Flowers sent to Chief Pilots Secretary

[LanceDriver]

Just curious-

In everyone's attempt to get to the majors, aside from meeting/exceeding the quals, and having line pilot recommendations, has anyone known or heard of stories of guys:

Tackling Cecil Ewell in parking lot? (allegedly true story)

Sending fighter pilot squadron patches to CEO/company management

Flowers to Chief Pilots secretary with full name attached

Wild Turkey to Herb?

etc etc

what have people done to "get noticed?"

what companies have a culture receptive to this and which ones frown on it?

 

[LJDRVR]

Not be mean or anything, but at this stage in your career, don't worry so much about how to getting some advantage and concentrate instead about adding a couple of thousand hours of experience in a two-person jet along with some PIC time to boot.

To answer your question, occasionally you'll hear of someone getting lucky, but it's usually some freak of nature thing, nothing you can plan for or contrive.

By and large though, the examples you gave are probably not doable.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Know a guy that sent Plato Ryan cuban cigars wrapped in his resume. got hired. However, moves like this can back fire.

If this was the norm Cheryl Cage would be out of a job.

Also, watch out to giving a CP secretery too much power and control. Admin assistants are just what they are, no more, no less.

 

[350DRIVER]

I would hope that this is nothing more than a complete joke or someone has forgot to log off from a public computer?. Get noticed? How about getting noticed for your qualifications, ability, skills, experience, accomplishments, personality, etc. With all due respect if I was on the interview board and this happened, I would laugh rather hard and move on to the next applicant.

I would suggest not lowering yourself to attempt anything along those lines, most get hired for the "right reasons" not those with a hope, prayer, and a few shananogins.

3 5 0

 

[chuychanga]

I stuck a miniature version of my resume inside of a very tasteful "Happy Holidays" card and sent them directly to several pilot recruiters in early December. I got two phone calls and one email from those same recruiters to thank me for the thought and the originality. There were probably just as many recruiters who got them and thought it was over the line. But, here I sit with two class dates scheduled and a third interview next week.

It wasn't my idea, actually. A buddy of mine did that a couple of Christmases ago and had good luck with it. The ACA recruiters made a big scene when he showed up at the Air Inc job fair. "Hey, you're the Christmas card guy! Hey everybody, this is that guy I was telling you about!" Unfortunately, they started furloughing shortly after that and my friend is no longer in the airline industry.

Of course, if they start getting tons of resumes in cards every Christmas now, it will have lost its ability to help you stand out and it won't work again.

 

[SpiffAV8]

A buddy of mine did the flowers thing and it so back fired on him. Another friend who works for the company was told about it and how the flowers, application and all went straight to the trash can. The only thing they kept was his name which was placed on a list of those not to hire.

 

[bobbysamd]

Flowers, cigars, etc.

I second everything above. I especially agree with conferring too much power on someone who is just an administrative assistant who would take your flowers, do nothing for you, and laugh at you. Don't lower yourself - and, I feel, one really does lower one's self through such efforts. Pilots are disrespected enough, as it is. For another thing, others are doing it, so your efforts won't stick out that much.

Walk through the front door and hold yourself high. Better still, have a company contact walk through the door holding himself/herself high with your resume and his/her LOR in hand - though that's no guarantee, either.

 

[Lear70]

There were quite a few guys in Dallas who accosted Cecil in the parking lot. When I was working for Flexjet in '98 I got a call from three friends who were planning on doing it the next day. I'd heard the same rumors you did and told them to hold off for another day so I could go with, but they had to fly. Two months later all three of them were in class. Talked to an AA guy just last week about it and they weren't too happy with some of the people who got on like that and bypassed the system...

I'd second what everyone else said: work on the hours, make contacts who are actually pilots at that airline, get the inside recommendations, and do it right the first time.

 

[Counselair]

I heard of a guy, years ago, that Fed Ex'd a shoe with his resume rolled up inside to the HR department. On the bottem of the resume he wrote, "just trying to get a foot in the door...". They say he got the job.

I also heard the story of a guy that lived on a farm that was on short final for the hub of Brand X airline. He cut the crops to spell "Fly Brand X". He included it was he who did it with a picture of him on the farm on his cover letter and got called in for originality.

As I agree that everyone should be hired on merit, you still gotta give it to these guys for creativity. If I was calling people in for an interview and someone met the standards and went out of their way to get my attention, I'd give them the nod. It sure beats the good ole boy network.

Counselair

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Hey Councilair,

You suppose that guy crapped his wetsuit when that dolphin showed up that close to him?

 

[Counselair]

I think he pissed his pants, hence "wetsuit".

Counselair

 

[urflyingme?!]

I've been that close. NO Crapping involved! (Some screaming, lots of wondering WTF though)

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I had a black tip swim directly below me once. Oddly, it wasn't all that scary. Now, turtles surfacing out of nowhere have made my pulse race before. Now, about those flowers...

 

[Counselair]

I've had em check me out a few times while lifeguarding. Never a good feeling. They say when you're in the ocean there is always one within 100 yards of you. Never swim alone, it cuts down on the odds.

Counselair

-----^---- -----

 

[urflyingme?!]

when i was 12 my friends saw some coming down the shore, so we paddled out a little further. As soon as they got wthin 50 feet we all sh!t ourselves and paddled for shore... Good times

 

[norskman2]

Never swim alone, it cuts down on the odds.
-----^---- -----

...or at least improves the odds they'll go after your friend and not you!

("I don't have to out run the bear, I just have to out run you.")

 

[Counselair]

...or at least improves the odds

Swimming alone improves the odds???




"they'll go after your friend and not you!"


Kind of my point.

Counselair

 

[norskman2]

...or at least improves the odds

Swimming alone improves the odds???




"they'll go after your friend and not you!"


Kind of my point.

Counselair

Invite your least favorite Captain/FO/boss to go swimming