Would you?

Flying_Nun

Flying_Nun

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Let's say you were interviewing for a position at a company and know they have a plane hangared at your field. Would you work into the conversation that you're a pilot and you admire that they use GA to enhance the conduct of their business? Would you do it in a first round screening or wait until interviewing with the hiring manager?
 
Depends, I guess. I'm software, but tend to do areas that are aerospace related so being a pilot can often be a bonus (not that I get to fly their stuff, but I'm someone who can understand the problem domain). If I were applying to be a web developer for Walmart, I'd expect a blank stare.
 
Flying_Nun said:
Let's say you were interviewing for a position at a company and know they have a plane hangared at your field. Would you work into the conversation that you're a pilot and you admire that they use GA to enhance the conduct of their business? Would you do it in a first round screening or wait until interviewing with the hiring manager?
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Leave out the part about admiring them, that sounds sycophantic and may put them off. But I would mention the plane and also that you're a pilot. It might strike up a good conversation.
 
My CEO is a cirrus pilot.
We probably spent 30 min of the interview discussing flying. I would never have volunteered it though. He brought it up. He asked some question like I want to know a little bit about you that's not work-related what do you do for fun.

So I would say if the opportunity presents itself, mention it and see how he reacts. If there happen to be twenty other Pilots working there. He may not want to talk about that
 
I may be the only one I know that lists my private pilot cert on my resume under "Education". But, it does serve to start conversations. Again, at least where I am, there are more than a few pilots, including ex-military. I don't think there's a definite right or wrong about this.
 
Mistake Not... said:
I may be the only one I know that lists my private pilot cert on my resume under "Education". But, it does serve to start conversations. Again, at least where I am, there are more than a few pilots, including ex-military. I don't think there's a definite right or wrong about this.
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I was Commander of my CAP squadron which is noted on my resume. That often leads to the question about me being a pilot.


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When I used to apply for jobs, and since they were flying jobs, the subject would come up.....
 
Unless the interviewer replies, "I'd never fly in one of those little deathtraps."
 
I didn't think that pilots had to mention that they were pilots? Everybody already knows your a pilot from your epaulets and your name tag.
 
When I read the title of this thread I was expecting a very different and soon to be closed conversation.

I never mention flying unless it's relevant to the situation. When I was applying for non aviation jobs it was a hindrance to getting hired.
 
I talk about flying every chance I get. You don't have to try to be cool, or impress someone, or act arrogant, or prove you're smarter than, or as smart as, anyone to talk to people about airplanes and flying. If I know that someone I'm talking to has an airplane or a rating, I'll talk airplanes with them. Surprisingly, they'll always do the same. It's weird, but I'm not the only idiot with a certificate that likes airplanes. Who knew?
 
Mtns2Skies said:
Why?
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My bosses boss has expressed concerns about his perceived dangers of me flying. He's made a big enough deal of it that I wonder sometimes if there were a "close call" decision on a sweet opportunity if I might lose points and I try to downplay my owning a plane when in his company.
 
Cooter said:
Leave out the part about admiring them, that sounds sycophantic and may put them off. But I would mention the plane and also that you're a pilot. It might strike up a good conversation.
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I would bring it up but I agree with the poster above about leaving the admiration part out of it... you don't want to look like you're trying too hard as it will surely put them off or worse, risk seeming patronizing. But I've always brought it up loosely in a non-braggy way since it helps sets you apart from the other candidates they're interviewing or working with. It seemed to have worked well for me in the past

Mistake Not... said:
I may be the only one I know that lists my private pilot cert on my resume under "Education".
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I do too, at first I thought I questioned doing that since I work in databases and SQL but it's a good conversation piece and sets you apart from the competition. I think it's also one of those things that to the general public immediately sends a message "this guy is not an idiot, he's smart, he can fly!"
 
Salty said:
My bosses boss has expressed concerns about his perceived dangers of me flying. He's made a big enough deal of it that I wonder sometimes if there were a "close call" decision on a sweet opportunity if I might lose points and I try to downplay my owning a plane when in his company.
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Read that 3 times and I sorry to say that I don't understand what you were getting at. But I know that I have offered more than a few times to fly myself in my own plane to company events and I've been shot down (before taking off) every time.

The fear of GA is real...
 
