New Job 2 - Electric Boogaloo

overdrive148

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overdrive148
After a while of searching and applying for more jobs in the aviation industry, I (as of 30 mins ago) accepted a job offer flying UAVs for inspection services in Dallas. Company car, company card, company drones, company phones, working out of my home (with an optional cubicle in Dallas), travel between TX/OK/CO based on need, and expanding to more states soon. And for a bit more money per hour to boot.

I got a less than stellar raise at the FBO for my 1 year anniversary (1 day ago) even with a spotless 12mo review from my boss. The GM said the both the raise and my performance as an employee was 'above average'.

I will be going through the process of grabbing my 107 in the coming weeks and could probably post about the experience along the way if anyone's interested.

Also I just put in my two weeks notice and 2 minutes later the GM blew up my phone. I didn't pick up and I don't know what to say send help
 
After a while of searching and applying for more jobs in the aviation industry, I (as of 30 mins ago) accepted a job offer flying UAVs for inspection services in Dallas. Company car, company card, company drones, company phones, working out of my home (with an optional cubicle in Dallas), travel between TX/OK/CO based on need, and expanding to more states soon. And for a bit more money per hour to boot.

I got a less than stellar raise at the FBO for my 1 year anniversary (1 day ago) even with a spotless 12mo review from my boss. The GM said the both the raise and my performance as an employee was 'above average'.

I will be going through the process of grabbing my 107 in the coming weeks and could probably post about the experience along the way if anyone's interested.

Also I just put in my two weeks notice and 2 minutes later the GM blew up my phone. I didn't pick up and I don't know what to say send help
Oh well, maybe now they will learn to take care of great employees. New gig sounds like fun! Good luck!
 
As for what to say to the GM just be straight and say you've enjoyed the experience and thanks for the job, it's time to move on to another opportunity. If tries any guilt trip stuff just shake his hand and excuse yourself from his company.
 
Reminds me of the one where I was like 99% sure I was going to be quitting that day, had the letter of resignation written and in the draft email, dying to hit the send button.

Got the word from the recruiter about 5 mins after I had left. Got to my destination. Hit the send button.

The next morning the two execs on the project and I are alone and I hear:
"Just when we decided we like you?" and I say "I must have missed THAT memo."
"We were talking right up until you left last night. Why didn't you say something?" and I say "I got the call in the car and I let you know at the first opportunity."

Both are nice guys and still talk to them since we're in the same bidness.

Then I called their boss and told him the whole thing. He understood. I asked about the corporate re-hire policy. He says "As long as you don't **** on the clients desk and set the place on fire we'll be willing to talk to you again." I says, "Was that an 'AND' or an 'OR'?"

No real point. Congrats.
 
Sounds fun.are they hiring. Flying RC planes and working from home sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Congratulations
 
Remote Pilot, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems:
If you already have your PP and a current flight review the process is easy. An hour or two for a video and a short quiz. Print & carry to the FSDO. I got mine at 10 AM on the first day they accepted applications last year.
What to say to the boss:
I have enjoyed my time here and am thankful for the experience, but I have found a better opportunity.
 
Also I just put in my two weeks notice and 2 minutes later the GM blew up my phone. I didn't pick up and I don't know what to say send help
You've done a few things right - not quitting before you had something else lined up, giving notice, and not picking up that call. Give them time to settle down and you take some to get your mind right too, then speak as professionals. You're not the first person they've had quit (probably :cool:). @Kiddo's Driver's advice on what to say to the boss is spot on - don't burn any bridges. If he's calling to talk you out of it, FFS don't let him! If it takes threatening to quit (or *trying* to quit) to get a raise, it's not the place you need to be, trust me. Don't take a counteroffer, you'll still be working on the same place for the same people with the same problems.

Stay calm, stay quiet, and enjoy your new gig.

Nauga,
who has been down this road before :D
 
Remote Pilot, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems:
If you already have your PP and a current flight review the process is easy. An hour or two for a video and a short quiz. Print & carry to the FSDO. I got mine at 10 AM on the first day they accepted applications last year.
What to say to the boss:
I have enjoyed my time here and am thankful for the experience, but I have found a better opportunity.
Got mine as well, took the online course and test, IACRA signed off by my instructor, card came in the mail maybe a month later. Piece of cake.
 
What @nauga said. Don't burn bridges.

Be professional with your soon to be former employer, even if only for selfish reasons. They will always be on your resume, so tread carefully.

And congrats!!
 
It still amazes me, 23 years later, how often the ' XXXXX -2, Electric Boogaloo' tagline shows up in conversation. I thought I was unique, throwing it out occasionally over the years, until about the third time I heard someone completely out of my social circle use it.
 
