Breaking into the corporate world

[svcta]

As one who did the transition from regional carrier to corporate (as others who posted above) it's all about the attitude. Here's the problem: You'd have a hard time finding a flight department manager that hasn't been burned or doesn't closely know someone who hasn't been burned by an "ex-airline" guy that scrambled when he was recalled or when his dream airline started hiring again.

Stereotypes exist for a reason. And this stereotype could cost big dollars. The other, more intangible aspect is that it's just a fact (come on, admit it) that airline guys simply love to bitch. I root for the airline guys all day long when it's time to hire, but there are some that only see the stereotype. And they don't want to take a chance or give someone the time to prove themselves, usually because that involves an expensive type rating and it sometimes takes a long time to get a large corporation to complete the hiring process, so it's important to be sure when offering a job. And when you've got your little department all staffed and everyone gets along and works to the common goal, recognizing what they've got and how perfect the balance is, etc. etc.....the last thing you want is to poison the well with a malcontent.

At the end of the day, we can train just about anyone to fly the airplanes the way that we fly them. The big question is: DO WE WANT THIS GUY WITH US ON AN OVERNIGHT? Some of us pay more attention to how an applicant treats the waitress at lunch than just about anything else. Be cool, be fun, be professional, and for the love of God, don't ever, EVER talk about how they do it at the airlines.

 

[BigPappa]

Jet2Work you sound like an individual with a chip on his/her shoulder. Why would going from Corp. to 121 Regional be bad judgment? I've done it and it payed of triple for me. Not all corporate gigs are great. That being said for the person that posted this thread: Network have a good attitude and go out there and work the magic and you'll get the job. Remember your strengths and be able to show or talk about them to your potential new employer (what can you bring to the table).

 

[semperfido]

<<I know a guy recently hired at a F100 company that did exactly that>>

I'm not calling you a liar, but... You are telling me that the guy HAD a 91 Corporate job that he left for a 121 job and got furloughed, AND then a F100 company hired him????

.

Stranger things have happened. I know a Guy that left a Fortune 100 Company for UAL, was furloughed and then hired back by the same Company. It can happen.

 

[jet2work]

Of course you don't want to believe it. Otherwise, it blows a hole right through your little theory on "how it is." Jet2work has spoken.......

No my friend...YOU stand corrected. Read his post.

<<My friend had a 91 job where he progressed from a C90 to a B200 to a CE550. He left that job to fly an regional jet, as very few majors were hiring at the time and he felt 121 experience was the one thing missing from his resume. A few years later, as an RJ captain (never furloughed) he was hired at a F100 company flying a common midsize jet at compensation well in line with Stanton and NBAA Jet III numbers. >>>

His friend was not FURLOUGHED. He left a 121 flying job a few years ago (during the halcyon days of airline hiring). So I stand by my original post about corporate operator hiring a FURLOUGHED pilot. Has it ever happened? Yes, and many of those companies got burned when the guys got recalled. The last two rounds of hiring at my company, any guy who was furloughed, their resume got $hi7canned.

There are tons of great people out there from the 121 world. I have a lot of college buddies who have been with the majors for more than 10 years. I would be happy to fly with them, and them with me. My initial response to the first poster was to enlighten his as to why the "Rumor of the 121 Stink" exists.

Ask yourself, if you are making 100K a year at a corporate job and your old job comes calling making 150K a year, fixed schedule, etc.. are you gonna go back? I know many if not most would. That is the problem you face, when interviewing with the Dept. Manager. When he askes you that question (and he will) are you gonna lie? Are you gonna tell the truth. And, is he going to believe you?

Good luck to all job seekers.

Now I have spoken !!!

 

[jet2work]

Jet2Work you sound like an individual with a chip on his/her shoulder.

You got that right Beotch! (just kidding)


<<Why would going from Corp. to 121 Regional be bad judgment? I've done it and it payed of triple for me.>>

Well, that comment was in parethesis, which was designed to make it TIC (tongue in cheek). But since we are on the subject. WTF kinda "corporate job" did you have where you made 7K a year??? The starting salary at most regionals is $20K. So triple 7 and you made 21K. Please warn others about this corporate job.

<<Not all corporate gigs are great.>>

Truer words were never spoken.


<<That being said for the person that posted this thread: Network have a good attitude and go out there and work the magic and you'll get the job. Remember your strengths and be able to show or talk about them to your potential new employer (what can you bring to the table).

>>>

Until just then. You are right. Obstacles are meant to be overcome. Good luck.

 

[BigPappa]

You can make close to or more than a 100K with some seniority at a reputable Regional. My experience is that most pt 91 operator know that they can pay you less because there is no Union, and there are usually 20 pilots waiting to take the job from you (usually they'll wait until you go on vacation).

 

[AA717driver]

As has been determined here (a multitude of times) there is no one-size-fits-all solution to an aviation career.

What if said furloughed guy went to a crappy corporate department? It sounds from a few people that, once you get hired by a corporate flight department, you have entered into an 'indentured servitude' contract. You can never leave, regardless of the situation.

What if said furloughed guy got into the airlines when things were rolling and it looked like there was no end in sight to the good times? Oops! Not what was advertised.

This 'pettiness' goes both ways. A friend who was on a leave of absence was considering leaving his corporate job to return to a legacy (because one of his managers was a loon...). His Chief Pilot wanted him to come in "to talk about his future" before coming back to the airline. Bull! They had experienced some people coming back from furlough, getting trained and typed on the 737 and leaving for another company. My friend stayed where he was.

Airlines used to be where the QOL and big bucks were. Then it was the Fracs. Now, it's 91. Who knows where it will go from here but are you going to trash people for wanting to get the best deal available? Employers certainly have no problem playing that angle. Anyone here been lowballed on pay and bennies just because there's a pilot glut or you're living in a cheap region of the country?

