Completely flabbergasted

[billgeno]

So something happened tonight that has left me absolutely perplexed...

As with anyone else who is trying to secure their first job in the industry, I have been sending out my resume to anyone with an email address.

Today, I received a response from a business owner who stated that simply because of someone with whom I am acquainted and suggested I apply, I would never be considered for a pilot position. This person also went on to state that this mutual connection was a terrible employee and a bad pilot.

I replied to him indicating how surprised I was that I wouldn't be considered SOLELY based on the fact that this person suggested I apply for a flying position with his previous employer. I did make the suggestion that in the future he not include any potentially libellous statements regarding previous employees as his reasoning for turning down a potential candidate.

Astonishingly, I received a reply indicating that due to my consideration for this 3rd party my name and email was going to be shared with his fellow DZ owners in Ontario.

Now, I would hope that other owners would consider a candidate based on their merit and accomplishments but I also know how close knit the community is.

All that aside though, has anyone ever experienced something like this before?

For those who might be curious, the who doesn't matter.

Thanks.

Bill

[iflyforpie]

Well.... that's one side of the story. You have to watch out with these things because aviation is small and sometimes the other side of the story comes out in a rather embarrassing (to you) and hilarious (to us) manner.

However, I don't think that is the case here. As soon as you said 'DZ' and 'Ontario', I knew what was up.

It might not seem like it now, but he is doing you a favour... even if you never get your first job. In fact, you might find that name on a resume more of a liability than an asset going on to your next job.

[Redneck_pilot86]

Plus one to the above post. Search these forums with his name (if it is who I think) and then pat yourself on the back for dodging that bullet.

[xsbank]

I agree with the above comments, that person is obviously not playing with a full deck, you've had a lucky escape. Besides, no other operator will connect your name with a nutbar, there is just too little time in running a business to think that way.

As a previous CP of mine used to say, "...carry on as if you were normal!"

[digits_]

I replied to him indicating how surprised I was that I wouldn't be considered SOLELY based on the fact that this person suggested I apply for a flying position with his previous employer. I did make the suggestion that in the future he not include any potentially libellous statements regarding previous employees as his reasoning for turning down a potential candidate.

Astonishingly, I received a reply indicating that due to my consideration for this 3rd party my name and email was going to be shared with his fellow DZ owners in Ontario.

He might have no right or reason to do so, but at least he gave you a reason why he didn't hire you. Personally, I would prefer this over not getting a reply at all. Although it both sucks monkey ass of course.

[CPLMike89]

I once lost out on a job because the potential employer "creeped" my facebook only to find pictures of myself enjoying a few brews by the campfire. This was enough for him to turn me down as an applicant and to lecture me on life choices Lesson learned and privacy settings increased to avoid any future embarrassment. In the long run I am in a far better place now but you have to watch out for some of these owner/operators who like to let their (limited) power go to their head.

Smile,nod and keep looking for something better it will come.

Mike

[xsbank]

There's one guy in our marina who goes around being rude to everyone, breaking as many of the 'rules' of common courtesy as he can think up at one time. Whenever he comes around, you can hear the rustling as the locals start boiling tar and looking for their pitchforks. He will likely end up in a crab trap one day.

They walk amongst us.

[Rowdy]

Remember.. for every nut bar in this industry, there are 10 outstanding human beings, 20 decent ones and about 50 reasonable people.. Don't be discouraged.

I was once told I would never fly floats on the coast.. It seems funny to me now

Keep your chin up.

[digits_]

The opposite happens as well. A guy is looking for a job, calls the company and ends up speaking to me. He then starts threatening me because I pointed out to our boss he has been lying about his experience. He claimed he'd already worked a year for our company 2 years ago.

Further research showed some of his other references were fishy as well.

Needless to say he didn't get hired.

[7ECA]

Immediately after I finished my CPL, I applied for a job in Alberta flying Super Cubs for an aerial photography company. I had at the time a bit under sixty hours on taildraggers, and a good reference from a very experienced instructor who taught me to fly taildraggers.

