Happy Unemployment Day

overdrive148

overdrive148

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overdrive148
Looks like I'm back out searching again. Last day with DIA was Wednesday.

The job was great. The "training program" and management not so much.
 
Dang! Sorry to hear that. Good luck finding something else! It sucks you had to move for that job to. I have been down that road twice and it hurt a lot.

Just think, now you can tell the secret of the DIA underworld! LOL

David
 
If you're okay going back to a ramprat FNL is always hiring, not too far from you.
 
Laid off so soon? The airlines are making record profits how the hell is Denver Airport consolidating positions in this low-price fuel environment?
 
Brad Z said:
What happened?
Click to expand...

He could tell you, but then he'd have to kill you.

Obviously no training and not a good fit with the management. But they'll say you didn't work out.
 
Sorry to hear that. Hope a new and better one is just around the corner.
 
bflynn said:
He could tell you, but then he'd have to kill you.

Obviously no training and not a good fit with the management. But they'll say you didn't work out.
Click to expand...

Hey, if you're going to put it all out there...put it all out there. Was he fired? Laid off? Washed out from the training program? Stealing? Don't leave us hanging.
 
bflynn said:
He could tell you, but then he'd have to kill you.

Obviously no training and not a good fit with the management. But they'll say you didn't work out.
Click to expand...

Brad Z said:
Hey, if you're going to put it all out there...put it all out there. Was he fired? Laid off? Washed out from the training program? Stealing? Don't leave us hanging.
Click to expand...

I think it's entirely inappropriate to be discussing someone's employment or leaving a job without their permission. :nono:
 
Very sorry to hear that OD. Good luck on your new job hunt.
 
overdrive148 said:
Looks like I'm back out searching again. Last day with DIA was Wednesday.

The job was great. The "training program" and management not so much.
Click to expand...

Check with Centennial, Front Range and Rocky Mtn Metro (all towered). Also, make friends with the Aviation/Aerospace Dept at Metro State Univ in downtown Denver.

If you want, meet me on campus Monday or Wednesday next week about lunch time, and I'll take you down there and show you the job board, introduce you to some of the faculty, etc. I teach over in Computer Science, but hang out over there at times (translation: sit in on classes). It's too late in the semester, but if you have a CFII, you may be able to pick up a part-time gig teaching at the university this summer.

Again with a CFII, there are about 8 flight schools in the area, worth looking into for cash flow.

Did I mention - Aviation Dept at Metro State has an Airport Management track? You may be able to get a part-time gig teaching that category, too.

PM me with your real email and we'll talk options
 
RotorAndWing said:
I think it's entirely inappropriate to be discussing someone's employment or leaving a job without their permission. :nono:
Click to expand...

May he shouldn't be posting about it on the internet then.....:no:
 
MtnMarcus said:
May he shouldn't be posting about it on the internet then.....:no:
Click to expand...

The OP posted:

overdrive148 said:
Looks like I'm back out searching again. Last day with DIA was Wednesday.

The job was great. The "training program" and management not so much.
Click to expand...

I would think if he wanted to elaborate he would, or will. But for others to start innuendo as to what may, or may not have happened is just irresponsible.
 
What R&W said. Let OD be. It sucks to be out of work(except for retirement) regardless of the reason.
 
RotorAndWing said:
The OP posted:



I would think if he wanted to elaborate he would, or will. But for others to start innuendo as to what may, or may not have happened is just irresponsible.
Click to expand...


I agree. That is why I did not pursue it in my post. Still want to know the secrets of DIA though! :D He probably had to sign a non-disclosure agreement though.

David
 
RotorAndWing said:
I think it's entirely inappropriate to be discussing someone's employment or leaving a job without their permission. :nono:
Click to expand...

I didn't start the thread nor did I chronicle the OP's personal career details; the OP did. If he didn't want to share those details, why did he start the thread?
 
Brad Z said:
I didn't start the thread nor did I chronicle the OP's personal career details; the OP did. If he didn't want to share those details, why did he start the thread?
Click to expand...

