What to do after flying?

[CheekyChick]

Hi all,
Was wondering if anybody could offer a bit of advice.
A friend of mine has been flying for 8 years since he was 21 and is pretty much all he has know career wise however he is considering leaving flying altogether (but not necessarily aviation) and he has no idea what he wants to do.
Has anyone left flying for another career and if so what did you do, what kind of job do you think is suitable. I know it is all a bit vague and the list is endless but would love to hear from anyone that has been in this position
Cheers

[dollydaydream]

You do like your lists cheeky chick:)

[CheekyChick]

That is so funny, I do. That is exactly what my friend says hahaha

[richatom]

I know a few ex cabin-crew who are now working as interior crew in the mega-yachting industry in the Med. The skills you learn as cabin crew are very relevant, though you would have to do some specific yachtie safety training. You could try asking for advice on www.yabr.net (http://www.yabr.net) - it is a sort of Pprune for yachties.

[monkeybusiness2]

How about the police service?

[whatzmyname]

Few of my friends have resigned and these are the jobs they are doing now:
*owns a recruitment agency
*became personal shopper for rich clients
*became travel agent
*started working for child welfare
*opened a thai restaurant

best option is just to marry rich!:cool:

[FormerFlyer]

since leaving I've worked as....
Travel Agent (sales advisor, dept manager, asst shop manager, local trainer.....it goes on :zzz: )
driving instructor :zzz:
police control room operator

cheers ;)
FF

[Trishaturbulance]

I'm planning to leave flying this summer, after 2 1/2 years with my current airline and 4 years total. I'm currently going through the recruitment process for the police service, which seems to be a route which lots of other crew take (or seem to be interested in taking after flying). The way I see it, its a similar-ish kind of lifestyle, ie shifts, dealing with people etc, with the added bonus of better pay, decent pension, better job security, and best of all - not having to smile all the time even when recieving verbal abuse!

[urok]

This is really really funny! Ive just had a big sit down to weigh this up myself recently, and honestly, it scared me! We are pretty much experts in our field, yet outside of our tiny field, we've got customer service experience and thats about it! Nothing that really matches the money one gets flying!

So I didnt have the guts to leave - Im just going to convert some "wine time" to some study time and get me some sort of qualification!

Probably doesnt help anyone, but isnt it funny... :O

[joblolboj]

If you want to keep traveling, make better pay than cabin crew and not have to be at the customer´s beck and call try applying for a government job as a Diplomatic Courier with the State Department. I fly just as much or more than airline crews and, with overtime, earn a six figure salary.

[Winch-control]

Hmm migrate to Oz and be a paramedic in the Perth Metro area, it worked for me after working as 'cabin crew' with the RAF!

[whatzmyname]

"Trishaturbulence" at least now that you are joining the police force you can kick ass without getting into trouble:E Good luck with your new career. I always admire people who become police officers. It is a very hard and dedicated job.

[priapism]

I was forced into seeking other employment due to redundancy and I am now a paramedic. The emergency services seem to appreciate our background in dealing with often difficult people from various ethnic backgrounds.
I can recommend it to anyone considering an Earth based career.

[shinners]

what about being a pilot???

ehi guys..a policeman better paid than a cabin crew????

where do you live? in my country I earn the double of a policeman's salary

[Ckin Gal]

Two girls i worked with previously were cabin crew and became dispatchers, and really good ones.
Just a thought

[Viola]

Someone I know became a teacher of travel and tourism.

They already had a degree and did a teaching qualification.

Education authorities LOVED their industrial experience.

[melpax]

What about the public service? Pay isn't too bad (here in Oz at least!) & your customer service skills will be looked upon favorably (again here at least!). Add to that usually no night or weekend work required! At my office, quite a few of us have varied backgrounds, engineers, IT people, doctors, lawyers, we even had a former Ansett pilot work with us for a bit when they went bust. He soon left to join QF to fly A330's...

[T4Turtle]

I would advise your friend to look into being a member of household staff. I left flying after just over five years as purser/aviation security. I now work as a house manager for a large private family home in central london doing project management, house maintenance contracts, staff liaison and the odd bit of cleaning and butlering augmenting the household staff when need be. I also do catering orders for the house and supervise catering staff for private parties. There are several domestic agencies that have websites such as greycoat placements, hutchinsons, marshall harber, masseys, staff of distinction, beauchamp bureau. Let you friend know that he should get as much relevant experience as possible working in avaition to progress on the ground. No good being being a dull boy watching tv while drinking g&t.

[al446]

"we've got customer service experience and thats about it!" says urok, actually that is most of what you need.

I am ex RAF, not done CC but appreciate what you deal with, they are usually the idiots in front of me.

Police, fire service, support roles are all worth looking into, and I don't mean looking after old ladies.

