What are your priorities when picking jobs/flights/aircraft?

[JBI]

While most of the flying my outfit does is during the day, last night I flew a fun charter that didn't get us back at base until 0230 and home at 0330. Not a big deal as I have today and the next few days off, but today I am wrecked!

When I first started my flight training 15 years ago, I was sure I wanted to fly the big jets on long haul routes. But after doing medevacs and the occasional night charter, I'm very happy that my job is primarily during daylight hours.

The other item that has come up a lot in discussions with pilots considering various career options is the location of the job. In particular, whether commuting is an option, whether they are willing to move for a job. Essentially, they like where they're living and it would take a lot to get them to move somewhere else. For example, I've heard of a number of senior WestJet FO's in YVR having to decide whether they'll move to YYZ to take the upgrade or stay an FO in YVR.

For everybody, I'm sure it's a combination of a number of factors: pay, location, aircraft type, days off, upgrade, locations of layovers etc. What are your major priorities? Is it pay first, then everything a distant second? Or, would you take a lower paying job/post for better schedule? Anything a deal breaker when either applying for jobs or bidding on equipment/blocks?

Although I'd love to fly a jet at some point, I'd happily take turbo-props to keep a schedule that has me home most nights, not flying super long legs or overnights and allows me to live where I do.

What about you?

[altiplano]

I think you bring up good points...

The thing is that while you might like one thing at some point in life you may not want it your whole career... priorities can change.

So I think that variety and choice is the most important thing...

Money/overseas/productivity/seniority/holidays/home every night... What do you want?

[lownslow]

I also thought I'd end up flying a huge plane for a huge airline but so far it seems like I've been seeking out quirky equipment, good pay, good hours (that part is still hit and miss), and room to advance. Go figure.

[FOD_Vacuum]

Priorities definitely change fairly quick in the first five years of your career, depending on your situation. I have been in the industry for the last four years as a commercial pilot and throughout those four years, my initial priority was to obviously find a job anywhere. Reputation of the company was important to me, also.

As I gained more experience, I find myself wondering if I shouldn't be paid more considering I put in 3.5 years seniority at my first 703 company where I was most senior pilot out of the group. So in the end, second came the money and how much I was making because I wanted to pay off student loans faster and have more $ for beer.

Now, four years in I find myself prioritizing location since my qualifications are quite good considering the market today. I have the experience to go anywhere in the country besides Air Canada or Westjet.

In the future I can see myself, once in the ideal living situation, prioritizing lifestyle ie time off.

Ultimately, I can see myself prioritizing in order lifestyle, pay, location. If you can combine two or even three of those, you will be in for a long successful and happy life.

[Eric Janson]

Ultimately, I can see myself prioritizing in order lifestyle, pay, location. If you can combine two or even three of those, you will be in for a long successful and happy life.

I have a job that has all 3!

I consider myself very fortunate - especially given the downward trend in this business.

[goingnowherefast]

When I first started, #1 priority was amount and type of flying, followed by pay as #2. Schedule wasn't all that important to me. Also, at ~500 hours I was too ignorant of aspects like company culture to have an opinion.

Now that I'm more settled, personal life is more developed, priorities have changed. Now schedule is #1 for me. Last minute days off are annoying, getting a call Friday night that I have to fly Sunday morning is piss off when I had plans that weekend.

Things like maintenance, safety and company culture is important too. If everybody is struggling with management, getting pushed around, flying poorly maintained aircraft, etc. then pay doesn't seem as important (to a point). I'd call this #2 in my books.

Pay is #3, but there are some hard lines that I won't cross despite the other priorities. I will NOT pay an up-front bond. There's also pay minimums that I will not accept going below. It's location dependent too, what is the cost of living in that area?

After that, then I start to look at the location, equipment, career potential, stability. I'm not super picky, but I'm also not interested in flying a 206 in Cambridge Bay for a 6 week contract. I'm looking for a location has relatively easy access to a major airline, flying a plane with a respectable reputation, allows room for professional growth and where I'm not worried about get laid off in 6 months.

[DanWEC]

I have priorities.......
I have a wife and a puppy. I want kids. All I want is a job that pays the bills and is near my home in SWO where I can be home most nights with my wife.

