Just a reminder, for those of you who are new to all this job-hunting, is that during times when this industry is booming, like now, there will be a temporary shortage of qualified pilots at all levels and employers will not find many candidates who can meet their hiring requirements; you should apply for everything you are interested in even if you think you are too low-time. I used to know a guy who did his commercial license largely in a 310, and his first job was right seat in a 737...happened in Canada, too, during another boom. So don't get discouraged or bummed out 'cause things have been slow. Its been particularly slow since 911, but it seems to be turning around now. So get all your licenses in order and get your resume polished up, get your logbooks certified and get ready to move. If there's any exams you've been putting off, get 'em done. And make sure you are happy where you end up because this industry is very cyclical (duh) and it will take another dump in a year or two.
Aim high.
Gratuitous reminder
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, North Shore
Gratuitous reminder
"What's it doing now?"
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
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Machiavelli
- Rank 4
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 2:53 pm
I agree with that, been looking for job for a couple of month already, I have 3300 TThr and seems nobody is interested...Machiavelli wrote:Huh?
No matter what you may have heard xs, nobody in Canada is going from a fresh commercial to a 737 nor A320/RJ/EMJ or DHC8. Don't even try to sell that instructor/dreamer flight school garbage here.Times are good, but they're not that good.
Never ever give up --- up to a point, right?
Macchiavelli, I did my flight school with him, and he went directly to the right seat of a 737. It was a while ago, in a different time, but it happened during a boom. There is no reason why it can't happen again, and I would suggest, with respect, that you do yourself a huge disfavour if you do not apply for all the jobs you want, not just the ones that you think you can get. I'm a good example of that:
In my own case, I got a corporate job because a friend said I should apply - I did not have any of the qualifications that I was told was needed, and I applied and got it. My first IFR job, and I only had a 'Class 2' (they don't have those anymore) and NO ATP.
I started out my career as a dispatcher for 1 year, was not promoted, then I went to another company and started to fly right away. I never worked the ramp or fueled a/c or any other shite. I did wash a/c, but I was flying them too.
All this ramp crap is just because we are in a cyclical downturn, and that will all go away in the next (this) boom. I've seen it all before.
In my own case, I got a corporate job because a friend said I should apply - I did not have any of the qualifications that I was told was needed, and I applied and got it. My first IFR job, and I only had a 'Class 2' (they don't have those anymore) and NO ATP.
I started out my career as a dispatcher for 1 year, was not promoted, then I went to another company and started to fly right away. I never worked the ramp or fueled a/c or any other shite. I did wash a/c, but I was flying them too.
All this ramp crap is just because we are in a cyclical downturn, and that will all go away in the next (this) boom. I've seen it all before.
"What's it doing now?"
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
I had one friend who worked the dock for about 6 months, I dispatched for about a year - NO ramp. One other friend went DIRECTLY from a Commercial license to a Pilatus Porter; the friend who worked the dock went directly from a Beaver to right seat for Canadian; a dock boy I worked with went from the dock to the Canadian military flying fighters - he's in the Persian Gulf now flying/teaching locals to fly fighters. Another guy I know went from Beavers to left seat in a twotter. A guy I worked with out of YVR harbour went from a Beaver to the right seat of a DC-8. When I was starting out, fuelers were professionals, not wanna-be pilots. The guys who washed planes didn't have licenses yet. Baggage smashers were, well, baggage smashers.
I've flown lots of light twins but NEVER from the right seat. I banged nails in a dock waiting for the ice to go out for one week; flew right seat in only four a/c, one was a Racer, one had four engines and 2 were jets. I was a captain on all of 'em.
The industry is twisted and screwed right now, but it will change again. It won't last, any more than it ever has, but for a short time all your dreams will come true. $100.000+ a year is the salary to shoot for - $60,000 after ten years on a twotter is crap. Even bus drivers make more than that, and they don't die nearly as often as we do or have to work a Herman.
And while I'm on a roll, I didn't get invited for a second interview to my airline of choice because my high school marks sucked. So I got a degree and went corporate. Most large operators want you to be educated. Its not a rule, but it counts. I had another friend who was right seat on a Falcon and was rejected 'cause he didn't have high school grad. - he went to night school and he's a senior captain at AC now.
So, put away your cynicism and start typing. Or go blow yourself up.
I've flown lots of light twins but NEVER from the right seat. I banged nails in a dock waiting for the ice to go out for one week; flew right seat in only four a/c, one was a Racer, one had four engines and 2 were jets. I was a captain on all of 'em.
The industry is twisted and screwed right now, but it will change again. It won't last, any more than it ever has, but for a short time all your dreams will come true. $100.000+ a year is the salary to shoot for - $60,000 after ten years on a twotter is crap. Even bus drivers make more than that, and they don't die nearly as often as we do or have to work a Herman.
And while I'm on a roll, I didn't get invited for a second interview to my airline of choice because my high school marks sucked. So I got a degree and went corporate. Most large operators want you to be educated. Its not a rule, but it counts. I had another friend who was right seat on a Falcon and was rejected 'cause he didn't have high school grad. - he went to night school and he's a senior captain at AC now.
So, put away your cynicism and start typing. Or go blow yourself up.
"What's it doing now?"
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
I group dispatch, and dock as ramp work too. There will always be exceptions to the rule. The rule being ramp work or instructing for low time guys.xsbank wrote:I had one friend who worked the dock for about 6 months, I dispatched for about a year - NO ramp. One other friend went DIRECTLY from a Commercial license to a Pilatus Porter; the friend who worked the dock went directly from a Beaver to right seat for Canadian; a dock boy I worked with went from the dock to the Canadian military flying fighters
