What jobs are you doing whilst waiting for that first flying job?
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Airpilot, Tudeski2004
How did you find it in the Police? Did you do your training whilst still in?? Looking to go down that route myself, getting the training done and then maybe instructing on days off etc.
Feel free to PM me
Expedite
How did you find it in the Police? Did you do your training whilst still in?? Looking to go down that route myself, getting the training done and then maybe instructing on days off etc.
Feel free to PM me
Expedite
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Worked part time as a dispatcher, and luckily also part time in a GA job which just about kept the hours tickling along - albeit S/E VFR.
Money was very poor, but the hours are exactly what you'll work on the line, and you make some very useful contacts. May not seem like it at the time if they can't get you that first job, but this is a very small industry, and you'll be amazed how often the same faces pop up later in your career.
If you can afford to scrape a living working airside, do it.
Money was very poor, but the hours are exactly what you'll work on the line, and you make some very useful contacts. May not seem like it at the time if they can't get you that first job, but this is a very small industry, and you'll be amazed how often the same faces pop up later in your career.
If you can afford to scrape a living working airside, do it.
Join Date: Apr 2003
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I'll second what Maude Charlee and Wind Sheer wrote re. airside jobs - and dispatch in particular; to say nothing of all the useful things you'll learn about an airline's operation (and that some other pilots don't really have a clue about).
Very positive, except of course the early starts - talking of which I have to get up at 0400 again
, so nite nite!
Cheers
Very positive, except of course the early starts - talking of which I have to get up at 0400 again
, so nite nite!Cheers
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I have had my licence since December last year. Sent off a whole batch of CVs to anyone with at least half an aircraft! I then started looking for some other aviation-related work in the meantime; flight operations dispatch etc. What I have discovered though, and heard it from the ‘horse’s mouth’ a couple of times, is that they won’t even consider me for such a position because I am a CPL.
Here is the dilemma: We know that it could take ages to get our first flying job, so in the meantime we may as well do something aviation related. Learn more about the routines and understand the workings of an airline, we all understand the logic… So to get such a job we send more CVs, we have to account for the last ‘n’ years of work and study and therefore we have to mention the fact that we are CPLs (Which in itself shows a rather serious interest in aviation). However, because we are CPLs the companies know that with the slightest whiff of a flying job we are gone! So, what are my other options? I shouldn’t lie but perhaps I needn’t mention the fact that I did any of the CPL training. Ah, but I can’t do that because to get such a job I will need security clearance and therefore have to account for the last five years of my life.
I don’t mean to sound too pessimistic, in fact I actually feel very optimistic about my whole situation. However, I would love be working for an airline, in any capacity, but I just can’t seem to get my foot in the door.
To stay on-topic; I am currently working as a ‘fashion print technician’, somewhat unusual maybe but at least it pays enough to live. If anyone has any advice on getting an airline job I would appreciate a PM. Interesting thread by-the-way.
ConcreteFloater.
Here is the dilemma: We know that it could take ages to get our first flying job, so in the meantime we may as well do something aviation related. Learn more about the routines and understand the workings of an airline, we all understand the logic… So to get such a job we send more CVs, we have to account for the last ‘n’ years of work and study and therefore we have to mention the fact that we are CPLs (Which in itself shows a rather serious interest in aviation). However, because we are CPLs the companies know that with the slightest whiff of a flying job we are gone! So, what are my other options? I shouldn’t lie but perhaps I needn’t mention the fact that I did any of the CPL training. Ah, but I can’t do that because to get such a job I will need security clearance and therefore have to account for the last five years of my life.
I don’t mean to sound too pessimistic, in fact I actually feel very optimistic about my whole situation. However, I would love be working for an airline, in any capacity, but I just can’t seem to get my foot in the door.
To stay on-topic; I am currently working as a ‘fashion print technician’, somewhat unusual maybe but at least it pays enough to live. If anyone has any advice on getting an airline job I would appreciate a PM. Interesting thread by-the-way.
ConcreteFloater.
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just got 18 years old, attending high school in sweden with PPL and working at a grocery-store on all overtime occasions i can get (working "uncomfortable schedule" gives the double pay 
) i've paid my PPL and got enough cash for the ATPL-theory and my parents save some extra money so that i can finish MCC without any debts that can't be paid of in a short time.
) i've paid my PPL and got enough cash for the ATPL-theory and my parents save some extra money so that i can finish MCC without any debts that can't be paid of in a short time.
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Concrete Floater - when interviewed for Dispatch positions, I was asked if as a CPL/IR, I would leave if I got an offer of a flying job. My answer: "of course I would". The result: I had the choice of THREE handling agents on the same airport! I guess they appreciated my being frank about it.
I did the same a year before when I went for a Cabin Crew job, and guess what? I also got that job, so I really don't think it's an issue.
If they know anything about the job, the interviewers should know that as a CPL/IR holder, you know more than enough to make a very decent dispatcher providing you are willing to work hard.
My advice: don't try to hide your CPL, use it!
Cheers
I did the same a year before when I went for a Cabin Crew job, and guess what? I also got that job, so I really don't think it's an issue.
