Job Hunting 101

The events of September 11, 2001 have forever changed the face of aviation and the spirit of the people who work within the aviation industry. The attacks also had a very dramatic impact on the aviation industry as a whole, and there are  many airline employees, including flight attendants and pilots who are facing many uncertainties, including unemployment.

The industry is slowly recovering as the flying public returns to the skies. As you may have noticed, the entire aviation industry is undergoing a tremendous shift right now, as airlines struggle to reinvent themselves in this period of high competition, low revenues, and widespread bankruptcies and worker furloughs.

Despite all of the turmoil you may have read about in the news, there is always a job to be had, provided that you meet some minimum qualifications and have a bit of patience, understanding, and a realistic expectation. I have designed these pages as an easy to understand resource for new job seekers. 

If you're anything like I was when I started my job search, you're a bit overwhelmed with all of the choices, job seeking services, companies, and career paths available to you at this point in your career. But stress not! Regardless of your background, age, desires, and career goals, there most likely is something out there that will fit what you want in "the perfect job." The trick is to have some patience and be realistic in your goals. In this section, I will offer tips on how to decide on that perfect job, how to get noticed and hopefully, how to ace your interview. 

It is by no means a complete guide, but it does build a good foundation to get started from. The techniques and suggestions provided here are based on my own experiences as a two time job seeker in both the airline and corporate flight environments. There are plenty of places to find additional information out there... (This certainly isn't the only way to get to the finish line!), so be sure to study and do your research before you get involved. The process of searching for, finding, applying and ultimately being offered a job is a grueling, intensive, and often exhausting one, but in the long run finding your dream job is definitely exhilarating and worth the effort! 

This section is divided into two different sections. Each section is specifically tailored for either an airline career track or a corporate aviation career track. Much of the information is the same, however since there are some differences in thought processes and procedures for landing that "perfect job", I decided to separate the two areas to make for an easier presentation. I encourage you to investigate the ups and the downs of both career tracks, and make the choice that is the best fit for you. Remember too, just because you start one track, it doesn't mean that you can't go back later and choose a new path! As somebody that has worked for both a national airline and a small corporate flight department, I can tell you that they both have their advantages and disadvantages.

AIRLINE CAREER TRACK

• Which Path to Choose?

• Reflections on Airline Flying

• Career Expectations 

• Shiny Jet Syndrome

• Some Considerations about Potential Employers

• Getting in the Door 

• The Application

• Before the Interview

• Dress for Success

• The Interview Process

• The Simulator Evaluation

• After the Interview

• Now What?!?

• Additional Resources

CORPORATE AVIATION CAREER TRACK

• Which Path to Choose?

• Reflections on Corporate Flying

• Career Expectations

• Some Considerations about Potential Employers

• Getting in the Door 

• The Application

• Before the Interview

• Dress for Success

• The Interview Process

• The Simulator Evaluation

• After the Interview

• Now What?!?

• Additional Resources

If you think that I missed something along the way, please feel free to drop me a message and make suggestions on how I can improve these resources!

Good luck!

~Josh