!
Like so many have said here you need to stay in the game - get a job, any job flying, even if it seems like a step backwards to you. You need to be proactive and show the recruiters that you are willing to do whatever it takes to further your career and stay in the cockpit.
There seems to be something else in play here other than your hours. Instead of comparing yourself to your peers with regards to experience you should take some time and really be introspective. This is sometimes very difficult to do, but necessary to be successful in any interview. What is different about you? Do you have excessive speeding tickets? Criminal background? Multiple training failures? (By the way, I believe Express Jet will not consider you if you've got a previous 121 failure). How's your attitude? This is the toughest thing for people to evaluate as you may not think you are arrogant, but you could come across that way. Have you done a lot of job-hopping? My point here is to honestly evaluate yourself...not compare yourself to others with regard to just hours.
If you haven't already, start networking. This is so important. The founder of APC has written a great article on networking in the resources section, I'd recommend checking it out when you have some time.
I hope this helps a little.
Good Luck!
11-04-2005, 04:24 AM
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by pilotwithnoplane
I have sent my resume to them on several occasions, and I still have not received a call from them. I definitely have that 100 hrs in six month, but no callbacks. I have tried emails multiple times. Is there a better way to get in touch with them?
Thanks
Thanks
Just go there and meet the people with your resume...
It does help sometimes!
11-05-2005, 06:08 AM
#27
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Jog Hopping
Dear Lori Clark,
Job hopping is like the chicken and the egg. If you don't hop then you can't advance in most cases. If you can't advance then you can't get the time needed to get the big job. From one perspective it seems flaky and from another it seems resourceful and determined. What do you think?
SKyHigh
Job hopping is like the chicken and the egg. If you don't hop then you can't advance in most cases. If you can't advance then you can't get the time needed to get the big job. From one perspective it seems flaky and from another it seems resourceful and determined. What do you think?
SKyHigh
11-05-2005, 09:50 AM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Any seat that pays
Posts: 219
Pilotwithnoplane,
A few thoughts to help.
1. The truth about place like Gulfstream is starting to come out. Just because people are going there and getting a handfull of SIC1900 time doesn't mean your gonna be lined up for a job right after your done. The dilema is you finish with some turbine 121 time but you're still below mins for most companies. In your case you have over 1000 hrs which is good, but you still paid for that time.
2. Are you Current? Most regionals look for a certain amount of time in the last 6 months. Expressjet is big on Actual IFR time. Its only gonna get harder and harder to find a job as your wings get more dust on them. Do something, teach, fly freight, something to keep you current.
3. Be careful who you use to walk your resume in. If the company has problems with that person it'll make it harder then if you were going in cold.
4. Pay attension to application policies. If you have applyied too many times to the same company you can get your self thrown out. Sometimes it just takes forever for them to get around to calling you. Be patient.
5. Resume/Cover letter. I know this sound obvious, but make sure its short- no longer then a page and hits the key points without wordyness of grammer/spelling errors. Its the only thing that will represent you on the front end and it HAS TO STAND OUT.
6. Skeletons in the closet? Not saying you do, but DUI's, Criminal History, violations, bad diving record will make it tuff.
7. Analyize the situation. You say these other low timeers are getting hired. So what are they doing that you're not. Are you supplying refs that are revelent- don't have to all be in aviation. Customer Service refs are just as good. Are you dotting the I's and crossing the T's. It sounds like you're missing something somewhere. It's not that hard to get called for a commuter interview these days.
Just remember- this is a dismal time for aviation, SCabs, unions, low wages are just the tip of the iceburg. Stay foucused and stay tuff.
Keep plugging-you'll find something.
A few thoughts to help.
1. The truth about place like Gulfstream is starting to come out. Just because people are going there and getting a handfull of SIC1900 time doesn't mean your gonna be lined up for a job right after your done. The dilema is you finish with some turbine 121 time but you're still below mins for most companies. In your case you have over 1000 hrs which is good, but you still paid for that time.
2. Are you Current? Most regionals look for a certain amount of time in the last 6 months. Expressjet is big on Actual IFR time. Its only gonna get harder and harder to find a job as your wings get more dust on them. Do something, teach, fly freight, something to keep you current.
