will my past life help me?
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will my past life help me?
I need some advice- I am looking at applying for the 2004 QF Cadetship (if there will be one) and want to know if what I have been doing with my life so far will help me stand out from the crowd and get selected by Qantas.
A little bit of background about my past life- I have a business degree and have spent the last few years working for one of the world's leading professional services firms...along the way learning/getting experience in working efficiently and effectively, managing and training people, delivering customer/client service, working to tight deadlines, building upon excellent communication skills etc (qualities I understand may make a good pilot???).
Does Qantas look favourably upon people in their mid 20's, who after experiencing the real world, now know what they really want to be doing for a career? Or is the cadetship mainly for the new school leavers and uni grads?
Any advice will be most appreciated!
Thanks
A little bit of background about my past life- I have a business degree and have spent the last few years working for one of the world's leading professional services firms...along the way learning/getting experience in working efficiently and effectively, managing and training people, delivering customer/client service, working to tight deadlines, building upon excellent communication skills etc (qualities I understand may make a good pilot???).
Does Qantas look favourably upon people in their mid 20's, who after experiencing the real world, now know what they really want to be doing for a career? Or is the cadetship mainly for the new school leavers and uni grads?
Any advice will be most appreciated!
Thanks
Nunc est bibendum
Considering that you have some 'real life' experience (as opposed to post high school experience) I'd see no reason why QF wouldn't be interested in your application.
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QF Cadets
Considering you have a degree and life experience I am pretty sure that QF will look upon that favourably. However I wouldn't dwell on the past. Give QF a good reason why you should be captaining a 744... All the best with the process..
Ang
Ang
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I'd say about a third of those I know who have gone through were in a similar position to yourself. So, yes to your first and no to your second question! 
From what you have said it's pretty clear you understand the positive aspects of your 'history', and with an attitude like that, there aren't many negatives.
Lancer
From what you have said it's pretty clear you understand the positive aspects of your 'history', and with an attitude like that, there aren't many negatives.
Lancer
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Absolutely and shows a well rounded and positive attitude, whether they eventually want you or not, may or may not have anything to do with it, but there is someone out there somewhere who will.
I made the the mistake of telling mrs woomera about my past life, but that's another story.
I made the the mistake of telling mrs woomera about my past life, but that's another story.
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Thanks for this posting FBD. I am in a similar situation and the replies have been great.
I just finished my business degree last year and was offered a grad dip in education which i am currently doing as well as physics and applicable maths at night. (Which is slowly killing me)
Business is certainly not for me and although I love the kids i am teaching, the only job i wanted growing up was to be a Qantas pilot.
At 21 the choice for me is do I give up teaching and concentrate on physics and maths or do I continue with teaching and complete my physics and maths next year. Agggh!! What should I do??
You sound like you have a lot to offer
Thanks again
Erin
I just finished my business degree last year and was offered a grad dip in education which i am currently doing as well as physics and applicable maths at night. (Which is slowly killing me)
Business is certainly not for me and although I love the kids i am teaching, the only job i wanted growing up was to be a Qantas pilot.
At 21 the choice for me is do I give up teaching and concentrate on physics and maths or do I continue with teaching and complete my physics and maths next year. Agggh!! What should I do??
You sound like you have a lot to offer
Thanks again
Erin
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Don't mean to hijack but,
where does someone come up with the $100,000 or so to pay for the schools the cadet scheme uses?
I feel the cost of this scheme leaves most people unable to consider it. To allow equal opportunity, Qantas should be covering the costs.
Guys looking at buying ratings to get ahead are given a hard time but we don't tend to look at this scheme in the same way?
I'm not saying Qantas shouldn't have a Cadet Scheme, if you can avoid the GA industry, good on you, it doesn't deserve a look in.
where does someone come up with the $100,000 or so to pay for the schools the cadet scheme uses?
I feel the cost of this scheme leaves most people unable to consider it. To allow equal opportunity, Qantas should be covering the costs.
Guys looking at buying ratings to get ahead are given a hard time but we don't tend to look at this scheme in the same way?
I'm not saying Qantas shouldn't have a Cadet Scheme, if you can avoid the GA industry, good on you, it doesn't deserve a look in.
