Is it easier to get a job if a relative is a pilot in the airline?

[Toujours]

If a low hour pilot straight out of flight school has an uncle who is a jet captain in a reputable airline, do you think his chances of getting into the airline is better that someone who hasn't got a relative with the company?

I ask this because I know a lot of students with close relatives in various airlines and I was wondering if they stood a chance at getting in.

[Callsign Kilo]

He may have a good chance of getting an interview, but often it stops there. I know two people who I trained with who's fathers flew for well regarded companies here in the UK. One didn't get the job and then blamed it on the person who interviewed him, mainly because him and his father didn't exactly see eye to eye. The other failed the sim assessment.

Another problem that exists, especially now, is that recruitment is slowing down to a snails pace. One guy on my TR course was unable to get anywhere near his father's airline because they were overcrewed. Didn't matter how senior his Dad was.

[Halfwayback]

Having a friend or relative working for an airline may help but, as indicated in the previous post, it can work against you.

If the current employee is well respected, knows you personally and is prepared to recommend you then the likelyhood is that you wil get to interview.

The airlines are inundated with CVs from around the world on a daily basis. I don't know of an airline that keeps a personal file on every applicant because of the secretarial cost of updating files in an industry that is loking to save money - normally it is only those already in the pool that get updated.

So to get to interview is a huge advantage these days when employers are looking for specific reasons to put your CV in the box marked 'For interview'.

Thereafter you are on your own and will either get the job or not on your own merit.

HWB

[BYALPHAINDIA]

Many Moons Ago, It was a kind of 'Old Boys School', Where if you knew someone or your father was a pilot etc, You could go in by the back door.

Some ex RAF crew were recruited by some of their old Aircrew pals, Or followed suit with their old mates to the Airlines.

I think it probably still happens, But probably at the smaller companies, Business mixes with pleasure etc??

Think the major players now are so big & busy, They don't personally know the people who work for them, But 20 + years ago people knew each other in other Airline dept's.

Some of the recruitment is done by outside consultants thesedays too.

And all applications are just another number on an interview/application file sadly.:sad:

All The Best.:ok: