Looking for my 1st Aviation Job.
 

Hey,

first thing you should do is keep your eyes posted on AvCanada.ca or pilotcareercentre.com jobs postings.

Next you should use pilotcareercentre.com and figure out what companies hire low time pilots.

You should target a few specific companies. For some you may have to work the ramp, but you'll decide if that's what you want. Send them resumes, and then call, and possibly go on a road trip so the Chief Pilot can put a face to the name. You'll almost 100% have to leave Toronto.

Your other option would be instructing. TO do that you'd have to get an instructor's rating, but you'd be quite likely to get a job near by. I've heard some of the flight school's in TO are hurting for instructors.

Whatever you do, don't work for free. If the company is making money off of you, you should be making money off of them. Hours is not being paid.

Cheers!
piloteh.com

JBI gave you some good pointers!
Here are a couple of my own:

1) Only get into instructing if you can see yourself enjoying it. Otherwise, don't waste your time, money, and energy...and more importantly, the time, money, and energy of the student who will be paying thousands to learn from you. :O Otherwise, instructor ratings are a good way to build PIC time from the beginning! (very important!)

2) As a newbie, I would target Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Don't even waste your time in Southern Ontario unless you have some good connections.

3) Try to avoid working the ramp...it can be such a waste of time (I know, many people will disagree with me). Other times it will pay good dividends. I worked the ramp, and it got me a good job on a nice plane, but even knowing that, I would have rather spent that year or so in an airplane. The industry is moving right now, and with some persistent and a good attitude, you can find a job without having to start on the ground.

4) Meet people, keep in touch with them, network, network, network, and don't be an ass.

5) Have fun!

Oh, and BTW - Avcanada is a great place to pick up on job leads or to research potential employers. Just make sure you sift through the garbage, and take everything you read with a grain of salt (including my post! :})

Oh, and I forgot to mention - you'll be surprised what you can find with 500TT these days. I can think of several postings I've seen in the past few months looking for F/Os on twin turbines and only asking for 500. The nice thing is that you should have the PIC time required for the ATPL if you've been dropping skydivers.

JBI... are you by any chance the author of "So, You Want To Be A Pilot, Eh?" ??

Yup, that's me!

I had a post on here earlier about it but it got removed. There's a fine line between advertising and getting the word out. Have you read the book?

Not yet... but i will in the matter of a few days. I have heard nothing but good things about it. I would have read it by now.. but i couldnt find it in any Chapters in the GTA... so my mom ordered it for me online haha. So ill be reading it christmas day for sure.

I was reading your website the other day... and noticed you saying "never fly for free" so i thought it might be you. haha. I'm really looking forward to reading it... and since im in grade 12 and and going to Confederation College next year, im sure there will be some great advice.

Aaron

Jobs out of Canada or the US....try Botswana, Tanzania or Namibia. Good flying, great people. Experience not to be missed!!

Hey i bought your book from dal LOL.... so far im halfway throu adn its aweeesome.. very easy to read great book for someone that is just getting started.. keep up the good work.

Moe

Moe,

Glad you're enjoying the book so far. How did the exams go?

Aaron,

I hope you enjoy the book. Feel free to send me an e-mail if you have any questions. Confed is a good choice, I've heard good things about their program. It's good that you're looking into things nice and early, start networking as early as you can!