What Job were you doing before your first Flying job.
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Surrey
Age: 41
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What Job were you doing before your first Flying job.
Hello all.
Just interested to see what jobs people did before they got their first flying job, or what job they are doing whilst they wait for their first flying job. I have finished my training and I am also looking for that first flying job whilst also trying to find some work to keep the money flowing.
What job did you do?
Do you think if I went for temp work, which is not aviation related, could affect my chances of getting that first airline job? Obviously I would like aviation related work and I have tried the Ops side but they say a big “NO NO”
because they believe I will leave when the market picks up (Fair Point).
It is all very frustrating.
Thanks
Just interested to see what jobs people did before they got their first flying job, or what job they are doing whilst they wait for their first flying job. I have finished my training and I am also looking for that first flying job whilst also trying to find some work to keep the money flowing.
What job did you do?
Do you think if I went for temp work, which is not aviation related, could affect my chances of getting that first airline job? Obviously I would like aviation related work and I have tried the Ops side but they say a big “NO NO”
because they believe I will leave when the market picks up (Fair Point).It is all very frustrating.
Thanks
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: North of CDG
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You must have come accross fairly 
interviewers. After I got my shiny blue licence (early 2003), there were no jobs around (sounds familiar...) So I went back to Cabin Crew. Had an interview for direct entry Senior C/C, during which the interviewer asked me wether I would leave if I got the chance of a flying job. I looked at her straight in the eye and said: "of course I would!" I got the job...
After that contract, I had several interviews for Flight Dispatcher positions at my (then) local airport (BHX); none of the interviewers even asked me whether I would leave for my first flying job, since it was evident I would! Again, I passed all interviews and even had my choice of handling agent; a job I did (part- and full-time) for 3 years. Great experience for learning, networking, getting known by the airlines, and even handing your CV to the right persons... In our office, there were always 3-4 frozen ATPLs among the 20 or so dispatchers. Most got a flying job that way.
Clever Ops/handling agents recruiters would know the added value they get by hiring someone who has a frozen ATPL. The others obviously don't have a clue about the business.
Cheers
interviewers. After I got my shiny blue licence (early 2003), there were no jobs around (sounds familiar...) So I went back to Cabin Crew. Had an interview for direct entry Senior C/C, during which the interviewer asked me wether I would leave if I got the chance of a flying job. I looked at her straight in the eye and said: "of course I would!" I got the job...After that contract, I had several interviews for Flight Dispatcher positions at my (then) local airport (BHX); none of the interviewers even asked me whether I would leave for my first flying job, since it was evident I would! Again, I passed all interviews and even had my choice of handling agent; a job I did (part- and full-time) for 3 years. Great experience for learning, networking, getting known by the airlines, and even handing your CV to the right persons... In our office, there were always 3-4 frozen ATPLs among the 20 or so dispatchers. Most got a flying job that way.
Clever Ops/handling agents recruiters would know the added value they get by hiring someone who has a frozen ATPL. The others obviously don't have a clue about the business.
Cheers
Join Date: Apr 2007
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was a student then started running clubs.
moved on very quickly to become an area manager for a company that worked within night clubs, then had to quit that to start flight training. during and after all my flight training (from 0 to hero) did door work (night club security) and still do. have the days to myself to do job hunting and also and other part time jobs that come around.
oh and also dab my hands in the family business whenever needed.
when you spend so much money on your training, anything that makes you money is worth taking. in todays climate, its hard for me to get any professional job with the experiance and qualifactions i have. everyone has been downsizing or working their workforce harder rather than recruit.
moved on very quickly to become an area manager for a company that worked within night clubs, then had to quit that to start flight training. during and after all my flight training (from 0 to hero) did door work (night club security) and still do. have the days to myself to do job hunting and also and other part time jobs that come around.
oh and also dab my hands in the family business whenever needed.
when you spend so much money on your training, anything that makes you money is worth taking. in todays climate, its hard for me to get any professional job with the experiance and qualifactions i have. everyone has been downsizing or working their workforce harder rather than recruit.
Join Date: Mar 1999
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I was a maintenance engineer in a kids' amusement park, used to spend my days repairing the go-karts and the pinball machines
It was actually by far the most fun job I've ever had, I'd go back to it tomorrow if it only paid pilot wages
It was actually by far the most fun job I've ever had, I'd go back to it tomorrow if it only paid pilot wages
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Wow a good range of jobs everyone did. I work in a hospital in the Main Operating theatres. love the job but the money is so trying to keep those hours up is an interesting challenge, but i love it
so trying to keep those hours up is an interesting challenge, but i love it
PPRuNe Handmaiden
In Australia, I was a laboratory technician.
In the UK, night ops assistant.
In the UK, night ops assistant.
Supercharged PPRuNer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Doon the watter, a million miles from the sandpit.
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Various shipping and steel industry jobs (and a paper round) before I ran away and joined the airlines.
Comparing colleagues' CVs, I can think of ex teachers, police officers and IT people, a chemist, a paramedic, a geologist, and - my personal favourite – a former pro skateboarder.
Comparing colleagues' CVs, I can think of ex teachers, police officers and IT people, a chemist, a paramedic, a geologist, and - my personal favourite – a former pro skateboarder.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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I was in the antique busines
I used to sell mechanical antiques .....things like vintage sewing machines typewriters , radios , scales,etc , when the busines started to slow down, one day I decided to buy afordable classic cars to re-sell, that day saved my flying career......
thanks porsche 914 , thanks triumph TR6 ,thanks alfa romeo junior for all the fun
.
thanks porsche 914 , thanks triumph TR6 ,thanks alfa romeo junior for all the fun
.
.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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as mentioned before
Left school and did the following
van driver
truck driver
aircraft refueller
pilot
The best thing to is get any job that gets you anywhere near aircraft. You just don't know who your going to meet.
Left school and did the following
van driver
truck driver
aircraft refueller
pilot
The best thing to is get any job that gets you anywhere near aircraft. You just don't know who your going to meet.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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My Story
Worked 3 years as a passenger handling agent and another 4 in the operations department as a Load Controller and Flight Dispatcher with a handling agent. Even though I like my job very much, it was always my dream to fly for a living so I finally started flight training 3yrs ago and finished just over a year ago.
After I finished my flight training I needed a job desperately so I went to my old job in the operations, only to be hired on part-time basis. That meant trying to work as much hrs as possible so I can pay my training loan at the end of the month. Desperate to find a job, asking every single crew member I handled with no luck, I started to give more importance handling general aviation. Even though that meant having no life, going to work any time of the day and still earning pennies. Finally this paid off as I was making more realistic contacts. Through these contacts I now fly corporate on a Cirrus SR22 for a private owner. Hopefully this is the beginning so I can one day move up to the big jets.
After I finished my flight training I needed a job desperately so I went to my old job in the operations, only to be hired on part-time basis. That meant trying to work as much hrs as possible so I can pay my training loan at the end of the month. Desperate to find a job, asking every single crew member I handled with no luck, I started to give more importance handling general aviation. Even though that meant having no life, going to work any time of the day and still earning pennies. Finally this paid off as I was making more realistic contacts. Through these contacts I now fly corporate on a Cirrus SR22 for a private owner. Hopefully this is the beginning so I can one day move up to the big jets.
