Transferable Skills
short flights long nights
Great question. I have had many discussions with colleagues on this subject in the past 6 months, and I seem to have quite a different view than most!
Over the past 20 years I have been stunned several times by reports of airline pilots applying for jobs which I consider them grossly overqualified for. The first occasion was in the late 90s when there were reports of a Melbourne based Ansett Captain who was driving a taxi after being laid off, and most recently by ex-777 Captain applying to drive a train. I have always viewed our profession as being largely cognitive, with a small (but critically important) esoteric set of manual skills being secondary. A similar analogy would be a surgeon...yes, he requires a manual skillset, but his value largely lies in his experience, his ability to perform calmly under pressure, his technical knowledge etc. The core cognitive or 'soft' skills of a competent airline pilot include excellent time management, a high degree of EI, conflict resolution, task management, broad and flexible communication skills, environment control, exceptional prioritisation, leadership etc etc etc...and oh by the way, we can fly aeroplanes. I suspect that for the driver of a taxi or a train, these cognitive skills are far less important, and that manual manipulation and the associated spatial judgment etc form a proportionally MUCH larger requirement for success.
Research completed in the past two decades is clear; these non-technical attributes, in particular leadership and emotional intelligence, are far more important for success in almost all industries than technical skill. (Industry is slow to transition though...a quick view of the job ads on LinkedIn still seem to prioritise technical skill and industry experience over character traits and EI.)
So...to answer your question indirectly, I think a great option for a lot of the very smart, very talented airline crew I've flown with would be to spend US$1000 having a HR specialist convert their skills and experience into a stunning CV, and start applying for management positions in a variety of industries where technical knowledge is less important. Ops management or ops consulting roles would be a good fit for many of us.
Cheers!
P.S. Of course, my lower priority on manual skills may just be a psychological defence mechanism because I can't fly very well
Over the past 20 years I have been stunned several times by reports of airline pilots applying for jobs which I consider them grossly overqualified for. The first occasion was in the late 90s when there were reports of a Melbourne based Ansett Captain who was driving a taxi after being laid off, and most recently by ex-777 Captain applying to drive a train. I have always viewed our profession as being largely cognitive, with a small (but critically important) esoteric set of manual skills being secondary. A similar analogy would be a surgeon...yes, he requires a manual skillset, but his value largely lies in his experience, his ability to perform calmly under pressure, his technical knowledge etc. The core cognitive or 'soft' skills of a competent airline pilot include excellent time management, a high degree of EI, conflict resolution, task management, broad and flexible communication skills, environment control, exceptional prioritisation, leadership etc etc etc...and oh by the way, we can fly aeroplanes. I suspect that for the driver of a taxi or a train, these cognitive skills are far less important, and that manual manipulation and the associated spatial judgment etc form a proportionally MUCH larger requirement for success.
Research completed in the past two decades is clear; these non-technical attributes, in particular leadership and emotional intelligence, are far more important for success in almost all industries than technical skill. (Industry is slow to transition though...a quick view of the job ads on LinkedIn still seem to prioritise technical skill and industry experience over character traits and EI.)
So...to answer your question indirectly, I think a great option for a lot of the very smart, very talented airline crew I've flown with would be to spend US$1000 having a HR specialist convert their skills and experience into a stunning CV, and start applying for management positions in a variety of industries where technical knowledge is less important. Ops management or ops consulting roles would be a good fit for many of us.
Cheers!
P.S. Of course, my lower priority on manual skills may just be a psychological defence mechanism because I can't fly very well
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: hk
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For god's sake, do you ever talk the truth?
How much does DPD - Driving in the United Kingdom pay? The average DPD salary ranges from approximately £21,636 per year for Owner Operator Driver to £33,000 per year for 7.5 Tonne Driver. Average DPD weekly pay ranges from approximately £336 per week for Courier to £673 per week for Courier Driver.
Last edited by illtellyouhowitis; 16th Oct 2020 at 08:47.
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Wan Chai
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have to remember that on that £33,000 the tax back home will be about £7,000 with NI included. Depending on how and where you choose to live the remaining £26,000 is whittled down even further rather quick. From the low tax rates of the SAR it'll be a big shock going back home for that if/when people choose/forced to take that path.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: HK
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: one country, one system
Age: 55
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No matter what it pays, it's the wrong decision. University or learn something new. Teaching jobs might be available, if you have a degree.
SOPS, good on you, looks like you found peace.
SOPS, good on you, looks like you found peace.
Last edited by Sam Ting Wong; 17th Oct 2020 at 01:51.
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Bonvoy Marriott
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I lost my airline job in the GFC I did jobs for which I was “overqualified” for a year, then went flying again for some arsehole of a company. But hey. It got me back in the air again.
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: uk
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For god's sake, do you ever talk the truth?
How much does DPD - Driving in the United Kingdom pay? The average DPD salary ranges from approximately £21,636 per year for Owner Operator Driver to £33,000 per year for 7.5 Tonne Driver. Average DPD weekly pay ranges from approximately £336 per week for Courier to £673 per week for Courier Driver.
How much does DPD - Driving in the United Kingdom pay? The average DPD salary ranges from approximately £21,636 per year for Owner Operator Driver to £33,000 per year for 7.5 Tonne Driver. Average DPD weekly pay ranges from approximately £336 per week for Courier to £673 per week for Courier Driver.
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: uk
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think you're taking the extreme examples and as it clearly states on the website you are responsible for all your TAX, NI and pension so I think your friend's son is confusing turnover with income, which are vastly different things! Or does his business not cost anything to run?
I'm surprised you didn't ask your mate Walsh to set him up with a job or one of your Swire chums.
And the COVD staff earn an equivalent of just over 25k a year as I've spoken to some of our CC who have applied to it.
I'm surprised you didn't ask your mate Walsh to set him up with a job or one of your Swire chums.
And the COVD staff earn an equivalent of just over 25k a year as I've spoken to some of our CC who have applied to it.
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: All over
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Has anyone considered the option of throwing one's assets in some form of trust (managed by a trustee you can actually trust--which might be easier said than done), jumping off the 'producer' paradigm (pulling the cart) and jumping onto the dole like everyone else (in the cart) ? Enjoying the benefit of assets divorced from yourself (but you still get to use) yet being indigent on paper (and as far as any taxing authorities might consider).
"The system" has been confiscating the fruits of my labor for years. Perhaps it's time to figure out a scheme to cash in. Be my own boss and work for myself. They made this puzzle; let them figure out how to solve it. Perhaps developing the skill to figure out how to do this would be the greatest skill of all.
"The system" has been confiscating the fruits of my labor for years. Perhaps it's time to figure out a scheme to cash in. Be my own boss and work for myself. They made this puzzle; let them figure out how to solve it. Perhaps developing the skill to figure out how to do this would be the greatest skill of all.
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: uk
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In CX your salary is paid to you the individual and therefore incurs salary/income tax before you could transfer it into any trust where you could find exemptions.
This was investigated 30 years ago as a possible offshoring pay solution but was rejected. However to protect your assets a trust might be useful to legitimately protect your family from inheritance tax or that troublesome spouse from 50% of your money.
This was investigated 30 years ago as a possible offshoring pay solution but was rejected. However to protect your assets a trust might be useful to legitimately protect your family from inheritance tax or that troublesome spouse from 50% of your money.
