New low time pilot, looking for tips.

[muaazp1]

I just got done at the end of November with about 205 FT and 75 Sim hours, SARON and SAMRA written and passed. As well as MCC done. So far I have applied to about 29 places and have only received one response saying that I have been shortlisted but am not their first choice. Any suggestions on any places I could apply to or if I could do something specific to increase my chances of landing that first job?
I am not really picky and could relocate anywhere else.
Looking forward to learning from everyone’s experience.

[TurkeyFarmYQX]

Can you afford an instructors rating?

[muaazp1]

Can you afford an instructors rating?

Yes I can but I want that to be the last resort as I would prefer something with a 702/703 operator. I have seen many instructors get stuck at the same place for ages.

[Cessna_Pilot]

Take a look at pipeline or aerial survey companies in Alberta. Most will hire at your experience level when they are looking. I can’t speak for the other companies, but I know mine is currently overstaffed with pilots. Hopefully things will open up in the next couple of months and there are more spots opening up.

[digits_]

Can you afford an instructors rating?

Yes I can but I want that to be the last resort as I would prefer something with a 702/703 operator. I have seen many instructors get stuck at the same place for ages.

It's likely you'll be 'stuck' at that first 703 job just as long as an instructor might be at their instructing job.

Also make sure that the sentiment of 'being stuck' doesn't shine through on your interviews. Probably not what you meant, but it's stuff like that that will likely cost you a first job.

[muaazp1]

Can you afford an instructors rating?

Yes I can but I want that to be the last resort as I would prefer something with a 702/703 operator. I have seen many instructors get stuck at the same place for ages.

It's likely you'll be 'stuck' at that first 703 job just as long as an instructor might be at their instructing job.

Also make sure that the sentiment of 'being stuck' doesn't shine through on your interviews. Probably not what you meant, but it's stuff like that that will likely cost you a first job.

I understand what you are saying. I meant stuck because I have encountered too many unhappy instructors which has put me off a bit. Thanks for the advice.

[muaazp1]

Take a look at pipeline or aerial survey companies in Alberta. Most will hire at your experience level when they are looking. I can’t speak for the other companies, but I know mine is currently overstaffed with pilots. Hopefully things will open up in the next couple of months and there are more spots opening up.

Will do, thanks for the response

[Pratt X 3]

Unless things have changed in the industry lately, nobody cares about your sim hours and you should not count them towards your total time. The only chance they might have any weight for a job would be for an instructor at a school that relied heavily on training in an FTD. So less emphasis on your training and more on the skills/attitude that you would bring to a prospective employer.

[nine sixteenths]

I just got done at the end of November with about 205 FT and 75 Sim hours, SARON and SAMRA written and passed. As well as MCC done. So far I have applied to about 29 places and have only received one response saying that I have been shortlisted but am not their first choice. Any suggestions on any places I could apply to or if I could do something specific to increase my chances of landing that first job?
I am not really picky and could relocate anywhere else.
Looking forward to learning from everyone’s experience.

Your current experience is basically the same as any newly licensed CPL holder. In some ways, pushing extra SIM time isn’t desirable at all for a new hire, it’s not truly operational experience just training. For someone to tell me they have 205 hrs of flight plus another 75hrs in a SIM, my question to them is why so much SIM time?

It’s impossible to critique your specific resume or applications, but as some general “trying to get my foot in the door” info…. What makes you stand out as a good, hireable candidate and why should we hire you? Generic, written for every first job, 200-300hr cover letters hit the mail by the thousands, tell the person reading the resume why you want to work there and why you’d be a fit. If you want to tell about this 75hrs of SIM time, use your cover letter to explain why you have it, or what you learned from it. Tell something about yourself that’s going to show you are ready to put in the effort to fit into the workplace you’re hired at. Put in some work, ask around about the companies you are applying for, include some kind of statement that shows you want that place in specific. Even if you’re applying at 20 places, so are 2000 others, stand out by spending some time learning about these places you are applying to and customizing the cover letter. Don’t blow smoke in my ass, but show me through this letter that you understand and have the drive to do more than the bare minimum to get a job with us.

