The Walkin

[loopa]

Hi,

I've been reading these boards recently and it seems like the best way for a low timer to get a job is to walk in to the company and introduce them selves.

How should one go about doing this?

What do you say to the chief pilot or chief flight instructor? How do you get their attention in a positive way without them having the following thought in the back of their heads "he just wants a job" ?

How do you dress for the job? Instructors should wear suits? Or what?

I would love to get insight from you people who have either done this or are part of the management and are getting people coming in to visit you.

[ski_bum]

What do you say? introduce yourself, chat them up, KNOW SOMETHING about their company. Were they flight, what they do, the equipment they operate. In my opinion the resume should be the last thing you give them. There is lots of info on the forums about this.

What to wear, i think one step above what they use for a uniform. Dock hand, dirty carharts, and a t-shirt, so go in with a clean pair of carharts and a clean shirt, maybe even a golf shirt or something, not to flash. Everything else your pretty safe in a pair of dockers and a nice collared shirt. Common sense basically.

SB

[Kilo-Kilo]

1.Breightling
2.Ray Bans
3.Lambskin bomber jacket
4.Levi's 501
5.A bottle of Astroglide in your left hand while posing your right in "kung-fu" grip.


All kidding aside: dress respectfully, walk in with confidence and be honest...what more can an employer ask?

[DaveP]

If you are in Calgary, come on over to the Westjet hangar.

I'll chat for a few minutes.

Dave.

[North Shore]

^ Don't wear a tie, or so I'm told...

[The Old Fogducker]

Kilo Kilo obviously has a firm grasp on realities of the industry, and one would well to follow his clothing advice.

I can only add that you could also get some "boneus" points by carrying a satchel containing a pair of kneepads, and a few mint flavoured candies.

Conversationally, I would suggest stressing how flexible you are in body, attitude, and spirit. Make it plainly understood you are there willing to serve not only his desires, but anyone else on staff.

Seriously though, be upbeat without being syrupy or smarmy. Interested in the commercial aspects of flying .... making money in the industry.

OFD

[Tiny Voices]

This thread needs more cow bell!

Sorry! Subject lead me to believe this was about Christopher Walkin. Moving on...

[ski_bum]

DaveP,
Classy, that is all I can say. Loopa, make sure you take him up on his offer, I know when I was starting out I would have jumped at that opportunity. Not many people from a major airline tell you to drop by the hanger and say hi, it shows class to take the time of I'm sure a very busy day to say hi to a new guy, good on you!

SB

[Pugster]

If you are in Calgary, come on over to the Westjet hangar.

I'll chat for a few minutes.

Dave.

Loopa - take advantage of this very, very, gracious offer. I'm sure Dave has lots of valuable advice...

My personal advice would be this - great companies hire people, not resumes...so be yourself and make sure you represent the kind of candidate you think you are in the best way possible.

[loopa]

Indeed Classy,

I tried pming Dave but it's still in the "oubox" ever since yesterday.

Dave if you read this, could you by any chance pm me a number or something I could reach you at to set up a time to actually fly out and see you? I'm in Vancouver, not in Calgary but I will fly out to meet you in a heartbeat. It will also give me the chance to toss around some resume's in the Calgary area.


Thanks Again !

[DaveP]

done!

[loopa]

done!

Cheers !

[DaveP]

Thanks for coming in today Loopa!

We had a great afternoon together and he was able to do a little job shadowing of our interview process (if any of todays candidates read this - thanks for letting him see a small portion of your big day!) and tour of our westjet training facilities.
For any CFI's out there, he is a class act and a genuine kid looking for a flying job for the right reasons. Give him a try.

Dave.

[Randleman]

Thanks for coming in today Loopa!

We had a great afternoon together and he was able to do a little job shadowing of our interview process (if any of todays candidates read this - thanks for letting him see a small portion of your big day!) and tour of our westjet training facilities.
For any CFI's out there, he is a class act and a genuine kid looking for a flying job for the right reasons. Give him a try.

Dave.

Agreed 100%
Nice of you to do that Dave!

[loopa]

Thanks for coming in today Loopa!

We had a great afternoon together and he was able to do a little job shadowing of our interview process (if any of todays candidates read this - thanks for letting him see a small portion of your big day!) and tour of our westjet training facilities.
For any CFI's out there, he is a class act and a genuine kid looking for a flying job for the right reasons. Give him a try.

Dave.

Dave, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate those kind words you just said.

You have been there and done that, and the fact that a well established person in our industry believes in my progression is an indescribable feeling.


Thanks for everything Dave.

[-Charlie-]

Good for you Loopa! A great demonstration of going out there and pursuing your dreams. I hope this inspires more pilots to hang in there at the beginning of their careers as a Commercial Pilot. Things will turn around; it's a matter of time and perseverance.
100% agreed this man is genuine.

[Rowdy]

Its stories like these that keep me in the industry! Good on ya guys.

[Randleman]

Good for you Loopa! A great demonstration of going out there and pursuing your dreams. I hope this inspires more pilots to hang in there at the beginning of their careers as a Commercial Pilot. Things will turn around; it's a matter of time and perseverance.
100% agreed this man is genuine.

Being in that exact situation and privileged to be a personal friend of Loopa's, I can tell you he exceeds at that

[ywg9]

Loopa, No matter what anybody tells you when they say there are no jobs don’t stop, there will always be entry level jobs some may have to be ramp but it’s a foot in the door. My company has being looking for new ramp guys like crazy and all seems bright ahead, but if you listen to some you might have given up by now. Keep it up (phone calls +sending resumes + going into the place close by) and you'll have something before you know it, worked out well for me when I was first trying to get in.

DaveP, I have read allot of you posts on the WestJet Forum and always been impressed that you actually take the time to talk to people, give them advice and keep people informed on the commings and goings. Now to see you come into the Employment Forum (especially when you work for such a big company and can still make time too) and give a new guy an amazing opportunity like this hats off to you Sir top notch, I think everybody would agree

YWG

[TA/RA]

Loopa,

I was very fortunate to have some amazing people at various companies as mentors when I was starting out. I am no DaveP and I don't work for a Westjet, but if you are in Vancouver PM me and I would be happy to show you around our hangar and our machines, Ill even buy you a coffee! or lunch if you are as great as everyone says you are.

Kind Regards
TA/RA

[Randleman]

Is it possible to visit these places "uninvited"? For example, show up and hope the CP has time to meet with you? Should you phone ahead and see if you can schedule an appointment? I'm in the same situation as Loopa, same hours, looking to get my foot in the door. I had thought about seeing if I could visit companies like this for a while now, but Loopa has inspired me to be proactive with that thought. Anyone have any suggestions as to how to move on from here?

[loopa]

I don't see any harm in calling up operators and finding out if you can get a tour from the chief pilot or a key person in the company.


You will soon come to find that no matter the experience level, we all love being around airplanes !