Job Application Tips

[Bede]

I've been involved in hiring in a variety of capacities over the years. Here's a list that I came up with.


1. Prepare. Study company background, what the company is looking for. Spending an hour on Google will help you lots.

2. Think about what skills you bring other than flying skills. Everyone has a CPL/ATPL, but maybe you have a skill that sticks out that would be of benefit to a smaller company. At smaller outfits you're often wearing 2 hats. In the off time you may be fixing up camps, designing a website, running the SMS program, etc.

3. Emphasize something that makes you stand out from the crowd. Your resume will sit in a pile of literally hundreds. On the first round, whomever is looking through resumes is spending 10-15 seconds on your resume. Do you do something or have you done something that will stand out? Things that have caught my eye are volunteer work, an interesting field of study (eg degree), or an interesting background (eg submarine pilot).

4. Don't put your picture on your resume. Not in Canada anyways. If you don't have a Canadian license or a right to work in Canada, you're just wasting everyone's time, unless it's for some really specialized work that very few others can do.

5. Have a very clear understanding of why you want to work for THAT company. "Paying my dues" or "get turboprop time" won't cut it.

6. Remember that not all small operators are stepping stones. Specialty work (ag-flying, survey, float) are skills that take years to develop and often pay reasonably well. No one expects you to retire from these companies, but no one wants to spend the time training you just so you can jump ship in a year. There's nothing wrong with having a goal of airline flying, but save everyone time and gear your job search to companies that are known to be stepping stones (GGN). Unfortunately, these companies know they're stepping stones and pay accordingly.

7. On that note, think about stepping stones. Some companies will have faster upgrade times than others. Generally, this is because no one wants to work there for a variety of reasons and will quit when ever they can (anyone old enough to remember the YVR cargo outfits?). On the other hand, there are outfits with low turn-over and slower upgrades, but they are generally more desirable to work for.

8. Think of appropriate questions to ask at the end of an interview. Save salary questions for when you have a job offer. Good questions to ask: "if I am unsuccessful, would you be willing to give me feedback to improve my application for the next time you're hiring?" "Are there any opportunities for me to take on additional responsibilities?" "Do you promote from within?"

9. Act like you want the job. I'm not a big shirt and tie guy, but if one guy shows up to the Zoom interview looking respectable and another guy has a ratty T shirt on, everything being equal, the guy who looks like he's trying will get the job. Don't phone it in for your interview.

10. Minimum requirements are only a way to get fewer resumes. "Insurance Requirements" is BS. I remember when you needed 2000 hrs and 500 MPIC for a Navajo job. Last year, regionals were starting guys on DH8 with 250 hours. Upgrade 2 years later. If you're close to the "minimum requirements" apply anyways, but emphasize why they should pick you. Maybe you have time on type or are a local that intends to stay in town for a while.

11. For interviews, especially airline interviews, the overarching question for interviewers is, "do I want to spend 4 days with this person in a small tube?" If you're annoying or opinionated, it's probably best that you don't "act yourself". Just relax and be friendly.

12. Pay close attention to your references. A bad interview may not sink your chance at the job; a bad reference will. Don't burn bridges behind you. Even if you don't list a reference, if your potential employer is buddies with someone at a past employer, they will check with them too.

13. Before accepting, try to talk to employees or formal employees. Think of it as a reference check on your future employer.

Good Luck!

[Blueontop]

Great post, useful info, should be stickyed

[ayseven]

I would add: don't beat yourself up if you do not get a job after a lot of preparation for the big interview. You will be better off in the long run. There are so many good people looking, are younger, better looking, richer, happier, etc out there. YOU have your own path. Find it.

[NotDirty!]

Some great advice!

Having been on both sides of the interview table, I know these can be stressful situations, and only provide a snapshot of who you are. I cannot understate the value of a good internal reference. When I was hiring pilots, I would much rather have one of my pilots, whom I knew and trusted, vouch for a potential new hire, than the unknown reference on the other end of a phone!
I also had pilots come up to me after a recent hire had not worked out and told me that I should have asked them before hiring that guy... something about the experience that hadn’t been included in his resume that had included getting fired after stealing the company crew car and driving it half way across the country while he was supposed to be at work! So it’s not perfect...

Given the present industry situation, getting hired is going to be much more difficult than it has been for the last 10 years, so try not to burn any bridges and make the best of what is available. There is a lot to be gained at some of the small companies out there, so rather than being mad that you won’t be getting an interview at Jazz within 6 months, be glad if you have managed to secure a seat at a safe, reputable company, and can gain some good operational experience.

[Bede]

I would add: don't beat yourself up if you do not get a job after a lot of preparation for the big interview. You will be better off in the long run. There are so many good people looking, are younger, better looking, richer, happier, etc out there. YOU have your own path. Find it.

That’s very true. If there’s one opening and they’re interviewing 10, it’s still long odds.

[cdnpilot77]

Here’s a couple important points for me, make sure your information is clear, concise and easy to read at a glance. I should be able to determine your qualifications within 20-30secs of opening the resume.

We get way too many resumes to sift through the fluff. For example, I know what the responsibilities and general duties are of a dock hand or rampie. I don’t need 8 bullet points explaining it. That’s what the interview is for. If your resume is more than 1 page you’re doing it wrong.

If a job ad says “Do No Call” that’s not an invitation to be sneaky and make a call to seem eager, it’s frustrating and generally puts the resume at the bottom of the pile.

One part I will disagree with, insurance requirements are starting to sneak back in and further there can be contractual requirements that must be met. So while generally it’s to help weed out unqualified resumes, there are some practical applications of those requirements. BUT (and it’s a big BUT) ALWAYS apply for the jobs you want, NOT just the jobs you think you’re qualified for. You never know when a call is going to come. I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t follow that advice.