Jet2.com - Transition from other roles to pilot

[FlyVeryHigh-]

Hello! Just a quick question - does anyone know if there's any support as such in place for staff members already employed by jet2 in the likes of engineering for example, to develop into the role of a pilot within the company? I.e. still needing to obtain fATPL.

[4Screwaircrew]

I'm no longer with Jet2 so anything I say is 3 years out of date, but they have redeployed staff from the ramp, the cabin, operations and crewing, I was never aware of any financial support for the process. I did see people leave and return with the CPL/IR in their pocket taking up there old role prior to getting assessed for a pilot position.

In any role within the company you are able to access lots of advice and encouragement from those who have gone through qualifying and job hunting ahead of you.

[foliot-pilot]

I've done what you're asking, just not from engineering. Send me a PM.

[ComeFlyWithB]

I’d also be interested to hear personal experiences of this if possible please. I plan on doing the same quote soon although not in engineering.

[gfunc]

I know two blokes who worked for Jet2 in other positions before getting on the pilot route. In both circumstances they had to obtain their fATPL in their own time and out of their own pocket and then went in through the apprentice scheme alongside others from outside Jet2. Although they were both excellent candidates in their own right, working for the company beforehand was probably not a disadvantage.

[FlyVeryHigh-]

Thanks all - very useful.

[foliot-pilot]

Just to be clear, Jet2 won't give you a golden ticket into the RHS once you get your CPL MEIR.

You still need to meet their recruitment standard. For the pilot apprenticeship, there is a LOT of competition and they will take only the best people, regardless of your employment history.

However, if it were a choice between two candidates with equal merit, would the fact that you worked for them previously have a bearing on their choice?

Personally, I would say yes.

[Rottweiler22]

I used to work for a large firm (non-aviation) and tried applying for other jobs within the company. They still made you do the exact same application, interviews and tests as an external candidate. I think it was something to do with their equal opportunities policy, and to stop the "nudge nudge, wink wink" type of cronyism.

The point was that you still had to be the best candidate. They wouldn't turn a blind eye, let certain things slide and hire you just because you already work for the company.

Being an internal candidate could give you a bit of an advantage in an interview, but it won't sit your tests and assessments for you. Jet2 will still want the best for the job.

[TryingToAvoidCBs]

I have heard from someone within the company, that those already working for Jet2 are exempt from doing the initial online tests, as they have already done "similar" when they took up their original positions.
They are however still required to do the assessment day (Interview, advanced compass test, and groupd exercise) as well as the sim assessment of course.

I'm not sure how correct this is, but my source was fairly concrete.
I don't intent to mislead anyone if I'm wrong.

[foliot-pilot]

Untrue, the online tests to get into the company are much easier than the pilot apprentice ones. I still had to do them.

[TryingToAvoidCBs]

Thanks for the confirmation.

[FlyVeryHigh-]

Thanks. Very useful insight here - I think the bottom line really from what I can gather is that although it certainly won't go against you in an interview for a pilot role, it's very much still up to the individual to get themselves to that interview!