How to look for a job
This is another tricky part of the industry. Unlike a search for a job in another field or industry, a pilot can not really browse thru adds in the newspaper. Beside a few specialized career websites like careerbuilder or monster which occasionally will have postings for positions at airlines or corporate flight departments, the possibilities to find offers for first officers are very limited. There are however a few other ways to obtain a seat as a paid pilot. First, which I strongly encourage any pilot to start as soon as possible, is networking. Meeting professionnal pilots and engaging conversation any time an occasion arises can one day make for a great opportunity. In fact a lot of jobs in corporate flight departments are obtained this way. While you might think that creating connections with high profile companies might not benefit you while you are still a student pilot, you should keep in mind that a career is built over time. A very efficient website called linkedin is a great place to start building your own network. But remember that what goes around, comes around. Today you may need help to get a job but be prepared to return the favor tomorrow as pilots need to count on one another more than anything. Another way used, and the most commom one is to register on aviation jobs specific websites. Now here is the little twist. To be a member and have access to the job postings and be able to apply, you will need to pay the membership fees. They can go from thirty dollars to one hundred dollars a year. You might be tempted to avoid the expense but unfortunatly their proven efficiency to help you get in touch with airlines presently hiring can cut down the time spent to search for a job. It as to be noted also that some outfits only accept applications thru thoses websites, like the ones using airlineapps as a provider. To help you keep an eye on the hiring trend at each airlines in the united states, some websites are providing current information and the latest news about each carrier. Airlinepilotcentral is a very popular website which publishes anything from equipments and bases to pay grades. Once you have obtained an interview, there are also a handful of information online that can help you succeed on D-day and get the offer you have been waiting for. The website willflyforfood offers interview gouges, about every airlines, that were submitted by candidates.