Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Moderators: North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako
Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Hi,
56 year old recently retired FSS. In the past year and a bit, went from PPL to CPL, multi IFR and IATRA.
Applied to almost every co-pilot job that has come up from coast to coast. I have had a grand total of one response, which led to one video interview over a month ago, with no follow up.
Now, to be fair, I have a total of 650hrs, but that fits with most postings. As a matter of a fact, the one video interview wanted a minimum of 1000.
I have not searched for or applied for a job in over 30 years...is this now the new normal?
Should I hop in my car and start cold calling?
Don't know what to do next.
Thanks
56 year old recently retired FSS. In the past year and a bit, went from PPL to CPL, multi IFR and IATRA.
Applied to almost every co-pilot job that has come up from coast to coast. I have had a grand total of one response, which led to one video interview over a month ago, with no follow up.
Now, to be fair, I have a total of 650hrs, but that fits with most postings. As a matter of a fact, the one video interview wanted a minimum of 1000.
I have not searched for or applied for a job in over 30 years...is this now the new normal?
Should I hop in my car and start cold calling?
Don't know what to do next.
Thanks
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
It wont happen overnight. When I started applying in the beginning of summer, not a single response.Eventually I had a couple phone calls but nothing came out of it. Towards end of summer I took a position and now in October I'm getting emails or calls almost weekly from companies including two regional airlines that I had applied to in June. I guess there are hiring cycles and you just have to be patient but with 650 hours there are a lot more options then there once were.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Last edited by LegoMan on Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:12 am, edited 3 times in total.
-
- Rank 3
- Posts: 118
- Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:42 pm
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
In no way am I saying this is fair or applies to your situation, but those few who came before you may have made your path a little more rocky. In my days as chief pilot for a 703 operation we had, naturally, endless lower experienced pilots apply and get hired. When the industry was moving one could look at applicants that may have a lower likelihood of jumping ship. In other words "older guys". However, and this is a big however, in general(I say again IN GENERAL) a young pilot that was near on starving to death and wanted hours in the book was a better option than a financially established mature adult with the benefit of life experience to make sound decisions. I am not saying this is how it is or should be but in the snapshot of my career this is the main hurdle I see for the more seasoned pilots looking to crack the industry.
But it only takes the first job to prove them wrong. You'll get there. Just remember to not make any commitments you're not willing to fulfil. Be first to the airplane and last to leave and never leave Doritto dust fingerprints for the next guy.
Good luck and we're all pulling for ya!
MF
But it only takes the first job to prove them wrong. You'll get there. Just remember to not make any commitments you're not willing to fulfil. Be first to the airplane and last to leave and never leave Doritto dust fingerprints for the next guy.
Good luck and we're all pulling for ya!
MF
-
- Rank (9)
- Posts: 1293
- Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:28 pm
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
My experience was the exact opposite. Hiring a youngster keen on padding the book would almost certainly get you somebody that jumped ship at the first opportunity, often within a few weeks of finishing a PPC, blinded by Shiny Airplane Syndrome, and running to the next bigger airplane at the first opportunity.matt foley wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:00 am In no way am I saying this is fair or applies to your situation, but those few who came before you may have made your path a little more rocky. In my days as chief pilot for a 703 operation we had, naturally, endless lower experienced pilots apply and get hired. When the industry was moving one could look at applicants that may have a lower likelihood of jumping ship. In other words "older guys".
If you wanted somebody that was going to stick around, hire somebody older that has roots in the community, and preferably somebody to old for the airlines.
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Thanks for the replies guys.
Since posting this, I've gotten another interview! Part of the problem is I am too old and too settled in my ways to "put up" with some remote posting, sleeping on an air mattress...I'm not looking for a stepping stone at all...I want a second career with a decent employer in a decent location. Probably too picky!
I guess I was either too late to the "pilot shortage" or I'm simply too picky.
Will post back when I know more!
Since posting this, I've gotten another interview! Part of the problem is I am too old and too settled in my ways to "put up" with some remote posting, sleeping on an air mattress...I'm not looking for a stepping stone at all...I want a second career with a decent employer in a decent location. Probably too picky!
I guess I was either too late to the "pilot shortage" or I'm simply too picky.
Will post back when I know more!
-
- Rank 7
- Posts: 514
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:27 pm
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Do what most of the kids are doing now, go do a season of survey. Lots of 172s running around the country, usually based out of somewhere that's name doesn't begin with Fort or end with Lake, that could be considered civilized. Most do a season or two and get up to that magic 1000 hours which makes you 10 times more employable.
I'm not sure what's more depressing: That everyone has a price, or how low the price always is.
-
- Rank 11
- Posts: 4725
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:33 am
- Location: YYC 230 degree radial at about 10 DME
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Timing wise, this is the worst time of year to be looking for work. All the seasonal pilots just go laid off, summer travel is done, crop dusting is done, fire bombing and fire patrol are done, floats are done, travel and tourism is done, skydiving is done, even instructing dies down...etc. The next thing is freeze up which happens later and later each year, but oil and gas flying is only really an Alberta thing and there's the guys who want nothing to do with another cold season in timbuk three leaving which opens up jobs.. Stay focused, stay current, and keep calling.
