Flatspin

The fact of the matter is that this job isn't that bad if you don't mind being away from friends and your girlfriend for a few days every week. I also enjoy averaging a whole ten dollars an hour while I'm away. That way when I return, I get to watch my buddies do fun things that I can't afford. Can't wait to upgrade... then at least I know that I won't have any weekends off for at least eight months. I also enjoy watching the executives of our companies screwing us, filing for bankruptcy, then receiving a few million dollars to leave; great to know someone will always be willing to do my job for less than myself because they didn't like working on their farm or steelemill prior to this. Fantastic comparison.

SkyHigh

Vipers wish they could spit venom as well. Nicely written.

Skyhigh

U-I pilot

To each their own.....

For a person who's married with house and kids etc, this job would be a killer to life in general. Add in a commute/reserve and anyone would go nuts.

On the other hand, for someone young, single, or otherwise not tied-down, this job us the ultimate. Many more days off than the average job, JS/Non-rev privvys, travelling around and overnighting in different cities....

Both groups of people likely got into the job because of the enjoyment of flying itself and you can't lose sight of that.....If you ever don't enjoy the "getting paid to do something you love" part then its not for you. There are many things that everyone has mentioned in the other thread that make it a "job" like any other..... Gone from home for days at a time, low pay for the starting years, reserve schedules, commuting for some, constant feast-famine industry changes.

But there are many, many benefits that you wont get in other jobs as mentioned above. The industry cycles on about 10-ish year cycles. You basically have to do the best you can to ride through the lull's and get up on the waves. Despite what is the majority of the "major" passenger airline market, there are still TONS of opportunities, current and future, in the cargo and charter/fractional markets, domestically but even more so internationally. I have been very happy/successful/lucky by NOT following the group-think mentality when it comes to this job. When everyone is running to one place and getting all their friends in, I didn't assume it was the right place for me. When other people are content where they are and sitting around, I'm always keeping my eyes open for the next best opportunity though if nothing comes around, I'm still happy.

At XJT I think too many people see CAL as an end goal for no reason other than they think they have the best shot to go there.... People need to really think about their career and where they really wanna be (company wise) in 20 years instead of "what bigger plane can I fly tomorrow."

Don't short sell yourself. Set high goals, and enjoy your path getting to your dream job. It is still possible. Networking helps, but its your desire/ambition (or lack thereof) that will determine how your career ends up, recession or not.

My path so far: (IM VERY PLEASED)
Internship at my dream job
Flight instruction
Crappy Regional (furlough)
Good Regional (2 years)
Now switching to Charter

Its not for everyone, i know my days off are going down with the new job, but my situation allows for me to ENJOY this schedule since my "work days" may be at a nicer location that my "home days."

To each their own.....

PS: Saab and others, Enjoy the +1 even though i'm currently an offline guy.
PPS: Saab, lay off the pipe..... i can see, you've had too much! (im very serious)

Cubdriver

What is it with the IT industry? It seems to cause people to want to make a career change. Quite a few go into flying.

SkyHigh

The problem with this career is that we all decide to get in as poor young single people and usually end up as poor pilots with a wife and children. If people could look past short term desires and make a career decision that is in the best interest of the future then perhaps we would have fewer miserable pilots and more happy single loners who can't wait to get out of their lonely studio apartment and get a trip.

SkyHigh

U-I pilot

This is not a short-term desire for me or most. It is in fact a career decision in the best interest of my future. There are many people who have chosen this career and lead very successful, fulfilling and family oriented lives. Not everyone turns into a "single loner looking to get out of their studio" or "poor pilot with a wife and kids" as you suggest.

Like any job, there are those that are successful and it works, and those that are not. Im sure there are many (insert your job here) out there that travel a lot for work or are miserable about their job/life....

You all need to quit being such "debbie-downer's" and see that like all jobs there is good and bad. Stop focusing on all the bad things, there is some good left even though its not like it used to be.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/111272

BankAngle09

I'm good!

WhizWheel

I'm married with kids and yes, my wife works (she could never sit home) and I have to say I am pretty happy as a pilot. Yes of course I could always gripe about the pay and some of the other things even the happy guys take issue with, but seriously its like a self fullfilling prophecy that the more you are negative and a downer, the more the universe will continue to keep you down. I know, I used to be that way BIGTIME and it was a drag. I just shifted my thinking and it made all the difference. It takes much less effort to think positive for me. Take this for what its worth.

freezingflyboy

I thought I explained it pretty well I could go into more detail but it's actually boring me just to think about it... Lets just put it this way...I can't think of any normal person who gets a rush from pulling cable through walls, configuring routers or designing networks. No little kid ever stuck his head in my cubicle or into the wiring closet and got eyes as big as saucers while exclaiming "Wow! Cooooool!". But don't forget the best part of this gig: I NEVER have to deal with some obnoxious, paper-pushing boss unless I screw up

Cubdriver

Conditions vary greatly in the office environment, and I have noticed more unhappy people coming from IT than anything else. For me there was a big increase in quality of life in making the jump from blue collar to white collar work. However even within that category conditions vary and not all companies realize that treating the employees with respect pays off in the long run. There is a lot of variation just as there is with regional airlines, and majors for that matter. Whether you are in office work or airline flying, you should always look at the other companies and see what they have to offer. Unfortunately airline flying impedes lateral movement with its seniority system. I guess you have to know all you can about an airline as an employer, before accepting their offer.