BALPA employment Conference
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BALPA employment Conference
Has anyone been to one of these??
Is it worth the £40 fee, or would I be better off spending this on stamps for my CV?!
Any info from someone who's been would be great.
Is it worth the £40 fee, or would I be better off spending this on stamps for my CV?!
Any info from someone who's been would be great.
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fiske
It is a bunfight, do not expect to go up to airline managers and be offered a job on the strength of your attending it.
However, most airlines are there and it tends to be a good barometer of what is happening recruitment wise in the industry.
Hundreds of people take CV's. I would say do not bother. Take the time to listen carefully to what is said by the airlines, and make notes. Get a copy of names and positions held in companies by the delegates.
If you get a chance to talk to an airline rep, be positive and polite. There are HUNDREDS of wannabees there..... just like each other!
I went twice as a wannabee and once as an airline rep ( my chief pilot was the main speaker, a captain went and I went as a junior FO) two years ago. I was inundated by the wannabees, the captain by current airline pilots and the chief pilot only really wanted to speak to experienced pilots on type!
So, pitch your angle thoughtfully, and have a little research done. I would perhaps suggest thinking of maybe four airlines you are really keen on. Perhaps because of local bases to where you live etc.... and approach them. Have something to say, and make sure it is thought out in advance!
As for whether it is worth going? YES. It may be £40 but you will only get second hand info if you don't go.
GOOD LUCK.
It is a bunfight, do not expect to go up to airline managers and be offered a job on the strength of your attending it.
However, most airlines are there and it tends to be a good barometer of what is happening recruitment wise in the industry.
Hundreds of people take CV's. I would say do not bother. Take the time to listen carefully to what is said by the airlines, and make notes. Get a copy of names and positions held in companies by the delegates.
If you get a chance to talk to an airline rep, be positive and polite. There are HUNDREDS of wannabees there..... just like each other!
I went twice as a wannabee and once as an airline rep ( my chief pilot was the main speaker, a captain went and I went as a junior FO) two years ago. I was inundated by the wannabees, the captain by current airline pilots and the chief pilot only really wanted to speak to experienced pilots on type!
So, pitch your angle thoughtfully, and have a little research done. I would perhaps suggest thinking of maybe four airlines you are really keen on. Perhaps because of local bases to where you live etc.... and approach them. Have something to say, and make sure it is thought out in advance!
As for whether it is worth going? YES. It may be £40 but you will only get second hand info if you don't go.
GOOD LUCK.
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Tailscrape,
thanks for the reply, I've just sent off for my ticket as we speak.
Like you say if the airlines are there then at the very least it should provide me with some accurate info on current recruitment policy.
And a chance to size up the opposition!!
thanks for the reply, I've just sent off for my ticket as we speak.
Like you say if the airlines are there then at the very least it should provide me with some accurate info on current recruitment policy.
And a chance to size up the opposition!!
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fiske/muppet
No probs. It is a good day out, and as you rightly point out it will allow you a chance to spy on the oppo.....
As for refundable? Unsure, but I think not nowadays.
No probs. It is a good day out, and as you rightly point out it will allow you a chance to spy on the oppo.....
As for refundable? Unsure, but I think not nowadays.
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It ain't just 40 quid. My mate went there last year. He also paid for his air fare, (£120), and a night at an hotel (fortunately, he knew someone in the hotel bus- so £25 instead of £100+.) Plus food.
He now has a job, but not thanks to the conference. His impression was of hundreds of hopefuls with rods up there a**e, trying to look more intelligent than there neighbours, all to no avail. His opinion was that this was a flag waving exercise by BALPA- laudable, but, unfortunately, not very helpful to the average Wannabe.
If there's no jobs, there's no jobs!
He now has a job, but not thanks to the conference. His impression was of hundreds of hopefuls with rods up there a**e, trying to look more intelligent than there neighbours, all to no avail. His opinion was that this was a flag waving exercise by BALPA- laudable, but, unfortunately, not very helpful to the average Wannabe.
If there's no jobs, there's no jobs!
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Yoshee,
it's being held on the 11th October in London.
Check out the BALPA website for details, www.balpa.org
it's being held on the 11th October in London.
Check out the BALPA website for details, www.balpa.org
I think it is worth going but it probably won't help you much directly.
Its always useful in the future - say at interview - to be able to say you attended and thought it was wonderful.
Its interesting to be in a room with 500 members of the competition if just out of idle curiosity.
It can be fun to organise a beer session for afterwards and this forum has been used in this way in years gone by.
At least attending will make you feel pro-active and that will probably help morale if nothing else.
Good luck,
WWW
Its always useful in the future - say at interview - to be able to say you attended and thought it was wonderful.
Its interesting to be in a room with 500 members of the competition if just out of idle curiosity.
It can be fun to organise a beer session for afterwards and this forum has been used in this way in years gone by.
At least attending will make you feel pro-active and that will probably help morale if nothing else.
Good luck,
WWW
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A couple of years back we all piled into the nearest pub afterwards. 'Twas like the ghost of flight training past, talk about 2 degrees of separation.
Highlights include the collective gulp when they ask for a show of hands of who has less than 300 hours.
sB
Highlights include the collective gulp when they ask for a show of hands of who has less than 300 hours.
sB
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As already siad, very well worth attending just to hear it from the horses mouth(s)
I went several years back and took copious notes on every airline present. Very useful info, as ever though subject to change at a moment's notice. At least you feel better by attending and it gives you something to add to your introduction letter........
The other comments about the conference are also true, it really is a rugby scrum and although willing to chat to you, you will find it very difficult to get anything like a one-on-one with an airline recruiter........................
So if you've not been before I would suggest attending, if you have then it's probably worth just chatting to someone who attends this year.....................
PP
I went several years back and took copious notes on every airline present. Very useful info, as ever though subject to change at a moment's notice. At least you feel better by attending and it gives you something to add to your introduction letter........
The other comments about the conference are also true, it really is a rugby scrum and although willing to chat to you, you will find it very difficult to get anything like a one-on-one with an airline recruiter........................
So if you've not been before I would suggest attending, if you have then it's probably worth just chatting to someone who attends this year.....................
PP
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Has anyone else realised that the price of £40 is a stunning 33% rise over last year's £30???
That's more than eighteen times the current inflation rate!!
We just love being shafted don't we? And don't tell me it's only a tenner more, it's the principle I'm questioning!
Would anyone from BALPA care to comment on this price hike? Next year it'll be £50 I suppose?
That's more than eighteen times the current inflation rate!!
We just love being shafted don't we? And don't tell me it's only a tenner more, it's the principle I'm questioning!
Would anyone from BALPA care to comment on this price hike? Next year it'll be £50 I suppose?
Possible fewer in attendence resulting in higher individual fees. In the bumper years recently passed it was standing room only.
Cheers
WWW
Cheers
WWW
