Interesting Logic
It is nice to see that some people understand the unfortunate need to bite it sometimes in order to "appear" more qualified. I learned long ago, from those much more experienced than me, that the only thing that will matter when job searching are the numbers in the good columns in your log book. I got two college degrees, an A+P, all my instructor ratings, and chose to work for a dirt-bad freight operator (C-210) as soon as I was insurable. I whored myself out for a while, then moved on to another dirt-bag (Kalitta Flying Service) operator. This time, I was burning Jet-A so the sting wasn't as harsh. With more lightening speed, I was hired by Vanguard with the promise that I would be in the left seat of a 737 in about 9 months, they needed guys with a lot of jet pic for expansion. Promise was kept. For the lowly pay of about $67/hour, I got to be in the left seat of a 737-200. Pathetic, I know, but it was a means to an end. I knew I would not be there any longer than I had to, they used me, I used them. Two years later, a DC9 type, and I was in the left seat of an MD80 at about $80/hr. In the 12 years since I jumped into this crazy career with both feet, I have only been in the right seat of anything for a grand total of 18 months. I could've chosen the traditional path of CFI/Commuter/National/Major, but that was not the quickest way to get the "good numbers" to me. I am right where I want to be in my career, I got hired by the only airline I wanted to work for. I did what I had to do to get the numbers that I needed. Some chose a shiny airplane with chicks in back. Some want a job near their home. Some just wanted a big watch, personalized plates and a hat to wear on the drive to/from the airport. Some simply paint themselves into a financial corner and can't quit for the next good thing that comes up. Lots of reasons for what people do. Let's not bash our peers so harshly. This whole site is full of criticisms of others who do the same job, but with a different paint job and different pay/work rules. According to a lot of people on this site, by taking a job at Vanguard, I was dragging down the industry. To me, it was infinitely better than flying a Dash-8, Beech 1900 or jungle jet around for less pay. To paraphrase another statement on this site, "I was not about to be miserable any longer than I had to to improve the quality of life of those who had already made it to the job I wanted." We do what we can to get to where we want. If the hiring process was even remotely objective, pilots would not have to throw so many spears at each other. I've been in hiring and training positions and my stomach still aches when I remember the things I was influenced to do by the higher-ups. Hire this person, or, give this person one more 4 day trip to get them up to speed, etc., because they needed a square peg in a square hole. Professionalism is measured by skill and attitude, not payscale. Can't we all just get along?