Right Hand Seat

Hard because the new candidate has little experience to offer and so has to try to paint as positive a personal and academic picture to get selected — and much the same applies for the second or subsequent position.

So, here are some hints that may help:

Knowledge of the job vacancy. This may come from a printed or e-advert or it may come from a contact, someone who is in the know.

Best of the lot is the person who can recommend you when the employer asks employees if they know of a suitable person.

Do regular searches of the web and job vacancy papers — and it can also pay to network.

Be respected as a good person to work with and who works well with others and do maintain good contacts. Remember, the fellow pilot you trained with might be your boss one day.

We hear a lot about pilots ‘going north’ in pursuit of a first job. Some will get a position, others may not. There are only so many to go around. Be prepared to cold call at firms other than in northern Australia.

If you apply for a job and are told the position has been filled be prepared to ask if the company know of anyone else employing who might be interested in you. It costs nothing to ask.

The CV. It goes without saying that you need a CV detailing the pertinent facts about you, the aspirant employee. Keep it brief, to the point and easy to read.

Two pages at most, mainly about your flying skills and experience and anything that may be of interest to the new employer. As an example, it may be appropriate to mention that you have some tourism or even IT skills. Be prepared to tailor the CV to the job in question.

Very important: check and double check to ensure that there are no spelling or grammar errors.
Do have your contact details at the top of the CV? And if you have a mobile, ensure you have message bank but without a smart comment like ‘Start talking, it’s your money!’

Finally on this: a CV is something that every pilot should have and update on a regular basis.

The application. These days we see more applications including the CV being sent electronically and then the shortlisted candidates initially interviewed by phone. Be prepared to send copies of your licence and the last two pages of your logbook. Do make sure that your logbook is up-to-date, neat, tidy and accurate.

Sometimes, it is the small things that influence a decision. I can recall the CV of a fellow instructor who had a different total time to the addition of all the times-on-types he listed. And make sure you round off times on type. No half-hours.

The interview. Find out in advance as much as you can about the firm you’re applying to. The internet helps as does the CASA aircraft register. Tourist brochures, the phone book, present and past employees and even on-site observation can flesh out knowledge of a company.

I still recall an applicant to a past employer making a cold call and wanting to leave his job application with the CFI. He then asked the name of the CFI. And this from a lad who had trained at the same airport for the previous three years!

Get to know as much as you can about the firm: what it does and where it operates to and from. Have knowledge of the aircraft it operates. Know the makes, models and any extra details that show you know something about the firm.

Reverse the situation — what would you think of a job applicant who asks: ‘What aircraft types do you operate?”

It’s also worth exploring the possibility of getting experience on the types of aircraft operated by a targeted company.

Regardless of whether it’s a cold call or scheduled interview, dress to impress. First impressions can sway a decision. People who operate and charter aircraft are more impressed by a pilot who looks neat and tidy than someone who looks like something the cat dragged in.

Take several copies of your CV and application to the interview and have your licence, medical, DG certificate, if charter, and logbook available.

At interview be five or 10 minutes early, not just on time — and turn off your mobile. Be confident and maintain regular eye contact.

Good luck!

Contact Dave by email at [email protected]