Airport job

[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.