The downward spiral of the Pilot Profession?
03-15-2010, 07:06 AM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: Sofa Stress Tester
Posts: 614
Right now the whole economy is in the toilet. I figure when it turns, so will wages and working conditions. Right now people are just trying to find the bottom. I'm sure that whoever takes that citation job will get paid more than 24K, but it probably won't be at the 2008 rate.
03-15-2010, 07:17 PM
#22
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Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 423
The reality is don't pay for ANY job websites. They all poach jobs from each other and most are avail with a little search online or at sites like this. 99% of the jobs are garbage or reposts or already filled....unless of course you are looking to fly 737's in India on contract etc...then by all means it may be worth the "monthly membership"
If it makes you feel good to waste some bucks to think you are networking, job hunting etc...go ahead...but you aren't getting anything.
Do real networking by meeting real people. Ideally this process was already started while you were employed. Online networking at the pilot boards cant hurt but its value is over-rated, sometimes even negative (IMO)
Pick up the phone call your contacts, have lunch with them when they are in town. Put a name to a face so they can say "he's a good guy"...not... "some guy I know from online"
good luck...
If it makes you feel good to waste some bucks to think you are networking, job hunting etc...go ahead...but you aren't getting anything.
Do real networking by meeting real people. Ideally this process was already started while you were employed. Online networking at the pilot boards cant hurt but its value is over-rated, sometimes even negative (IMO)
Pick up the phone call your contacts, have lunch with them when they are in town. Put a name to a face so they can say "he's a good guy"...not... "some guy I know from online"
good luck...
03-16-2010, 12:45 AM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: seated beer curl
Posts: 406
Unfortunatly we have done this to our selfs. We have pilots willing to pay for training and or type ratings to get jobs. The downward spiral began with Southwest's requirement for a 737 type and programs like it and it spread to corporate from there. However, climb to 350/fly contract/airline apps all serve their purpose. We created this market now we get to deal with it. We all need OWN UP and move forward. As long as there are more pilots then jobs we will have this imbalance so those of you who want out PLEASE GO, that is one less qualified/quality guy I have to compete against. I love this industry and I see it coming back, everyday I hear of new job opportunities hang in there or get out either way our industry is recovering.
No, not really. Southwest does not profit from training as no money goes to SW for the type ratings. Southwest has been raising the bar, not lowering it.
Yes, I work for SWA. No, I didn't pay for my type rating....not that it matters.
03-16-2010, 09:59 PM
#24
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: 320 F.O.
Posts: 1,386
Well everyone has a perspective and I respectfully disagree with yours on this matter. The fact that they required it for so many years and still frown on those who don't have it says something for the company. I realize that you are not paying for your training at Southwest but they were the first reputable company to install a hiring process that requires you to have a type rating to get a job. People can say all they want about the low paying regionals but they don't require a pilot to have a type rating in a particular aircraft in order to be considered for a job. Please don't miss understand me, I have respect for all the Southwest guys who have recieved a job without a 737 type rating. As for the guys that had them, well althought they may be good professional pilots I just can't respect the action of paying for a type just to be considered for a job. The "downward spiral" of our industry took a lot of contributing factors this (IMO) was just one of them that got us here. I could keep listing them but I prefer to stay positive and look to a better future.
As for websites like climb to 350 and others like it. They created the online job board, why shouldn't they profit from there work? I certainly wouldn't do it for free and besides a pilot can write off there fees (if they fill out the long form).
03-29-2010, 05:25 PM
#26
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Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 423
03-29-2010, 07:06 PM
#27
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2009
Position: B747-400 Cpt retired
Posts: 83
Let me guess: You're female and got a "scholarship" from SW, right?
03-29-2010, 08:03 PM
#28
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Joined APC: Mar 2010
Position: In front of my computer
Posts: 230
Climbto350 is garbage. The jobs are reposts and I believe some of them don't even exist. Their has been an ongoing 'scam' of sorts that pops up on that web site every couple of years called Family Airlines (or something like that) I bet the founders keep posting crap so it looks like the have 'new' job listings constantly. Also, be careful with these sand-pit jobs asking you to send copies of license/pass/medical/ss #, they could just be trying to steal info.
03-29-2010, 10:23 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: 320 F.O.
Posts: 1,386
Climbto350 is garbage. The jobs are reposts and I believe some of them don't even exist. Their has been an ongoing 'scam' of sorts that pops up on that web site every couple of years called Family Airlines (or something like that) I bet the founders keep posting crap so it looks like the have 'new' job listings constantly. Also, be careful with these sand-pit jobs asking you to send copies of license/pass/medical/ss #, they could just be trying to steal info.
Good Luck
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