Leaving the industry completely

[A-V-8]

I know that this might not be the best place to get advice from people who successfully made a leap from the industry however I know that some of you guys have certainly left the industry at least temporarily for other employment due to furloughs and shutdowns etc….

My resume and cover letter are mostly polished off however for my last 9 years of employment I have only that I was an airline pilot yada yada yada. I sent my stuff to my sister who liked most of it however she mentioned that as a pilot I worked with dispatchers, flight attendants, maintenance, and other flight crew members. Quite a team that it takes to make an airplane fly.

The trouble is that I don’t really know how to translate what I do now into language that would impress a would be Resume Reader at a would be corporation. Additionnally she said that people are generally impressed with airplanes. What would I say about a CRJ?
So can you guys float me some ideas on what to put on the Resume regarding what I do now as a 121 pilot to translate what I do into something that will impress a would be HR person at company X.

Also I anticipate hearing this question or some variation of it. Why are you leaving the airline? You know that this job tops out at XX $ per year right. Without going off on a total rant how do you answer that question?

Thanks in advance to anyone who makes a sincere reply.

 

[Dorkjet]

I'm not sure where you live, but you might look around the nearest mid to large city near you for resume writing services. You can look online for ratings and reviews and credentials, but they cost anywhere from $200-$400+, but they can interview you to get your experience and all of the pertinent information about your experience and the industries to which you want to apply and construct a resume and cover letter that you can use and modify for different positions. They are hit or miss, so do check around online first, but they are a viable option and can fix any "infelicities" in your resume.

 

[RJLoser]

You're leaving right before the big hiring boom??!?!

 

[Theoden]

You could say that you're leaving because there is too much time away from home or too inconsistent a schedule. Almost any employer you go to will probably have a more normal schedule.

 

[CX880]

If you need to come to a board to find ways to explain to employers why your leaving then your probably not ready to leave. Isn't it obvious? It sucks.

 

[dingo222]

find a resume writing service. pref someone that writes pilot resumes. they would know best what your skills, strengths and weaknesses are. spend a few bucks for your new career. good look bro

 

[A-V-8]

You're leaving right before the big hiring boom??!?!

I am a Mesa FO with 2K TPIC. If I regret the leap I can replace what I have now when the attrition starts easily. Good time to test the water.

 

[COOPERVANE]

I am a Mesa FO with 2K TPIC. If I regret the leap I can replace what I have now when the attrition starts easily. Good time to test the water.

Curious how you have 2000 hours PIC.

 

[Flyin2low]

CFI-ing

 

[mxaviator]

Curious how you have 2000 hours PIC.

My guess is he was a captain displaced to the right seat, happened to a friend of mine over there.

 

[COOPERVANE]

TPIC is that TURBINE PIC? ...............As a CFI? ........Man I did it ALL wrong!

 

[Propsync]

I jumped in 2007. My advice would be to keep a mostly aviation resume. Maybe massage some points to 'ability to learn complex things', 'work as a team', etc. Get the jargon out. The key is to get interviews. People outside aviation are interested. They understand the commitment and skill, it's convincing you're leaving for good that's the challenge. Give stories of yourself or friends that have been 'screwed' if you don't think they believe you.
From what I see, the current generation has, in general, low initiative. This freaks many smaller companies out, bigtime. They don't want people they have to guide/babysit. I'm in no way saying this generation is lazy, but they generally don't fit well to type A companies. Target will have trouble seeing your worth. Again, in general, fast-paced, decision making businesses are a better fit.

I work in transportation/shipping, and I got lucky and got out at the right time and got promoted in short order, but I think I've been luckier than most. I've set my alarm clock three times in the last four years, and I actually think I'm going to retire earlier now than when I was flying. It's a bit scary for some, but if you're committed, it can work. Good luck.

 

[OPECJet]

I jumped in January after a furlough. It took over a year to find a job of any sort, aviation included. I got VERY lucky in that the job I do now was already filled, but the person hired before me didn't pass the background check. They saw "pilot" on my resume and figured I'd pass and needed someone in the seat yesterday, so I got the job. Keep that in mind if you're currently flying something.

Otherwise, PM me and I'll see about emailing what my non-aviation resume so you can see what I did. You'll have to tailor your resume for each job you apply even for different positions within the same company.

They WILL ask why you want out of the cockpit, and if you're going back (I even got this at an interview for Wal-Mart... Try keeping your self esteem walking out of that place after interviewing for a $11 / job)..... There are numerous answers, the best in my opinion being the family answer. If you have small kids, even better. I was able to sell it by saying I wanted to spend the next few years bringing my son with me to work and dropping him off at the school next door to the office, then picking him up after school..... More time together. Seemed to work even with the "we need someone now".

The last thing, when you get into a non-aviation job, bust hump everyday. It's up to us to give pilots a good name for the next time a mass furlough hits and other guys are on the street looking for work. Pilots can do anything. We have to prove that.

 

[dueguard1]

Jumped Ship in 08 from Colgan, sick and tired of commuting and Crash Pads for 21k a year..got my JAVA Certification (since I loved computers anyhow) cleared 68k last year, and I'm still considered an entry-level programmer!!(can't wait until I have about 3 more years experience, the pay is outstanding) .......life is good, still flight instruct on the side, but I will never return to Aviation other than instructing

 

[skyguy40]

I would say to look into the resume writing service's also, but I did once and it was not all I'd hoped it would be. Re-writing an aviation resume, I would lean more to a management/leadership theme, i.e.; managed fuel, engines....systems. Managed weather, routing and everything is time critical. Think about all the support directly and in-directly that it takes and how you fit into it.
I made the leap in 06 for a year and it was working ok, but just ok, so I got sucked back in. So here I still am. Good luck to you. I'm sure you will do well.