Process of getting the job

First post here. I'd like to regale you all with stories of travel, but before I can do so, I need a job. I figured everyone here has an airline job, so where better to seek advice?

I'm 19 years old. I live about 30 mins. from MDT. I'll be going to college starting in August, so I'll need to be part-time. I'd like a CSA/Ramp job ASAP. I bet others say this, but I feel I have a lot more to offer than my resume shows. I was looking for any advice to increase my chances or advice as to what timetable I'd be looking at for being hired/getting contacted, etc. I've e-mailed a resume for openings at Comair, XJet, UA, US, and FedEx.

I'd prefer to work for a passenger airline, but does anybody know what travel benefits FedEx offers?

Thanks a bunch to anyone taking the time to respond
-Matt

Next time I see a posting for MDT I'll let you know.

Fedex employees can fly ZED on AA

Well I've recieved a reply from Comair's station manager. I'm headed to the airport in about 10 minutes to fill out an app. Hope everything goes smoothly

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I'd like to regale you all with stories of travel </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif

Matt,

You certainly sound like an astute young man. Most of us that participate in this forum have a passion for travel and I certainly don't want to discourage that. However, I am hoping that your job with an airline will be a means to work your way through college.

I may get some flack from my collegues here for being negative but let's face it - there are some realities that you should consider before considering a job with an airline.

Back when many of us started, it was a very coveted job. If one got on, they had it made. Benefits were great - not just flight benefits, but medical, dental, vision, pension, savings etc. For medical most of us did not even contribute a dime.

Times have changed. Don't get me wrong. I'm still thankful for my job but there are many industries with better pay and benefits. Ours are mediocre now at best. I just heard a commentary by Ilyce Glink ( www.thinkglink.com ) about concern for customer service in the industry because an entry level worker can make more at Costco and have better benefits.

One article noted that there are 3 things that make industries especially volatile - 1)capital intensity (takes a bunch o' money) 2)organized labor 3)high dependence on a natural resource (like jet fuel). Ours is one of the very very few industries that has all 3 and I really hate to mention it but the threat of terrorism or an aircraft incident just puts us way off the scale.

The travel benefits are great but are somewhat diminished since the planes are much more full and ticket prices are lower. If you can get a job that can get you to a $10k a year higher level, you can by a lot of tickets for that and you won't have to fly standby. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

So get that college education or some specialized technical training if at all possible. I don't see a lot of people getting to a level in this business to make the big bucks without one - at least not any more.

But hey, the industry needs change and new blood. Maybe your just the guy to bring it.

Good luck! (if I haven't run you off)

Well, so I went to apply today. Got my app, filled it out. The station manager was there, since we both had the time he interviewed me. I guess he liked what he saw.

I'm starting June 25th. I'm pretty excited about it. One Day orientation in CVG. I plan to work this while in college, and perhaps move into a career position once I have my degree. We shall see.

The pay is just a tiny bit less than I currently make at The Home Depot, but the benefits are way better. Not just travel, but medical, vacation, etc. every benefit is better than what I currently have.

I guess I'll be sharing stories on this forum in the near future. And I guess I have to update my profile.

Thanks everyone

Congrats. I may have to make my way over to the A gates and say hello at some point.

19 years old? What kind of position do you want? Why don't you join the military, give something back to this country, then get your experience working in the military plus gain some training in aviation and then put an application in. Maybe after growing up a little bit, learning some work ethic, the airlines can pick you up instead of relying on BS talk and parents to get you in. I see alot of nepotism in my outfit, and these kids are just nothing more than gangbangers that don't know their you know what from a hole in the wall. Pay some dues instead of wishing to make huge bucks for doing nothing. Just my opinion.


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ColoAvs19:
First post here. I'd like to regale you all with stories of travel, but before I can do so, I need a job. I figured everyone here has an airline job, so where better to seek advice?

I'm 19 years old. I live about 30 mins. from MDT. I'll be going to college starting in August, so I'll need to be part-time. I'd like a CSA/Ramp job ASAP. I bet others say this, but I feel I have a lot more to offer than my resume shows. I was looking for any advice to increase my chances or advice as to what timetable I'd be looking at for being hired/getting contacted, etc. I've e-mailed a resume for openings at Comair, XJet, UA, US, and FedEx.

I'd prefer to work for a passenger airline, but does anybody know what travel benefits FedEx offers?

Thanks a bunch to anyone taking the time to respond
-Matt </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Wow, what's with all the hostility? I'm pretty sure this kid didn't do anything to you. Relying on BS talk and parents to get in? He said nothing about his parents. He also didn't say anything about doing this to make huge bucks. Just looking for an airline job that he can work while going to college.

While I can appreciate your views on people giving back to the country by serving in the military (I am a National Guard member, and my wife is a Reservist currently serving in Iraq), it's not for everybody, especially if he is looking at going through college right now.

Saying he needs to grow up and learn some work ethic is pretty harsh if you don't know anything about him. He may well be mature for his age and hard-working. There's no way for us to know either way.

You may be right about that, and who knows? I don't know the man, so maybe he is a mature person, maybe he's a nice kid. I am just stating that I see alot of children of airline employees getting in the door straight into making big bucks as their first job without ever really having paid any kind of dues. They seem to be the ones that complain the most and do the least amount of work. Its out of whack. Why even get an education when you can get in the airlines and be set for life just about. It's all really about when you get in and where your seniority falls into place. Education and extra effort seems to be out the window. Pilots and mechanics seem to be the only ones with prerequisites to get hired with. Gotta have something to show before you consider even becoming a pilot or technician for the airlines. I see alot of short cuts with people relying on the unions to get them through the day at the coat tails of the educated ones that make the airlines run. Nothing personal and sorry if I sounded harsh, but that is just my view on the matter.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by uainhnl:
Wow, what's with all the hostility? I'm pretty sure this kid didn't do anything to you. Relying on BS talk and parents to get in? He said nothing about his parents. He also didn't say anything about doing this to make huge bucks. Just looking for an airline job that he can work while going to college.

While I can appreciate your views on people giving back to the country by serving in the military (I am a National Guard member, and my wife is a Reservist currently serving in Iraq), it's not for everybody, especially if he is looking at going through college right now.

Saying he needs to grow up and learn some work ethic is pretty harsh if you don't know anything about him. He may well be mature for his age and hard-working. There's no way for us to know either way. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>