% of AME Apprentice course grads not working in aviation

[chubbee]

I am finding anecdotally that a lot, 30% maybe, of AME Apprentice grads in the last four years have had no luck at landing their first apprentice job and have moved on to other endeavors.

Is this an accurate perception?

[lockwire]

Seems like a bright career choice until the industry picks up on the pay scale. How many people out there in other fields are responsible for peoples lives as a direct result of their daily tasks? Then ask yourself what are these apprentices getting compensated. It is a joke. I think apprentices should make 40k / yr with Engineers starting at 55k. It is time to get real with the issue. Plumbers, Vehicle Mechanics, Welders. There is not a trade I believe that pays as low as the AME Apprentice. You could actually pump gas and make more then an Apprentice in this industry. Thats my 2 cents. :cry: :cry:

[Spinner]

Something I read in the paper the other day made me laugh. An apprentice who had just finished school in New Brunswick was complaining about the lack of jobs in this province.

Well no shiiiite sherlock. There isn't exactly a swarm of aircraft companies making their home in New Brunswick, PEI, NS etc. So why do new apprentices in the province expect to find a job in the same city that they grew up in and went to school?

Most of these guys are getting different jobs for two reasons. Of course one is the fact that the industry does not pay well to start out with. The second reason is no one wants to move where there are jobs.

So why are the guidance counselors not explaining that this is what you are going to be facing when you graduate. Perhaps there would not be as many people complaining about it then.

Look at the bright side you could be making co-pilot wages of 19,000 a year and paying off a 50,000 dollar loan.

[Flyboy_172]

I graduated in May of this year. I had a weekend off then I was off to work....I had to start looking for work in December of 2005, on my days off of school and on the weekend too. I started out by hitting everyplace within a 500km radius of where I wanted to be at the end of may. I went in and introduced myself ( sold myself!! ) to every DOM who would give me their time....and all but one was intrested in talking to me!! After I visited everyone i went down the list again....went in spoke to the DOM asked a few questions, shot the "pooop", " hello, Hi, you remember me??" blah blah blah....then I did it again!! I wanted to show them how eger I was to start my career.....and all that time I was always welcomed into have a coffee and talk.

I found 3-4 places close to where I wanted to be and I spent more time talking to those people....to make a long story short by April-May i had 3 places that I knew for sure I could park my tool box the weekend after grad....I picked one and have been there ever since!! I am paid well great benifits and good people......I know that i could be making much more money in another trade, however I like what I am doing and would not give it up for anything.....in two years I will be a licenced AME moving up the ladder

I have seen lots of people in college not find work.....why?? I think people are not assertive and dedicated to finding a job!! they ARE out there trust me!! you can't just leave your resume with the " person behind the desk" demand to talk to the DOM, tell them you will wait to talk to them ( even if it is only to hand him/her your resume......

Good luck!!

[bigbert]

Actualy that is extremly accurate as of today 30.8% of my class is unemployed, one guy no one has heard from, apperantly he is a head chef somwhere, pne guy got in a BAD car accident, he would of had a job if it wasnt for that, one guy is a lazy goon who doesnt have a resume to date, and the last guy no one expected to pass, and he has poor english skills, worse then mine lol.

[onthelook]

Hmm I would fall into the percentage of the grads not working in aviation. I am back being a fisherman and have made more in the last month fishing than 4 months as an apprentice. I did work for 2 years after graduating and even managed to get an endorcement. Have to say it is a bit harder to visit the places you may want to work if your college is far from any major aviation centers. But where there is a will there is away. Also the fact that you can get EI system to pay for school you I think you have people taking training and not just in aviation field but other fields then they just go back to thier old job and drawing EI. Out of the 12 guys i was in school with 10 of us where on the EI. 3 of us worked in aviation and a forth joined the air force. But hopefully it will be a short hiatus so i can get my family situation sorted out.. And get back to work.. unfortunately I do like working on planes. Was a easy transition from working on cars for me. Most days I enjoyed it more than cars for sure.

[custom100]

i think that it's up to the individual, if your willing to put the time and effort into looking and then be willing to move, the jobs are there. as an apprentice i have been willing to do both of these (and had a partner willing to go along with the out come).

now it is not easy to take the wages when compared to friend that are starting out as carpenters, electricians, etc...... but i'm doing what i have always wanted to do and some one is paying to do it . though i have had to learn to suck it up and take the b.s. with the good.

the guys in my class i think that most are working in the field

[maigashi]

no offence but i'm a student now and it would not suprise me in the least if 50% of my class never works in aviation and it has nothing to do with a lack of jobs

[Bseries]

Would have been 88% of my class having jobs, but one got the boot cause he was constantly late---so it's 81% now. Sup ROB Ft Smiths too cold hehe

[lezoo]

Hi

I finished school in aircraft maintenance and now Im working for an airline in Northern Quebec. But my opinion on money and condition is the lack of specialized workers will raise for sure the money for all mechanics. But one thing is sure, training people on the job is expensive and longer you last in a compagny, more course they will give you and you will have a bigger salary because the compagny invested money in you. And also the working condition are importants (insurance, training programs, etc...)

First thing you need in that field is contact that can help you find jobs.

Also something else, don't believe that everithing you learn in a college is all you need to work in aviation, so my opinion on college: better find a job in a compagny and do your course by mail while your are learning on the jobe.

[kai]

I just finished school graduated last week. By the time graduation rolled around 5/8 of my class had jobs. 1 guy is going back to china since is a foreign student, while another is an older man (50s) who's having some problems at home which he wants to take care of first. This leaves only 1 guy in my class without a job. Few days after graduation he got a job as well.

There is even people in the class behind us grabbing jobs. I believe the 30% of people that are not in industry didn't look hard enough or really wanted. The jobs that the people have gotten ranges from Helicopters, M1 aircrafts, MRO, as well as WJ.

thats just my two cents tho..if your willing to move, there will always be jobs in Canada, but who am I to say, there was only 8 people in my class.