"No Holds Barred" opinion on my resume

[wrenchjerk]

I graduated a year ago from the Cat M program at BCIT (top of my class) and have fired off countless resumes, knocked on doors everywhere I go, done ground crew work, been willing and happy to go to the darkest, most bitterly cold places in northern Canada for little pay and yet have not been offered even a whiff of an apprenticeship. I am hoping that someone in a DOM or senior AME position could review my resume and cover letter and give me an honest to God reason about what it is that makes an employer pass me over and hire someone else, without even giving me an interview or phone call. I send out resumes almost every day - if you're a DOM in Canada you've probably seen it already. I'm at the point of giving up and trying something else (gotta pay the bills somehow). If you could review my cover and resume (anonymously) and give me honest feedback I would much appreciate it. Don't worry about any sort of backlash from me - I need the truth so I can make changes or improvements, or move on to another career.

If you're willing to review and comment please send me an e-mail or post and I will send you my cover and resume. Thanks in advance for your input.

brgn37@gmail.com

[Pat Richard]

happy to go to the darkest, most bitterly cold places in northern Canada for little pay

You don't even have a foot in this industry, and you are already willing to whore yourself out. Disgusting.

I totally understand that you are frustrated in your lack of responses/offers, but why the desperation to get into this business? If you've put in the effort you describe, and nothing has come up, it's most likely time to move to plan "B". Spending $20G to take the course shouldn't require you have to resort to grovelling to get a job. Do you think that's acceptable?
Aviation is most definitely not worth the indignity you are currently putting yourself through , as there's no pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow, no matter what you're dreaming.
Restore your dignity, and move on.

I'll also venture a guess that there is too many greenhorns out there right now, and the longer you are out of school, the the more difficult it will be for you to get hired. Always been like that.

If it makes you feel any better, companies are looking for experienced AME's, but are mostly having no luck hearing from any 'cause many have had enough. You should make note of this.

[SeptRepair]

Whats your background? Were you a short order cook or worked at footlocker for the last 5 years before you decided you wanted to pursue an aviation career turning wrenches. When i look at a candidate i look for aptitude and previous work experience where they didnt wear hairnets or needed food safe. As for marks i could care less if your the "top" of your class in marks. BFD. Can you put a cartridge of grease in a grease gun with out looking for an instruction manual? Can you grease a wheel bearing using the palm of your hand or do you need some gadget to make the job "easier"? Have you ever changed oil in your own car? Trust me, I have seen BCIT grads who have never filled a grease gun. Review you resume and fill it with pertinent details that would make a prospective employer think to him self this kid has had a sliver or two, or has had grease under his finger nails.

[bombardierfixer]

They need to do a grease gun class in school, as well as photocopier repair. There is a reason you never find a grease gun with anything in it

[Pavese]

I'm not in the Main't. business but if I saw you were volunteering at the local aviation museum for fun (and OK, experience) it'd show me you are keen and give me someone to ask about your work and work ethic. Always another angle there to show you're not just book smart. Gives you the chance to network with others in the industry that know someone who knows someone etc. - the foot in the door.

Get some reference letters from your instructors too, if they say you are keen and have your head on straight and get along well with the other students etc. that'd go a ways toward separating you from the thousand other resumes that roll in.

Oh, there's got to be a Wiki article on how to put grease in a grease gun

Good luck

D

[brownbear]

don't mention you were top of your class
don't mention your grades.

as above talk about you. what your hobbies are and what your experiences are. every dom wants a farm boy type hire. someone who can fix anything.

don't mention all the types of things you did at college for maintenance. it's all the same from all the BCIt grads. they pump out too many students. the industry just cannot absorb them all.

in your cover letter mention what you like about the company you are applying to. like the type of work they do, heavy maintenance is interesting to you. or line.

if you can afford it take a side course, like a pratt or standard pt6 course. might help. you need to be different from the other grads.

if you took flying lessons absolutely do not mention that in your resume. no one want to hire a pilot wannbee.

[sky's the limit]

if you took flying lessons absolutely do not mention that in your resume. no one want to hire a pilot wannbee.

All good advice BB,

And further to the above, if you've ever been in a fist-fight with a pilot - preferably one you won - insert it every second line... you'll get the job for sure.

stl

[DBA]

Quite honestly, if you don't find employment within 6 months after graduation, just move on. Don't waste your time.

[Heliian]

There are many different ways to do a resume and a cover letter, but what has worked for me is a cover letter that I wrote personally for each application. Some places are interested in your school grades but don't flaunt it. If it says on your diploma that you graduated with acedemic honours then write that part on your resume under your education section. Pat Dick will tell you about every negative aspect of the industry but you won't know until you try, it's not that bad.

