flying qualifications...

[chawbein]

So I'm sitting here putting a package together for a guard unit (which I am visiting next month thanks to many, many suggestions from this board) and for they require a breakdown of flight time and flying qualifications, awards, certificates and such. Since I am just a lowly low-time PPSEL, anyone have any suggestions on how to make this look OK? How can I stack up against some dude from Embry-Riddle or FSI? These dudes have hundreds of hours, and endorsements & ratings out the yang. I know the that they look at the "whole person" and I think I can compete in the realm of scores and such, and I'm not TOO much of a douche-bag.... Anybody have any experience with such a situation?

 

[turt1e]

You could get your single engine seaplane rating at Hooks for only 10 more hours. Might help.

turtle

 

[AD SUPT Hopeful]

PP-ASES

Plus it's D*MN fun!

 

[Idreamtofly]

measuring up

Ratings might help. I sure have enough of them. I have my single and multi seaplane ratings. So now my license abbreviated is Commercial pilot-ASMELS. Add an S and a L and things might get a little too descriptive of real life.

To answer your question. How you "stack up against some dude from Embry-Riddle or FSI?"

First, your competition is not limited to dudes.

Secondly, you will be evaluated on your potential and not necessarily your ratings. You have more qualifications than you are aware of.

You will be amazed how a person with more qualifications can sometimes shoot themselves in the foot during the first few minutes of an interview.


When you walk into the interview, you have already met or exceeded the qualifications for the job. It is up to you to ensure that you do not disqualify yourself. Have someone practice with you on interviewing. The first five minutes of your interview are critical.

Of ten people who interview for jobs, seven could weed themselve from the approved list and of the three remaining perhaps only one or two will actualy survive the interview process.

Good Luck
idreamtofly

 

[ces152]

It is not all about your flight time, or if you have your seaplane rating. It is about what kind of individual you are. Think of the unit as a VERY EXCLUSIVE fraternity. Sure you may not have a lot of flight time, but they want to see that you are willing to learn, work hard and that you can contribute to the unit. Go and be yourself, trust me I know that is a lot easier said than done, but do your best.

Also, what unit are you going for? In Missouri?

 

[chawbein]

Memphis, TN.

 

[skyward80]

As most people will tell you, flight time and ratings count for only a small portion of the application process. It never hurts to have more, but it's not required. My application process was very similar to yours. I mentioned anything from my first flight experience in gliders in the country side of Holland on my summers off from school to being a part of the inaugural flight team at my university. Anything that can make you shine through as a team player and a leader will help you out. Don't worry about the competition. Just make sure you give it 100%. The Riddle and FIT guys have nothing on you. You've got a degree and the ability to fly just like they do. Assuming airgator's and vandal's--regular contributors to these topics--profiles are correct, they don't exactly have loads of flight time either. However, they both got sponsored for slots, because they showed the interview panel they were the sort of people who could be nothing less than awesome on the job and were team players all the way. No worries, dude.

Skyward80

 

[chawbein]

How about another question...

I was thinking about making a cover page (I'm going to get my package bound) with the squadron logo on the front and some sort of title. Is that gay? I just want it to get noticed and not put in the round file.

 

[skyward80]

I can't really say either way whether that's a good idea or not. I just made a simple cover sheet for my packet. It read: Application Packet for Skyward80. Obviously, Skyward80 was my real name on the packet. My advice would be to go neat and professional. In my opinion, your cover letter and attached information should draw attention to you. I went to Office Max and got some of their high end folders, with the divider pages. It was simple and easy to read. I also made copies and put them in more simple binders so that I could hand them out at the interview. A small touch which did not go unnoticed. Anybody else have thoughts on this???

