BALPA 2007 EOC Conference
 

All,

Tried to do a search but couldn't come up with anything regarding this years EOC Conference at LHR. Show of hands who's going?

Just been reading through the 2006 thread (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...LPA+Conference) and seems to be quite a mixed bag of what people got out of it - I'm not going there with any expectations, but if I go with a wedge of CV's is it likely any operators are going to take them? I've got my beady eye on one or two, what are other peoples thoughts on this? Are people gonna be in their ties and suits?

Also, more importantly, is anyone staying afterwards for a beer? :ok:

Horgy

sorry £60 just to hand out your CV:eek:

I'm going
 

£60 is steep but it's peanuts compared to what I've spent to get this far. Also, I've been told that if I were to do a FI rating I would need 5 hours P1 SE in the last 6 months before starting the course. As the 70 odd hours I have are all ME, to my mind the EOC is cheaper than even qualifying for an FI rating let alone paying for the course and accepting a reduced salary at the other end. And as they say with the lottery "you've got to be in it to win it". But then you are only slightly more likely to be struck by lightning 3 times than you are to win the lottery jackpot, whereas the odds of getting that first job are .......:}

As a thrusting, keen wannabe about to embark on an integrated course, would it be beneficial to attend the BALPA EOC conference OR is it simply more of an opportunity for newbies to throw around their CV's and network in the hope of getting that elusive first job?

I have had a look on the website which says it is for members only. Does an integrated course entitle you to associate trainee membership?

PLUS Received this Fast Jet aptitude test today: The object of the game is to move the red block around without getting hit by the blue blocks or touching the black walls- 2 minutes is required to earn yourself a look in at selection with USAF!!
http://tinyurl.com/56t9u

I survived 0.351 seconds - so I guess I'm f^%$£* !!! :O

I'm going and wearing a nice Black leather outfit, last used in Pulp Fiction:\:\:\:\

Charlie, I'm commencing the Integrated course at Cabair on November 2nd I have Trainee membership with BALPA. It's free but you need to prove your course dates etc.. Speak to Maggie at BALPA.

Also, more to the point, I'm attended the EOC as I'm sure I will learn about the industry and have a chance to speak to reps from the airlines. I have been told that it is smart casual. I will wearing smart shirt etc. (no tie - may bring one!).

What Integrated course you on?

FMS

That aptitude test is seriously addictive...but then again, i am rather easily entertained..!

I'm still undecided about the EOC...

22 seconds. Pass me my F-15 keys.

I think for anyone wanting to get a job within the next few years it would be good to go. I’m going, £60 is a bit steep but you never know, it just may be worth it. I have no problem with paying for it.

Now then, did someone say beer afterwards.....................?:E

25 seconds.. pass me my F-16 keys :ok:

Beer sounds good! Would like to meet some of you guys for a beer but I imagine most like to hide behind their alias..

FMS

26secs
 

i think after hearing about the fierce competition for jobs(and seeing just how many low hours guys are at the conference) a little light refreshment may well be in order!!!

FMSData, good time but not quite topping my 26 seconds just yet!!! i might get in touch with the USAF, all the same, to see if this qualifies me for multi's instead!!!

i have a place booked with OAT in February so will try and get BALPA associate membership for the conference. shirt and tie for me, hear so much about importance of networking; not what you know it's who you know etc etc!!

I would like a beer afterwards as well. Not for the alcohol of course, or the social, but to strengthen and improve my CRM skills in an unfamiliar enviroment with new people.

*cracks out Vodka*

Horgy

Oh, Behold the mighty 32 seconds!!

Horgy

32.. damn! must be my mouse :ok:

Might have to arrange a meet up for the CRM skill test

FMS

Can't get higher than 27 at the moment. :ugh:

I shall be there, plus two others who don't really post on here.

I think it has to be worth it; why wouldn't you do everything in your power to get a job? I have been to similar conferences and witnessed some people network their way into job opportunities (opportunity being the important word there; still have to pass the interview of course). :ok:

Unfortunately now in aviation that word 'opportunity' normally means spending money! :{ Still lets hope it's worth it.

I will be in a suit, as will the others with me I imagine.

See you there
db

I'll also be there, with a few others from Cabair at Cranfield. I shall be driving, so my beer consumption will be exactly nil, but more than pleased to have a drink with you all.

And as I'm not hiding behind my nick I should be easy to spot!

Just look for the receding hairline and expensive suit! :}

19.516 (about attempt no 12) Move directly south. Then Top Left - this will give you about 11 secs.
Then Bottom Left and then Top right I think. It seriously speeds up after 15 Secs.

laptop vs pc
 

yep, this indeed is the problem with this aptitude test. it is supposed to be an inate test of ability but, your performance can be significantly increased with practise since there appears to be no random component (not in the 26s i've lasted anyway!!!!). I would think, given that it takes a few goes to get used to it, you can only achieve a fair result in the first 10-15 attempts!!

having tried it on the laptop and pc i was surprised to find it subtanially easier in the laptop!!

it seems cabair will be well represented at EOC so look forward to meeting you all for that PPRUNE CRM seminar in the bar afterwards ;)

I am starting the Integrated course at Cabair on 2nd November so look forward to speaking to your guys. If I can find you!

I am going this year as a means for information and gathering contacts within the industry. I will probably attend next year as I would have just about finished my course.

FMS

Is there information to collect from airline stands or is it all verbal?

Any advice for someone who is about to start training and therefore not in an immediate position to start looking for a job but still wants to get the most out of the day?

Thanks

FMS

I have a cunning plan about the entrance fee, so I may be going if nothing else to get my bum into gear by 1. forcing myself to do a CV beforehand so getting it completed and 2. start talking to people.

Can we have a show of hands of PPRuNers who are going please?

