Internships: What would you do?

[JSky26]

Hello All,

I might have the opportunity next summer to intern at one of the top 3 low cost carriers. I am currently a college student working on my ratings and will hopefully be instructing by then. The internship will allow the opportunity for me to waive the 1000 PIC 121 time required for an interview and get hired on with considerably less time. (some of you might already know what airline I'm talking about). I've been told it could cut down on maybe two years of flying at the regionals.

My question should I get my foot in the door at a carrier like this or should I try to get an internship with a company where I will get employment sooner, i.e. a regional?

Or even intern at all? I know during the internship I won't be building a lot of flight time. Do the connections that are made at an internship out-weigh that semester off of flying?

What are some of your guys/gals perceptions on something like this?

Thanks

 

[joevollers]

Absolutely interview with them....
I know many people for whom this has worked out well.. and in this industry connections are everything....

 

[frog_flyer]

wellp its not swa

 

[FN FAL]

wellp its not swa

Why, do you got to go to DeVry to intern there?

 

[epic!]

that sounds like a pretty good deal, maybe i can find something like that where i live

 

[Resume Writer]

JSky,

I would suggest doing the internship. First, I have a few questions. How close are you to graduation? If you are not that close, ie., a sophomore, then do the internship at the low cost carrier this year, and perhaps an internship at a regional the next year.

Further, how long is the internship? If it is just for a few weeks, then could you do both internships (not at the same time of course), and make contacts at both airlines?

As other people have said, connections in this industry are everything. How you perform during the internship will cement the deal. I had a client who participated in an internship at Continental, worked in the regionals for a few years, and was hired on with them last summer as a First Officer.

Good luck to you!

 

[JSky26]

Kathy,

I would not have time to do two internships, thus my question, what would be better? If I did the internship it would be for a full summer into my junior year or I could hold it off until the following summer into my senior year...

Thanks

 

[nwa_contrails]

DO IT! I interned with NW a year or so ago and it was well-worth it! As others have said, you make connections that, if you keep up, can help you down the road. The experience of 'working' at an airline before you actually 'work' for them is invaluable and something that you'll take with you no matter where you end up. Even better that they lower their mins for you, and what's 3 months of not instructing if you're getting airline experience instead. Good luck with the interview!

 

[U-I pilot]

Regionals requirements are low enough right now that the benefit is minimal. Plus, other benefits of working at a regional are minimal....i havent heard of one that is paid or gets you all that much useful experience besides jumpseating. Its fun, you meet people and might get an interview a bit faster....

I vote to do one somewhere you can make a career that will be around (ie SWA, FDX, UPS and alike...). Those places will be harder interviews to get (or near impossible) if you dont have an internal recommendation. SWA and UPS are paid internships (dont know about FDX). Plus, they actually have you involved with the company versus getting coffee and copies. Though UPS you can not jumpseat, many other opportunities become available from being around and meeting the right people. I did the UPS internship and it was a 1 year internship. Though the time commitment is longer, it allowed me to make better connections that will last until I get there (so I hope) versus being around for 2-3 months and another intern arrives....

Anywhere you go, learn as much as you can and that expereince will be useful at airline you go to. Any internship and 121 exposure is a help....
Good luck.

 

[frog_flyer]

Why, do you got to go to DeVry to intern there?

lol no... swa has 1300 pic requirement now.. hence why he the airline he has an offer from cant be swa.

n00b

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

Go ahead and do it---help lower the industry standards and help cut pay and benefits for those of us who are trying to make a living while thinking you are better than everyone else just because of some bridge program. Meanwhile, in a couple of years, the regionals will hire Captains off the street because you guys won't have the total time to meet their upgrade requirements!! Hey--thanks! You may be helping afterall!! That way I won't have to work for nothing the first couple of years!

 

[U-I pilot]

Go ahead and do it---help lower the industry standards and help cut pay and benefits for those of us who are trying to make a living while thinking you are better than everyone else just because of some bridge program.

Dr.P-
Internships and bridge programs are two entirely different things. Bridge programs are through a school specific agreement and get people jobs because they took required classes. Getting an internship is a form of active job hunting (being a go-getter) and gaining necessary experience to succeed in this career (or any career for that matter). Most quality internship programs are quite selective and in fact are essential to quality companies to maintain present and future operational success. If you think internships are lowering the bar and degrading the industry I think you need to reevaluate your thinking.

 

[JSky26]

Dr. P,

I don't think I would be lowering the bar on any standard. I don't think I am better than anyone else in this community. I'd say I'm a pretty standup dude and I'm gracious and fortunate enough to have this sort of opportunity. Like U-I said, a bridge program and an internship are two separate entities. I will put my dues in where they are needed.... The internship will only help you get an interview, but from from then on, it's your game that's on...you are sweatin' it out with all the other guys in the interview room.

 

[rickair7777]

Dr. P,

I don't think I would be lowering the bar on any standard. I don't think I am better than anyone else in this community. I'd say I'm a pretty standup dude and I'm gracious and fortunate enough to have this sort of opportunity. Like U-I said, a bridge program and an internship are two separate entities. I will put my dues in where they are needed.... The internship will only help you get an interview, but from from then on, it's your game that's on...you are sweatin' it out with all the other guys in the interview room.

Regional Internship: Waste of time. You will get hired sooner by spending the summer working as a cfi or getting ratings.

Major Internship: DO IT! One of my FO's just got hired at CAL with less than 2 years in an RJ because he did an internship.

But if you're interning at an airline that is BK or has lots of furloughs, it could be a few years before they hire.

 

[DX Rick]

I might be reading this wrong, but what LCC Major airline hires their interns? JetBlue?

 

[U-I pilot]

SWA does for sure. Most majors/regionals still do.....most dont pay (free labor).

 

[i'mbatman]

SWA does for sure. Most majors/regionals still do.....most dont pay (free labor).

Did you intern at SWA?? I interned there in 2002 and would love to know how many former interns have gotten on. I only know of two that have interviewed and only one got hired. Thx

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

Guess I was mainly talking about the 200 hour guys who get a job with the regionals. They don't have any experience under their belt so they think $20,000 is a lot of money. Sure makes it hard for someone with 5,000 hours and a family to make the move to the airlines. I know a lot of people have, but I couldn't afford to. Just had to vent a little earlier. If I were 22 years old and didn't have the responsibility of having a family, I guess I could go work for nothing. Money is decent where I am now, but sure do spend a lot of time away from home. Lucky to have an understanding wife.

 

[DX Rick]

SWA does for sure. Most majors/regionals still do.....most dont pay (free labor).

SWA hires their interns as pilots after thier intern work is done?!?!?!
I knew the regionals did that, but didnt know the majors would.

 

[nwa_contrails]

I think instead of a guarenteed hire, it's more like lowered min times. American interns have lowered mins for Eagle, United interns (when they used to have an intern program) also had lowered mins. NW doesn't lower mins for their interns and also was unpaid. JetBlue interns were paid-not sure about lowered mins for them.