Skyward80

 

[airgator]

Chaw-
As long as you've got your PPL you're money. It doesn't matter if the guy you're up against is an RJ FO with ASA and has 1700 hrs. They're more concerened about you and your personality and whether they'd want to spend a week with you on a trip. Personally, I wouldn't do the whole squadron logo thing; a little gay....not that there's anything wrong with that. I used the military style folders that have 3 partitions and clips on the top; perfect for a pilot package. Type your name and ssn on a label and put it on the tab. I also made copies like Skyward and handed them out in the interview. I realized right away that the first 10 pilots I met hanging out in the ops room before my interview were all airline guys. When I walked into the interview and they said "tell us about you", I started right off by saying I wasn't there to play the reserves and get an airline job and then leave, its something I 've always wanted to do. The best way to market yourself to that unit, especially because they're heavies and probably all airline guys, is to come across as sincere and not in it for the airline job, don't BS them. Tell them up front, and they'll tell you they appreciate the honesty. Good luck.

 

[chawbein]

I went ahead and put my package together yesterday. I decided not to use the logo, not very professional. I went to kinko's and put everything on nice paper except my letters of rec (I used origionals) and put it into a presentation portfolio. It is plastic kinda like those soft cover 3-ring binders except with a clear cover and no 3-ring. It has plastic sleeves that are bound together and I put the papers in there. The cover sheet plainly says (just like skyward) "Application Packet for chawbein". It looks good. I took the route of making this package like I would produce a report or presentation for my job. Neat, professional, good information. I just hope I didn't go overboard. Anyways, I'm sending it out today.

Thanks for all the advice, it helped alot.

 

[skyward80]

Sounds like you did just fine. Just to back up what airgator was saying about not worrying about the competition too much... one of the applicants who interviewed on the same day I did was a RJ FO for ACA. I'm just a lowly bugsmasher puke. The closest I've ever gotten to Jet A or turbines is waiting in line for take-off behind all the jets at my airport.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
Skyward80

 

[WinstonPilot]

The unit I was selected by shares an airport with a major US airways hub which provided some stiff competition for the FYO4 board. On paper I didn't deserve the slot, hell I haven't even finished college. Some of the things that helped me overcome the odds where showing them that I did something besides lay up in a frat house drunk for the past 3 years. I worked full-time, earned my certificates and ratings, and kept my GPA high. When it comes to the interview, mine was about 30 minutes long. They held the interviews over a 5 day period and I went the first day. Some may argue that is a bad move, but it actually worked out great because it gave me an opportunity to get my thank you letter in the mail and to them before the end of the interviews(later on I was complemented for that by one of the interviewers). Also, I had two difficult questions come up in the interview: would you take a nav slot if not selected for a pilot slot? and what kind of career do you see yourself doing outside the unit?. My answer to the first question was..... " My goal is to be an OFFICER and a PILOT in the Air National Guard. I have invested SO MUCH time, money, and energy into being a pilot, that if that opportunity does not exist right now I would like to be considered later when such an opportunity does exist. In the meantime, I am exploring other avenues of service, but this is my FIRST CHOICE." For the second, one of the board members mention that he was an airline pilot, so I did not hesitate to mention that was what I plan on doing also.
I know this is kind of long but these are some of the important aspects of my interview. BTW this was the only interview I did and I got the unit I wanted.

 

[talondriver]

Re: How about another question...

I was thinking about making a cover page (I'm going to get my package bound) with the squadron logo on the front and some sort of title. Is that gay? I just want it to get noticed and not put in the round file.

We had a dude put a package in with a picture of him in a full-on Thunderbird pose (him sitting in an F-16 with a huge T-bird smile) on the cover. We laughed forever but ended up hiring him. You going that extra mile usually doesn't go un-noticed, gay looking or not.

 

[skyward80]

A thank you note... now, why didn't I think of that?! Awesome idea, man!

Skyward80 (aka: The Uncultured, Ill-Mannered Pig)

 

[talondriver]

Oops! I forgot to mention...the dude with the T-bird smile flew F-16Cs so he had access to a jet.
You could probably jump in a "jet on a stick" or a static at a museum. Good luck trying to jump in a real viper. They're probably all in the frickin' desert or the ROK.