Employment History

[greedypilot]

I'd like to work for CAL, SWA, DAL, et al in the future, but I have an issue in my past that might make it difficult. I was fired by my employer (part 91) 4 years ago. I had an employment contract and left 2 months prior to its full term. I resigned, but the company refused to accept it and fired me on the spot. I am sure they will tell my would be employer that I was fired and not eligible for rehire.

Since then I have worked for a different company (part 121) without incident.

Is this mistake in my past going to prevent me from getting on at CAL, SWA, DAL, ??

 

[ATRCA]

I really don't think so. The fact that you are employed by that company again I think will help. If you are currently working there and are in good standing why don't you ask them to change that history for you?

Otherwise, as long as you are honest I don't think that will prohibit you from getting the job you want.

 

[Freight Dog]

Nope.

Too many shady operators out there doing similar stuff.

As long as you weren't discharged for refusing/failing a drug/alcohol test, or busting a checkride... or something along those lines, I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[greedypilot]

Initial post is a little misleading, I meant that I have worked for a different company for the past 4 years without incident. The first post has been edited for clarity.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

You would not have an issue, as long as it can be verified by someone. I know of at least two people that have been hired this time around with the same stuff. The majors realize what can happen. They realize that no one is perfect. Many would prefer to hire the devil they know versus the one they do not.

 

[AV80R]

I'd like to work for CAL, SWA, DAL, et al in the future, but I have an issue in my past that might make it difficult. I was fired by my employer (part 91) 4 years ago. I had an employment contract and left 2 months prior to its full term. I resigned, but the company refused to accept it and fired me on the spot. I am sure they will tell my would be employer that I was fired and not eligible for rehire. Since then I have worked for a different company (part 121) without incident.
Is this mistake in my past going to prevent me from getting on at CAL, SWA, DAL, ??

Greedy - you shouldn't have any trouble at all. (Unless “Greedy” as your real last name...)

In the past I used to help out with recruiting at a small regional and we saw similar situations to your ordeal quite often. All recruiters know that pilots are at the mercy of the owner at most part 91 companies in particular; many times the owner happens to be the chief pilot, director of training, etc.
Anyways, all you need is a written statement from someone who was there at the time and where he/she basically concurs with your description of the events. At my regional we only requested training records from part 121 and 135 operators so they might only want to know when you were hired and when you resigned (were terminated).

Good luck to you!

Btw, don't forget to apply with FedEx and UPS!

 

[brainhurts]

I would not worry about it. It will come up, as you know, but its a good time killer in the interview.

 

[greedypilot]

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

It might not even come up.... from what I understand some carriers want to know if you stole candy from 7-11 as a kid. Others want to know who you are in the past five years....

Did the dirt bag Part 91 carrier provide a notice of termination? Or was it all verbal? If it was verbal, then I'd worry even less.

Before 9/11 I heard of a couple Part 91 or 135 carriers with insecurity issues actually tell a major airline that the applicant was fired. It opens up allot questions and most companies are smart enough to say. "Yes he worked here and these are the dates."

And in reality... you decided to leave your employer. Is that so bad? Don't we live in a free market capitalisitc economy? Don't we live in the land of the free?

Obligating a pilot to stick around with these indentured servant contracts can be called coersion...it is quite unethical...

Continue to tell your part 91 operater to stick it. Focus on the future....

 

[nimtz]

As others have said most places understand. Times have changed and the hard @sses on most
panels have retired. Most of the guys doing the interviews had the same drama or knew buddies that dealt with the BS side of the time building process. If you tell your story honestly and they don't hire you because of it, then you probably don't want to work at that company.

 

[greedypilot]

Did the dirt bag Part 91 carrier provide a notice of termination? Or was it all verbal? If it was verbal, then I'd worry even less.

Nope, I handed them my letter of resignation and they literally threw it back at me and said they would not accept it. They then sent me to the outside guest waiting area and had a closed door meeting for about 10 minutes. When it was over they collected my company keys and CC and said that day was my last.

 

[CUBMAN]

Employment history

"Initial post is a little misleading,"

Well this just tears it. Just kidding...why not try? You would only kick yourself in the arse later if you didnt. Good luck and keep us updated on the progress.

Cub

 

[acbarney]

Nope, I handed them my letter of resignation and they literally threw it back at me and said they would not accept it. They then sent me to the outside guest waiting area and had a closed door meeting for about 10 minutes. When it was over they collected my company keys and CC and said that day was my last.

If that's the real story (and I have no reason to doubt it), you were not fired, you resigned and the company took it badly. I would not put down on any employment history that you were fired from that company. Just put it down as a resignation for "career advancement" and never think about it again.

Good Luck!

 

[AV80R]

If that's the real story (and I have no reason to doubt it), you were not fired, you resigned and the company took it badly. I would not put down on any employment history that you were fired from that company. Just put it down as a resignation for "career advancement" and never think about it again. Good Luck!

Here I must disagree with you - you should put whatever shows on your record! Do your own PRIA check or if you got friends at the HR department at your current company ask them to do one for you. If it says, termination - use that term on all application forms and simply include an addendum explaning the situation. No big deal!

However, if you use one term and the background check reveals something else - well, that implies that you’re trying to hide something. Recruiters are human beings who understand aviation industry very well. However, they have very little patience with lies, half-truths, or implications. Being straight forward will always earn you respect in their eyes; I know it did at my former regional airline and I don't see why it’d be any different at a major airline - all recruiters, no matter which airline, are human beings too.

Also, something else to remember - certain airlines use the term “termination” exclusively for all employees who ended their employment there, whether voluntarily or when asked to resign. In other words, if a person submitted his/her resignation letter once the resignation was accepted and the paperwork was processed, the ‘separation’ documents showed “Termination” as the reason. I remember several pilots who asked us to conduct a PRIA test on their behalf while they were applying with major airlines. On several occasions we saw the term ‘termination’ on their paperwork which always freaked them out. However, once they called their previous employer and checked with their friends who used to work there too they all realized it was a standard procedure at that company and they all showed “termination” as the reason for leaving. ...after all, technically their employment was terminated since they resigned and thus were no longer there...you know "you say tomatoes I say tomatoes."

Long story to a small problem – to summarize - basically you ain’t got no problem!