Airport job

[LR25]

Dan is correct. From the way you are describing the place, you might want to find a smaller airport with an FBO. coffee machine, some old/young guys hanging out doing some hanger flying, and a Trade A Plane. A place where they sell more avgas than jet-a.

 

[adam_jorgensen]

I guess, but I hope this is ok, that I like being around the bigger airports. Their just more interesting. I go to the local flying club enough to fly and its a little far away. I just like being around big airports watching big planes coming in and out, and just being part of the big, important place. The kind of airport as nothing to do of why I'm not getting any call yet. I think their just not hiring right now, but I really hope that someone will quit or something and that an opening will come up very soon. I came in just too late. I dropped off my resume a day before they hired people. If only I wanted to do this a month ago. A day after since I dropped off the christmas card with letter, still no response. I tell you, if this doesent work, then what will? I have tried almost everything to get the managers attention of my interest in working there except getting down on my knees and begging him for a job there. I almost think I have to get to that level. Should I try to get a hold of the manager after the new year or sooner?

 

[Timebuilder]

I dropped off my resume a day before they hired people. If only I wanted to do this a month ago. A day after since I dropped off the christmas card with letter, still no response. I tell you, if this doesent work, then what will?

As a former impatient young man, and a still sometimes impatient adult, I will try to counsel you without talking down to you. At least I'll try.

1) You dropped off a resume a day before they hired people. Many of us are still dropping off resumes ourselves. Patience.

2) If only you wanted to do this a month ago. If only I, and several thousand others, had taken more serious steps to advance this caree decades ago. Patience.

3) A day after you dropped off a card, and you have no response. You should not expect ANY response at this point. They have a business to run on a daily basis, and while it would be "nice" of someone at the business to acknowlege your interest, it is extremely unlikely that you will hear anything from them at all. You can say "hi" once every other week, but I'd let that be the MAXIMUM frequency that they should see you at a busy operation. I know you want to be where the "action is", but for now, you have to set your sights a little lower. As was said above, where the sale of 100LL outsells Jet A is a good place to start your career.

4) If this doesn't work? Well, start taking some of the advice that you have received here in these threads. This career represents a long investment of personal sacrifice made over time. Despite the ads that I mentioned in another thread, your likelihood of being in that small percentage of students that pay a huge sum for the right to earn minimum wage for several years, and actually get not only the interview, but also the JOB, is quite small given the currnet hiring market and projections for the near term. Prepare yourself for life as though you will never have a flying job, and enjoy flight training without depending on it for your life work. Then, when you are fortunate enough to get a job flying, it is a surprising and pleasant turn of events. Start small, and build from there.

I'd start with the small airport, for now. Get your private. See how you feel. Then raise your sights, incrementally.

 

[adam_jorgensen]

Your not thinking that I'm trying to get a flying job for this small airline? I only just want to work in the cargo area or as a cleaning person or something. They hire young people all the time like I said, they have a few there some as young as 16 and I'm 17. You don't have to be a business executive to get this kind of position. Its just a small rough airline. I think my chances of getting a job there would be better than at a flying club. And I think they just start above minimum wage too. Their just not hiring right now but I hope that will change.

 

[bobbysamd]

Patience

Without a doubt, I'm old enough to be your father. I'll try, though, to talk to you as a friend and perhaps future colleague.

I remember when I was young, and for many years thereafter, that I was impatient. I wanted something to happen now. Still do, sometimes. But, I've learned that the old adage that all things cometh to he who waiteth (while he worketh like hell while he waiteth) is true. Accordingly, I'd just make a friendly suggestion to chill out a little. Don't be so intense about this. I'd say the same thing about trying to get any job.

Just check back from time to time. Nothing is going to change in the next few days or the next few minutes. Go back after the holidays. At this time of year people are think more about end-of-year matters and the holidays than future hiring needs. Go back after New Year's. You need to be persistent, but not be in the boss' face every few days. You want to be a pain in the a$$, but not too much of a pain in the a$$. Otherwise, that's what he'll think you are.

I agree with Timebuilder's suggestion about getting the Dale Carnegie book. I have it and have read and re-read it. The chapter about showing interest in someone's interest is good. And, getting people to talk about themselves is also good.

Once again, good luck.

 

[Timebuilder]

Adam, if what you want to be is a ramp agent, then by all means, contiinue to make inroads at the big airport.

If, however, you want to eventually fly out of the airport as the pilot of a larger airplane, then I suggest you remain focused on the smaller airport for now, which will better prepare you for a flying career.

