Career advice please.

[Brett Hull]

Our parent company is upgrading to a Lear 55 from a Cheyenne. I may be in the running for the chief pilot position since they aren't happy with the Cheyenne pilots, and I have previous 55 experience. Here's the question:

It's in BFE. My career goal is to be at a Fortune something flight department - preferably in the STL, KC, or Chicago areas(FalconCapt, this means you! ) flying something like a Falcon 50/900 or Challenger. Would it be to my advantage to take the CP position of a one aircraft flight department in the boonies, or stay in the semi-metro area I currently live in and continue flying a 35 and keep trying to get hired by a larger flight dept?

Help please.
Thanks!

 

[rice]

**Warning** Free Advice

And its only worth what you're paying for it.

But the simple (to me) answer is; That Fortune something flight dept. that you're hoping to be a part of someday could care less if you were a CP of a one plane gig.

When they are looking to fill that Falcon, G-IV/V, or Challenger position they will typically look for the right personality first, then look for time in type, TT, Type rating, etc. (in no particular order). It has been said before on other threads, most of these departments are looking for a "good fit" and that usually means "how will you fit with the departments culture".

I hate to knock on any career growth experience but some operators do tend to shy away from guys with prior management experience when they're looking to fill a standard line pilot position. Not that I agree with that but its what I've observed.

Bottom line, I'd take the job that gets me the most time, has the most diverse flying, and puts me in the best situations to network with the type of companies I'm looking to eventually get hired by.

 

[Astra Guy]

Brett,

This is difficult to answer. We are in the process of hiring a third pilot for our one aircraft department. The ultimate decision will be mine. I posted the job opening on the NBAA Jobs board and had over 60 resumes to screen. There are lots of great folks available right now. I do have to agree that flight time is important since the Underwriters are running the show right now. More importantly to me is getting the right person who will fit into the organization as seamlessly as possible. From my experience one bad apple can spoil the whole bag whether it is in a large or small department. Obviously the apple would have a lesser impact in a larger department than a small one, though.

One of the candidates we are currently looking at is a CP from another organization. I could care less whether he was a CP or not. My goal is to hire the best regardless of their current or past experience while meeting the flight time minimums for a PIC position.

I work for a privately held company and started the department 13 years ago. Not sure if the Fortune 500 concept is the best target or not. It is important to stay on top of jobs that become available and I believe that the NBAA Jobs board is a good start. It is as important for you to learn as much about a company's corporate culture as it is for a company to discern what makes you tick if you are a candidate for an opening.

Not everyone gets to stay in a region they prefer when jobs become open. Limiting yourself to remaining in your region does put limits on your marketability. Coming from the midwest originally I have fallen in love with the Atlanta area and can't imagine being anywhere else, but that is just me and I am not looking for a job.

Good luck in your quest and fly safely, always!

 

[BIGSLAW]

Brett,

I know I am not going to tell you anything you dont already know but...
Don't forget networking. I agree with the other folks, all good advice...but putting a face and a handshake to any qualification seems to overcome alot of obstacles. If time, personality, and luck are the key, then networking is the hand that puts in the hole.
Make a wish list of companies you want to work for, take the top three and start networking best you can...but since this can take some time, focus on the career you have now. Make decisions based on now...as long as you do the best job you can, and be the best person you can be while youre doing it, in the end - positive opportunities will present themselves. Get to know everyone you can, and help out others in the business. As a chief pilot you may have more of an opportunity to do that. Network, and dont burn any bridges along the way if you can help it. It took me ten years to get where I am..and I have alot of people to thank for it. Someone told me to make my list back then, now I am where I want to be. (first choice of the top 3) It works...

Good Luck, and congrats on the upgrade.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Fortune _ flight dept's dont care if you were a Chief Pilot or not..

Seems everyone I meet is a "Chief Pilot" or a "Lead Captain" or a "Senior Captain"...nobody is a "Pilot" anymore...but hey, it cant look bad, it shows leadership I suppose.??

They also dont particuarly care if you have time in type or not...(it MAY help a little bit..) but not all that much..

All they care about is your background (clean) and your personality. If you have 4-5000 hrs flight time, a few type ratings and some PIC time they know you can fly. Plus, even if you have the rating most send you back to school anyways...so its not really an issue.

Keep in mind, most get hired because they know someone. Somebody hands in thier resume and says "Hey, Joe is a good guy, he will fit in". BAMM, Joe gets interviewed. DOES NOT mean he gets hired, but interviewed.

Networking is vital. Its gets you an interview. After that your background, resume, and personality get you the job!

Good Luck!!