road to FedEx

[rke44]

I'm currently a 5 year regional turboprop FO on the west coast who, like everyone else in my position, is tired of the current situation in the industry. It looks as if it will be a few more years until I upgrade so I am looking to do something more productive with my time. My ultimate goal is to get on with FedEx so I was trying to think of something to advance my chances in doing so. My question is this, if I were to take a leave of absence from my current employer for a year or so and throw boxes or what not for FedEx would it help me get an interview? I currently have more SIC time than I can shake a stick at and figure that any more before upgrading is inconsequential. I'm a hardworking guy who doesn't mind getting his back wet if it will help me in the long run. I have heard rumors in the past that if a person worked for FedEx for a minimum of 12 months in some capacity that he/she was given preferential treatment with respect to being chosen for an interview opportunity. Is there any truth to that? Any thoughts, comments, opinions, or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Sioux115]

I worked for FedEx for 3 years while in college and was told that FedEx likes to promote from with in the company and after being with the company for 6 mos. you would be guaranteed a pilot interview. I'm in the current position you are and asked this question a couple months ago. It was explained to me that you need to be working for FedEx when you meet the mins. for a pilot spot to get any preferential treatment getting an interview. Hope this helps, TonyC and the other guys could probably explain it better. Good Luck.

 

[miles otoole]

You might ask them what a lack of any turbine PIC will do for you. I'd hate to quit an airline to work for Fedex to get a guaranteed interview only to be told you don't have enough "experience" vis a vis PIC. That's a tough situation. How long until you upgrade?

 

[PurpleTail]

Go to the link below to see if you meet the min qual's first.

https://www.pilotcredentials.com/careers/index.php?a=qualifications

A 4yr degree and 1000 PIC turbine (or turbo-prop) is a MUST, no way around it. Don't take a leave of absense until you meet the min's. Keep flying, changes jobs if nessisary, and get to the left seat of anything ASAP, keep networking and find a sponsor.

Best of luck.

 

[TonyC]

As best as I can figure, the qualifications are non-negotiable. Don't waste your time getting a job with FedEx thinking that will substitute for any of these.


Notably, FedEx requires "1500 hours total fixed-wing time as pilot-in command (PIC) or first officer (SIC) including a minimum 1000 hours PIC in fixed-wing jet, fixed wing multi-engine turbo-prop, or combination thereof. Note: PIC for this purpose is defined as Captain/Aircraft Commander of record, not simply the sole manipulator of the controls. "



If you have these qualifications, being a CURRENT, PERMANENT employee of FedEx Express is a HUGE advantage in obtaining an interview. FedEx corporate policy is to hire from within before hiring from without, so if there is a position in the company that is open, and you are qualified, you are guaranteed an INTERVIEW. Notice the "and you are qualified" part - - if you don't have the hours, forget it.

Also notice the emphasis on Current - - the policy only applies to employees, not former employees. While having former employment on the resume may look nice, it's not the quantam leg up that being a current employee is. Permanent includes full-time and part-time, but not casual. Also notice I said FedEx Express - - being an employee of any other subsidiary of FedEx, again, while looking nice on the resume, will not give you the "guaranteed" interview.
Whatever the job with FedEx Express, there will be a minimum commitment that must be met before you can apply for another job within the company. For example, if the job is a handler, you will have to be a handler for a year before you can apply to be a courier or a crewmember. The Company policy minimum is 1 year, but the employment letter might stipulate longer. For example, Professional Instructors incur a three-year "commitment." The commitments are strictly enforced. If you take a job as a Professional Instructor, for instance, and the next day your resume is selected for a standard off-the-street interview, too bad. You will not be allowed to interview until the commitment of 3 years is fulfilled.

(OK, slight exception to this policy. The current policy for this position only (Professional Instructor) is to interview on the front end, but you still have to finish the 3 years before you can start the crewmember position. Any other job and you won't even interview until the commitment is up.)

Finally, a difficult hurdle to clear along this path is the statement that "Recency and type of experience is considered." Not only do you have to throw boxes, but you have to figure out a way to stay current flying.


So, let's review:

1. Currently employed
2. "Permanent" position
3. with FedEx Express
4. commitment met
5. and meet all the minimum qualifications
6. recent flying experience

And for all that, you're not guaranteed a job, only an interview, and then only if we happen to be hiring pilots. At the moment, it looks like taking a handler job a year ago would have been a good call (assuming you've got the other quals met). There's no guarantee, though, that after taking a handler job today we will be hiring pilots a year from now. It's a gamble any way you look at it.

Hope this helps. I'd recommend you keep your sights on gaining quality flying time.

Good Luck!

 

[rke44]

Thanks for the feedback folks. Sounds like it is a little more complicated than I had heard the first time. One of you had mentioned getting a sponser so that that person could be a reference when the application process began. How would you suggest doing so? I have heard it is nearly impossible to get an interview at FedEx without one and since I currently know no one able to walk my stuff into the CP office I figure I need to put the wheels in motion. It would be great to correspond with someone for a few years so that it wasn't one of these deals where a virtual stranger is walking in the info. Thanks in advance.

 

[hyeflyin]

In regards to having a sponsor. Can a FedEx manager be a sponsor or does it have to be a crewmember? Thanks in advance.

 

[Falconjet]

hyeflyin: It doesn't have to be a flight crewmember. I would think that people you have flown with would have more weight with the SCP, but I'm pretty sure that at least one of the guys in my class had a rec from a pretty senior management type who wasn't a pilot. Any internal rec is good, the heavier the hitter and the better their relationship with the boss the better!

rke44: You will have to network and find somebody you know who you hopefully have flown with that has been hired at FedEx. I doubt anybody would offer you a recommendation based on correspondence. Just about everybody has one or two friends that they would like to see hired, so I can't imagine they would submit a recommendation on someone they really don't know. You don't want to risk your own reputation with your boss on an unknown entity.

I don't mean to discourage you, in fact I encourage you to network mightily while you continue to build time and apply. Also, don't forget to update the online app regularly. I think (hope) that as we continue to hire steadily that the door will open up more for those without a sponsor as I am sure there are many top quality folks out there without a sponsor waiting for the interview call. I have heard of several folks hired without a sponsor during the postal contract push a few years ago, and I hope we can repeat that in the near future.

FJ