If they know anything about the job, the interviewers should know that as a CPL/IR holder, you know more than enough to make a very decent dispatcher providing you are willing to work hard.
My advice: don't try to hide your CPL, use it!
Cheers
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FougaMagister.
You have confirmed what I thought would be logical; any CPL/IR should be suited to a position as a dispatcher (assuming that he or she is willing to work hard). I agree with you, we should promote the fact that we have the licence. Honesty usually is the best policy.
ConcreteFloater
You have confirmed what I thought would be logical; any CPL/IR should be suited to a position as a dispatcher (assuming that he or she is willing to work hard). I agree with you, we should promote the fact that we have the licence. Honesty usually is the best policy.
ConcreteFloater
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Trust me, most handling companies are far more desperate for you to work for them than you are to do the job. Apply, and they will take your hands off.
To be able to get their hands on an intelligent, articulate and motivated individual is a blessing in disguise. When you get on the line and see the standard of some of your dispatchers, you will weep. I know I do.
When I worked at the Circus, I was one of 3 pilots in the office (and predictably last to leave
), and there were 2 others preparing to start their ATPLs. This was in a team of around 15 dispatchers.
To be able to get their hands on an intelligent, articulate and motivated individual is a blessing in disguise. When you get on the line and see the standard of some of your dispatchers, you will weep. I know I do.
When I worked at the Circus, I was one of 3 pilots in the office (and predictably last to leave
), and there were 2 others preparing to start their ATPLs. This was in a team of around 15 dispatchers.
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100% agree with Maude Charlee. Ground Handling companies struggle to find articulate people to fill the dispatcher positions. i'm guessing because they pay so badly! Anybody out there working in non-aviation related jobs should quit and go for dispachter/ops/whatever jobs where you can network. Unless of course it's financially impossible (e.g. kids).
I did dispatching for two months at LCY and got to build good relationships with training captains and ops managers at both airlines I worked with. I ended up getting hired by a different airline (put forward by my flight school, even though I was modular!), but that's another story.
By the way, for all the 'older' guys and gals out there, I'm 36, modular, and next month I get to press a TOGA button that will get two lovely CFM-56 engines to spool up! Keep at it, the market is improving every day. It'll happen.
P
I did dispatching for two months at LCY and got to build good relationships with training captains and ops managers at both airlines I worked with. I ended up getting hired by a different airline (put forward by my flight school, even though I was modular!), but that's another story.
By the way, for all the 'older' guys and gals out there, I'm 36, modular, and next month I get to press a TOGA button that will get two lovely CFM-56 engines to spool up! Keep at it, the market is improving every day. It'll happen.
P
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Poll: Jobs wannabe's are doing whilst dreaming..
Hi
I couldn't help but become intrigued by what other wannabe's (in terms of current profession) are doing in order to raise/save funds for that long awaited dream??
I am in technology myself, it pays well but being bitten with the flying bug (a very very long time ago) and masses of student debt that dream still seems a long way away from a financial perspective! Desperate to get out of technology and into 'aviation' I have been looking into converting into a more professional qualification that I may have a remote passion in, such as Law but its more needless expense
some say to avoid this and 'grin' and 'bear' it in the current profession and save every penny!
Aside from selling my car, laptop, mobile phone and anything apart from my 'limbs'
I can't help but wonder how my current profession stacks up with others..
I even thought about doing the ICAO Flight Dispatchers Certificate but without being exposed to airport operations some say its useless..
Any advice on 'suitable' extra funding/careers options would be greatly appreciated..
Cheers
I couldn't help but become intrigued by what other wannabe's (in terms of current profession) are doing in order to raise/save funds for that long awaited dream??
I am in technology myself, it pays well but being bitten with the flying bug (a very very long time ago) and masses of student debt that dream still seems a long way away from a financial perspective! Desperate to get out of technology and into 'aviation' I have been looking into converting into a more professional qualification that I may have a remote passion in, such as Law but its more needless expense
some say to avoid this and 'grin' and 'bear' it in the current profession and save every penny! Aside from selling my car, laptop, mobile phone and anything apart from my 'limbs'
I can't help but wonder how my current profession stacks up with others..I even thought about doing the ICAO Flight Dispatchers Certificate but without being exposed to airport operations some say its useless..
Any advice on 'suitable' extra funding/careers options would be greatly appreciated..
Cheers
.
Join Date: Jun 1999
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Ok, sell your boyfriend?
Only joking. I would imagine it would quite difficult to change direction in order to raise cash quick, simply because it will take time to focus on a new career and change direction and get a job! I was in the aerospace engineering industry, the pay wasn't bad, but not fantastic
. So it was a question of being patient and making steady progress in saving the cash. On saying on all that there are many ways to skin a cat I guess.
Good luck with it.
Only joking. I would imagine it would quite difficult to change direction in order to raise cash quick, simply because it will take time to focus on a new career and change direction and get a job! I was in the aerospace engineering industry, the pay wasn't bad, but not fantastic
. So it was a question of being patient and making steady progress in saving the cash. On saying on all that there are many ways to skin a cat I guess.Good luck with it
.