Congrats,and good luck in your new endeavor.
 
It still amazes me, 23 years later, how often the ' XXXXX -2, Electric Boogaloo' tagline shows up in conversation. I thought I was unique, throwing it out occasionally over the years, until about the third time I heard someone completely out of my social circle use it.
What does that mean? I have never heard it before. But then again, other than pilot forums, I don't do social media.

@overdrive148 , yes, please do keep us updated.
 
After a while of searching and applying for more jobs in the aviation industry, I (as of 30 mins ago) accepted a job offer flying UAVs for inspection services in Dallas. Company car, company card, company drones, company phones, working out of my home (with an optional cubicle in Dallas), travel between TX/OK/CO based on need, and expanding to more states soon. And for a bit more money per hour to boot.

I got a less than stellar raise at the FBO for my 1 year anniversary (1 day ago) even with a spotless 12mo review from my boss. The GM said the both the raise and my performance as an employee was 'above average'.

I will be going through the process of grabbing my 107 in the coming weeks and could probably post about the experience along the way if anyone's interested.

Also I just put in my two weeks notice and 2 minutes later the GM blew up my phone. I didn't pick up and I don't know what to say send help
Say the truth. Without atitude. Do a more than a stellar job your last 2 weeks there. I'm interested in how the new job goes.
 
Congrats!

I saw a guy using a UAV to take pics the other day and walked over to talk with him. Told him I was hoping to maneuver into a similar job with my company but that I still hadn't taken the time to get my remote pilot cert. He looked at me funny, and when I explained it to him he said that their company has several of them using UAVs for picture taking and none of them had a cert. because they didn't need one as long as the UAV was licensed. Ouch. I left it at that.
 
You've done a few things right - not quitting before you had something else lined up, giving notice, and not picking up that call. Give them time to settle down and you take some to get your mind right too, then speak as professionals. You're not the first person they've had quit (probably :cool:). @Kiddo's Driver's advice on what to say to the boss is spot on - don't burn any bridges. If he's calling to talk you out of it, FFS don't let him! If it takes threatening to quit (or *trying* to quit) to get a raise, it's not the place you need to be, trust me. Don't take a counteroffer, you'll still be working on the same place for the same people with the same problems.

Stay calm, stay quiet, and enjoy your new gig.

Nauga,
who has been down this road before :D

I also want to emphasis what Nauga said, DO NOT ACCEPT OR EVEN ENTERTAIN A COUNTER OFFER! It is just a stop gap on their end to give them time to hire your, cheaper, replacement. You will be out of a job in several months with nothing lined up & ready to go. On top of that, if you are worth that now, you were worth it two days ago when they gave you the small raise.
 
Shake hands, part friends, move on.
Sounds like a very cool new gig.
 
Thanks for all the well wishes and advice so far

I called the GM back (His first words were "so... what's up??") and pretty much told him:

1) It gives me the opportunity to travel with my wife
2) It lets me use my pilot's license
3) It pays more than I am making now.

He acted like he was shocked out of left field about it. Me, the shining example of line service techs, bringing new and awesome ideas to the company, creating awesome badges that tell the new guys where the fueling ports are on different aircraft, always coming in on time for any call in (including 9pm call to be there at 3am the next day more than a handful of times). A dutiful, always pleasant, always diligent employee who always goes the extra mile for customers. One who (almost) never broke anything on an aircraft! Pushing around millions of dollars a day!

What would cause a qualified and educated person to just up and leave, right after a yearly review and an above average raise?

After that 12 month review with my manager, he ushered him out of the room and set the stage for the info I was on the edge of my seat for.
With a smile and a wink, he revealed the fruits of my labor and hard work...

.50c an hour.

Qp2jy1w.gif


Yep. 1 extra paycheck a year. About $1000. And he saw my surprised expression and assured me that it was an above average raise, more than they usually give, and the next year's will be even better! Then shook my hand with a smile and said thanks for all your hard work!

I had to try really hard not to laugh at it. I walked outside to go talk to my boss about it and my phone rang with the offer. I told them I just got a raise and asked for a bit more money - it worked. Not as much as I'd like to make ideally but it'd take me 3 years of that raise to get to that level.

Our competition on the field pays more. One of the guys interviewed to work at our place and he spilled on their pay. Equal to start, 2 bucks more in 6 months, even more at the 1 year mark. Downside is I don't like them. But management knows that and still decided to hit me with .50c. On top of that there are a plethora of other issues. I made a new position, designed it and made the SOPs for it, was told I'd be management for it and I'd be the one pioneering it, and then other people were assigned to it. Lots of problems and turnover despite a rah-rah speech about we're the "best crew they've ever had and they're not just saying that" and "we want people to stay" and "you are the company".

