As a newly rated commercial pilot, I have been searching the depths of the interweb looking for that first low time opportunity. I thoroughly appreciate all of the information this website has provided. You guys and gals have been great. I was thinking today, I wonder what other people who were once in my position recently have done with such little experience other than wondering down the CFI path. If you have a moment and would care to do so, please share what your first 250-300 TT job was and maybe a short story. I have no clue if this is the correct area to post such a thread, but I think it could be beneficial to those of us who are trying to land the first career starter. It appears the grey area from 250 - 500 hours is the biggest of challenges in a pilot's career. However, I could be completely mistaken. Thanks again for all of the ideas and information posted!

Well, my first job after getting all my certificates......

Installing septic systems and septic systems repair.

My first non-CFI flying job was at the Outer Banks area. I flew for a company that did flight seeing. 15 minute tours of the First Flight airport and a light house, then back on the ground. 15 minutes of flight time. I was paid 5 bucks an hour instead of the 3.50 everyone else was making because I could also do maintenance.

Honestly,
Get the CFI. Yes you have put in a lot of time and money to get to this point. But your not done yet. Nobody wants to do the CFI. I didn’t, but after I started instructing I found I really liked it. Had I not done so, I would not have started at the Airlines as quickly as I did.

Yes there are a lot of non CFI jobs. But getting on at a reputable place that won’t put your certs at risk could be tough.

My .02, do the CFI thing until you have enough hours to get somewhere you would be okay with spending a few years at.

Inside connection to Pipeline Patrol @ 320TT. Busted ass and logged 900hr in 6mo to meet 135 IFR mins after meeting a small 135 / 91 business owner on the road doing pipeline. Went straight into Cessna 310/340/421C single-pilot with occasional King Air 90/200 ; Cheyanne III/IIIA trips. After 5mo of mostly 421 I went to King Air school and almost exclusively flew the turbines, all single pilot for over a year before leaving that outfit to contract full-time back home. Starting Dash8 ISR class on the 2nd.

The week after I got my commercial ticket I got a job flying skydivers at just over 250 hours. With some time under my belt and after the summer season there I picked up a survey gig. At just over 1000 hours now. Finding the first gig is tough, but it's easier if you're willing to relocate. I had to relocate for that skydive gig, which I found on Dropzone. It's been a blast so far.

I completed my commercial single checkride in December and immediately started applying anywhere I could find that I qualified for. It took about a month before I started to hear back, I took a job flying air tours in the Mariana Islands with Star Marianas Air. I had also heard back from some skydiving jobs around the same time.

I worked at the Van Nuys airport as a Line Service Technician as I was in flight school. I networked like crazy since being a CFI wasn't at the top of my list. Fortunately, I was able to secure an aerial imagery job with less than 300TT. Going to start soon. Look forward to the adventures and skills I'll encounter to become a better pilot.

That is amazing! My brother flies with a major and he had a similar story. Flying for such little pay at the beginning and having mounds of student loans. I admire that in the more experienced pilots as I feel they truly had the passion to fly. Today it seems more and more pilots are flying for the money. I would take any job to have the chance to fly, even if it was for a few dollars an hour.

I could not agree with you more. I feel that obtaining one's CFI ratings is a great way to become a better pilot. However, at my current positions, I am 30 years old and feel that starting to get my hours/seniority sooner than later is more beneficial to me. I am planning to try to locate a position for a few months and if I fail, I will head back to the airport and work on the CFI ratings.

900 hours in 6 months... holy cats batman! That must have been some extremely long days for you! I'm starting to see that networking is one of the most important traits in the aviation career. Best of luck on the dash 8 class, how awesome!