CODs4ever

The last airline job fair I went to was in 2003 (Kit Darby's company). Having said that, I think there are recruiters from every airline (including FDX and SWA) that might come across as a little on the harsh side after a long day. It's the nature of human personalities.

But the airlines are not alone. When I was looking for a job with a defense contractor back in 2008, I stood in really long lines to hand out resumes to Boeing, General Atomics, and Northrop.

It was no fun, but it was part of the drill. It's not limited to the airline world. The big difference is that today the majority of the pilot job fairs seem to be organized by groups that make up less than 10% of the airline pilot population.

John Carr

True, till about the last year or so, some of the legacies/LCC's/freight would attend the Flightops/FAPA/Aerocrew fairs. Seems like they don't show up anymore.

Seems like now it's mostly 135, regional, foreign/contract, ULCC's, etc.

As far as the bold goes, you could probably quantify an amount that's driven by being PC and how bad the "optics" would be by NOT going.

andrewtac

Concur, I didn't have the best strategy; it was stupid. But it worked out in the long run. I got lucky as was able to think quickly on my feet. I don't advise folks doing what I did. I tell them to prep like it is an interview and you might get lucky. Perhaps it is part of the less than 10% putting them on, but I couldn't find out much about what was going on. Perhaps it was my sheltered mil life. Either way some folks are a bit behind, and I don't think thier intent is to waste anyone's time.

John Carr

Sorry, I didn't mean to come off as flaming you. But your point is what I was trying to get at. It's really not the candidate having the luxury to interview the company.

And it gets beat to death, it's good to have a target or 2 "dream" airlines to shoot for. But 1 may not call, 2 may shoot you down. Better have a 3 in case they offer an interview but an eternal pool and a 4 that may interview you and put you in class ASAP. One may like 4, or simply tread water till 1 or 2 calls. But the point remains, create as many options as possible.

Albie is a busy guy, but maybe he can update some of this when he gets a chance;

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...11-update.html

ZapBrannigan

I just want to throw out there, that today's Prom Queen is not necessarily tomorrow's Miss Universe. Our industry is very cyclical.

In the mid/late 1990s - UAL was the captain of the cheerleaders. TWA and AWA were popular too.

Around 1999 UAL still ran the roost, with DAL, AA, and USAir close behind.

After 9/11 when every pilot at USAir was a captain at one point in their career, folks left her in favor of SWA, JetBlue, and ATA. United, Delta, and AA dumped everyone... a decade long furlough. Sometimes they would get back with you for a little while, only to dump you again. Fickle little wench.

After being furloughed some people fell for that cute rebound chick in the library: Vanguard, Eastwind, Pro Air, National, Skybus... but her folks moved away by around 2010.

Now UAL, DAL, and AA are competing for homecoming queen again. She will always be beautiful but very high maintenance and quick to dismiss you if she sees a better deal come along (force majeur)

Nobody has a crystal ball and any prognostications with a time horizon of greater than 5 years in this business are foolhardy guesses made by pilots who aren't particularly good students of our industry.

I miss 1999 when we all just applied everywhere, went to the first major that called, and then argued on Flightinfo about whose was better even though none of us really made a "choice" in where we went.

John Carr

EXCELLENT POST.

And the bold has a similar correlation to the prom queen/female one.

Guy brags about how hot his wife is and well he did. But the reality is he's just lucky SHE CHOSE HIM out of all the swinging Johnsons that were after her

CODs4ever

My favorite quote of your post Zap. You have a nice way with words!

Bigwing

As far as the fast pass goes:
If you don't meet the minimums then stop wasting everyone's time...you want to learn about their company? Then go to their hiring briefs.
The airlines are pretty clear about what the eligibility requirements are for a fast pass.

Job fairs are BS in a way. I learned so much by going, and I am glad I did. However, I'd bet in 6 or 7 years the airlines won't care if you went. In a cold hiring environment you have to do whatever it takes.

PotatoChip

This is NOT a cold hiring environment.

Speedbird2263

I'd wager this is the best post of 2016. Well said skipper.

-2263