Employability outside of flying...

[MIQ]

I've been doing something totally unrelated on the side, that basically anybody could do. I've been working in the restaurant business for a while now and it's treating me really well. I'm bar tending and thanks to that I was able to pay for my entire flight training (PPL, CPL, Multi IFR). Our servers pull in very good money too, definitely more than the entry level Air Canada pilots make... The job itself is maybe not the most reputable but if it supports me and others to follow their dreams then I'd take that any day. Maybe just try to find a decent part time job on the side to help you over the hard winter months? I'm feeling for you. I have around 15 hours left to fill up my 200 CPL hours and haven't been able to fly in two weeks now. I can only imagine how hard that must be if you're trying to make money this way.
I've read your initial posting too and really would hate to see a fellow pilot giving up his dream because of money or a girl...

[Brown Bear]

Dog Catcher
Metre Maid
Mortuary worker
School custodian
Cotton picker
Lion tamer
Professional stunt man
Speed bump
Rodeo rider
Short order chef
Walmart greeter
Greyhound driver
White hunter
Mountain climber

[5dayer]

Why is greyhound driver in that list? being a professional driver is a respectable profession. Greyhound is a great company to work for and is very hard to get on with. People in the trucking and bussing industry are a lot more professional than 90 percent of the pilots I know yet they seem to be looked down upon. Truck and bus drivers don't prostitute themselves out, let themselves be abused by management or step on their peers to get ahead. You can start out earning what takes at least 5 years in aviation to earn. There are a lot of jobs in the transport industry that are not in aviation but are very lucrative.

[Brown Bear]

Aviation pays piss poor wages for ONE reason only. Pilots are willing to work for those piss poor wages.....blame yourselves. For within you, lies the problem...and the solution.
I know it's deep. Thinkaboutit!

[KAG]

Funny thing, people whine about how bad this career pays but really its not the career its certain jobs.
For example you can earn 45K for left seat on a King Air or 70K+.
A few times in my career I have found one company or another lacking so I left. Every time it was a good decision.
If your unhappy where ever your at, leave.
Broke? Get a better job.
I know the universe sh! ts on some people, but I wonder how many people on this forum bitch about their (lack of) career but don't actually give it their all.

[Beefitarian]

You could get a job at a university.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=93419

[skydivepilot]

Funny thing is I was enjoying my job as a car salesman before I landed my current job. It wasn't as good as my flying gig but I learned a lot and there were some good (and some bad) pay cheques. I have always been into cars so it was a good fit. Take a look at your interests and choose something that you would want to spend your time doing. I've had jobs that didn't interest me and, even though the pay was good, they were not rewarding. I was away from flying for five years because I couldn't find anything with decent pay to support my new family. I went after a pay cheque but that job made me miserable. The best thing I did was get back to flying. Hang in there.

[co-joe]

The shitty thing is that aviation and specifically cockpit experience doesn't help you get a foot into any other field. If you don't believe me, try bringing up that you used to be a pilot in a non aviation job interview. Being a pilot is the coolest job in the world and so why would you ever leave it. Now you have a long story to explain... The skills you've acquired in avaiation lend themselves very well to many industries and the life experience is second to none, but you need to draw on that without having to get into that "long story".

Remember everybody thinks aviation is paradise, pays great money, means you get to travel to exotic places and fly for free whenever and to wherever you want with whomever you want, and that the opposite sex automatically love you, so if you left there must be something wrong with you.