 

[adam_jorgensen]

Yes! I got a job at our airport! You wouldn't believe how many calls I got in 1 day. I got 2 calls from the airport. One was from the small airline I was talking about, the other was from the main terminal I applied for months ago. Both offered me jobs on the same day! I took both but ended up just keeping the one in the main terminal (where all the big planes and passengers go.) I didn't get the ramp position at the smaller airline like I wanted, but this other position that I tried for one day (8 hours) and I didn't like it very much so I had to be honest and tell them that I was hoping for a ramp position and they understood and were happy that I told them right away and said that I'll have to wait for a ramp position to come up but I'm probably on the top list I hope. Did I make the right decision or should I have stayed? I really did not enjoy what I was doing and there was no point in staying if I wasn't going to perform my best. It just didn't feel like working in a airport. I was stuck inside the hanger all day doing things like air billing and computer work. I barely got to see any airplanes or be near them. But should I have waited there until a ramp position came up or do I have just as good as a chance getting one if I wasn't there? I'm still going to visit there once in a while and let them know I'm still very interested and looking if there are any ramp positions. I'm just glad I still have my other airport job which I enjoy much better (collecting baggage carts around the airport ) I couldn't really do 2 jobs any way but which one should I have stayed with? I eventually want to work for a major airline company (air Canada) being a ramp rat when I turn 18. Which job would they look at better? The one I do now in the airport is closer to all the bigger airline companies where as the other one was just off to the side. I feel guilty for my decision but don't want to do go back to that job. I'm just not that type of person to do that kind of work. I like to move around a lot and I barely did that there. In the main airport, I get to move around like crazy so that is why I like it. I could never stand an office job if you know what I mean by the type of work I like. I just hope soon a ramp position will open up there and they don't think of me as a traitor or not a trusting person just because I didn't enjoy the position I had before. I specified on the position I wanted (the ramp) so they already knew that.

In the mean time, I'm very happy to finally work in our airport and be part of the important industry even though I don't do much work around airplanes (too young yet) but do work to do with the airplanes. You also get to go into all those restricted areas which is really neat. I have my foot in the airport industry and this is the first step into the aviation world. You don't know how much that means to me. Plus I see a lot of Pilots in there that I can talk to.

 

[LR25]

Congats!!

You made the right decision if you are happier doing what you are doing now.

If your not happy in your work, than you will never develope a good attitude for it.

I still think however, you need to be working at a smaller airport pumping "Avgas" and washing airplanes and hanging around the people that will jumpstart you flying, if that is what you want to do.

Dont get me wrong, its a good job that you have now, working at the airport. You will learn alot and be able to eventually work around the aircraft, you are now part of the total picture that makes the industry work.

Learn as much as you can, but most of all have fun.

Keep us posted

 

[bobbysamd]

Job-hunting can be strange. You apply for jobs for weeks and weeks and hear nothing. Then, suddenly, you get multiple offers on the same day. Then, you take a job and you get more calls.

The important thing is you got the job at the airport around airplanes and got your foot in the door. Just work at it awhile and develop a track record. Then, with experience, you stand a better chance of getting the job you want.

I had a friend who got a job fueling airplanes. He eventually wound up as a commuter captain. Undoubtedly he made contacts that helped him.

By the way, getting a pilot job and subsequently better pilot jobs works the same way as your job search. You have to apply and be persistent (but respectful). You need to develop a track record, i.e. hours, experience and increasing responsibility, before better companies and airlines will be interested in you.

Good luck with climbing up the career ladder.

 

[Indapool]

brings back all those memories of pumping fuel and towing airplanes in the middle of the night with it snowing sideways and everything frozen solid and all the equipment is broke down or stuck and absolutley loving every second of it..I'ts a sickness I tell ya

 

[toneal]

grasshopper!!!

get me a job too...dont hold out on me! I need another job to help pay some of this flight training off. Hook me up like a tow truck brotha!

Congratulations on your job and I wanted to say it was nice to see everyone help him and not bicker.

Now about that job. At the rate I'm flying, Ill need about 75 dollars an hour.

Oh, one more thing.... Were you so nervous that you bit all your fingernails off? I bit my fingertip off once by accident... I though I peed my pants too..lol

anyways...good luck in your new job and watch out for spinning props

 

[na265]

Way to go Adam. Persistance in this business pays off. You will go far, keep the great attitude.

 

[skydiverdriver]

Adam,
You sound like a nice guy, but perhaps you are being a bit over zealous. I don't mean to sound harsh, but you tend to explain things with a lot of detail that could be left out. I see nothing wrong with meeting people at the airport and showing you are interested, but try not to talk people's ears off. Most people while they are at work are pretty busy, and even though they love to talk about flying, their time is limited. I would suggest you work on making your explinations a bit shorter, and people will want to listen to you more. Also, try to listen a lot more than you speak. I know what it's like to be enthusiastic about aviation, I have been there too, but now I know what it's like to be on the other side as well. Try to be concise, and you will do well.

Just remember that nobody will care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

Good luck to you.