Extra-curricular activities?

[EZY_FR]

Apologies in advance for the long post. I have noticed that from reading the old BA FPP thread that people who got in to the aforementioned scheme were people who had lots of work experience or extra-curricular activities. As I'm at university, I'm not in a position to talk about work experience as I haven't done any part-time jobs(not due to laziness, just fully focussing on my studies) but I haven't done many useful extra curricular activities(was student rep for a year, member of committee in school but only provided minimal input)! My other problem is that I'm in my 4th year of my engineering degree and, as to be expected, a very large proportion of my time is dedicated towards my studies. Can anyone advice on what I should do? I am on the lookout for an engineering industrial placement and am very close to becoming a member of the community fundraising group. I'm also applying for a lot of voluntary jobs.note this isn't just for BA, but for all airlines.

[tomtytom]

Sign up as a helper at your local scout group

[RTN11]

The only reason anyone would want to know anything of your extra-curricular activities is to show that you are well rounded.

Team sports are good, as it shows you are interested in keeping fit, and a good team player which is what they're looking for in a multi crew operation.

Any sort of volunteering, scout group, youth club whatever would show you are interested in the community and so probably aren't a total dick, again a big personality will not fit well in a small cockpit.

Also showing you're an interesting guy, I for example play a musical instrument, gives you something to talk about on those long flights. At the end of the day you have to get invited to interview first, but at my interview the above topics were certainly discussed at length, I'd say far more than any technical aviation questions since you already have all the bits of paper saying you know what stuff.

[EZY_FR]

I have almost got a place in a local community fundraising activity group lined up with Macmillan(if u r not from the UK, they are a cancer care charity) and a part time voluntary placement almost sorted in Oxfam. I was a student rep for a year as well, as previously stated.
Is this good or should I push to do more? I have a very busy university timetable (aeroeng) so I need to take that into account. I'm also pushing to get an engineering industrial placement for my final year dissertation, so maybe this can help as well.

[RTN11]

On any CV or application form, it'll be the last thing anyone looks at, since flying qualifications and experience are the main thing anyone is looking for.

These are just topics to discuss once you have that interview, so I'd say what you're planning there sounds good. Nothing worse than some one dimensional dick who is only interested in flying to sit next to for hours on end, having some decent interests and personality is what any recruiter will want to see.

[Stocious]

Reserve forces?
Special Constabulary?
Uni Air training squadron?

[EZY_FR]

RTN

This is for the "sponsored" airlines schemes, not for someone who already had a lot of hours underneath them already but I get what your saying.

Stocious

I did apply for UAS but they were really trying to get students who already had a career in the RAF in their minds already. There were a lot with that mindset applying, hence they got priority.

[deltahotel]

A good interviewer will be able to ask all sorts of questions to find out if all these extra curricular thingies indicate a genuine in-depth interest and show you as a truly rounded and interesting person or whether it's an exercise in CV 'padding'.

[EZY_FR]

They are of geniune interest; one of the companies (macmillan)provided brilliant care and support for my father who suffered from leukaemia (who has pretty much recovered from his illness), so I want to spread their goodwill to others who are less fortunate. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a student representative as I made lots of new friends and gained a lot of respect for the work I carried out.

[Rithalic]

You could volunteer at your local RAF air cadets squadron as a civilian instructor. Was a good laugh when i did it and obviously flying related. There were two parade evenings per week (3-4 hours/night) with regular trips / events at the weekends. They only asked for as much time as i could give.

[EZY_FR]

Rithalic You could volunteer at your local RAF air cadets squadron as a civilian instructor. Was a good laugh when i did it and obviously flying related. There were two parade evenings per week (3-4 hours/night) with regular trips / events at the weekends. They only asked for as much time as i could give.

This is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for. I have applied to the local Air Cadets squadron and am now waiting for a response. Thanks very much!

[EZY_FR]

I have decided to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award (maybe as part of my time as a volunteer for the cadets) but I'm worried about the physical section, not because I'm lazy, it's because I'm not interested in team sports like Football, Rugby, etc. and I know team sports are looked upon favourably by airlines.Should I do one that I'm interested or participate in a team sport? I am interested in canoeing but due to time I think that would be more suited to the expedition section.

[naturals]

I have decided to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award (maybe as part of my time as a volunteer for the cadets) but I'm worried about the physical section, not because I'm lazy, it's because I'm not interested in team sports like Football, Rugby, etc. and I know team sports are looked upon favourably by airlines.Should I do one that I'm interested or participate in a team sport? I am interested in canoeing but due to time I think that would be more suited to the expedition section.

I finished my D of E many many years ago (so long ago I forgot to even put it on my BA FPP application!) so my memory may have faded somewhat but are sports like paragliding not in the physical section? You'd be surprised how much you learn about theory of flight, airspace, radio communications as well as the general decision making process in the air from a couple of weeks of paragliding lessons. PM me if you want some hints on where you could go to train.

It's about the cheapest form of airsports you can do and very addictive!

It may not be a team sport but I really wouldn't worry - you can't take on hobbies for the sake of appeasing the HR team - do stuff that interests you; as others have said they'll see straight through someone doing team sports purely to 'prove' they're a team player.