-
- Rank 4
- Posts: 217
- Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:15 pm
- Location: Upper Rubber Boot Airways
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
It's the same in every industry, sadly. There is a glut of people in this country and not enough industry for all of them to work. Even minimum wage jobs have hundreds of applicants per posting.
Safety starts with two
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Thanks for the replies and encouragement. What a difference a week makes! I’ve interviewed for and accepted a position as a FO MEDEVAC pilot on a King Air!! I do have to relocate but the company seems solid and the planes are state of the art and nearly new, so it qualifies as relocation “for the right offer”.
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Congratulations!dalemaher wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 9:14 pm Thanks for the replies and encouragement. What a difference a week makes! I’ve interviewed for and accepted a position as a FO MEDEVAC pilot on a King Air!! I do have to relocate but the company seems solid and the planes are state of the art and nearly new, so it qualifies as relocation “for the right offer”.
And to immediately temper your enthusiasm (sorry!): don't burn too many bridges relocating or buy an expensive house at your medevac job. It's very likely you'll be looking for another job soon

Most people try to move on from medevac relatively quickly. But hey, perhaps you'll love it. Those people exist as well!
As an AvCanada discussion grows longer:
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
-
- Rank 3
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2023 8:24 am
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Keep your chin up which is what I have been doing and enjoy life. There’s no rhyme or reason why certain applicants get offers and others do not, why 1000 hr applicants get in while 6000 hr applicants do not. I’ve recently applied to Jazz, Encore, Porter, Canada Jetlines with no offer letters to date. Colleagues of mine have received offer letters while to date I haven’t. Just keep improving oneself to get better each day and something will eventually come.dalemaher wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 3:25 pm Hi,
56 year old recently retired FSS. In the past year and a bit, went from PPL to CPL, multi IFR and IATRA.
Applied to almost every co-pilot job that has come up from coast to coast. I have had a grand total of one response, which led to one video interview over a month ago, with no follow up.
Now, to be fair, I have a total of 650hrs, but that fits with most postings. As a matter of a fact, the one video interview wanted a minimum of 1000.
I have not searched for or applied for a job in over 30 years...is this now the new normal?
Should I hop in my car and start cold calling?
Don't know what to do next.
Thanks
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
You mentionned that you haven't looked for a job for 30 years. So maybe it is about what your resumé looks like. Nowaday it seems that they want resumé of 1 page.
What I am saying it could be worthwhile to check this side of things, I know it seems silly but...
I, myself was looking for a job in Summer 22 and I had a hard time with interviews, I am about your age and I found it difficult to deal with the usual questions they ask: tell me about yourself, tell me a time when...etc.
I realised that it is a matter of practice, get back to it again specially when you haven't done that for a while.
Anyhow, best of luck!
What I am saying it could be worthwhile to check this side of things, I know it seems silly but...
I, myself was looking for a job in Summer 22 and I had a hard time with interviews, I am about your age and I found it difficult to deal with the usual questions they ask: tell me about yourself, tell me a time when...etc.
I realised that it is a matter of practice, get back to it again specially when you haven't done that for a while.
Anyhow, best of luck!
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Yet another update...
After accepting a position as a King Air medevac FO, I got a call yesterday from CMA wondering if I wanted to interview for Dash 8 FO based out of Kelowna!
I declined the interview, but was very disappointed it took so long for CMA to get back to me...they were the first company I sent a resume to, and would have been the least impactful on my living situation.
After accepting a position as a King Air medevac FO, I got a call yesterday from CMA wondering if I wanted to interview for Dash 8 FO based out of Kelowna!
I declined the interview, but was very disappointed it took so long for CMA to get back to me...they were the first company I sent a resume to, and would have been the least impactful on my living situation.
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Look on the bright side, in 2 years they'll want you as a captaindalemaher wrote: ↑Fri Oct 20, 2023 12:40 pm Yet another update...
After accepting a position as a King Air medevac FO, I got a call yesterday from CMA wondering if I wanted to interview for Dash 8 FO based out of Kelowna!
I declined the interview, but was very disappointed it took so long for CMA to get back to me...they were the first company I sent a resume to, and would have been the least impactful on my living situation.

As an AvCanada discussion grows longer:
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
-
- Rank 11
- Posts: 4725
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:33 am
- Location: YYC 230 degree radial at about 10 DME
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Congratulations, you got the only non seasonal job in our entire industry. I did medevacs for the better part of a decade, and it's honestly some of the best flying there is. I know lots of people who have made a decent living doing it, many who are still doing it. If you can get a base you like, it ticks a lot of boxes for lifestyle, schedule, safety, pay, benefits, and job satisfaction. If not, it opens doors to bigger and better.dalemaher wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 9:14 pm Thanks for the replies and encouragement. What a difference a week makes! I’ve interviewed for and accepted a position as a FO MEDEVAC pilot on a King Air!! I do have to relocate but the company seems solid and the planes are state of the art and nearly new, so it qualifies as relocation “for the right offer”.
Re: Tons of applications, underwhelmed by response
Congrats, you will be a definite asset to their flight line!
Keep the dirty side down.