Prior career before flying?

[172pilot]

I was curious how many of you had a unrelated career prior to flying? I realize most on the forum might have started in this field, right from a young age, but has anyone made a major change? and why? Or do you fly with anyone that has? No real reason why i'm asking other than i have friends changing careers lately. I remember hearing about an AC pilot who was a doctor; seems there are some lawyers who have made the jump into aviation. Also heard the opposite, of an AC captain becoming a city police officer, due to always wanting to try it out.

[337]

Artillery Gunner
Framing Carpenter
Pilot
I got tired of working outside in the pouring rain. I had an epiphany one day while on a job site that there has got to be a better way to earn a living.
I was back in school about a month later.

Never looked back, and the construction skills have helped through the lean years of my aviation.

[Cadismack]

HR
University/Flight Training
Pilot
Back to HR and take delivery of my own plane in 3 weeks. Wouldn't have it any other way now that I get to be home every night with my growing family.

[darbel]

Farmer
Oilfield Maintenance
Cabinetmaker
Pilot

I was a farmer/oilfield maintenance as a kid. I was a cabinetmaker for about 3-4 years. Then I followed my passion in life and I'll never look back.

[Rebelle]

I hope to be able to say someday...

Community organizer (health sector), pilot.

[iSight]

Service manager - 3yrs
Metal Fabricator - 7 1/2 yrs
Pilot/sometimes-airplane-washer-guy

It's going to take a while to get up to the pay level of fabricating but so far my bad days flying are still better than my good days fabricating. Can't say the same for that airplane washing - there's just no money in it!

[Big Pistons Forever]

Marine Biologist, Canadian Forces reservist

[Big Pistons Forever]

Double post

[DanWEC]

Bartender
Construction
CNC programming
Project management
Bar Manager

Dispatch/hotel clerk as a ground position.......

[180]

In no particular order:

House Painter
Mountain Bike Courier
Restaurant Bartender
Unit Crew Firefighter
Construction
Taxi Driver
Pub Bartender
Sailing Instructor
Deckhand on a yacht
First Aid Attendant
Hotel Night Manager
Limo Driver
Nightclub Bartender
PILOT.

[Gravy]

snowboard instructor
construction
television salesman
tree planter
cook
mold removal (the worst)

[ScudRunner]

Gas Jockey
Olympic Gold Medal Freestyle Couch Surfer
Rampy
Pilot
unemployed
Greens Keeper (I drove the ball picker upper thing)
Pilot
unemployed
backpacker NZ/Aus
pilot
unemployed
Backpacker SE Asia
Unemployed
Pilot
Unemployed
Pilot

[Rebelle]

I like you consider backpacking a job, .!

[JayVee]

Journeyman pressman at a daily newspaper.

[wang dang doodle]

I started off as manager of a strip club,which eventually led me to become a small time pimp.This gave me the money to get my pilot licence and now I'm a CP of a small time beaver operation,so nothing much has changed.....

[ea306]

Painter,
Heavy Equipment Operator,
Process Control OSB Mill
Apartment Building Manager,
Pilot,
Gave up a $70,000.00 plus a year job to fly airplanes and made $12,000.00 in the first year flying....craziness.
Well worth it long time ago though!

[flyinthebug]

10 years in the trucking industry..
Shipper/Receiver, Parts counterman, then a parts manager. I HATED my job and dreamed every day of becoming a pilot. After a particularly horrible 4-12 shift, I came home deflated and hating my life and job. My VERY supportive wife said to me ...why dont you follow your childhood dream and learn how to fly. We sold the house to start the financing of my licences and we never looked back. It was a tough (financial) transition, but one I would gladly live through again to get the career ive loved now for almost 20 years.
Many of us started in other industries, but our love of aviation won out in the end. I wouldnt trade a single minute of my aviation career, and I have absolutely no regrets!!
Fly safe all.

[cdnpilot77]

Hockey School Instructor
Home Exterior Reno's
Gas Jockey
Subway Sandwich Artist
Dishwasher
Ski Patrol
Swimming Pool Installer
Core Sample Driller
Construction on a swing stage (forgot that one)
Sports Retail Manager
Industrial Sales
Car Sales
Dockhand
Float pilot
BE20 f/o

[Expat]

A good military career before flying, and a better international public servant career after.

[andy_mtl]

Bus boy
Cook
front desk clerk
flight attendant