fedex and ups internal recommendations

[FishandFly]

I know that internal recommendations are all but required to get close to an interview at fedex or ups, but could you shed some light on this a little more?

Is the letter of recommendation of little worth if they have not flown with you?

I do not know anyone at either company but have run into a few of you guys here and there.

What is the level of friendship that you would feel comfortable with having a regional guy like me ask for a letter?

 

[dojetdriver]

For the FedEx guys, to take this a little further. Is it true that your sponsor does not have the requirement to have flown with you, but the 3 internal recs have?

Also, can the guy that sponsors you (if he flew with your) ALSO count as one of the three recs?

So it's only 3 TOTAL, with 1 sponsor writing a rec and two others to round it out?

Thanks guys.

 

[BiffF15]

I know that internal recommendations are all but required to get close to an interview at fedex or ups, but could you shed some light on this a little more?

Is the letter of recommendation of little worth if they have not flown with you?

I do not know anyone at either company but have run into a few of you guys here and there.

What is the level of friendship that you would feel comfortable with having a regional guy like me ask for a letter?

UPS asks on it's letter of rec if you have flown with the individual. I don't know if there is any value in an internal rec with no flying in common. Maybe if it's in addition to someone who has flown with you. There were several folks in my new hire class who did NOT have a LOR from anyone.
If I didn't know the person good enough to ask I would not (personal opine of course).

 

[JDriver]

Nothing is written in stone, but if you want your rec to hold water your sponsor and recommendations from folks should come from people who have flown with you and can attest to you flying ability.

 

[AV80R]

I know that internal recommendations are all but required to get close to an interview at fedex or ups, but could you shed some light on this a little more?

Is the letter of recommendation of little worth if they have not flown with you?

For UPS recommendation you really must know this individual pretty well, and the questions being asked are very detailed. For example you have to grade and explain your reasoning when it comes to his/her ability to learn and adapt to new aircraft and position, flying skills, ability to serve as pilot in command, commitment to follow SOPs, commitment to maintain proficiency in current aircraft, etc.

Grades are:

Exceptional
Very Good
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
Don't Know

Please Explain:
Essay type of explanations to each reply…

Additionally you have to describe his/her decision making and problem solving skills, teamwork and conflict resolution, communication, task management and flexibility, professionalism, dependability, etc.

Then you must describe your association with this individual including the length of time you have known this person and the amount of time you have spent interacting with this person.

Having said that, since they started focusing on heavy aircraft experience for the ANC domicile, many pilots have gotten hired with no recommendations whatsoever. At UPS, it’s not required to have flown with someone before you recommend him/her but I think it carries much more weight.

Main thing is don’t give up, you probably know more pilots at FedEx and UPS then you realize. Keep networking and stay in touch with your friends, you never know who they might know, or which airline they might end up at before you even know it…
Good luck!

 

[FishandFly]

This path would suck, but since they are looking for heavy/international experience, do you see many guys getting on from the overseas contract carriers?

 

[V2plus25]

Back towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year there were a good number of newhires from Cathay at UPS.

You could always try Southern, Kalitta, Evergreen, World or Gemini to get the overwater time without leaving the country.

 

[AV80R]

This path would suck...

Not sure what you mean by that? However to answer your question, I talked to a former Cathay pilot last week who said he knows of 9 pilots from Cathay that went to Big Brown in the last 12 months. I also met 2 recent (~6months) newhires from JAL contract and know a few who are trying to come over from there right now. There are numerous pilots here from Atlas, Gemini, Omni, Polar, and World.

As a matter of fact, until very recently when they dropped the “transoceanic experience” requirement, heavy drivers from our and overseas operators were really the only ones being seriously looked at (except the military of course).

 

[FishandFly]

I was primarily referring to the expat foreign contracts where you are away from your family for a month and a half at a time if they stay in the states.

 

[freightdawg]

Ummm, more on the letters/recs question. After asking around about what I could do for buds at former employers X, Y, and Z, this is what I came up with:

In the past, letters moved people from the 'big' pile to the 'good' pile, and a buddy system evolved. It was impossible to get an interview without letters of recommendation - but it worked well, and UPS got good people - everyone was satisfied. It also brought in a large number of military guys, commuters, and light/domestic freight guys. Not exclusively, but largely, good people without over-water experience. Unfortunately, when UPS opened the ANC base, nobody wanted to move there - so it has become a route to a very early upgrade (about 6-7 years from 8-10). The FAA saw this last summer and pushed hard for UPS to get new-hires with overseas experience to man the ANC base....and fly with new, capable captains who don't have overseas experience. Thus, the requirement last May for crossing experience.

Sooooooo, the process has since been reversed. Instead of checking out guys with letters first, now they let the computer sort by experience, then look for letters at the interview. Long story short, the letters can only help once you get the interview.


Then again, I'm one of the (lucky) guys who didn't have any recs and got hired anyway. I came from an ACMI carrier with about 2000 hours of int'l time over four years.

Good Luck