Pilots leaving the industry

[sirlandsalot]

I read these negative post about getting jobs,  I find it bizarre as I got flying right away and have been busy ever since.  I get calls all the time companies and friends asking if I know any pilots I would recommend.     Now I work on my terms and on top of that for a great company.   This profession has been amazing and taken me to many different countries.  I have no regrets what so ever.     Companies right now are struggling to fill seats with good people.    Maybe it is the attitude that hinders getting hired.  You get what you put into it,  and just because you think you put a lot into it might actually not be very much.

[Winnie]

Attitude is a lot, heck the company I work for now (no not them), just hired a 100 hour guy. 6 months out of school. Mind you he has something to offer back to the company.

[ramen rider]

I've always gone to interviews (the few that I've had) dressed professionally (suit/tie etc.) clean shaven, fresh corporate haircut.  I smile, answer questions with confidence, keep myself upbeat and positive.  In fact the guy who gave me my first interview said he asked me in over everyone else because he liked how I sounded on the phone!  Yet he still chose the other guy, why?,...no idea!

Hard to believe its my attitude?  

Sure, I'm on here now with a piss poor "I hate this industry" attitude,...but that's only after years of rejection.  

[1D1]

17 hours ago, sirlandsalot said:

I read these negative post about getting jobs,  I find it bizarre as I got flying right away and have been busy ever since.  I get calls all the time companies and friends asking if I know any pilots I would recommend.     Now I work on my terms and on top of that for a great company.   This profession has been amazing and taken me to many different countries.  I have no regrets what so ever.     Companies right now are struggling to fill seats with good people.    Maybe it is the attitude that hinders getting hired.  You get what you put into it,  and just because you think you put a lot into it might actually not be very much.

Good to see you're always busy and have unlimited flying opportunities, how many days a year do you work and how many days are away from home?

[sirlandsalot]

20 hours ago, 1D1 said:

Good to see you're always busy and have unlimited flying opportunities, how many days a year do you work and how many days are away from home?

now I try to work no nore than 150 days a year, the rest of that is home skiing and traveling with the fam!   its great, couldnt be happier.

[Lower.heli]

Companies do still hire low timers, and i really do believe its all about attitude and not the way you dress.  I had not even finished my training that two companies had offered me a job.   I started fresh out from training at 100hrs, did the go-fer thing and helped with maintenance as i am an apprentice AME.  And  now, a few months after, i am doing my astar type rating and will be doing my PPC shortly after.  As said before, it's not because the company doesn't have a job posting for a low timer that you should not go see them and talk to them.  And don't expect to fly right away and stay home when you are not flying.  But in my opinion working in the hangar, and as ground crew on contracts is really important.  You learn so much more from doing so.  Being a helicopter Pilot isn't all about how good your are with the controls.

[212wrench]

On 5/12/2018 at 9:10 PM, sirlandsalot said:

now I try to work no nore than 150 days a year, the rest of that is home skiing and traveling with the fam!   its great, couldnt be happier.

You'll have to excuse my ignorance but as a long time viewer of this forum could you please explain the statement, "couldn't be happier".  Never seen that stated here before.😁

[GrayHorizons]

clearly it's sarcasm...

[Bladestrike]

I've got over 32 years in the industry and wouldn't leave unless I absolutely had to.  Love love love the life.  But I actually had to ask myself that question over a year ago when I was let go after twenty years with the same outfit, and a boatload of qualifications couldn't find me a job anywhere on the planet.  

Starting out was tough, mid-eighties in a recession, but I was doing dry-wall, running parts around, refuelling aircraft and babysitting the boss's kids, and they threw me the odd bone with a ferry flight here or there, and it grew from that.  Never said no to any opportunity.  I had no interest in the IFR market but eventually it found me.  I had no interest in offshore but once again, it found me.  Same goes for touring overseas...never would have done it if it hadn't been forced on me (company lost its only domestic contract).  I don't regret a second of any of it.  I just put my hand up for everything.  SAR, sure why not...I'm a SAR TRE now.  Manager, I've managed operations all over the globe after my first shaky introduction in the ME, sim instructor (various types), check pilot, writing manuals and training programs, etc etc...I just keep being the guy that said "Sure, why not."

When I was laid off in the big lull, I seriously applied for every job on the planet.  I couldn't see myself doing anything else.  Fixed wing held no interest.  I wrote a novel to keep myself busy.  Had a line on a summer bucketing job with a 61 then fell into a government job in the Caribbean, right place at the right time.  I'm here now writing under a mango tree.  

My only advice, and it's worked well for me, is step up at every opportunity.

[RDM 1]

 

My only advice, and it's worked well for me, is step up at every opportunity.

As Bladestrike said!