Gone for 8 years. Now try to play the jobhunting game again

[Streetfighter]

Hello !!!

I have finished My flight training in 2001. With now accumulated a total of around 400 hrs. From 2001 till 2006 I was actively searching For a flying job. I had some opportunities, But It was all PTF. Did passed the Ryanair and Wizzair selection back then, But (unfortunatly) declined when I received the job offer. Because I didnt want to Pay. From 2006 till now I concentrated more on My non flying job which is IT related. Didnt't pay much attention on my flying career, except keeping my ME/IR, Medical current.

Now that I am debtfree and feeling that my dreams of becoming a pilot still exist. I wish I could turn back time and that I did took the offer with Ryan/wizz.

Since I am out of the job applying game for a few years now. How does anyone with low time and no type rating, modular get a job nowadays? Or is it that bad now???

[Luke SkyToddler]

Get current first of all, you've got no chance with an 8 year uncurrent licence and even if by some miracle you got the interview, you'd get slaughtered in the sim.

After that, you have exactly the same chance as every other middle aged career changing IT guy with 400 hours and an FATPL ...

[portsharbourflyer]

Two things get you flying airspeed and money.

If you really want to get back into it be prepared to spend money.

[Twinotterguy]

Back in mid 2000s it was easy to find a job compared to now.

[Bealzebub]

It is really bad. My A320 type rating has been of ZERO benefit in job hunting. Qualified 2008 - not one interview. TR in 2014 - not one interview...... Type rating partner, 1100+ hours, cannot get an interview, 2 other TR students at TRTO with us, instructors with 1000+ hours, they cannot get an interview....

Usually, when an airline is looking for "type rated" applicants it is really a case that they are looking for applicants with significant experience on that type. That experience would be borne out of the applicants previous line operational experience with a reputable company. From that experience it is usually a fairly quick and straightforward process to integrate the successful applicant onto the line and into revenue flying.

For non-type rated applicants the provision of a type rating course isn't particularly problematic either, but it is more intensive on available training tracks and the process is longer and more intensive on available resources. However when provision is made for such courses (and it often is) it is important to the airline that the applicant is assessed, mentored and monitored through the whole process.

The problem with people who have purchased their own basic rating with no relevant experience, is that you have the worst of both worlds, and potentially a host of problems that simply aren't worth the risk. I am afraid that is the reality for most airlines and why they will usually stipulate a specific level of minimum experience as well as simply being type rated.

[Woody12]

@streetfighter

I would really think twice before even considering this step.

I finished my training in 2005 and was sending heaps of application letters just to get my first break. If, and only if companies were replying, it was just to state that i did not have enough hours/experience. There were NOT saying anything about ratings!! It took me 3 years to get my first job in the corporate industry flying the small jet toys. But hey, i was building the experience/hours which i was lacking. After 5 years i was applying to get on a bigger toy and i was soooooo naieve to believe that i was going to succeed because i had experience. Never got an interview because that same companies who rejected me before because of the lack of experience, were now refusing me because i did not have the correct typerating. Again a silly excuse!! Nobody had the slightest interest in my experience. So last year i decided to trow the towel and doing another job in another field.

Now i dont want to discourage you, but put yourself now into perspective. No experience, no hours, no ratings and already 8 years out of aviation, why would a company hire you???? Sorry for sounding harsh but i want to put your nose on reality.

Succes whatever you decide.

[Andy_20]

My 2 cents. Get current as stated before, you need these just to get the interview stage and sims.

Reading a few if these opinions really makes me laugh at how others will talk people out of things even when they've made the stupidest if decisions. Like paying for a TR without a guaranteed job at the end of it. The market is picking up now compared to previous years. Jobs for inexperienced people are coming up, this week alone I've seen 2 airlines advertise for cadets in the UK.

You've got to be in it to win it. So if you don't try you will never know.

[n.dave]

Hello, Streetfighter.