So if someone post they are now unemployed they are required to give details as to why?? :dunno:

BTW, Kudos to the poster that offered to help OD out and the others that have offered suggestions for employment. :thumbsup:
 
RotorAndWing said:
So if someone post they are now unemployed they are required to give details as to why?? :dunno:

BTW, Kudos to the poster that offered to help OD out and the others that have offered suggestions for employment. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

If they post every other detail of their interview, hiring and employment, then yes, they should.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
What R&W said. Let OD be. It sucks to be out of work(except for retirement) regardless of the reason.
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure retirement isn't all it is cracked up to be, especially forced retirement. Layoffs for whatever reason truly stink unless you can slide into a comparible paying job. I am waiting for my company to outsource my job to India. Once that is done, I suspect I'll be retiring.
Can you say "welcome to walmart." as my next job.
 
Man....tough crowd.

There always selling weed....
 
PoA...proving once again that the dicks will always come out of the woodwork when what an OP simply needs some empathy and/or encouragement.

Overdrive,

Sorry to hear about this, dude. Hope it all works out for the best for you. Maybe it'll be a good thing.

Brad Z and PropWash, quit acting like 12 year-old dicks.
 
Happened to me last year. Must agree it's no fun. Just put your nose to the grindstone and pursue all options. Best of luck, and hoping to hear good results soon.
 
Hey OD - check out Colorado Springs Airport. I seem to recall seeing something about an Aviation Director out there a bit ago. Not sure if its still open, but might be worth looking at.
 
overdrive148 said:
Looks like I'm back out searching again. Last day with DIA was Wednesday.

The job was great. The "training program" and management not so much.
Click to expand...

Sorry it did not work out. Remember when starting at a new job the first few months are often a probationary period and you are actually walking on eggshells. So you need to take the training program and management very seriously, because they are super picky about new employees!

Best of luck to you.
 
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overdrive148 said:
Sorry guys, didn't mean to drop that and not explain but I've been busy. The fiancé is in town and we are making the most of our time during her visit.

So in short: original trainer quit, second trainer lined up for another job on the airfield. No classroom training or training materials provided or even updated in years. Second trainer did not want to train and got stuck with me. Compared me to her kid and refused to answer questions after getting put to her after my first trainer because "You should know this by now". She loudly announced that I was "arguing" when asking for clarification since there was seriously no formal training process or standardization. She could not give answers to questions I felt she should know as a trainer.

In the interview process and my first day I was told that there would be a classroom setting to learn the massive amount of info required to do the job. Instead I got thrown on station and was expected to function without knowing who I was talking to or what for and my trainer for the latter half basically shut down and refused to help. The stress built up, I got frustrated at my trainer telling me I was arguing with her when I was asking essential info. We started snapping at each other. I admit I did it but nowhere on the level brought on by my trainer. She compared me to one of her kids and told me "I have one of you at home" and treated me as such.

About 2-3 weeks ago midway through my shift, I started to feel very different, in a bad way. I asked one of my supervisors if I could see a medic. One of the coworkers drove me to the hospital because I felt like my heart was stopping or slowing way down. Turns out I had my first ever panic attack. No history of anxiety.

We had a meeting with the boss and the boss boss and my trainer during the snow storm last week. Long story short my trainer threw me under the bus and despite me trying to show the progress I was making and the effort I was putting forth, I was given an ultimatum - improve or get fired. They told everyone to bring clothes and etc because they didn't plan on anyone leaving with how bad the storm would be. Bosses told me that I wasn't worth the money and they didn't want to pay to keep me overnight in the snow dorms or backup area. "The roads are fine". I live a long way away and fortunately my first trainer who quit invited me to stay at his place. 40 mins to get to work from 5-6 mi away.

I brought up to them at the end of the meeting that she wasn't a good trainer and wasn't giving me what I needed to succeed. It fell on deaf ears. She kept pushing her failure on me and telling them that she has done everything she can. The day after the meeting we had, i just stopped interacting with the trainer and did what I thought would be good and use what little I could did to study with. I did amazing on station that day and the next 5 days.

