Why The Holidays Are The Best To Look For A Pilot Job

by Clint White

The Holidays, a time for presents, overeating parties and….job hunting? Most people think that during the holidays, work and productivity come to a halt. At one time that was true, but we now live in a 27/7, 365 days a week world with constant connectivity. Business and HR departments don’t suddenly shut down for the end of the year. On the contrary, for several reasons it’s a PERFECT time to redouble the efforts of your job search.

1. There is less competition: Many job hunters decide to stop looking for employment during the months of November and December to focus on the holidays. This means less people looking for work (outside of temp work for the holidays) and less people submitting resumes for open positions. If you keep yours polished and up to date, its more likely to get noticed.
2. Many companies are at the end of the fiscal year and looking to fill positions for the next: By December, many organizations have already received their budgets for the next year and actively seeking candidates for hiring in the Jan-Feb time frame. That means selections and phone calls or emails are going to go out before the end of the year for interviews. I personally have had the experience of receiving multiple phone calls about employment during the last week of the year (Dec 26-Dec 31) for the above reasons and it has happened more than once.
3. There is evidence that the job market for pilots is tightening: After many (and I mean many years) there does seem to be a general pickup in hiring. What better time to position yourself for a brightening job market by having that resume ready to go an be viewed before the end of the year. As always, employers cant find you if aren’t putting yourself out there.
4. Lastly, the holidays are a GREAT time to network: Its likely you will attend one or more party or get-together outside of the work party. This is a fantastic time if you are looking for a new job or just testing to waters to gauge the market. We all know that aviation is a small world and those face to face contacts can lead to great new position.

So, to one and all. Happy Holidays! and if you are looking for work,realize that these times represent an amazing opportunity! Have you had a similar experience looking for work at this time of year? We would love to hear your story.