How, and how long, to get that first job?

[AlternativeProcedure]

Most have pushed and pushed and pushed potential employers, upped-sticks to wherever to fly ANYTHING to build experience and NEVER let up in their attempts to get on the next rung of the ladder.

Looking back, that is so so true. That statement totally describes what I had to do. You really cannot let the lack of activity bring you down, do whatever it takes, no matter what, hard work and Perseverance will always pay in the end.

[Seaweed Knees]

This thread will not give a true indication of what can be expected. People are more likely going to post about their success so it will not give anyone reading it any meaningful info on the likelyhood of employment or how long it should take to find a job. I got my FAA CPL in 2002 was employed 3 months later flying a 206 in AK, starting new job flying an AC690. 3 jobs between those two.

[Number Cruncher]

This thread will not give a true indication of what can be expected

Maybe so, but I happen to find it one of the most useful discussions I have seen here in a long time. Keep them coming guys. Maybe hearing from the non-successful guys will make it even more useful.

[Fokkerdriver]

Finished intergrated course 2002, 22 years old.
Was unemployed 1 year...invested in a turboprop rating and got a job.
Worked for peanuts for 3 years but is now moving onto a jet and prober money in the pocket.

[nbairlines]

20 yrs old, finished integraded 6 months ago, starting TR 737NG for a large dutch airline on monday.
airline pays for everything. TT ~175hrs

[fly-dj]

Quote:
This thread will not give a true indication of what can be expected. People are more likely going to post about their success

Well yes, since to title of the thread is "time from end of training to first job". I would have thought you needed to have achieved success before you can answer ramshorn's question.
Just a thought...

[747 Downwind]

Finished integrated training at 23 yrs old, one year to get flight ops job (made redundant), half a year thinking hmm what next (FI course etc), a year doing SSTR with line flying, then job RHS 737.. Total time: 2.5 years.
All first time passes, average above 85% blah blah.. just didn't have any flying experience, that's the key keep flying if u can.

[Wannabe24]

Mod's can we make this one sticky? (or at least for a couple of months)...It would make for some pleasant scenery!

I promise to reduce the size of this post if you do!

Don't worry, I've done it for you!

No, I won't make it a sticky. There are too many already. However, if it continues in a constructive vein, I may add it to the READ THIS FIRST sticky thread in the other Wannabes forum. You have read that one, haven't you?

Scroggs

[Megaton]

Eight weeks from completion of MCC to first turbo-prop job. Twelve months later first jet job.

[haughtney1]

Started flying in New Zealand in 1991, CPL in NZ in 1996 first job took 8 months on a light twin....12 months later onto a turbo-prop, then made redundant
Stopped flying for 18months..then moved to the UK in 2000, started a modular conversion on 11/09/00 Finished conversion/Exams/IR in early 2003, then it took 9 months of door knocking, phonecalls, long drives up and down the UK before a turbo-prop job was offered, 9 months later PPrune sponsered me onto a jet (thanks again)..and in 5 weeks or so Im starting as a DE F/O at Monarch
A long and winding road

[plumponpies]

12 months after MCC 34 yrs old. 300hrs landed RHS 737. by pure luck, determination and networking.
CV bashing produced zip! Get ot there and get noticed, that seems to be the best advice.
Good luck.

[Longchop]

Finished MCC Nov04 had 1 interview in nov04 before yhe end of my MCC and 1 interview in early dec04 then that led to 2 job offers and a job start date of may05.........on a regional heavy TP with 230 hrs!!!

hows about that then!!

[skywaytoheaven]

Finished IR Aug 2000,
Aug 2000 - May 2001: Unemployed(able)
May2001 - May2003: Instructor
2 years 9 months to first airline job

May 2003 - Dec 2005: Dash 8 driving
Jan 2006 -: A320
And the most fun was instructing!

[Sphinx]

PPL while working Mid 2000 - 2001
Full time modular courses Autumn 2001 - 2002 including ATPL's, CPL and IR
MCC early 2003
Interview April 2003
Job end of May 2003 with a leading UK regional on a TP.

Decent money if not bank-breaking. After 2 years moved on to charter A320 and good money.

[scroggs]

Originally Posted by Seaweed Knees

This thread will not give a true indication of what can be expected. People are more likely going to post about their success so it will not give anyone reading it any meaningful info on the likelyhood of employment or how long it should take to find a job.

To some extent this is true. There will be many who were active Ppruners while they were in training and, later, searching for a job, but if they were unsuccessful they will have drifted away. That said, so will many of those who did succeed! Therefore I think this thread could provide a reasonably useful cross-section of experiences.

As Pilot Pete has suggested, the most important quality in your job search is not the school you went to, or the percentage you got in your ground exams, or the fact thet you got all first-time passes (or not!). It is your attitude and the amount of effort you are prepared to put into finding a job. Some of those who sit back and wait for a job to come to them will be lucky; most will not. Those who really make the effort to go out and find the work make their own luck, and the vast majority of people with this kind of 'go get it' attitude will succeed.

It's up to you!

Scroggs

[eahlund]

Very informative thread! Just a question, when you guys are talking about making yourself noticed. What exactly do you mean? I think i have an idea just want to make sure, I dont finish my training until somtime early 2007, but im trying to prepare for what im up against
Cheers and thanks for the useful information!

[757manipulator]

Eahlund,

IMHO, its all about getting yourself known, this means picking up the phone and speaking to various interested persons, being a detective and finding out who to contact, being the squeaky hinge that needs oiling first (had a girlfriend like that once )
Dont forget that a lot of people in positions of influence have had to go through EXACTLEY the same process as you. It really is a case of sink or swim in this regard. Tough but true.

[Bluebaron]

Finished IR in Mar 1998, started instructing in June 2000, got first 'job' in Sept 2001 but didnt start until feb 2003.

SO 3 years really but 5 years in reality due to me bin ladan.

BB

[ruthers]

age 38 (now 40), modular. Completed MCC Nov '03 and spent 3 months concentrating on 'select' regional carriers (with no success). Mar '04 completed FI rating and gained 650 invaluable hours and experience in 11 months teaching PPL's.
Feb '05 gained employment as a f/o with regional jet operater via spec application.
Everyones circumstances are different but if you are very low hours with no firm job offer/interview (and you're finances can take the hit) then maybe now is the time to book on that FI course ready for a busy summers flying. Without those single piston hours i would be back working in the office for sure!

[Fellow Aviator]

PPL 2002. Started training for CPL/ME/IR August 2003, finnished Dec 2004. FI-rating for summer 2005 flying season and now flying TP.
I also think that without my FI-hours I would still be looking for a job. Good luck to all.