Been there but saw the light.
I was also very close to quitting this industry after just a year of landing my first paid job in 2012. I learnt to fly in my teens at the turn of the century and despite plans to go commercial in the early 2000s, I ended up in the technology industry as a contractor. I still take up the odd contract in between flying jobs till this day so never quite left the industry. In fact, I’m writing from the office PC right now. New flying position starts in a few months.
I also have a love/hate relationship with the tech industry. I love working with tech, I enjoy the diversity and the money is…(well, let’s just say it’s more than what a mid-level BA captain would clear at the end of the month), but honestly speaking, the industry is full of cowboys and wingers, particularly in management (and it's getting worse). If it’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s phonies and they are everywhere in IT (not just aviation
). The IT environments’ of big companies are becoming hybrid pieces of junk that are incredibly difficult to support and develop as management continue to reduce cost by outsourcing to India where a monkey say, monkey-do attitude prevails and common sense is severely lacking. Added to that: The view is crap; I have to commute by train/tube daily and constantly have to take my work/thoughts home with me in preparation for the next day. That is no great life either I can assure you. As a result of the love/hate relationship, half the time the money is simply not worth the aggravation and I’ve frequently walked away from contracts before they expired just to get my sanity back.
When I landed my first commercial flying job, I was at the top of my game in my old industry and thus had to start off at the bottom of the pit. I was subjected to stupidity and inefficiencies the likes of which I didn’t think existed anywhere. How could the airline industry prosper with so much nonsense was my first thought. Everything from hiring practices through to training, the mind numbingly duplicative SOPs and receiving a pay check was a complete disaster. Where I flew, the skippers were mostly pyschos with zero personality and inability to comprehend that a 30 year old might actually know a thing or two about life despite being new to flying. I ran away from the place with no firm job offer from anyone else! It was at this point, I questioned all and found myself at a very low point in life. Luck changed, I then found a seasonal position which allowed me to fly in the summer and earn decent money doing what I used to do in the winter but there was never any guarantees of getting the right base. As such whenever I was away from home, I would be £1k out of pocket just to live in two places (family at home).
This year I believe I have finally found what appears to be the perfect job. It’s local, pay is above average for new FOs, perks are average to decent and it’s a perm contract from day one but with option to go part season. From what I’ve heard, I can expect around 650-700 hours per year and almost everyone is very happy to be there. Oh and working for a unionised company, never have done that! I am honestly looking forward to it all after all the hardship I’ve endured just to get a job in the land I call home! Sure, it has it’s down sides but everything in life does. You have to experience both sides to make the best decision. Of course, I cannot continue to be the same high rolling tech specialist I am when I’m not flying. However, I’ve just launched a new business idea that will enable me to keep a finger in the tech world pie, whilst making that little bit extra on the side of my permanent salary.