What type of work to do on furlough?

[Northern Lights]

Greetings,

I'm looking for opinions of what type of work to do while on furlough. I've been out for about 6 months, but my temp job ended, and now I find myself looking for work again. If the right flying opportunity came up I would go for it, but at this time I am also looking for a half way decent non flying job.

I'm basically at the point of frustration right now, because I'm not sure where to go from here. Do any of you have experience with the staffing agencies such as ProStaff or Kelly Services etc? There's a lot of these types of jobs advertising $12-$16/hour, but I generally don't feel like I qualify because they tend to require previous experience in the field.

How about doing inventory? RGIS inventory specialists are hiring, but the pay is only $8.50, unless you want to travel four days a week to earn an extra buck an hour.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

--N.L.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Ahh the age old pilot question!! After two airline furloughs, a company shutting down (they went bankrupt and the owner dissappeared!!) and a company that could not afford to feed a jet anymore sold my ride....I might have a few ideas for you! Add to it all my buddies that have bounced around with me since 9/11 and we can probably whip you up a job in no time!

Some jobs that we (me and other furloughed slobs have done ovwer the last six years)

1. Sell Cars...better money than you think if you have the gift of gab and convincing BS. I made more money doing this than 70% of the flying jobs I ever had.
2. Flight Instruct on the weekends to stay current and get beer money.
3. Real estate agent or if you can scrounge the cash, investing.
4. Insurance sales
5. McDonalds manager..(no Kidding, know a guy that went that route!)
6. Home Depot Manager..(This guy is in a huge market....he is done with flying, cannot take the pay cut to go back to it)
7. Mortgage broker. (This guy grossed 230k last year...he is done with flying also, gotta have a finance degree and a good contact at a large firm for this one though)
8. Good with your hands? Furloughed bud making good money rebuilding boats and cars in his shop and reselling them.
9. General Contractor.
10. Electronics installer and small retail shop. He is just getting it going but looks like he will do well.
11. Charter Boat Captain.....fish for a living...not bad!!
12. Truck Driver, you would be surprised how many trucking companies that do their own training are receptive to hiring pilots. We are used to working with large equipment and tend to be much more suited to it than their average applicant......well most of us anyhow!
13. Male Prostitute.......most of us do not qualify for this one but it may work for some of the hair gel crowd!!!
14. Meter Reader. 15 to 25 bucks an hour in most cities.
15. Warehouse manager, Superviser etc.


Just a few of the things fellow furloughed pukes are doing....except for #13!!

 

[Drill Sgt. Dad]

When i got furloughed, I went to work as a technician at one of the local Toyota dealerships. Although I am flying again, I'm still wearing the rubber gloves and turning wrenches on my days off. I am about to go and fix cars fulltime again. But, the family loves the flight bennies.

 

[Northern Lights]

Thanks for the ideas. It's tough deciding where to go from here, but for now I'll at least try to get a crappy job to pay the bills and continue to look for something better.

 

[s0ldier93]

Photographer: I was surprised to find out that the guy who did the pictures for my Real Estate Business cards and my family photos used to fly. He has a studio but the big money is in weddings.

 

[100 c.i.]

I've been laid off for 3 years from AA or TWA, no AA. TWA would not lay off guys with 8-18 years with them. Since then I've done a lot of rehabs(that is on homes) and light development projects and done very well. Best of all I've been home most nights and have enjoyed a normal social life with my family and friends. Its always good to have a plan B even if you decide to return to the airline that furloughed you......