Entry Level Operations Positions

[Captain_Bolt]

Hi All,

I was just wondering if I could get some advice as I am slightly confused.

I've recently graduated with a Computer Science degree and I am currently working for a software house. I've always wanted to work in Aviation but
I am a very risk averse individual, coupled with the downtrodden looking aviation market - I decided to pursue a career in IT until things settled.

I could never find any graduate entry level roles for operations or network operations?

Are these roles only available to individuals who start out as Ramp Agents? I've done baggage handling and ramping at LHR but I am not sure how much these will count as it was quite a while ago.

What are the options out there? Are there any perhaps graduate positions available within this sort of area? Some airlines aren't even recruiting this year, some airlines don't even have an "operations" stream...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

Adam

[Chopper69]

CB

Forget the graduate stuff, although an IT qualification will go a long way to help, what employers are looking for is basic common sense.

In the past the normal career progression was to get a job as a 'Dispatcher', although very many interpretations of that term (see previous posts), with a Handling Agent and then 'prove yourself'. I personally used to interview many people for Ops jobs and if you had a 'Dispatcher' background, then you were almost half way there. It was yours to lose in other words.

I'm fairly sure that it is still the case that you have to start at the bottom and work up and maybe the progression has changed? I'm sure there are others on this forum that can give a more up to date assessment of how things are now?

One thing that I would also like to add is that when I did the job, the money was crap (even worse now, I understand?), however I've never had so much fun in my life! I used to bounce out of bed really looking forward to going to work, there's not many jobs you can say that about now!

Good Luck.

[Bye]

couple of questions from me to see if i can help.

where are you prepared to work, what region ?

do you want to work for an airline in IT ?

Or

Do you want to work in operations for an airline and forget the IT stuff ?

GB

[Spitfire boy]

Monarch may have something to check out:

Monarch Blog | New roles available in IT at Monarch (http://blog.monarch.co.uk/new-roles-available-in-it-at-monarch/)

Good luck
John

Btw I started in ops/ground handling many years ago and swapped to aviation IT as much better paid, joib security and work with multiple airlines.

[Captain_Bolt]

Thank you all so much to getting back to me, I really appreciate it.

couple of questions from me to see if i can help.

where are you prepared to work, what region ?

do you want to work for an airline in IT ?

Or

Do you want to work in operations for an airline and forget the IT stuff ?

GB

Hi GB, I'd like to move away from IT and work within operations itself if possible. Perhaps Network Operations for an airline or handling company?

I am currently based near Heathrow, which I thought would be ideal.

One thing that I would also like to add is that when I did the job, the money was crap (even worse now, I understand?), however I've never had so much fun in my life! I used to bounce out of bed really looking forward to going to work, there's not many jobs you can say that about now!


Hi Chopper, this is something that I really wish for, I just am not getting this in my current career, which is somewhat saddening.


@Spitfire Boy - thanks for this - unfortunately I'd like to move away from IT and see if there any positions available within Operations for the airline.

It does look like a lot of these roles require I start from Ramp Agent and work my way up....unless there is another option.

Looking forward to any more replies - thanks again everyone.

[LGWXOPSA]

Hi, I think you are correct.

I started on the check in desks of a small regional airport working for Servisair, worked my way through the ranks to the position of Load Controller / Operations controller, left and went to work for an airline in their flight operations department.

That took about seven years, with a bit of luck and hard graft you may get there quicker!

BRGDS,

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

I started as the ops office tea boy for a busy Independent at Luton when I was 18. Six months later I was producing the crew roster. Exciting times (admittedly nearly fifty years ago) for all concerned!

Start at the bottom and work up.

[T250]

Worth noting that there is a certain stigma/stereotype attached to anyone who's got a history in ground handling companies of the likes of Swissport/Servisair/Menzies Aviation/Dnata etc etc.

Airlines and other aviation professionals generally see us as the scum on the ground and this is definitely apparent if/when you progress and make the inevitable transition from ground handling ops to airline ops as airlines typically see and view their handling partners with contempt and disgust...

Just my 2 pence worth, see it for yourself if you chose this career path, its a hard slog!

[The96er]

Airlines and other aviation professionals generally see us as the scum on the ground and this is definitely apparent if/when you progress and make the inevitable transition from ground handling ops to airline ops as airlines typically see and view their handling partners with contempt and disgust...

It's cheap though !