As to the resume, everyone has there preferences but I like to see the hours and aircraft types on there clearly, what school(s) you did your license(s) at, and some prior work experience even if it’s not aviation, and at least 2 references, again doesn’t have to be aviation. Don’t make me “request” the references, making it more work to hire you isn’t appealing to me. Chances are I won’t call them, but making me ask for them puts the resume down the pile. Don’t call yourself a professional pilot at 200hrs either, you haven’t even had a job in your profession yet, you can’t legitimately say you are a professional. I generally throw out resumes with photos of the candidate as well. I prefer them to say something extra curricular too, give me something to consider if you’d fit in with the people at the company, then I can see that you share some kind of similar hobbies and would be able to make friends easier. One page for your resume is good, and don’t include all of your aviation documents or anything like that.

[muaazp1]

I just got done at the end of November with about 205 FT and 75 Sim hours, SARON and SAMRA written and passed. As well as MCC done. So far I have applied to about 29 places and have only received one response saying that I have been shortlisted but am not their first choice. Any suggestions on any places I could apply to or if I could do something specific to increase my chances of landing that first job?
I am not really picky and could relocate anywhere else.
Looking forward to learning from everyone’s experience.

Your current experience is basically the same as any newly licensed CPL holder. In some ways, pushing extra SIM time isn’t desirable at all for a new hire, it’s not truly operational experience just training. For someone to tell me they have 205 hrs of flight plus another 75hrs in a SIM, my question to them is why so much SIM time?

It’s impossible to critique your specific resume or applications, but as some general “trying to get my foot in the door” info…. What makes you stand out as a good, hireable candidate and why should we hire you? Generic, written for every first job, 200-300hr cover letters hit the mail by the thousands, tell the person reading the resume why you want to work there and why you’d be a fit. If you want to tell about this 75hrs of SIM time, use your cover letter to explain why you have it, or what you learned from it. Tell something about yourself that’s going to show you are ready to put in the effort to fit into the workplace you’re hired at. Put in some work, ask around about the companies you are applying for, include some kind of statement that shows you want that place in specific. Even if you’re applying at 20 places, so are 2000 others, stand out by spending some time learning about these places you are applying to and customizing the cover letter. Don’t blow smoke in my ass, but show me through this letter that you understand and have the drive to do more than the bare minimum to get a job with us.

As to the resume, everyone has there preferences but I like to see the hours and aircraft types on there clearly, what school(s) you did your license(s) at, and some prior work experience even if it’s not aviation, and at least 2 references, again doesn’t have to be aviation. Don’t make me “request” the references, making it more work to hire you isn’t appealing to me. Chances are I won’t call them, but making me ask for them puts the resume down the pile. Don’t call yourself a professional pilot at 200hrs either, you haven’t even had a job in your profession yet, you can’t legitimately say you are a professional. I generally throw out resumes with photos of the candidate as well. I prefer them to say something extra curricular too, give me something to consider if you’d fit in with the people at the company, then I can see that you share some kind of similar hobbies and would be able to make friends easier. One page for your resume is good, and don’t include all of your aviation documents or anything like that.

That was a really helpful response, thank you very much. I have applied most of what you have said in my cover letter and resume apart from the reason for those sim hours. Most of them were for IFR/ME training prior to the physical flights and the rest for the MCC. All were done in full flight simulators (AlSim 250 and the AlSim ALX) in the PA44 configuration and the King Air 350 configuration.
Thanks again.

[digits_]

Don’t make me “request” the references, making it more work to hire you isn’t appealing to me. Chances are I won’t call them, but making me ask for them puts the resume down the pile.

Yikes. I don't think a lot of references would appreciate it having their personal info blasted off to hundreds of companies. Being contacted by a few once you've made it to the interview stages is obviously normal when you agree to be someone's reference. It's mainly the higher value references (ops managers, VP/CEOs) that I would be very weary off to share their contact info when I'm applying for a job.

I'm happy that you shared how you dealt with it though, I had no idea it could be an issue that early in the process!