I thought my improvement was so marked that I'd be in the clear. Meanwhile a night time employee offered to train me because she saw what was happening. She talked to a boss, I was told I would switch to nights to slow down and learn. My trainer went in after me and negated that. I asked my trainer about something, she was uncooperative and accused of arguing, we got pulled aside by a supervisor, management got involved, I asked to go to nights again. They said they would work a training solution. Two days later I was fired. I asked for the time off to spend time with my fiancé who is flying in and it was approved. They fired me the day before so I got to explain to my fiance why I was jobless. I went on a tour to meet all the guards and they all knew my voice and politeness and looked forward to meeting me and then I went to clock out and they fired me. Sorry, stream of consciousness from my phone. I'll refine it later.
Click to expand...

Bummer man. Sounds like a toxic environment and they were probably doing you a favor in the long run. Many of us have been fired at some point--myself included, and eventually ended up in a better place. I wouldn't be in aviation today if I wasn't sacked from my IT job years ago.
 
ugh. Sorry to hear about all that. I know you had to move out there for that job, and covered your own expenses, too (I think that's the way it worked out?)

Sometimes we all need a kick in the shorts to break us out of whatever rut we may be in. The move and now this are a kick, someplace, that will get you into something else. And I hope it's better!
 
overdrive148 said:
Sorry guys, didn't mean to drop that and not explain but I've been busy. The fiancé is in town and we are making the most of our time during her visit.

So in short: original trainer quit, second trainer lined up for another job on the airfield. No classroom training or training materials provided or even updated in years. Second trainer did not want to train and got stuck with me. Compared me to her kid and refused to answer questions after getting put to her after my first trainer because "You should know this by now". She loudly announced that I was "arguing" when asking for clarification since there was seriously no formal training process or standardization. She could not give answers to questions I felt she should know as a trainer.

In the interview process and my first day I was told that there would be a classroom setting to learn the massive amount of info required to do the job. Instead I got thrown on station and was expected to function without knowing who I was talking to or what for and my trainer for the latter half basically shut down and refused to help. The stress built up, I got frustrated at my trainer telling me I was arguing with her when I was asking essential info. We started snapping at each other. I admit I did it but nowhere on the level brought on by my trainer. She compared me to one of her kids and told me "I have one of you at home" and treated me as such.

About 2-3 weeks ago midway through my shift, I started to feel very different, in a bad way. I asked one of my supervisors if I could see a medic. One of the coworkers drove me to the hospital because I felt like my heart was stopping or slowing way down. Turns out I had my first ever panic attack. No history of anxiety.

We had a meeting with the boss and the boss boss and my trainer during the snow storm last week. Long story short my trainer threw me under the bus and despite me trying to show the progress I was making and the effort I was putting forth, I was given an ultimatum - improve or get fired. They told everyone to bring clothes and etc because they didn't plan on anyone leaving with how bad the storm would be. Bosses told me that I wasn't worth the money and they didn't want to pay to keep me overnight in the snow dorms or backup area. "The roads are fine". I live a long way away and fortunately my first trainer who quit invited me to stay at his place. 40 mins to get to work from 5-6 mi away.

I brought up to them at the end of the meeting that she wasn't a good trainer and wasn't giving me what I needed to succeed. It fell on deaf ears. She kept pushing her failure on me and telling them that she has done everything she can. The day after the meeting we had, i just stopped interacting with the trainer and did what I thought would be good and use what little I could did to study with. I did amazing on station that day and the next 5 days.

I thought my improvement was so marked that I'd be in the clear. Meanwhile a night time employee offered to train me because she saw what was happening. She talked to a boss, I was told I would switch to nights to slow down and learn. My trainer went in after me and negated that. I asked my trainer about something, she was uncooperative and accused of arguing, we got pulled aside by a supervisor, management got involved, I asked to go to nights again. They said they would work a training solution. Two days later I was fired. I asked for the time off to spend time with my fiancé who is flying in and it was approved. They fired me the day before so I got to explain to my fiance why I was jobless. I went on a tour to meet all the guards and they all knew my voice and politeness and looked forward to meeting me and then I went to clock out and they fired me. Sorry, stream of consciousness from my phone. I'll refine it later.
Click to expand...

Overdrive, I'm sorry this happened to you! It sounds like the people who you worked with are not the right fit for you. I would never want to work in a toxic work environment like that.

I hope you are doing okay.
 
SkyHog said:
Hey OD - check out Colorado Springs Airport. I seem to recall seeing something about an Aviation Director out there a bit ago. Not sure if its still open, but might be worth looking at.
Click to expand...

