- Have you lost enthusiasm for your career, if so why?
No, I still really enjoy what i do for a living (3 and a half years in the job). The initial shine wears off, that is to be expected in any line of work, but I can't imagine ever doing anything else.
What genuine advice would you give to someone in my position, knowing what you know now about the industry?
I really wouldn't look to start training for the time being. The argument that if you start now you will graduate into the start of the next boom holds no water - no-one knows how long it will take before things return to some form of normality. The chances are that when (if) we do get out of this mess the airline business will have changed for good and there will be fewer jobs available. I just think the future is far too uncertain to be chucking upwards of 60k at a job that probably won't exist.
Is the profession different to how you expected?
It's more or less the same as I thought. Some days are great, some days are
. I fly shorthaul round europe with a big airline from a big airport, earn a decent wage, drive a car I can't really afford and try not to piss off too many hosties. Standard stuff really.
Would you say you are happy in your career, or given the chance to start again would you take a different route in your career?
Generally very happy. I wouldn't change much. But I am aware that the experienced guys I share a cockpit with, guys nearing retirement, have enjoyed a career and financial rewards that myself and my generation of pilots will never see.
I know things seem very pessimistic round here these days, but thats because things are generally pretty pessimistic in most airlines. Redundancy is a real threat for most pilots, pay cuts/freezes are looming or have been imposed at many operators. Experienced guys from XL, Zoom etc are still out of work. Meanwhile new entrants to the industry are being treated as though they are un-skilled temps working in an office, and are lucky if they earn so much as sector pay.
The party is over.