Non Aviation Experience in Hiring Decision
12-29-2015, 07:34 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Feb 2014
Posts: 28
Non Aviation Experience in Hiring Decision
Hello All-
Still on the sidelines for now, but wanted to see how much the legacies and LCC's value education and non aviation work experience. After leaving aviation 6 years ago, I went back to school for an MBA and worked full time in a management capacity at an outsourced services company. Over the course of the past five years, I not only obtained an MBA but have been promoted to levels of greater responsibility, managing 65+ employees and responsibility for $4M in annual revenue. In addition, I have been heavily involved in workplace safety and am responsible for drastically improving the safety program and culture at my site. Moreover, I am currently leading process improvement activities in addition to my normal job functions.
Outside of civilian experience, I was in the Army National Guard where I served as a commissioned officer. In this capacity, I held various leadership positions.
As I contemplate coming back to the industry, I wanted to see if some of the above would be factored in when weighing total flight time. Would this decrease the hours they feel is competitive in order to be hired? How do airlines handle non flying military experience? I would suspect that it falls between a pure civilian background and military aviation?
As mentioned, I am looking at coming back to the industry and have 3,200TT, 500 TPIC. I have not flown since I left but will get current by completing a BFR and IPC. Given the current climate, what would I need to do in order to be competitive for the legacies aside from going back to a regional?
Thank you in advance.
Still on the sidelines for now, but wanted to see how much the legacies and LCC's value education and non aviation work experience. After leaving aviation 6 years ago, I went back to school for an MBA and worked full time in a management capacity at an outsourced services company. Over the course of the past five years, I not only obtained an MBA but have been promoted to levels of greater responsibility, managing 65+ employees and responsibility for $4M in annual revenue. In addition, I have been heavily involved in workplace safety and am responsible for drastically improving the safety program and culture at my site. Moreover, I am currently leading process improvement activities in addition to my normal job functions.
Outside of civilian experience, I was in the Army National Guard where I served as a commissioned officer. In this capacity, I held various leadership positions.
As I contemplate coming back to the industry, I wanted to see if some of the above would be factored in when weighing total flight time. Would this decrease the hours they feel is competitive in order to be hired? How do airlines handle non flying military experience? I would suspect that it falls between a pure civilian background and military aviation?
As mentioned, I am looking at coming back to the industry and have 3,200TT, 500 TPIC. I have not flown since I left but will get current by completing a BFR and IPC. Given the current climate, what would I need to do in order to be competitive for the legacies aside from going back to a regional?
Thank you in advance.
12-29-2015, 04:36 PM
#4
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,038
You are in no way competitive for the legacies.
Military experience is a good resume box to check (especially if it was PAST experience, vice currently active guard/reserves). But it will not make you special...there are plenty of combat-experienced military pilots with all kinds of management/staff experience.
To become competitive you need several thousand RJ PIC, check airman, and whatever misc. items legacy HR folks want to see (volunteer work, high productivity, etc). Oh yeah and > 3.0 GPA and no checkride busts seems to be important too.
When you are competitive relative to other RJ drivers the military and management experience will help. It will not substitute for the usual civilian-track qualifications (ie no shortcut).
Highlight the safety management stuff when the time comes.
Military experience is a good resume box to check (especially if it was PAST experience, vice currently active guard/reserves). But it will not make you special...there are plenty of combat-experienced military pilots with all kinds of management/staff experience.
To become competitive you need several thousand RJ PIC, check airman, and whatever misc. items legacy HR folks want to see (volunteer work, high productivity, etc). Oh yeah and > 3.0 GPA and no checkride busts seems to be important too.
When you are competitive relative to other RJ drivers the military and management experience will help. It will not substitute for the usual civilian-track qualifications (ie no shortcut).
Highlight the safety management stuff when the time comes.
12-30-2015, 10:27 AM
#5
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Posts: 28
Rickair7777-Thank you for your insight; greatly appreciated. Sounds as if the regionals are in my future to get some additional time.
As for the military, I have been out for several years, so that should not play a factor in the future. So far, I don't have any check-ride failures and my undergrad and masters GPA was 3.2 and 3.7 respectively. It sounds as if going back, getting comfortable in the A/C and then applying for a check airman position would add to the resume.
What type of volunteer experience do the legacies look for? Is this also true for the LCC's?
Thanks again for the insight. If anything else comes to mind to make my background more competitive, please let me know. I certainly don't want to come across as not wanting to put in the time where needed to get where I want to be.
Thank you.
As for the military, I have been out for several years, so that should not play a factor in the future. So far, I don't have any check-ride failures and my undergrad and masters GPA was 3.2 and 3.7 respectively. It sounds as if going back, getting comfortable in the A/C and then applying for a check airman position would add to the resume.
What type of volunteer experience do the legacies look for? Is this also true for the LCC's?
Thanks again for the insight. If anything else comes to mind to make my background more competitive, please let me know. I certainly don't want to come across as not wanting to put in the time where needed to get where I want to be.
Thank you.
12-30-2015, 04:51 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,482
Is your time FW or RW? For some carriers RW has little, or no, value.
No recent professional pilot experience? Job outside flying to boot? Majors probably won't even look at you. Recently retired O-5, O-6, with non flying billet? They might get looked at.
Regionals is probably the best bet.
CKA? Typically requires CA slot. Which means a couple of years of time at the regional. And an opening...and bypassing the guys upgrading while you're an FO.
Volunteering? Where's your heart at? Interests? It can be union work, working in the flight department, church, community, schools. It's not 100% required but most people do something. If you're in the small group that's does NOTHING why do you think you deserve the job ahead of your peers?
No recent professional pilot experience? Job outside flying to boot? Majors probably won't even look at you. Recently retired O-5, O-6, with non flying billet? They might get looked at.
Regionals is probably the best bet.
CKA? Typically requires CA slot. Which means a couple of years of time at the regional. And an opening...and bypassing the guys upgrading while you're an FO.
Volunteering? Where's your heart at? Interests? It can be union work, working in the flight department, church, community, schools. It's not 100% required but most people do something. If you're in the small group that's does NOTHING why do you think you deserve the job ahead of your peers?
01-02-2016, 01:02 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Center seat, doing loops to music
Posts: 843
And explain his departure from said regional after one year, how exactly? False economy. I don't know what the interview prep people are peddling these days wrt regional employment, but no way HR gives the nod to the "I have a family and couldn't afford to do that s--- for more than 6 months" as an answer for dispensing with crapola wage employment, TWICE. He could probably pull that off wrt the first time he quit, since it was years ago, but no way for a recent resignation.
He'd be better off schlepping a king air around part time and cover his recency that way.
He'd be better off schlepping a king air around part time and cover his recency that way.
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