Again, you cannot pigeonhole anyone in this business. Doing so is simply perpetuating old prejudices. TC

 

[BoilerUP]

You can make close to or more than a 100K with some seniority at a reputable Regional. My experience is that most pt 91 operator know that they can pay you less because there is no Union, and there are usually 20 pilots waiting to take the job from you (usually they'll wait until you go on vacation).

The bolded part is among the most ludicrous statements I've ever read here on FI...

Sure you can make $100k+ at a regional...as a captain, after 5-10 years of longevity in which you probably worked at least half all major holidays, all the while being at the whims of a mainline partner whipsawing their Express/Connection carriers against each other for every little scrap of flying.

 

[BigPappa]

No different than getting whipsawed at a Pt. 91 job. Boss to pilot (Pt. 91): "Well Joe can do it cheaper". You know the rest. Do what works for you and don't forget to have fun at your job, because too many pilots forget to do so!

 

[Freight Dog]

A wise man once said - mind is like a parachute; it works best when open.

It applies to both sides - former airline pilots hunting for jobs in general aviation, and also to department managers/chief pilots/DO's and others in charge of pilot hiring.

 

[jet2work]

No different than getting whipsawed at a Pt. 91 job. Boss to pilot (Pt. 91): "Well Joe can do it cheaper". You know the rest. Do what works for you and don't forget to have fun at your job, because too many pilots forget to do so!

This along with the making 100K + a year at a regional have to be the two most outrageous statements made in this whole discussion.

If you are working at a real corporate job. The guy paying the bills wants to know who his pilots are. He is making waaaaay too much money to let some lowballin' yahoo cart his A$$ around the country. My boss has about 58 Million reasons (last year alone) to not piss me off. But in the end you get paid what you command.

My boss could drive a Hyundia if he wanted to, but he drives a Lexus that costs 8X as much. Why? You get what you pay for. If you are not being paid well...... You figure it out. If you are working for less than your worth. Well then maybe you are WorthLess.

Some people are better suited to getting a job where they are a seniority number and fly their trips and bid their schedules. There is no shame in that. Some people would rather have more control over their own destiny. Along with the good comes the bad. I have flown for 2 Fortune 500 flight departments and have always been treated like gold. Are there bad jobs out there? I'm sure there are, but the good ones (like mine) nobody talks about. Why??? Personally I don't like the competition.

Anyone can do the kind of flying that I do. Not everyone is cut out to be a corporate pilot. For that matter, I am probably not cut out to be an airline pilot.

Good luck to all job seekers out there. My posts are designed to inform and hopefully provide you some strategy, not discourage you from trying. Stranger things have happened, but you should know what kind of prejudices you are dealing with.

 

[jet2work]

BigPappa says over on another forum to one of his regional airline brothers who left for a corporate job...

<<IMACDOG, You moved on to be a slave to the RICH so that you can make a little bit more money. How does it feel to be the Biatch to the rich? Now go back to flying your slowtation.>>>

I see it all clearly now Big Pappa. It's called "class envy." It was probably instilled in you by your union, which takes a cut of your crappy ASA paycheck and sends it to the DNC every month. You probably have the Obama 08 sticker on your pubs bag that ALPA sent you....don't you??

Go back to flying your RJ Alex, and relax a little. I know that your union is telling you that private aircraft are taking all the first class customers from the airlines, and causing them financial distress. But why are you getting your panties all twisted; you don't have any first class seats?

I am making the claim that YOU have NEVER flown for a 91 corporate flight department in your life. Sorry but Fracs don't count (that is charter on crack). Please prove me wrong or go back to the commuter airline boards and dish your class envy there.

Radio silence ensues........................................... Thats what I thought!

 

[imisscorplife]

lmao!! This thread is done! Industry is bad enough, then have to hear this $hit too! EVERY JOB IS DIFFERENT!!!!!!!! PERIOD! Move on!

 

[AA717driver]

I have met precious few airline pilots who were not absolutely obsessed with experiencing the real estate between a flight attendant's legs.

You got something against gettin' laid on a layover? TC

 

[jet2work]

You got something against gettin' laid on a layover? TC

No... But my wife is definitely against it.imp:

BTW Sierra Nevada is the best beer in the world.

 

[AA717driver]

No... But my wife is definitely against it.imp:

BTW Sierra Nevada is the best beer in the world.

NOW you're REALLY going to start a food fight! TC

P.S.--I do know some of those "obsessed" types.

 

[cjdriver]

FYI for anyone with an open mind on what corp flying is really like; some corporate gig's are with companies that use the airplane only for company business. I happen to work for one of those, and the people we fly are worker bee's up to CEO/board members. All treat us like co-workers, as it should be. And yes, we're home most nights and weekends because there are no personal trips in the plane.

 

[Bandit60]

You can make close to or more than a 100K with some seniority at a reputable Regional. My experience is that most pt 91 operator know that they can pay you less because there is no Union, and there are usually 20 pilots waiting to take the job from you (usually they'll wait until you go on vacation).

Most fortune 500 company flight departments start much higher than a reputable regional and with some seniority pay way more than any regional and they do it without a Union...hmmmm how did that happen?

 

[400A]

You can make close to or more than a 100K with some seniority at a reputable Regional. My experience is that most pt 91 operator know that they can pay you less because there is no Union, and there are usually 20 pilots waiting to take the job from you (usually they'll wait until you go on vacation).

That is assuming you can survive the first 5 years of wages that the awesome union got you that also qualify you for food Stamps.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

You got something against gettin' laid on a layover? TC

Finally!

Someone posts something sensible in this stupid thread...