Leaders and followers
For the most part, I say take the job where you can get it. If you're a good dispatcher and you keep your nose clean, you can write your own ticket after 2 years, sometimes less. In the grand scheme of things, that is no time at all to live someplace that isn't your dream destination.
Another strategy that would work is: where do you want to be long-term? If you think for example that you want to live in Florida, you can ask the right questions around here to find out that, say AirTran or Spirit tend to hire dispatchers away from the same 4-5 regionals much of the time. There's your short list.
You've already been warned but it bears repeating - this business is a small town. Everyone knows everyone. One phone call or e-mail from a hiring manager to his drinking buddy can make or break your next job. Even the most talented dispatchers out there couldn't get out of paying their dues. On the other hand I've seen plenty who figured they were too good for where they were, and they worked themselves right out of the industry.
I agree with you for the most part (99%), but in this changing world of airlines and cut throat salarys and bennes there are many Dx out there that are just tired of being walked on personally and as a group....Sometimes it only takes a few people to foster changes in the way the HR and Management types think about us, or the future new hires...
There are many syndromes in this business, many attitude of "it's always been done like this" which I feel has contributed greatly to the degradation of the dispatch profession...we all know the dispatch schools will continue to pump up and pump out new licensed dispatchers looking for that 6 figure income at a major airline( Whatever that is anymore) and they know they will have fresh roadkill to abuse and underpay for years, at least thats the way it has always been.....I say it time for these newbies to NOT just take any 121 job that come along.....they need to be educated in the effects they have on their own career and the downstream problems they promote by accepting some of these offers...
Getting back to my original point, I believe there are many current longtime dx'ers that are used to their routine, they paid there dues for a few years under the (current) old way of doing things and this comfort zone tends to make us all followers...followers of the old way, which is is no longer producing the results in pay or progression that we used to have or expected, this is now the bad way for us all. We need a shift in thinking by us and especially the management...
Occasionally these days we hear or see some people that want to effect changes, think outside of the Old box, try to make things better for dispatchers where they work, and even in rare cases for the whole dispatch industry as a whole.....they are not afraid to break the zones of silence, go up against the old way of doing business, ask for a fresh look at better ways, even to their own demise, I call these types the new leaders for change in the dispatch world...I agree some are bad, but many are really good people.
We all know changes are going to happen sooner or later, these people are trying to be apart of how these changes are formed, it may not ever help them in their careers, it may even end their career but maybe it will help the future of those coming....and for those of us that have a long way to go to retirement...I for one applaud them for there moxie It really ashame more don't get on board in this direction.....I am guilty as well....JMHO
