Finding a job, my 2 cents

[hobbsmeter]

KSU...

Congrats!
Good advice by the way.

 

[mrvmo]

Heard of snail mail before, but not sure what it is. Could someone please expain to me how it works and how to go about doing it? Thanks in advance.

 

[HPaul3]

Long-lost art...."correspondence"

Mrvmo,

Go to www.levenger.com and pay particular attention to the fountain pens. Then check out www.crane.com and check out their 4x6 notes. Buy several of each: pens and notes. Then go to www.usps.com and find your nearest post office (it's a small, dingy-looking building somewhere in your neighborhood...look for a parking lot full of silly-looking white jeeps, and people wearing ridiculous grey-blue uniforms, sometimes in shorts!). Then, think of someone you care about. Grandma is a good choice. Put pen to note, affix stamp, purchased at aforementioned Post Office, and drop in funny-looking round-top blue box (watch your fingers...these things pinch!). Wait several days for a reply in kind.

Good luck and keep us informed on your progress!

Cheers,
HP

 

[bobbysamd]

A Cross pen is also a decent choice of writing instrument.

If you're in a real hurry about getting your materials someplace, you might find a Fed Ex drop at many of the same locations HPaul3 mentioned.

Good post, HPaul.

 

[HPaul3]

Pen to paper....

Thanks for the compliment, Bobby. I like Cross pens too. My favorite fountain pen is a Cross, it was a gift from my mom, but it can be a little difficult to find ink for it.

I carry around my pen, some Crane notes, my address book and some stamps pretty much everywhere I travel. You never know when you might want to write a quick note just to acknowledge a favor or congratulate someone on a job well done, and nothing has the same impression as a handwritten note. I wish my penmanship were better though!

Good night!
HP

 

[wingnutt]

good post KSU! id like to add one if ya dont mind...

12. is that old standby networking. dont be afraid to talk to other pilots; be it in an FBO, on a ramp, or someone that a friend knows is a pilot. im not suggesting you force yourself onto anyone, but feel the situation out and whatever you do, dont come across as desperate. more often than not, pilots are willing to stop and make contact, if only for a minute or two. even pilots on the same level as you may one day be in a position to help you get that next job, and vice versa.

i recently did just that to snag a turbine cargo job with less than 1500 hours. to be honest, i have yet to send out any resumes, i just keep a few simplistic ones in my flight bag. nothing fancy, just my name, numbers, where im working, and my current hours

when you get somewhere and talking to someone, thats not a total nutcase, let the conversation wind down and ask for his/her email or phone number to keep in contact with them. then when they reciprocate, out comes the resume

of course, you hafta' follow up with that contact too! give em a call every few weeks and see if they know anything new. dont get me wrong, it took me 6 months of phone calls

...but dont stop either! now that ive got a turbine job, its time to start making contacts for jet work

 

[ksu_aviator]

Networking, ya I should have put that in my original post. To be honest, I was trying to put in stuff nobody seems to be doing, that also works. But, I like your version of networking.

I also want to add lucky number....

13. Prepare an oral essay that you can use in an interview or on the street.

Example, interviewer says to you "Tell me about yourself"

You say: "I'm a graduate of Tim Buck Two University. I have a Bachelors in basket weaving. I graduated in 2000 and immediately began working as a flight instructor. Soon there after I began flying part time and then full time for a part 135 cargo operation out of XYZ, flying a Baron as PIC. Later I moved into the airlines flying a Saab 340. I have over 1600 hours of accident free, incident free flying. My peers say I have a strong work ethic and above average piloting skills. I am currently looking for a position as a charter pilot."

The idea above is to start with an introduction, move into a short story and then finish by quailfying yourself and closing.

So, my intro was "I'm a graduate...basket weaving." The intro can aslo include your name if needed.

The short story sets up your qualifications. Gives them an idea of your work history. "I graduated in...Saab 340."

The qualification is the most important part. If you aren't qualified, they won't hire you. Give them all of your important experience, turbine time, multi time, instrument time are all very important to most operators. "I have over 1600...piloting skills"

The close is what whould give them the idea that what they do is a good fit for what you want to do. So for a charter company you would say "I am currently looking for a positions as a charter pilot."