How can I network better? - Page 3 - Airline Pilot Central Forums

#21

Hawker Driver , 04-15-2014 03:28 PM

Gets Weekends Off

From what I've seen, the type of career choices your make early in your career are what can pay off in spades later on. The folks who fly for operators that have many employees, be it delivering bank checks, light cargo or pax, establish professional "relationships" with each other over time. Those relationships & contacts, established early and in many cases, years ago are what can & do make the difference later on......

#22

CaptainRJ , 04-22-2014 09:00 AM

Line Holder

Quote:

Originally Posted by kme9418

Agreed. I'm bewildered when people start "networking" when they decide to start looking for a job. That's too late. It's a process that takes YEARS...even DECADES. You have to be nice to people, take care of people, be noticed for your hard work/integrity and not focus on your own little world. Then you keep track of contacts and keep in touch with former coworkers over the long haul. Facebook and linkedIn are good places to start reconnecting. My current reserve job and my current airline job were both products of a very long process described above. The contacts that helped me out were people I had worked with 7-15+ years earlier. They were folks I somehow stayed loosely in touch with or knew well enough way back when that I could call them up out of the blue. Even if you are not looking for a job, networking exists so that you can help OTHER people out when they need a hand. Then, someday, it all comes back around.

I have been told, everyone you meet to treat it like an interview. Years later they might be talking to someone and remember you and pitch you for an interview. You never want to get on the bad side of someone in this aviation field because it is a small circle of friends. Alway's try to meet someone new when your out.

#23

Yabadaba , 04-22-2014 12:21 PM

Gets Weekends Off

It's good idea to use your common sense when it comes to following up with people. I have had people call me with the "we met at the ___ airport and I just wanted to keep in touch" pitch. It irritates me when I get these calls as my phone rings enough from the office, bosses etc. Kind of like a telemarketer call on sunday morning. If you really hit it off with the person or they tell you to call that is another story. Email with an updated resume always works.

#24

Loon , 04-23-2014 03:29 AM

Gets Weekends Off

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoilerUP

I personally find networking for networking's sake to be hollow and extremely transparent.

I have found an exchange of information, common background, or common interests seem to provide stronger friendships and professional contacts and doesn't give both parties the feeling like the professional relationship exists solely in a transactional way to further the job prospects of one or both parties.

That's my take: I'm not gonna become "friends" with someone that I don't feel a "connect" with just so I can USE them to get a job. That goes against my morals.