Not to say they didn't do things well in other areas but on the whole it's been a draining experience with a lot of issues that everyone has but no one wants to talk about out of fear they'll get fired. Which brings me to my next point:

The exit interview.

What do I say, what can I say, what should I say? There are a lot of problems and I genuinely want to help them get fixed. Management doesn't know or look enough underneath them to recognize issues and when they are brought up they are met with negativity. Know it all kind of attitudes. At one point the word "fear based management" was used. I feel like me leaving at the time of the raise might send a message about retaining people who are as qualified and knowledgable. But I want to do more.

I also want a good reference because of my last job. I want to approach it with a sense of honesty and "don't be offended but" that leaves everything above board.
 
Also I don't have a current flight review. Would it be easier to go get one from a CFI in DFW and then do the part 107 or?

I also want to emphasis what Nauga said, DO NOT ACCEPT OR EVEN ENTERTAIN A COUNTER OFFER! It is just a stop gap on their end to give them time to hire your, cheaper, replacement. You will be out of a job in several months with nothing lined up & ready to go. On top of that, if you are worth that now, you were worth it two days ago when they gave you the small raise.
Also to this: I really was tempted to say "Well I am glad that my year of experience, tenant relations, outstanding customer service, flawless attendance through the onslaught of overtime, and my participation and knowledge of the safety program are only worth $1000 to you" but I probably shouldn't do that.

There was also a birthday card going around for the VP and I toyed with the idea of writing my 2 weeks notice in there but sensors indicated that would definitely land me in "not eligible for re-hire" territory.
 
Man id kill for a 50 cent raise most I ever got im 10 years of work was 33cents. Wife got an 18 cent raise as a nurse with good reviews. I don't think I've ever even had a raise more than a cola. Such is Tennessee though you have to go get a new job for more money lol.and companies wonder why they can't get good help...
 
Man id kill for a 50 cent raise most I ever got im 10 years of work was 33cents. Wife got an 18 cent raise as a nurse with good reviews. I don't think I've ever even had a raise more than a cola. Such is Tennessee though you have to go get a new job for more money lol.and companies wonder why they can't get good help...
We never got raises back in the day. In fact we had to pay them...and more every year. Lucky to have jobs, yes we were!
 
Exit interview: turn in all company issued stuff, say thanks for the work and walk away.
+1 to this. It can be a chance to provide (constructive) criticism to the employer, but often, it isn't a productive use of your time.

If returning company owned items and/or rental uniforms, ask for a documented inventory of what you turned in that is signed by the employer. This way they can't try to chase you down for an item that was turned in.
 
I should not say this, I am sure I will get flamed in more than one way.

I was working for a company. Turnover went from normal to almost every pilot was leaving within a 60 day period. I did not want to leave. The company treated pilots very well. I really liked where I was living. It was a money thing.

The boss, also known as the owner, called the pilots in one day. He said who ever stays will bet a $12,000/yr raise. I stayed.

Good luck with the new job. Sounds like some interesting opportunities may be in your future.

When I leave a job, I work until the final moment. Though I did leave a few jobs and tossed a burning match over my shoulder as I crossed the bridge leading out.
 
If you can provide some constructive feedback without making it adversarial I would. I have in fact. But otherwise just stay professional and thank them for the opportunity.
 
Also to this: I really was tempted to say "Well I am glad that my year of experience, tenant relations, outstanding customer service, flawless attendance through the onslaught of overtime, and my participation and knowledge of the safety program are only worth $1000 to you" but I probably shouldn't do that.[emphasis added]
You're right, you shouldn't :). About the most you get out of that is temporary satisfaction, at the risk of ****ing someone off for a looooong time.

Nauga,
and the elephants graveyard
 
I should not say this, I am sure I will get flamed in more than one way.

I was working for a company. Turnover went from normal to almost every pilot was leaving within a 60 day period. I did not want to leave. The company treated pilots very well. I really liked where I was living. It was a money thing.

The boss, also known as the owner, called the pilots in one day. He said who ever stays will bet a $12,000/yr raise. I stayed.

Good luck with the new job. Sounds like some interesting opportunities may be in your future.

When I leave a job, I work until the final moment. Though I did leave a few jobs and tossed a burning match over my shoulder as I crossed the bridge leading out.
Why?
 
Man id kill for a 50 cent raise most I ever got im 10 years of work was 33cents. Wife got an 18 cent raise as a nurse with good reviews. I don't think I've ever even had a raise more than a cola. Such is Tennessee though you have to go get a new job for more money lol.and companies wonder why they can't get good help...
a 50 cent raise? That's $20 a week.
 
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