I have about 8 years of customer service experience, I'm a responsible and determined worker (I speak 3 languages fluently, I have a degree in mechanical engineering technology and I'm not afraid of lifting heavy luggage, nor standing and walking for long hours) but I've never worked in the aviation field.
What I'm looking for is a stepping stone position in which I can acquire experience and possibly contacts in the field of aviation while completing my licenses PPL+CPL+etc. and my first idea would be to look for a position working the ramp.
I'm still finishing my PPL, I have about 50 hours so far... Is it too early to look for a ramp job?
If not, does anyone has any tips on how to approach or even how to find a list of possible employers?
I found 1 or 2 ads in this forum but that's about it, I live in Dorval so my target is CYUL.
Any help or advice would be appreciated
I'd have a look at say flightaware's listing for YUL and see who the FBO's on the field are. Do some digging on their websites and send the Ops mgr's your resume. Follow up with a visit, or regular visits if they're not hiring and you're serious.
FBO jobs will have you working closely with flight crew, air service owners, operators, charter companies, and all of your instructors as they go from the FTU to their first charter job. You're ear will be to the ground and hey, you're at the airport working with lav carts, I mean airplanes!
An FBO usually has;
CSR's ( Customer Service Rep's )
Mostly a female dominated field, but by no means are males excluded. I would make some joke about having nice legs, but I'd probably get kicked off the forum. Answer phones, make reservations, bill services, handle cash/credit transactions and take service orders, rent cars, book hotels, order catering.
Be the whipping post for complaints and fake-smile convincingly at prima-donna customers insane requests.
Ramp Attendant
Marshal & Tow aircraft, clean hangars and prepare aircraft for departure. Operate tugs, belt loaders, air stairs and lav, water, O2 servicing carts. Oh, and anything else they can think of when things are slow.
Fueler / Lineman
Operate fueling trucks, aircraft fueling panels. Assist with above ramp duties ( some FBO's only have fuelers, usually its the busier ones that have guys just for ramp duties, otherwise the fueler does it all ). Requires some training regarding fuel quality control and handling, if you have any experience in this, it would be an asset.
A Commercial drivers license that allows you to drive a straight-truck w/ air brakes ( not sure what they call it in PQ ) is an asset, as would be any experience operating Ground Service Equipment ( tugs, belt loaders, GPU, airstairs, etc, etc ). Customer service experience as well as a polished appearance and demeanor will go along way for a CSR spot, FBO customers ( other than broke-ass flight crew ) are usually rich to super-rich, and often expect to be treated accordingly.
Second choice would be ground handling companies like Servisair, Handlex, Swissport and the like. These guys work with the larger aircraft and airlines but often hire entry-level guys for very low pay to smash bags in the pit or wing walk. Could be used to get some experience and then go for an FBO job...
FBO or Ground Handling jobs, I wouldn't personally classify them as " ramp" jobs in the AvCanada sense. They rarely lead to a flying position as these companies rarely have aircraft or hire flight crew. If you are looking for a " Ramp" job, that gives you an in with an air service, thats a whole nother animal. My experience has been that those jobs are usually scooped up pretty quick by guys with their ticket in hand already.. Couldn't hurt to go through the tenant listings of the FBO's at YUL, send another resume and/or visit to all the charter outfits operating more than one aircraft. Maybe they need someone to groom planes, re and re seats, load cargo or sweep hangar floors.
A part time job sweeping the hangar floor during your PPL will give you the experience or inside track on a ramp spot at the FBO for your CPL. The FBO job during your CPL might give you the edge on that ramp spot up in Kuujuak or wherever the hell they make you go out east to get a flying job...
Either way, it beats flipping burgers during your training as you get to work at the airport and around/under airplanes. Provided you're not a dullard, you can't help but learn something new about airplanes and airlines every day.
And last but not least, when the day finally comes on your first FO job and the skipper points to the honey pot and says to "take care of that, will you? ", you'll impress the hell out of him.
Might want to be careful of what you put on your resume. We were hiring for a front desk a while back, got 100s of emails and a HUGE amount of calls, about half had degrees, none of them got the job, some said they ran their own businesses, none got the job. Fact of the matter is this, if you have a degree or ran your own business and are now applying for a 10 buck a hr job there is a reason and we dont want to be the guinea pigs that find out why.
I would leave off the engineering degree.
Our hire, was a person who had a GREAT personality (as we have to work with them everyday ) and admited they didnt know anything about our billing system but would be eager to learn. This was like a ray of sunshine pearcing through all the "big shots". You are applying for a low level job (be it for bigger reasons), act as such, always wear a smile and have a can do way about you, dont try to fluff your feathers up too big for this little job, might backfire.
So what you are saying is you were looking for someone eager and desperate enough to take it in the ass for $10, because anyone with education or a business would tell you to shove it?
The pay was listed on the add. The people who I interviewed who said they had high level backgrounds tended to try to prove to me why they DESERVE the job, vs the less qualified ones who admitted they didn't know how everything in the office worked, but really wanted to learn, and had a great personality. I can work far easier with the latter.
SuperchargedRS wrote:...and had a great personality. I can work far easier with the latter.
I can definitely relate to this as I work(ed) with different captains. A good personality doesn't necessarily mean that one needs to be super outgoing, witty, or extraordinarily humorous. It signifies that you work well with others, aren't easily offended, respectful and not harsh with those who are either senior or junior to you. Those who choose to ignore true and tested wisdom are disliked and don't receive the respect they seek, regardless of their credentials and/or experience.
) and admited they didnt know anything about our billing system but would be eager to learn. This was like a ray of sunshine pearcing through all the "big shots". You are applying for a low level job (be it for bigger reasons), act as such, always wear a smile and have a can do way about you, dont try to fluff your feathers up too big for this little job, might backfire.
