The ideal First Officer candidate?

[Bud Thomas]

Is there an ideal candidate or specific qualities Flight Operation Managers or Chief Pilots look for when looking for junior first officer pilots? I ask as I wonder if a 40ish pilot, father of two, has a chance to work within this industry. I realize many entering with the hours I have are fairly younger than I am. I enjoy flying and have a passion for the industry just as many others; but to get insight to where one stands is important. This questions is specifically directed to with hiring authority, or senior pilots who could add clarity to this query. Thank you AvCanada members

[watermeth]

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It is far more easy for someone your age to sell maturity, sense of responsibility, etc... I'd play these cards and would try to avoid at all cost third zone operators.

[North Shore]

Im neither an OM, nor CP, but I suspect that, to a certain extent, as long as a candidate is qualified, then they fit the profile of 'right seat meat'...a company will check references, and interview, to try to determine whether a candidate has some amount of plane-handling ability, and no glaring interpersonal difficulties. As long as you're good there, then you're off to the races.
I'd think that the larger question is you - are you willing to put up with being a junior F/O, with the poor paycheque, and schedule? Also, given your age, left seat on a 787 for AC is probably out of reach, so are you willing to accept a 'lesser' position in the industry? (Not that there aren't lots of other good jobs around!)

[AvExpress]

What North Shore said. Also at your career stage as it will be later on, it's about qualifications, attitude and determination. How well you get along with others and if the captain trusts your skills. Always be willing to learn and never stop doing so. Don't worry about age, in aviation one can see the right seat after many years in the left.

[Bud Thomas]

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It is far more easy for someone your age to sell maturity, sense of responsibility, etc... I'd play these cards and would try to avoid at all cost third zone operators.

I'm not familiar with "Third Zone operators"... Could you elaborate?

I'm very aware of the '3 ups'; I'm in this to contribute positively, not make waves...

[short bus]

I'm gonna say it's probably anywhere that the town you're based in has either "Lake" or "fort" in its name...

[HiFlyChick]

As someone already mentioned, the upside of your age is maturity - hopefully this means that you accept constructive criticism without getting defensive or making excuses and that you take initiative (which isn't always tied to age - I've seen youngsters who did both and older guys who were lacking).

The downside is that your enthusiasm for the crappy flights (and I'm talking 703 ops - last minute ones at inconvenient times and boring down time) may be colored by the family things you are missing. What I mean is if you can't do odd hour flights because you can't get a babysitter or you need to drop the kids at daycare at 8 or you have to attend a birthday party, then this is probably not the life for you.... It took a while for me to get used to missing my own birthday plans, anniversary, friends' parties etc without even having kids in the mix - it's tough, but required for some operations. Maybe if you're in a place that's big they can actually give you a firmer schedule, but that's not what I've been doing