Never heard back from the company, so after about a month, I decided to give them a call and see what was up. I was told, in the end that I was first of all too young, and second that I didn't have enough hours to fly a Super Cub on wheels. The owner also had the gall* to tell me that the company would need to spend too much time and effort training me to fly.

Looking back on it, after getting rather pissed off about it, maybe it was a good thing not getting hired, might have dodged a bullet.

[cdnpilot77]

There are going to be a lot more things that will hurt your feelings a lot more if you intend on making this a career. Advice, Thicken the skin and thank baby Jebus that you don't have to work for that guy and move on to the next one. If it's the Dz that I think it is, your reputation would be a lot worse for having worked for him than not!

[Shiny Side Up]

The owner also had the gaul ...

I think you mean gall, unless you were implying that he was french or something.

Either way, as a person applying for jobs, there's been a lot of reasons someone might have turned you down. You brush it off and keep looking. You may want to reconsider who you use as a reference. Up to you. I recall being turned down because of where I trained at in the past.

Now that said being the one looking through resumes, I can totally see their point. Having a big stack that I'm going through now, you got to narrow it down, and sometimes little things that might put you off are going to be deciding factors. Personally it would be bad form to let people know the specifics of some of those things unless they pressed you on the subject. At the very least its going to affect how I order that stack of resumes. There's schools I don't like to hire people from, there's a few names that if they appear on resumes puts me off, such is life.

Aviation is a small world though. I recall one fellow I worked for who said that if he wants to check on an applicant, he doesn't need to look far. Within a phone call or two he could be talking to someone who knew them. That's not far off from my experience now. Hedley's Guideline of Aviation applies: Try really hard not to piss people off.

[7ECA]

The owner also had the gall* ...

I think you mean gall, unless you were implying that he was french or something.

Yep, that would be my error.

Hedley's Guideline of Aviation applies: Try really hard not to piss people off.

Very true, don't burn bridges. You never know how small and interconnected an industry as vast as aviation can be, until you piss off someone, who takes it a little too seriously...

Although, one could say that is also the unfortunate side of this industry, one bad reference or whisper of discontent can bring down your career.

[DanWEC]

Hey Billy, if you promise to stop those juice cleanses I might be able to help you in the DZ area.... I know a guy who knows a guy who walks my dog kinda thing. I shot ya a PM.


Dan

[billgeno]

Thanks for the words of encouragement.. I wasn't insulted by the way it was dealt with. I honestly just felt bad for the other guy who really at the crux of it had nothing to do with my application aside from suggesting I send it in. I was taken aback more than anything..

I am amazed how small the industry really is at times - and that's not a bad thing. Aside from the occasional tit for tat on this board, it's great how at the core the majority of the user community will seemingly go out of their way to help each other out.. At the moment, I am quite glad I gave up my previous career to join.

So yea.. BTW, if any of you are looking for a mature professional CPL MIFR with A's written who just happens to have 200hrs, drop me a PM

Thanks again

Bill

[Bede]

Mike89,

Lots of airlines creep FB to see what you're about. I'm not defending the practise, but I'd be careful what you post. I have heard of a few applicants PFO'd because HR doesn't like their social life. I'm not on FB, but if I was, and I was applying for any airline job, I wouldn't post any pictures with anything alcoholic in my hand, pretty girls, post profanity, etc. It's one of those decisions: exercise my rights or keep my head down to get ahead.

[matt foley]

Live by the sword, die by the sword. You would have(as all of us would) been delighted should the owner have said "Oh Bob said to apply? Stand up guy, tell him I say hello, can you start monday?" May I suggest you do your homework and only use a name and, when you are in a position, offer your name carefully. I had a situation years ago when a fellow said "Call my good pal so-and-so and tell him I told you to call. He'll set you up." Only to have so-and-so say "Who? Oh i think I remember him"....awkward.

MF