FMS Data - would strongly recomend you go. Its ideal for someone in your position; someone who is just starting training and is some time away from job hunting as the day is more geared to information gathering rather than getting interviews.

My experience of the 2005 EOC was that the information you get will allow you to start planning job hunting for when the time comes, but it is not so great if you are midway though job hunting process and hoping to network your way into an interview chair.

The information deleivered at the presentations was all fairly similar from every airline "we have recruited fully for this year, and next year's low hours FOs will come from an arrangement we have with CTC/Oxford/FTE". (to put this into context, the airline that eventually offered me a job about 6 weeks later swore blind at the EOC that all vacancies for the year were full!)

Afterward the presentations you get to meet the guys in charge of recuitment at the airlines on a one to one basis. This is the point when most people aim to **dazzle** the airline reps and swing an interview. No doubt this can happen, but most of the airline reps I met had long queues of people all eager to impress so the reps had their defences correspondingly high.

To summarise; great for someone at groundschool stage who is looking at who to eventuslly target when the time comes, and what criteria these people will be after, not so good if you are hoping to outshine the hundreds of other low hours guys and make an impression.

Either way, good luck with the job hunting.

I went to the conference last year, and used it as a good opportunity to ask lots of questions to various chief pilots and recruiters regarding Type Ratings and routes into airlines. I had the Flybe man look at my CV and give me some advise on its content which was useful. I also had a chat with the boss of BAs recruitment man, as well as chatting with a few other wannabes. Last years conference was full of military guys wanting to go to civvy street, and a whole bunch of low houred chaps.
I'm not going this year, since I'm not looking to move on from my current employer, but this is my advise to get the most out of it:
1) Wear a suit. I didn't last year, and went in a shirt and chinos and felt a bit of a plonker.
2) Identify which company you want to speak to early on, and while everyone is getting their lunch, head for the stand you most want a job from, and importantly, make sure it's the people who are hiring your type of experience. If you leave it too late, the queues get huge and you end up waiting for 1-2 hrs to talk. Have your lunch a bit later. Balpa do a good job of identifying who is after low-houred guys. Last year it was Jet2 (my current employer) and BMI-baby. Leave Virgin, Cathay, China Airlines etc to the guys with experience, and when they are empty go and have your chat about the industry and get their thoughts.
3) Mingle. If your not the mingling type, remember you paid good money to be there....
4) When you do get to the front of the queue, have your greeting, banter and first question ready.
:ok:

Many thanks for all the great info!

Good luck to all.

FMS

Not ideal if you have a desire to fly a Boeing that both XL and Jet2 aren't attending. They traditionally aren't adverse to the low houred.

jobs
 

The question to ask is how many new F/ATPL'rs people who attended actually got an interview/job from the experience.

I am not convinced its of any real use for low houred no experience people.

I also think its a money maker for BALPA. Did someone mention £60!

How about making it free to people looking for their first job/still in training.

It is of very limited use the EOC. Bearing in mind that as most airlines have switched to on line application forms (e.g. Flybe) then you will find there is only about two or three operators there that will take CVs from non-airline experienced / low hour pilots; the queue to hand in your CV at these will be several hours long.

poor guys!!, this balpa conference is mainly used for airlines to see how desperate we are, and base on that they can level up or down their selections and T & C .

you may think it is used to find and see pilots like a road show,no it is not, with hundred of CV coming every month on their desk, do you think they need to do extra work at this Balpa conference.

so why do they come?answer: to sell their training program. Yes airlines now get a bonus each time they send students to a TRTO.Airline are not only a company but a company affiliated to TRTO.

by boycotting this, you save time and a udge amount of money that could be used for stamps and telephone calls.

I boycotted them, and I have even canceled by Balpa membership, and now I have 1 airline who want see me, and 2 other airlines in these coming months.How did I get these interviews, I sent them my CV. that's all.

recently I have been in a big big meeting for corporate jets , I paid 60 quids, for this money I talked to some persons, jumped in cockpit planes during 2 days and I have had lot of fun(there were 30-40 planes on the tarmac)and of course I gave my CV.

Balpa membership
 

Bit shortsighted cancelling your membership, even if you dont want to go to the conference, Balpa, as I am sure you are aware is not just about finding people jobs (or rather should I say running conferences etc)...however thats your choice...just my thoughts.

Dougy

Suit?
 

Did everybody last year wear suits? Reason I am asking is have never needed a suit as I have mainly been in education! I was going to start my 'collection' when I completed my ATPL next year but would you guys recommend getting one for the EOC?

I don't want to feel like an idiot!

Many Thanks

FMS

I will be wearing mine.

I will be attending. In shirt, tie and jacket.

Seems maybe a bit far to buy a whole suit for the conference, Just wear trousers shirt and tie and you should be ok - looking smart and employable is the aim of the game, not looking like a clone.

Incidentally, I possibly will be trying to offload my ticket for this saturday so if someone wants a ticket PM me - I will accept any reasonable offers unless I can secure a refund.

Horgy

Do BALPA produce any notes or feedback on the event? I joined BALPA earlier in the year purely to secure a place at this year's EOC. Now I'm stuck in the desert for another week or so and will miss it!

A DVD of the speakers would be great, but not sure it BALPA are that technically advanced!!

Thanks guys, I'll be attending in my Shirt and Tie!

So I should be easy to find if anyone wants a beer after! - atleast I'll stand out in the employer's eyes!

FMS

this year, only bikinis are accepted!
pilots in tanga have more chance to land an airline job on jets!

I think you have made your feeling known D about the EOC. Why continue? :rolleyes:

Or is it per chance that you just incessantly troll here?

Tanga

What?
Tanzania
or
Tanga (carriage), a kind of horse drawn carriage used in the Indian subcontinent

Not sure what your getting at Dogtanian.