is 40 too old to start?

[cloud9]

I'm 40 and trying to make a career change. I love flying and am trying to get my foot in the door. I've sent out alot of resumes, but most companies say no phone calls or drop ins, so its hard to make a good impression or follow-up. I'm healthy, have alot of years left, and am still teachable. I've been an employee and an employer over the years, and I know the value of hard work, and am a hard worker, but can't really prove these things on a resume. My family and I are ready to move. I did my MIFR and just got my float rating, but only have 300 hours TT.
Is my age a major factor here, or mostly my lack of experience?

[tsgas]

Nothing wrong with you age but your timing may be a little off with oil trading at $135.00 a barrel and airlines around the world parking airplanes.
It all depends on how much cash you have in your bank account to ride it out.

[Doc]

No

[SQ]

if your familly is ready to move just do it

[cloud9]

Ya, I just need an opportunity. I just wonder if my resume often gets put to the bottom of the pile because they'd rather have a young guy to train. Is my age an advantage or disadvantage to getting my first job? I'm just not getting anywhere.

[Rudder Bug]

Hello Cloud niner,

If I was hiring, I would favor a mature person over a young nerd who thinks he knows it all. I'd say go for it, do yourself a favor and make your dream come true!

[SQ]

Ya, I just need an opportunity. I just wonder if my resume often gets put to the bottom of the pile because they'd rather have a young guy to train. Is my age an advantage or disadvantage to getting my first job? I'm just not getting anywhere.

the only matter is hours
it is like your age
300hrs is like young
so you start from scratch, age will never counterbalance your lack of piltoting experience, unfortunately.
to have you resume put on top of pile you have some options like
1/ "harass" the CP
1b/ "harass" his assistant
2/ send him a resume on sunday, call him on monday to talk about the kind of pilot he is looking for
3/ if your passed experience can be used on the aviaiton field, sell it
4/ start again from 1

there is nothing better than direct talk with CP, it's a start and youll exactly know what he expect reading the thousands resume he receives

[just curious]

Since you don't have any aviation lines to put one your resume, put down the functional skills your previous jobs have given you. Have you ever had to hire, fire or train someone, liase with gov't, develop a training program, operate heavy/office equipment, build a website, or set up a network, make a powerpoint presentation, re-organize a department...

300 HOUR Drivers don't normally arrive with these skills, but they often arrive having to perform them. Age is nice, but 703 704 companies don't hire people that are 18 and envision them staying forever, unless they are seriously deluded.

[square]

Well, it's not that you're too old to start, but if you have a family to support I hope you know what you're getting into. You could be making as little as 15 grand a year at your first job and don't expect much over 30k for the next few years. It's only when you can go captain that you can expect to make a decent wage, say 60k. For that you usually need about 1500-2000 hours, roughly 500-1000 pic, and 500-1000 multi depending on the machine. So I'd really advise you work out a plan with your family to make that work. As for the age factor, it's not so much an issue, but you may see some ramp/freight jobs go to younger guys because you feel better about lumping hours of heavy grunting and lifting to young guys. Repetitive strain injuries and back problems happen even to them and are definitely an issue.

[cloud9]

Thanks for all the good info. I've called a bunch of places after sending in my resume, but alot dont want phone calls according to their websites, so I've been reluctant to call. I am ahead enough financially to support my family for few years of lower paycheques, but I do need to be selling some of my other skills from previous jobs. Thats a good point. Thanks

[just curious]

Might wanna download the podcast from this and reflect on how to do that:
http://lifehacker.com/395361/tim-ferris ... our-career

[Never Mind]

If I was hiring, I would favor a mature person over a young nerd who thinks he knows it all... do yourself a favor and make your dream come true!

I would have to agree with Rudder Bug. An older person is very likey to be more stable, mature and serious minded. Just keep in mind that this journey to find 'happiness' through aviation can be a long and arduous one.

True, aviation does indeed give one a measure of satisfaction. I believe in finding a livelihood that enthuses you and that is in line with your personality. However, don't put all your eggs into one basket.

Family is extremely important, and so are friends. Looking after your spiritual side, if you are so inclined, is very beneficial. Aviation has a tendency to dampen these things, especially in the beginning stages, so beware.

