sigtauenus

I've been compiling a "to-do" list and incorporating expenses.

Here's some of it.

ATP written
All ATP's - $295 for prep and exam
Sheppard - $75 prep, $90 for exam at lasergrade
Dauntless - $24.99 prep, $90 for exam at lasergrade

Ditto above for FE written

FAA 1st class - $90 with local AME

FCC license -$60

Professionally prepared resume and cover letter - $150

joining airline apps $54.95

joining Air Inc $199

Air Inc job fairs $175

Interview prep $300

decent suit $400

737 type rating $7000

Now, I'm a fairly smart guy, and I am pretty savvy with studying on my own, computer based training, microsoft products, etc. With that in mind, I have no problem generating my own resume from a good template or studying on my own for the ATP or FE written. The question becomes, how much am I willing to gamble my future career on by being cheap?

I spent roughly $60,000 of my own and taxpayer (ROTC scholarship) on my first career because I needed a college degree, and the degree itself did nothing for my career other than meeting a pre-req and some base-line skills I've used (such as math, how to write, etc).

Considering I'll probably spend at least twice as much time in this next career as I did in the first, I have no problem dropping $10,000 if it will make a difference, but the key point is make a difference. Is the extra $50 for sheppard's ATP prep software worth it over dauntless, is the extra $150 for all ATP's worth it over sheppard? Is it worth it to pay $150 for a professional resume and cover letter that others on this board could write in their sleep but that I might struggle with and end up with something tossed in the trash by HR.

I've seen many debates on here about the 737 type rating. Suppose I get it but say I end up at Delta on the MD-88 or 757 instead. Being a military fighter guy, is it a waste of money if I can show up to training at Delta with 2 weeks more experience of classroom, CRM, and sim experience that I wouldn't have had otherwise even if its on a different airframe? Once you're hired you still need to pass the training. I don't look at it as a waste if the experience I get at HPA even marginally helps me get through Delta's initial training even if I never fly a 737 in my life.

What about some of the other stuff, like Air Inc? Is the package worth it? I guess I could cheap out with airline apps and submit a bunch of individual apps for free, but my time is worth more than $54 for the 2 hours it takes me to fill each one out.

Am I off-base here, a sucker for anybody with a sales pitch?

Slice

Where you can go cheap...

Written prep and testing. There's no difference. I used ATP a few years back because I didn't know about the other choices and didn't want to study the Gleim phonebook.

737 type. Unless SWA is your #1 choice and you'd even leave another major for them. Hiring and upgrades have slowed way down. I'd try and get interviewed without the type. You already know how to fly. Crew concept stuff isn't that difficult to get adjusted to. However, if you don't have your ATP and do have access to the GI Bill, a type course is an economic way to knock out both for about the same cost as getting your ATP only. Without the GI Bill, I'd do the ATP at a smaller school for a couple of grand.

Don't join Air Inc., waste of money. You can get the info on the web these days. At the most, split an online membership with someone. I would recommend attending at least one job fair though. I had a mil only friend do so in DC and he learned from the experience.

Resume and cover letter. There are numerous examples around. Most airlines don't even take cover letters due to online apps. I haven't used one in years. PM me you email and I'll send you my resume that got me interview invites at 3 airlines.

Where to spend money.

Suit. You need to look good at the interview but don't go crazy. Men's wearhouse will suffice, plus you can use it for other occasions and day one of new hire training.

Interview prep. Highly recommended if you haven't interviewed at an airline before. I recommend Emerald Coast across the board. Adam Hughes does prep too but is more well know for UPS candidates. They both get the job done.

Airine Apps.Like you said, if you're interested in more than one company they represent, it's worth the $ to save typing the same info over and over.

sigtauenus

That all sounds great, thanks.

PM on the way.

FlyerJosh

ATP Written:

Gleim: $20. Test- local lasergrade place with AOPA discount: $70.

FAA Medical: Can't help that, but shop around. I get mine for $75, and my old doc before I moved was $65 (Both for 1st class).

Suit: My $170 JCPenny's (Stanford) suit has served me well and looks just as good as anybody else I've seen in an interview.

Air, Inc: Save your money. Unless of course you just want a bunch of fluff about how good the job is and how hiring is at an all time high.

Professional Resume: Some do- some don't. Personally I've never paid to have my resume done for me. Have some other folks that are in the industry do a once over for you. The truth is that an airline resume is and airline resume is an airline resume. Once you learn the correct format, the rest is easy (it's amazing how many folks don't know the correct format!)

I will ditto what slice says about interview prep...

Metal121

Agree. You can drop your costs in several ways.

Type rating: Flight Training International in Denver is offering a deal right now, I think its $4995 for a 737 type in a 200 sim. Easy.

Gouge: Check out willflyforfood.com. They have really good gouge on there and its free.

Interview Prep: A real good company run by pilots is CapitalAirlineConsulting.com in Washington DC. They offer really thorough interview prep at a good price. They can help you with the resume as well Im sure. If you have not interviewed before, this is a must.

Dont join Air Inc, kind of a waste of money.

Just my 2 cents.

Berkut

I would recommend Sheppard or Gleim over Dauntless. Dauntless is inexpensive, but their quality control as far as answers and explanations isn't as good.

SteelCity

Having just taken the ATP written using Sheppard Air, I highly recommend it.

I paid the money to download the program and took the written about a week later and got a 96%. Study a section each night for about an hour, do a couple practice tests, and you'll be done.

gordo282

I am in the deicision making process for chosing an ATP study program as well. Looks like I am going with Sheppard and will take the test in the begining of March in Wichita.

Thanks for all the great info.

daytonaflyer

Don't forget $2000 to get your ATP. Of course that's only if you're not planning on getting it for free when you upgrade at a regional airline. Since it sounds like you're past the regional airline stage, you might want to invest in it to better your chances.

But if that's the case, then don't worry about the 737 type rating. It's only useful at Southwest, and since they're only planning on growth through 2011, hiring will most likely slow to a crawl or stop before then. (Actually, their hiring already has slowed to a crawl. My buddy got hired at SWA last summer and his class date isn't 'til a year later).

Don't worry about a professional resume service. Anybody can write a decent resume by looking at other good ones. It only takes an hour or two.
Also, don't waste your money on Air Inc. There are other hiring fairs that are free. You may not even need to go to those anyhow.
I used Dauntless ATP test prep software. It works fine. It may not be the best in the world, but you'll still pass with it; I did.

HSLD

APC offers samples of the resume and cover (Mil. and Civ.) letter in Word format - FREE.
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/optio...itstart,0.html