Give your instructors a call and ask them what would be a good way to start, they are usually very helpful.

If you're interested in helicopters, pm me.

[Pat Richard]

There are many different ways to do a resume and a cover letter, but what has worked for me is a cover letter that I wrote personally for each application

If you weren't in such a hurry to give your expert advice, you would've actually read their post and then perhaps understood they have probably already done this.

Pat Dick will tell you about every negative aspect of the industry but you won't know until you try, it's not that bad.

Trying to call me a liar? and anyway, dummy, he can't get hired after a year of what looks like to be a serious effort. WTF are they supposed to do to for money?

Maybe you could give him/her some advice on daily rationing of KD, crackers, and tap water while continuing to wait for glorious aviation.
.

[DBA]

There are many different ways to do a resume and a cover letter, but what has worked for me is a cover letter that I wrote personally for each application. Some places are interested in your school grades but don't flaunt it. If it says on your diploma that you graduated with acedemic honours then write that part on your resume under your education section. Pat Dick will tell you about every negative aspect of the industry but you won't know until you try, it's not that bad.

Give your instructors a call and ask them what would be a good way to start, they are usually very helpful.

If you're interested in helicopters, pm me.

Well at least "Pat Dick" isn't sugar coating the situation like the rest of the board members are on here. I was in the EXACT same situation wrenchjerk is in. One year post graduation and going and not a single call back from anyone. Quite a frustrating position, if you ask me. I'm just glad I decided wake up and move on.

[Falcon50Punch]

I am in a similar situation. I lived in Toronto and worked for Skyservice at Pearson after my co-op. After much convincing of all the Canadore graduates there I went to Canadore myself and passed the course. After that, nothing. Same situation you described. Moved to Kingston, put a couple resumes out at Norman Rogers Airport and I landed a small contract gig for an AME doing freelance stuff for the Flying club. I got to do alot of work on a B check for a Cessna 421 while working on other small jobs. The AME was also impressed that I could "refill a grease gun" and "hand pack a bearing". He signed of 96 hours on my log and I wasn't even expecting to get aviation work in Kingston. My contract is now over and im waiting for my next prospect. Don't Give up and keep yourself open!

[The Weasel]

I'm sure it must be very tough and frustrating to break in. The industry, like many others right now, are having tough times. But if aviation is something you really want to do, then I suggest not losing faith, stick to it, and your time will eventually come. You may have to make do with other work in the meantime, but don't stop sending out resumes and calling companies. Sometimes (as is often the case in any other job) it's simply a matter of being at the right place at the right time. Who knows, the DOM you call tomorrow may have lost a guy that morning, you were the first to call, and bango you're in. Spring is often the best time to look for work, but sometimes you never know.

You can keep an eye on here (you'll have to register): http://www.verticalmag.com/forums/index ... mployment/
as there are apprentice job postings now and then.

[747-875]

Not sure how useful I can be as I pretty much had a job to come home to before I left for B.C.I.T. (I was already working for the airline, just in other departments).

However, a few thoughts....

First of all ensure your cover letter and resume are written about you (not where you've been), for your possible employer. Do start your letter from scratch for each place you apply. Also when I say about you, I don't mean "I had this teacher and got that mark." I mean tell them who you are, what you like to do, basically what you're all about. Of course mention your schooling, but all you really need to tell them is "hey I went to BCIT, I did well, and I graduated." If they want to know anything more than that, they can ask you. Make sure you give them a reason to come talk to you.

It's been said already, but just to drive the point home: given the choice between a abnormally smart young professional who went to the best school in the world and studied every book about everything or some kid from the farm down yonder who can drive the plowtruck, get the old tractor going, fix the hangar door, and fill up the grease gun before (s)he's asked to do it, 95% of maintenance departments would rather have the second kid around.

Thus, although any work experience, hobbies, etc., are good, make sure you put the focus on the mechanically hands-on themed ones, and anything aviation related. The rest are just a side note, and if there's more than one or two of the side note jobs just include the biggies and leave out the rest. Again, if they cared they'd ask. Furthermore, my experience has been employers love to see some not-work-related volunteer experience. Doesn't have to be anything exciting, just something to show there's more to your personality than just show up put in 8 hours get your paycheque and screw off home again. It could be restoring ww1 fighters at the local museum, helping puppies at the shelter, being involved in a local snowmobile club, anything to add some character.

In other news, if you can't find anything then do get a different job to support yourself, but if aviation is what you want to do then don't give up on it. A lot of people say it's a horrible place to work, and truth be told it really isn't all that great, but at least for me there is nothing in life that can replace the feeling I get when I see one of our aircraft thundering into the sky while knowing that I partook in making that happen.

[dashx]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-hzCTp2hpA

http://www.ehow.com/how_4826873_load-gr ... ridge.html

So that's how you are supposed to do it.