Nunc est bibendum
lineup, an interesting point that you raise. Most blokes I've spoken to have had their parennts tack it on to the house loan and/or have had their parents guarantee the loan repayment to the bank by putting up the house as security.
It is a lot of money and probably about 1/3 again on what the average person going through a 'normal' flying school will pay. The plus side is the fact that you qualify for all the standard grants from the governement (living away from home, studying, rental assistance, etc, etc) which does ease a little of the pain while you are down there.
As to your last point, QF have no interest in putting the money up for you. In some respects you could argue that you are 'paying' for a job but everyone has to pay for their CPL/IR/ etc so it isn't like they are making you pay for your endorsement in that regard. At the end of the day, I reckon the 1/3 premium you pay is pretty good considering that there is a very good chance that less than six months after finishing the cadet course that you will be on about anywhere between five and ten times what the vast majority of first year GA drivers earn. All this assumes that you get through the course and haven't made anyone agro along the way so that you come straight in to QF.
Anyway, the course isn't for everyone but if you can get it, there is a much better chance (high 90% I reckon) that you'll be flying for QF in under 18 months. Compare this to spending 2/3s of the money for no guarantee at all.
It is a lot of money and probably about 1/3 again on what the average person going through a 'normal' flying school will pay. The plus side is the fact that you qualify for all the standard grants from the governement (living away from home, studying, rental assistance, etc, etc) which does ease a little of the pain while you are down there.
As to your last point, QF have no interest in putting the money up for you. In some respects you could argue that you are 'paying' for a job but everyone has to pay for their CPL/IR/ etc so it isn't like they are making you pay for your endorsement in that regard. At the end of the day, I reckon the 1/3 premium you pay is pretty good considering that there is a very good chance that less than six months after finishing the cadet course that you will be on about anywhere between five and ten times what the vast majority of first year GA drivers earn. All this assumes that you get through the course and haven't made anyone agro along the way so that you come straight in to QF.
Anyway, the course isn't for everyone but if you can get it, there is a much better chance (high 90% I reckon) that you'll be flying for QF in under 18 months. Compare this to spending 2/3s of the money for no guarantee at all.
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Once upon a time - QANTAS did offer cadetship schemes which involved the applicants paying back the money once they started working. It would have been about 1989? as I remember one of the criteria was to be 19 years of age - I was 18 1/2 y.o. I applied anyway and was told to reply next year - I was too young. They never offered this type of arrangement again to the best of my knowledge, and my parents weren't in a position to assist financially :-(
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Nika
My only advice would be to keep doing what you are doing...the teaching will be great as it will help you to earn money whilst you are working towards your dream...and if takes time for your dream to come true, at least you have something to fall back on.
Good luck with it all.
FBD
My only advice would be to keep doing what you are doing...the teaching will be great as it will help you to earn money whilst you are working towards your dream...and if takes time for your dream to come true, at least you have something to fall back on.
Good luck with it all.
FBD
Nunc est bibendum
ugly. Incorrect and I know that from experience.
I was also the same age in '89 and applied the following year and managed to pick up a slot for a '91 start. The deal for the first year ('90 start date) was a $10K 'bond' that was non refundable but no expense beyond that. QF paid the lot. I think the idea of the 10 grand was that the trainee also had something invested in the program and just didn't bludge and wash out.
For those of us who started in '91, it had risen to $15K. For the courses that started about '97ish, the cadets paid the entire cost of the course (about $100K ). My parents put $10K towards it and I cashed in my annual leave from my old job for the other $5K. I paid them back the $10K after the training finished- with interest.
I was also the same age in '89 and applied the following year and managed to pick up a slot for a '91 start. The deal for the first year ('90 start date) was a $10K 'bond' that was non refundable but no expense beyond that. QF paid the lot. I think the idea of the 10 grand was that the trainee also had something invested in the program and just didn't bludge and wash out.
For those of us who started in '91, it had risen to $15K. For the courses that started about '97ish, the cadets paid the entire cost of the course (about $100K
). My parents put $10K towards it and I cashed in my annual leave from my old job for the other $5K. I paid them back the $10K after the training finished- with interest.