Hm....didn't Steamboat just fire the director they hired a few months ago? Looking at the two resumes for the final candidates, I thought they hired the wrong guy - seems they may have regretted the decision.
 
silver-eagle said:
I am pretty sure retirement isn't all it is cracked up to be, especially forced retirement. Layoffs for whatever reason truly stink unless you can slide into a comparible paying job. I am waiting for my company to outsource my job to India. Once that is done, I suspect I'll be retiring.
Can you say "welcome to walmart." as my next job.
Click to expand...
I retired recently, and it is the best thing that ever happened to me!
Retirement is the way life is supposed to be.
(as long as you spend 40 or so years preparing for it).
 
flhrci said:
Dang! Sorry to hear that. Good luck finding something else! It sucks you had to move for that job to. I have been down that road twice and it hurt a lot.

Just think, now you can tell the secret of the DIA underworld! LOL

David
Click to expand...
I think it lasts for a while after being "separated from the company" ;)

Mtns2Skies said:
If you're okay going back to a ramprat FNL is always hiring, not too far from you.
Click to expand...
I actually enjoyed the work in Shawnee because I got to do more than just fuel but it's definitely an option. I will look out for that.

bflynn said:
He could tell you, but then he'd have to kill you.

Obviously no training and not a good fit with the management. But they'll say you didn't work out.
Click to expand...
Boils down to this.

Brad Z said:
Hey, if you're going to put it all out there...put it all out there. Was he fired? Laid off? Washed out from the training program? Stealing? Don't leave us hanging.
Click to expand...
The reason they gave me was this:

"Difficulties related to multitasking, situational awareness, organizational skills, and a general disrespectful attitude towards your trainer and the training process - including responsibility for errors you have made".

That is a load of BS and I disagree with it. It is non-negotiable and since it was during a probationary period, I have no options or recourse.

murphey said:
Check with Centennial, Front Range and Rocky Mtn Metro (all towered). Also, make friends with the Aviation/Aerospace Dept at Metro State Univ in downtown Denver.

If you want, meet me on campus Monday or Wednesday next week about lunch time, and I'll take you down there and show you the job board, introduce you to some of the faculty, etc. I teach over in Computer Science, but hang out over there at times (translation: sit in on classes). It's too late in the semester, but if you have a CFII, you may be able to pick up a part-time gig teaching at the university this summer.

Again with a CFII, there are about 8 flight schools in the area, worth looking into for cash flow.

Did I mention - Aviation Dept at Metro State has an Airport Management track? You may be able to get a part-time gig teaching that category, too.

PM me with your real email and we'll talk options
Click to expand...
Murphey, you are awesome. I am totally down for either day since I don't have anything else to do now. I will send you my email right now! No CFII ticket or cash to get it right now unfortunately.

flhrci said:
I agree. That is why I did not pursue it in my post. Still want to know the secrets of DIA though!
Click to expand...
There aren't not any secrets. ;)

timwinters said:
PoA...proving once again that the dicks will always come out of the woodwork when what an OP simply needs some empathy and/or encouragement.

Overdrive,

Sorry to hear about this, dude. Hope it all works out for the best for you. Maybe it'll be a good thing.
Click to expand...
Thanks Tim. I figured I'd mention it here since I made such a big deal out of getting hired and the interview process getting in there. The fiance is in town until Sunday and we were leaving this morning when I posted it at breakfast.

SkyHog said:
Hey OD - check out Colorado Springs Airport. I seem to recall seeing something about an Aviation Director out there a bit ago. Not sure if its still open, but might be worth looking at.
Click to expand...
Will do, thank you sir.

Matthew said:
ugh. Sorry to hear about all that. I know you had to move out there for that job, and covered your own expenses, too (I think that's the way it worked out?)

Sometimes we all need a kick in the shorts to break us out of whatever rut we may be in. The move and now this are a kick, someplace, that will get you into something else. And I hope it's better!
Click to expand...
Yeah, paid my way out here for the test, the 2nd interview, and then moving out here. Office politics and management and their training program really did me in. I've learned a few lessons that I can apply going forward for sure.