But seriously. Do not give up. My first job didn't happen for 5 months after I graduated and that was just luck (the other mechanic went to a "better" company and they needed someone breathing to replace him....).

You never said how long you have been looking for work. Or where. It might help to let us know that.

BTW have you been preparing yourself for interviews?

[Stumper]

Don't listen to these guys...

Working for free and going without food is commonplace these days. You'd be hard pressed to even keep a job you already have with that low level of love and commitment to this glorious trade. Nope, to rise above the crowd today and get a dom's attention you need to display your total williness to do whatever it takes. So it's with with that in mind, and my heartfelt desire to see you succeed, that I offer you the opportunity to work with me on great big jet aircraft getting lots of awe inspiring experience and of course plenty of those elusive log book sign off's for the low introductory price of just $20,000 for one year. Just imagine the warm wet feeling spreading through future employers pants as they pick up your resume and realize that they have finally found an applicant who's proven that he has the "right attitude" and is a "team player". Someone who does this purely for the love of aviation and obviously isn't another of those worthless, unhappy, self obsessed sod's who only seem to be able to focus on personal financial compensation for the time, skill and effort they put in.

PM me soon as glory awaits and space is limited.

[Pat Richard]

Don't listen to these guys...

Working for free and going without food is commonplace these days. You'd be hard pressed to even keep a job you already have with that low level of love and commitment to this glorious trade. Nope, to rise above the crowd today and get a dom's attention you need to display your total williness to do whatever it takes. So it's with with that in mind, and my heartfelt desire to see you succeed, that I offer you the opportunity to work with me on great big jet aircraft getting lots of awe inspiring experience and of course plenty of those elusive log book sign off's for the low introductory price of just $20,000 for one year. Just imagine the warm wet feeling spreading through future employers pants as they pick up your resume and realize that they have finally found an applicant who's proven that he has the "right attitude" and is a "team player". Someone who does this purely for the love of aviation and obviously isn't another of those worthless, unhappy, self obsessed sod's who only seem to be able to focus on personal financial compensation for the time, skill and effort they put in.

PM me soon as glory awaits and space is limited.

The mouthfoamer perspective explained to a "T", and is worthy of being stickied by itself.

Really a poor reflection of this business when people who come out of the schools, with high honours, are willing to sell themselves so cheaply to gain entry, and also have several others encourage them to do so.

Really don't know what is wrong with people sometimes.....

[wrenchjerk]

Update:

I’ve been amazed by the amount of excellent responses to my post for opinions of my resume and cover letter. There were a few negative posts - but a flood of tips, advice, encouragement and honest critiques of my resume came pouring in by e-mail and PM. I took everyone’s advice (some harsh but extremely useful), revamped my cover and resume and started firing it off again. Then in one single day I received two phone calls for interviews and have now landed a part time job with a company that I’ve wanted to work for for a very long time (a foot in the door). All this in less then a week since my original post. I think it was a combination of timing, a revamped resume and a change in approach that did the trick. I start work in January. A big THANKS to everyone for their input and support – you know who you are!

[Pavese]

Update:

I’ve been amazed by the amount of excellent responses to my post for opinions of my resume and cover letter. There were a few negative posts - but a flood of tips, advice, encouragement and honest critiques of my resume came pouring in by e-mail and PM. I took everyone’s advice (some harsh but extremely useful), revamped my cover and resume and started firing it off again. Then in one single day I received two phone calls for interviews and have now landed a part time job with a company that I’ve wanted to work for for a very long time (a foot in the door). All this in less then a week since my original post. I think it was a combination of timing, a revamped resume and a change in approach that did the trick. I start work in January. A big THANKS to everyone for their input and support – you know who you are!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Good to see that my faith in humanity and good triumphing over evil has been reaffirmed

To everyone who provided constructive feedback, pat yourself on the back, well done.

Now, wrench, get out there and make the best of the opportunity that you've earned!

D

[electraguy]

Wrenchjerk. Good for you for sticking it out. Tthe one thing you will find in aviation is a high ratio of whiners and complainers. I came from a mechanical background and when i switched to the aircraft industry more than one person said "you'll never make a decent living in aviation". I can tell you ten years on that it was all BS and it all worked out great for me. I still work with alot of guys who cry about how much they hate aviation, but i always say, if you hate it so much strap on a pair on make a change! Alot of BCIT guys end up working out here on the west coast and complaining about their jobs when non of them has ever really seen what it can be like working on a freezing ramp in Inuvik or some other northern spot. Some guys love that stuff too! Get out there be positive, work hard, and be an ethical AME and you will find the rewards are out there. To all the complainers and negative norms out there, remember its a free country, if you hate your career that much, move on!