Back To The Future, again
Two words: it sucks. Here's my story:
I changed careers to full-time aviation in the late eighties. There was a hiring boom. I finally learned to fly at age 31 in the early eighties and kept working on ratings because I loved flying and wanted to be the best pilot possible. I grew increasingly disenchanted with my line of work and thought about flying full-time. Then, I heard about the "pilot shortage" and thought that I might have a chance. So, at age 36, I decided to change careers. I already had a bunch of hours, but no multi time. All I needed was my multi and MEI. I got them and got a job instructing at ERAU in Prescott. All the while, before my Riddle job and even with little multi, I was sending out resumes to the commuters because I kept hearing about prodigious amounts of hiring. The few responses I received either said I was low on time or "you will be contacted if a position for which you are qualified opens." Mostly, I got no responses. All I ever wanted to do was fly for a decent commuter.
Finally, in about 1990, I got my ATP and built enough multi to meet the quals on paper. I attended my first interview at the exact time the Gulf conflict began. I also remember all the buzz that day at my interview that hiring was stopping and classes were being canceled. I did manage three more interviews and one cattle call at Express One. No job offers. I blame most of it on me being older than most commuter applicants along with being a career changer, but quite a bit on the Gulf War and the economy.
I had no more airline interviews after early 1991, though I kept trying. I tried for six years with some commuters. I must have felled entire forests to provide the paper I dispatched in search of the elusive commuter job. In the meantime, I got what I thought were better instructing jobs. That was fine, because I (apparently was one of the few people who) liked flight instructing. Along the way I ran into difficulties at a couple of my last jobs. Finally, I gave up, realizing that I had too many strikes against me. That realization was my turning point, though to this day, as you may have gathered, it's been hard to accept. That's my story.
I was disappointed and maybe a little bitter over my apparent bad luck, though I do not regret trying. That's what you have to do. Give it your best shot. Keep applying and expect no replies. I say that to avoid being set up for disappointment. Do your best to hold on to any aviation job that you do get. 2002 isn't much different that 1992, and times got better after 1992, right?
Hang in there.