I am in kind of same position as you. Finished my fATPL in 2010 and couldn't get a flying job. I'd renewed my ir the following year and try again but still nothing. I haven't renew it since due to £££££. Then i was planning to go to botswana and Namibia for serious job hunting (2013). Unfortunately, as I renew my medical I told the doctor I experienced some asthma. Bang!! your medical is frozen and you need to see a chest specialist doctor. It was like 10 bullets through your heart and i can feel the time suddenly stopped. It taken me couple of months to find the right doctor and was told that my chest capacity is 10 percent larger than average.. After got my medical back the hiring season is over in africa. So I thought ok I will try next year. But, I got married early this year which means theres a lot of responsibilities and commitments. So no adventure job hunting! Just a job that pays the bills.
Wife: you like your job?
husband: No, but it pays the bill (work in a restaurant)
wife: why don't you get the job you like?
husband: cost too much to fly and too many obstacles to overcome
wife: you will regret it if you quit and don't come to me in 10 years time and annoy me. Obstacles, yes they are there. They are there to separate between the best and the weaks. What jobs does not have obstacles? You tell me.
husband: erm.....I know what and I love you.
from that moment I decided to get back flying and read all the atpl notes again. i have to say the first few flights were very rusty and now starting to get sharper since I haven't flown for quite some time. I'm planning to renew my ratings and to keep it current because I do believe that I can get a job. What I'm trying to say is you got to believe in yourself that you can do it. You seem to regret the last 8 years don't make it a life time.

[UberPilot]

It's all very admirable to believe that you can get a job after getting current again; however, it's probably quite unrealistic. Have you got a plan of attack and researched who your options could be even if they were all recruiting? How would you perform in an initial sim assessment having not been in a Jet cockpit since your MCC course?

[Luke SkyToddler]

Out of interest Streetfighter, what was your job hunting plan exactly, when you trained back in 2001 or whenever it was?

If as you claim, you went through all the pain-in-the-ass of studying for and passing the Ryanair assessment, bearing in mind you had to pay for the assessment even way back then, why did you THEN decide "once they offered you the job" that you didn't want it? No offense but it sounds pretty fishy to be honest.

Presumably you also didn't fancy working your way up through the instructing / turboprop route (which was still highly viable 10 years ago)?

What did you do for FIVE years from 2001 to 2006 while job hunting? Just stay at home and post CV's, or did you get out there and try to meet some people and sweep some hangar floors and buy some beers and kiss some asses?

Were you seriously that naive, that you thought you could just kick back with your 400 hours TT and reject a couple of jet job offers along the way, while you waited for BA or Monarch to realize just how amazingly good you were and snap you up?

What has changed now, what's brought you back to an industry that is undoubtedly a lot MORE crap than it was a decade ago? And is there any jobs that you would consider beneath you this time around?

[Streetfighter]

My My ... Judging by the reactions and reading various threads in Pprune It is indeed worse then in 2006

I admit I was one of those guys who were indeed Naive thinking I could secure a job after training once I had my shiny frozen ATPL. In the period when I was doing selection with Ryan and Wizz I was recently married and expecting my first child. So getting further in debt was not something I had in mind back then. If I could work my way up eg cleaning hangars/towing banners/Fly small aircraft I would have done that without paying for a type rating. But I couldn't find such a job. Maybe I didnt searched hard enough...

I had some luck on several businesses I did. So I was able to pay of my debt fairly quickly

I don't have a grande Plan de Campagne for searching for a flying job. I just stay at my current Job and will send CV's to any flying company. I also started flying again at a Flying Club in my free time. Flying VFR/IFR to several destinations for fun since all my licenses are still current.

I know my chances are low to nill now. So if I do get hired ok... If not I just stay doing what I am doing If I do get another opportunity (And yes I know chances are very slim) this time I will pay for my TR if theres a job in the end....

Before I get flamed. I just wanted to get advice for searching for jobs. And not what I did wrong back then.

Thnx for your reactions and replies. Much Appreciated !!!!

[latetonite]

Your biggest problem would be, if invited for, the interview.