3. Be careful who you use to walk your resume in. If the company has problems with that person it'll make it harder then if you were going in cold.
4. Pay attension to application policies. If you have applyied too many times to the same company you can get your self thrown out. Sometimes it just takes forever for them to get around to calling you. Be patient.
5. Resume/Cover letter. I know this sound obvious, but make sure its short- no longer then a page and hits the key points without wordyness of grammer/spelling errors. Its the only thing that will represent you on the front end and it HAS TO STAND OUT.
6. Skeletons in the closet? Not saying you do, but DUI's, Criminal History, violations, bad diving record will make it tuff.
7. Analyize the situation. You say these other low timeers are getting hired. So what are they doing that you're not. Are you supplying refs that are revelent- don't have to all be in aviation. Customer Service refs are just as good. Are you dotting the I's and crossing the T's. It sounds like you're missing something somewhere. It's not that hard to get called for a commuter interview these days.
Just remember- this is a dismal time for aviation, SCabs, unions, low wages are just the tip of the iceburg. Stay foucused and stay tuff.
Keep plugging-you'll find something.
11-05-2005, 08:35 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: Aviation Consultant
Posts: 320
Originally Posted by SkyHigh
Dear Lori Clark,
Job hopping is like the chicken and the egg. If you don't hop then you can't advance in most cases. If you can't advance then you can't get the time needed to get the big job. From one perspective it seems flaky and from another it seems resourceful and determined. What do you think?
SKyHigh
Job hopping is like the chicken and the egg. If you don't hop then you can't advance in most cases. If you can't advance then you can't get the time needed to get the big job. From one perspective it seems flaky and from another it seems resourceful and determined. What do you think?
SKyHigh
You're absolutely right, job hopping can be very tenuous and is extremely subjective by the person reading your resume.
In my opinion, job hopping isn't a red-flag until the person shows a trend of jumping jobs (three months here, four months there, six months there) or making lateral moves (ex; moving from one regional flying a jet to another regional flying a jet, with everything else the same).
Job jumping isn't always a negative if the person is improving themselves with each move. For example, jumping from a turbo-prop after six months to fly a turbojet. The key is to always challenge yourself to "go as far as you can" within that company - upgrade, bigger equipment, check airman...
Please don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting that changing jobs every few months is a positive. I don't recommend jumping jobs if at all possible, but sometimes it is a necessary evil. Especially if the job you hold is not as a pilot.
Does that make sense?
Last edited by Lori Clark; 11-05-2005 at 08:39 PM.
11-06-2005, 07:53 AM
#30
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Job Hopping
Dear Lori Clark,
Many times the people conducting the interviews are not pilots and do not understand the dynamics of certain areas of the industry. I was in an interview once for a major airline and the interviewer couldn't understand why I wouldn't stay long at one of the air taxi's that I flew for. I didn't want to make her feel stupid but somehow I had to paint a picture of the risks of the job and poor living conditions in rural Alaska. Needless to say, she didn't get it and I didn't get the job. In addition many of the jobs I worked in my early years were seasonal in nature. Any pilot would understand the situation and would not think ill of it. Non-pilots might see it as flaky. It is a challenging career and hiring trends are like high fashion. Your in one day and out the next. I just followed a recipe for success that was laid down by my mentors in the late 80's. What do you do if you can't go back in time and change your past? How can new pilots predict what the next trend is going to be?
SkyHigh
Many times the people conducting the interviews are not pilots and do not understand the dynamics of certain areas of the industry. I was in an interview once for a major airline and the interviewer couldn't understand why I wouldn't stay long at one of the air taxi's that I flew for. I didn't want to make her feel stupid but somehow I had to paint a picture of the risks of the job and poor living conditions in rural Alaska. Needless to say, she didn't get it and I didn't get the job. In addition many of the jobs I worked in my early years were seasonal in nature. Any pilot would understand the situation and would not think ill of it. Non-pilots might see it as flaky. It is a challenging career and hiring trends are like high fashion. Your in one day and out the next. I just followed a recipe for success that was laid down by my mentors in the late 80's. What do you do if you can't go back in time and change your past? How can new pilots predict what the next trend is going to be?
SkyHigh
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