Making your "dream come true" is not the end all and be all. Getting to the top doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be happy. Sometimes people climb the ladder only to find it's leaning against the wrong wall. I hope all these posts on this thread have been of some help to you.

Never Mind

[Cat Driver]

Ill take a mature 40 year old with average flying skills over a immature 20 year old with awesome flying skills any day.

[Captain Kangaroo]

You have a PM

Cheers,

CK

[phillyfan]

Breaking into the float flying world might prove more difficult. The first years tend to be a young kids gig. 7 days a week, 14hrs a day of back breaking misery. Over time you find ways of making things easier, but that comes with experience. You might find yourself crippled with back problems long before you get to that point.

[Mr. Jones]

I started at 42 and around 300 hours. I did an instructors rating and got hired the day after my check ride. Mature instructors are rare and I have found age to be a benefit. Lots of places still looking for instructors.

[xsbank]

The no-calls thing is only on their website - you didn't see it, did you? If they are looking, they will talk to you or direct you. If they are not, they might be rude. Tune up your resume and don't mention your age - you will then be confident that it has nothing to do with the hiring process ('til you get as old as Doc).

[Rudder Bug]

I strongly second Xsbank's advice, as who told you they don't want a phone call or a visit? That remark addresses the hundred of young guys looking for an entry-level position. Just drop in and find out. The worst that can happen is a "No thanks, we've got our guys right now." They won't hurt you and who knows, someone could be really happy to meet you and have a talk. Don't pass on those sayng No phone call, call anyways, you've got nothing to lose.

Good luck and keep us posted!

RB

[alti2d]

I had a friend leap into flying at 38. He decided to get some experience, quickly, so after training he went stateside and dropped $12,000 to buy some time in the right seat of a B1900 (BE02 I guess you'd say). Got home, got a job in the right seat of a PC12 and Be200... I'm not a big fan of pay for training like that, but I agreed that he got some quality time in quickly and then leveraged that into a position, in the city of his choice, and seems to be having a good time since. So it can be done, and there are different ways of doing it.

It helped that he had a great attitude, made a lot of contacts and kept up with those contacts, and doesn't have a family.

[co-joe]

If 73 isn't too late to get into a career in porn, at 40 you're probably okay getting into flying.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/0 ... index.html

[E-Flyer]

Hello Cloud niner,

If I was hiring, I would favor a mature person over a young nerd who thinks he knows it all. I'd say go for it, do yourself a favor and make your dream come true!

Are you by any chance in HR? Doesn't seem like it lol.

Most company's prefer younger candidates (not too young) because it is worth spending 35 years of training on them versus the 25 if the candidate was to stick with them until retirement.

There are some excellent young pilot's out there right now, so I wouldn't bash them. Sure, they still have lots to learn, but so will this interested candidate at that stage, 40, younger, or older.

That being said though, there is no reason why you shouldn't fufill your dream, the lowest i've seen in job requirements is that they didn't want the candidate to apply if he/she was older than 51 yrs old. You have 11 years to go.

[Stinky]

I could see a lot of operators who expect a lot of non flying extra duties being turned off by an older person. A 22 year old might scrub toilets all day to log an hour in a 182 but a 40yr old is more likely to say "go f* yourself"
Instructing sounds like a good idea. A new prospective student doesn't know much about hours but will more likely be turned off by a 2o year old instructor. Your age would be a selling point in that field. Get on with a place that has twins and does charters and you're set.

[wannabatp]

I could see a lot of operators who expect a lot of non flying extra duties being turned off by an older person. A 22 year old might scrub toilets all day to log an hour in a 182 but a 40yr old is more likely to say "go f* yourself"

Shouldn't the 22 year old also be saying "Go F*** yourself" as well?

Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with extra duties which may only be peripherally associated with flying, and if I see the boss is doing his share of toilet cleaning, then I can't really say no myself. But, perhaps not for an hour of C-182 time.

Just a thought.

[ScudRunner]

Do people actually put there age on resumes??

[tsgas]

You don't put down your age per say but if you have 18 years of experience as a bean counter with company XYZ then anyone can do the math.
Or you graduated in 1982 .
Started flying in 1983.
etc.