The aircraft must be a Lear or Citation X. Pay must be well into 6 figures. After that, I don't care, I'm easy! Then, next priority is to be home with the wife.
Well, now that I think of it, I must have 2 weeks paid vacation a month and a company car, then the Lear, then of course, I want to be home with my wife.
Really, other than those I'll take anything.
Well, My schedule will have to be set and made up 1 year in advance. But honestly that's the only other condition. I'll also need fully expensed layovers in high end hotels in the Barbado's where there are a plethora of single (or unfaithful) debutantes.

So, the hotels, the plane, the schedule, the pay, then that bullshit about my wife I guess.

[YQkC]

Lol

[JBI]

I have priorities.......

So, the hotels, the plane, the schedule, the pay, then that bullshit about my wife I guess.

But you're not picky! I mean, the plane's paint job doesn't matter too much, except if it was really ugly, then you wouldn't want to fly it. You'll even fly in most weather, except if it's snowing, or raining too hard

All good points being made, especially about priorities changing. Any specifics? I've seen a few posts about lifestyle - but what constitutes a good lifestyle for you?

For me, although the more days off, the better, being at home most nights would be more important than having a few more days off but being completely gone the whole time I was flying.

[Rowdy]

I was asked in an interview recently why my career had not 'processed normally'.. as in, why didn't I take an entry FO spot and beat myself up working for peanuts and building piles of hours to quickly take the next step and then the next.. and then the next to the airlines. Well, I was having fun, making decent money and living where I wanted to. Like many, priorities change and the lack of schedule and stability (seasonal) have pushed me in a new direction. So back then it was adventure and location. Now? Lifestyle, schedule and benefits. Would I change any of it? Nope..

[upintheair_]

Well I'm new so it's a bit student I different. First off, a job. Any job. Something that paid enough to live and give good hours. I have that now, and am now looking more towards the lifestyle as a next move. Money will always come eventually so for me if it takes a year longer to get to mainline because I took a job back home, so be it. You have one life and a huge part of my life is my family and friends.

[800man]

I have priorities.......
I have a wife and a puppy. I want kids. All I want is a job that pays the bills and is near my home in SWO where I can be home most nights with my wife.

The aircraft must be a Lear or Citation X. Pay must be well into 6 figures. After that, I don't care, I'm easy! Then, next priority is to be home with the wife.
Well, now that I think of it, I must have 2 weeks paid vacation a month and a company car, then the Lear, then of course, I want to be home with my wife.
Really, other than those I'll take anything.
Well, My schedule will have to be set and made up 1 year in advance. But honestly that's the only other condition. I'll also need fully expensed layovers in high end hotels in the Barbado's where there are a plethora of single (or unfaithful) debutantes.

So, the hotels, the plane, the schedule, the pay, then that bullshit about my wife I guess.

Amazing! Sent a PM btw.

[complexintentions]

I'm not really sure I understand the question. Most jobs have picked me, not the other way around, particularly in the beginning of my career.

I just wanted to work long enough in a job I didn't detest, to have enough $$ do whatever I wanted. But then, I always considered flying airplanes a job, not a higher calling. So I tried to get ones that paid a lot, so that I could do it for the least amount of time if I hated it, and as long as I wanted if I enjoyed it. Poverty does not make one virtuous.

It's worked ok so far.

[JeppsOnFire]

Location. I won't live somewhere I don't want to, even if it's a Challenger for 150K+/yr. And I'm not commuting. I can't think of anything in aviation I dislike more than deadheading to start a work day.
Schedule. My young colleague's can't comprehend that I actually don't want to hang out in MMPR for a week at a time, over and over again. Shorter trips usually mean smaller airplanes. NP.
Salary. This is basically the same level as Sked. I make myself seem as irreplaceable as possible (although NO ONE is irreplaceable in this business) so I can negotiate a higher salary.
Airplane. Most guys say this doesn't matter when I know it does. For me, it actually doesn't matter. The above will determine what kind of engine turns when I push the start button..

That has pretty much remained the same since I started out, except when I was looking for the first job of course.