Connecting the Dots
It's been a tough few days and there are lots of reasons for pilots to be nervous.
Earlier this week, Wheels Up laid off pilots across all fleets seemingly out of nowhere. The total number of pilots affected hasn't been confirmed, but estimates range from 80 to 150 total. Affected pilots were invited to join a virtual meeting where they were notified that they were being let go with severance. Shortly after, leadership held an open-door session to discuss fleet reductions, staffing, and future fleet plans with the rest of the pilot group remaining. It was an unsettling meeting for many to say the least.
Later that week, Mesa sent out 53 furlough notices to pilots citing previous over-hiring and fleet reductions. Namely the 737 program going away. This required a number of pilots to transition over to the Embraer 175 fleet creating an overstaffed situation.
This time last year, hiring was raging with between 1,000 and 1,200 pilots being hired per month. Earlier this year, things began slowing down to 900 or so being hired in January, and now we're fully into furloughs and layoffs. Spirit, iAero, Wheels Up, and Mesa are some of the larger ones folks have heard about, but there are others as well. Adding insult to injury, American has stopped filling classes for the remainder of 2024 and United and Delta are not moving at the pace they once were. This rapid shift in hiring posture has thrown pilots for a loop.
In times like these, pilots who haven't experienced a downturn before tend to panic. They focus on the stress and lose sight of where the opportunities are.
Some great examples:
- UPS - recently started interviewing again
- American - while not filling classes in 2024, they're still interviewing and offering CJO's
- United - while slower, they're still interviewing and filling classes
- Delta - while slower, they're still interviewing and filling classes
- NetJets - hiring like crazy and filling classes
- FlexJet - hiring and filling classes towards the end of the year
The list goes on but those are just a few of the many opportunities out there for those pilots willing to work for it.
While everyone else is panicking, I want you to take a deep breath and focus.
Having been furloughed twice myself, I fully understand saying "stay focused" is easier said than done. So, for those having trouble, here's how to get on the right path:
- Seek out mentors
- Now's the time to tap into your network and get a reality check on your strategy. Don't try to navigate these choppy skies alone.
- Assess your financial reality
- Take a hard look at your savings, current income, and debts. This will help you figure out where you can make sacrifices to find a job that'll set you up for success when things pick up again.
- Network like your career depends on it (because it does)
- Get on LinkedIn. Connect with me, connect with recruiters, and start building relationships with pilots at your target companies.
- Polish that resume
- Make sure it's not just a list of qualifications, but a showcase of what makes you stand out. When that internal referral hands your resume to HR, you want it to scream "interview me!"
- Get your applications on file
- Every carrier you're interested in should have your pristine application ready to go. When an opportunity arises, you want to be ready to pounce.
The days of folding your resume into a paper airplane, tossing it at company headquarters, and having a recruiter chase you down are over.
You've got to be proactive, strategic, and either willing to put in the work or have someone at Raven do it for you.
Knowledge is power in this industry, and I'm here to make sure you're armed with the latest intel.
Fly safe and stay focused,
James
2024 Job Fair/Industry Expos
James Onieal: Aug 24, 2024 8:36:06 PM