I work for a Local Authority, money is OK (23K after 5 yrs) with homeless. No quals needed just common sense and willingness to learn procedures, which you have as CC. Just avoid SE England, no-one can live there on money going.

First, look at what interests you, or friend, and look to how you can be paid to do that or set up business. As still flying there is time.

Career change is only as hard as you make it, no research = crap time, lots of research = smooth transition(ish).

People skills are in huge demand and I wish your friend, and all in aviation, the best of luck in making change to working on terra firma. :ok:

[slori2000]

Hi,

If you are flying for an airline which has stable financial backgroud (no bankruptcy threat) than it is an idea to become a cabin crew instructor or recruitment team member,so you can work on ground,and you are still in the aviation industry...
Sometimes I am also wondering what will I do when I will not be flying...
It is the 4th year as cabin crew,previously I worked in the healthcare industy as registered nurse,and before /during my studies at the medical college/ as volunteer paramedic..
So as last chance I might return to healthcare,but I prefer the smell of kerosene :-)

Regards>>slori2000

[Trishaturbulance]

ehi guys..a policeman better paid than a cabin crew????

where do you live? in my country I earn the double of a policeman's salary

Shinners - in England a policemans starting salary is £20k approx per year, rising to approx £24k within a couple of years after training, and before being promoted. Compared to my pay as a junior crewmember of approx £15k a year, that is much better pay! Although I guess I would be working full time hours instead of the 25-30 per week that I work at the moment.....:confused:
However as crew in my airline I'm never gonna earn any more than around £28k per year at the highest rank. I could be getting more than that after my first promotion in the police...

[airnzuniformlover]

Find something that you enjoy doing as a hobby and turn it into a career. For example I decided to start writing a book - which will take a while to get going but I also teach piano to kids at $30 and hour - not too bad! Good luck

[snapper41]

So let me get this straight; your friend is only 29, has a flying qualification and doesn't know what to do in the future???

I suggest he counts his blessings!

[Bangkok Layover]

Well, This is a bit of a survey to find out,as well as to assist fellow flyers who wish to persue a career away from Aviation industry using the experience gained from all areas of cabin crew role.

Have you ever thought about this?

Do you have any bright ideas?....or perhaps friends who have been there done that?..If you do,what are the options?

Thank you for taking the time.

[bababe]

well after flying for 5 years I now work in a boarding school!!! very different but it's great fun and the holidays are amazing!! The shool thought I was crazy at interview getting excited about having 3 meals a day - all at meal times!!! getting up at the same time every day, and finishing at the same time!!!

[homesick rae]

Set up my own aviation consulting company which took me into many other areas of the industry. Now in aviation recruitment and I am also assisting a disaster management and response sevices company. All good!

[firstchoice7e7]

i worked as a holiday rep for a few years, after leaving that and wanting to put down some roots, i joined the police service as a control room operator for the metropolitan police. They have 3 sites ; Lambeth, Hendon, Bow. Ive been there for 5 years and my salary is aprox £31,000 per anum for a 37 hour week (12 hour shifts) . I do however do overtime and my salary last year was aprox £53k (yes i worked bloody hard for it) also your eligible for a key worker flat in a cushty development) and theres always drama going on on the floor!

I work with a couple of ex-crew. One loves it (hours suit round her family life), the other wants to go back to flying, as she misses it to much. Saying that she can afford the wage drop as she's just married a rich police sergeant!

[whitebits]

I flew for 6 years and now work for a helicopter company in the operations department. There is life after a flying career and loads of opportunities out there.

[smi006]

Another option to consider which is what I would try, perhaps working as ground-staff for a foreign airline at your local airport, esp one that has out sourced their ground handelling.
ie at Melbourne, United is handled by menzies ground services, but they still have United Reps who supervise and manage the station, I beleive they are paid more as out station reps than most normal ground-staff. It's an opertunity to stay in the buisness combined with potential to move up the chain faster than if you were with a 'home airline' as such.
just my two cents!

[BRL]

best option is just to marry rich!

I am rich, anyone want to marry me!!! :D

Seriously though I would look at the training/instruction/ground school side of things. Consultancy is also a good option, although quite limited the rewards are good financially.

[adsSW]

Just read through this thread and found a lot of people are considering the Police Service when they end their cabin crew careers.

I find this quite ironic really, I am currently a Police Officer in the UK, joined at 19. After 2 years I have decided to leave and apply for Etihad Cabin Crew. Guess I did it all the wrong way round :uhoh:

[b747 flightboy]

After a days flying I normally go home. Think twice about jacking it in. where else are you going to earn such good money for so little hours. Yes it can be hard work but it's a nice job that generally pays well. Why not consider some unpaid leave and a break? If your manager values you she/he will approve it and you can come back to it all refreshed.