Brad Z said:
Bummer man. Sounds like a toxic environment and they were probably doing you a favor in the long run. Many of us have been fired at some point--myself included, and eventually ended up in a better place. I wouldn't be in aviation today if I wasn't sacked from my IT job years ago.
Click to expand...
A very toxic environment. I had a few people who saw what was going on and tried to help me out but in the end management had the last word. Even though a surprising amount of people went to the bosses about my trainer's attitude and behavior. And truthfully if that is how the workplace is going to be, then I don't want to work there anyway.

N918KT said:
Overdrive, I'm sorry this happened to you! It sounds like the people who you worked with are not the right fit for you. I would never want to work in a toxic work environment like that.

I hope you are doing okay.
Click to expand...
Other than being fired, I'm doing pretty well. Enjoying my time with the fiance for the first time in 2.5 months or so. When I recommended the position to you, this was just starting btw. I wouldn't recommend the job to anyone now. Not until they see some changes.
 
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I think I want to make another point to you overdrive. In my opinion, I think that it is very important where you find a work environment where you would be able to fit in with the people you work with. Customers, coworkers, supervisors, and bosses. Also important in my opinion is a nurturing work environment where your supervisor is caring, wants you to succeed, and acts like an older mentor. At my job, some people I just tolerate and others I get along well. The person I get along with well the most is 30 years older than me (who is a more senior coworker by the way) who is just as much an aviation fanatic as much as I do and we could talk about anything aviation related. I always look forward to having aviation-related conversations and working with him. He was like a mentor to me and taught me some things when I first started out.
 
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Just saw this. Sucks man. I've seen folks come into jobs who were similarly left "hanging out to dry" who then ended up on the wrong side of the politics for no particularly good reason.

If anything the take-away is even when you think you're just asking questions, once you're labeled a "problem" in some meeting you weren't even invited to, your questions are always seen as "argumentative".

Best I've ever found for countering that is actually to close up a bit and ask very specifically "What would you like done right now?" and play the role of super-cheerful perfect little employee always chipper and willing to do whatever is asked and pretend to know absolutely nothing about the bad attitude of whoever is stirring the pot. After a while the tide changes and folks get tired of hearing them whine all the time about you when you've been "nothing but helpful" to them.

You were headed that direction but got there a little too slow. You pick up on it faster with experience and go into that perfect little employee mode sooner when you realize someone has an unprofessional personal problem and wants to target you, until they go target someone else.

And they always do. They're unhappy people who have to make someone else look bad to get through their day. That's just who they are. You just learn not to engage with them, with practice. The more you can shrug and smile the faster others see they're just out to get you personally and they start figuring out how to separate them from you.

Anyway, others have covered the local job thing. I don't have any advice for aviation jobs around here. The "coveted" jobs at CDOT in the Aeronautics Division seem like a good long term goal. Everyone seems to want those around here in that biz.

Careful how you characterize the DIA gig when talking to other folks in town. Eight million people but Denver is still cow-town with way too few folks to not have everyone know everyone in various industries. All the airport types rub noses at the same conferences and stuff. Be Mr. Polite and say nothing bad about anyone at DIA to anyone. Too many Metro grads who all know each other from "way back" who never left town and swap jobs here until they finally get out of cow-town. :)
 
timwinters said:
PoA...proving once again that the dicks will always come out of the woodwork when what an OP simply needs some empathy and/or encouragement.

Overdrive,

Sorry to hear about this, dude. Hope it all works out for the best for you. Maybe it'll be a good thing.

Brad Z and PropWash, quit acting like 12 year-old dicks.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure we'll be rolling around in the dirt if we ever cross paths....
 
Sounds like the bullsh*t I had to deal with at ATL. Very, very poor training "program."

In fact, it sounds extremely familiar to what I had to deal with. Toxic environment. I didn't really "fit in" with most of the other employees, either.
 
MtnMarcus said:
Pretty sure we'll be rolling around in the dirt if we ever cross paths....
Click to expand...

No, actually, if we ever crossed paths I can foresee me buying you a beer and the two of us sitting down and discussing like adults what constitutes civil discourse on this forum and all the other world's problems.

Rolling around in the dirt is how 12 year-olds settle conflict.
 
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