Depending on who you're interviewing with and what the position is, it's highly probable the interviewer has no knowledge of the aircraft.

On the other hand, I list private pilot on my resume under other interests. Odds are it won't help with anything and most interviewers will skip right over it. On the other hand, during the interview for my current job, one of the interviewers was also a pilot, so it gave us some things to talk about over lunch.
 
Caramon13 said:
The fear of GA is real...
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It unfortunately is... a few years ago I stopped asking non-aviation people to come flying with me because most people, if they're interested, will ask for a ride and others are just too scared to go. It's weird, but since I stopped asking people I feel like I have more people asking me if they can come up for a ride

Caramon13 said:
Read that 3 times and I don't understand what you were getting at. But I know that I have offered more than a few times to fly myself in my own plane to company events and I've been shot down (before taking off) every time.
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I think companies in general are petrified of potential litigation. While there is a fear of GA, as noted above, I think this has more to do with the threat of bad publicity, a lawsuit, etc., if anything were to go wrong

Incidentally, Commander Worf, Michael Dorn from Star Trek, is a pilot and has owned a cool array of planes such as an F86 and T33 but I read that when he was on contract with Star Trek NG he was not allowed to fly
 
Tantalum said:
It unfortunately is... a few years ago I stopped asking non-aviation people to come flying with me because most people, if they're interested, will ask for a ride and others are just too scared to go. It's weird, but since I stopped asking people I feel like I have more people asking me if they can come up for a ride

I think companies in general are petrified of potential litigation. While there is a fear of GA, as noted above, I think this has more to do with the threat of bad publicity, a lawsuit, etc., if anything were to go wrong

Incidentally, Commander Worf, Michael Dorn from Star Trek, is a pilot and has owned a cool array of planes such as an F86 and T33 but I read that when he was on contract with Star Trek NG he was not allowed to fly
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When I got my license I was so excited I asked everyone I ran into, most just turned me down so I stopped. It does plant the seed though. Took almost a year (after I offered) for my boss to ask me to go on a sightseeing trip down the coast with her and her daughter.

I set a limit, I'll ask you once and mention it maybe one other time in passing, no interest, then I'm done.

The legal thing is what my company told me as well..
 
skier said:
Depending on who you're interviewing with and what the position is, it's highly probable the interviewer has no knowledge of the aircraft.

On the other hand, I list private pilot on my resume under other interests. Odds are it won't help with anything and most interviewers will skip right over it. On the other hand, during the interview for my current job, one of the interviewers was also a pilot, so it gave us some things to talk about over lunch.
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My being a pilot usually comes up in some form or other, usually the what do you do outside of work question. The difference here is this is the first company that I know has a GA plane based at my field. Most of the others I know of locally are large corporate operations. I'll go the safe route and keep it low key like in the past.
 
Caramon13 said:
Read that 3 times and I sorry to say that I don't understand what you were getting at. But I know that I have offered more than a few times to fly myself in my own plane to company events and I've been shot down (before taking off) every time.

The fear of GA is real...
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1. My bosses boss thinks GA is dangerous
2. My bosses boss is worried I may impact his career if I disappear unexpectedly by killing myself in my airplane
3. My bosses boss has control of my career
4. I choose to downplay my flying to reduce his concerns.

I think it's a fine line. I think even in my bosses bosses mind there is advantage to my being a pilot and owning a plane, but I'm careful not to over emphasize it.
 
Salty said:
1. My bosses boss thinks GA is dangerous
2. My bosses boss is worried I may impact his career if I disappear unexpectedly by killing myself in my airplane
3. My bosses boss has control of my career
4. I choose to downplay my flying to reduce his concerns.

I think it's a fine line. I think even in my bosses bosses mind there is advantage to my being a pilot and owning a plane, but I'm careful not to over emphasize it.
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Thanks for breaking that down. I thought that's where you were going but I got tripped up somewhere along the way. I get it though.

That sucks that you have to downplay your flying.
 
Tarheelpilot said:
They were worried I would leave to go back to an aviation job. They were right because I did eventually go back to aviation
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I've gotten that question in an interview before too. "Well why aren't you going to be an airline pilot?"
 
Just make sure to mention at some point you're a pilot. If not may be in biolation of FARs requiring you to bring up airplanes within at least 15min if meeting someone so you can tell them you're a pilot.

Good luck with interview
 
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