Putting All Your Eggs in the FAA Basket

[prominence]

Is there anyone else out there who feels like they have put all their eggs in one basket -- holding out for an ATC career?

I just graduated from a major university this past December with a Bachelor's degree, had 3 internships and 2 full-time management jobs (both laid off from) while attending college, and have been left jobless in this horrid market.

My only glimmer of hope is PUBNAT4, back in June of last year; I've come so far - attended PEPC this past March and received word my clearances have all come through; just waiting till next fiscal year to be scheduled for OKC.

Do you feel like your life and future prosperity depend solely on an FOL coming out of OKC?

At this point and through months and days upon days of applying for jobs and interviewing, ATC is the only real opportunity still there - and it keeps me going, but it won't feel real until I have an FOL -- and until I have an FOL, nothing is a done deal.. and I am left with a feeling that all my eggs are in one basket, which can be easily dropped at any time until I receive that FOL.

Anyone else feel the same way? - What's your story? I'd like to hear - and let this thread act as a support system for those of us who have lost our jobs to this economy, or working jobs that barely cover our bills while we sit in waiting to hear from HR for an FOL.

This is not a complaint thread, but one to support and learn about one another while in waiting.

[Bernoulli Fan]

Originally Posted by prominence

Do you feel like your life and future prosperity depend solely on an FOL coming out of OKC?

I couldn't have said it better myself. I'm coming from being a pilot rather than being a manager; I think I know a little what it felt like being a low-time pilot in late 2001. Though the reasons are different this time, the result is the same.

Here's to timely FOLs -- before Californian economic disaster plunges us all into darkness. Oh wait, I'm going to ZLA.

[greg1016]

Yep, graduated with a BA in Media Comm in April 2008. Had no idea what I wanted to do. Spent 3 months living in the city where I attended school while I waited for my lease to expire and hunted for a job, which I never found.

As I was getting ready to leave and move back home with my parents I found out the FAA was supposedly hiring controllers en mass and I thought that it would be a perfect job for me. I applied to Pubnat 5 and 6. I talked to ACD and every time was told 2-4 weeks till the next step. I didn't find JC or learn how long the process ACTUALLY takes till after I took the AT-SAT.

With money in the bank and the thought that this was going to take a lot less time than it actually does (thanks to ACD and my own optimistic ignorance) I didn't bother myself with looking for a job.

Now the economy is even worse, and I can't even get a job at a new department store or doing lawn care. Over-qualified, under-experienced. I feel dishonest looking for a full time job, knowing that in a matter of months I will be quitting. The temp agencies around here have no jobs, even the place I used to work in high school is at full staffing.

I am a veteran and am counting on my veteran's preference to get me this job, I am confident that I will have the FOL in hand eventually, but I really need something to do in the mean time.

I really try not to dwell on it, but I thought hearing this might make you feel better. You aren't alone.

[prominence]

Originally Posted by greg1016

I really try not to dwell on it, but I thought hearing this might make you feel better. You aren't alone.

Thank you for sharing, it does help. I try not to dwell on it too. Even with TOL in hand, it's not a final offer till you've received the FOL - and if you dwell on it, it can definitely become nerve wracking.

[Raydon]

Amen to that brotha! The only fall-back I have if this FAA gig doesn't work out is working the wine industry and living in small hippie towns in northern california for the rest of my life... which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just always thought I'd aspire to something greater than picking grapes and working in tasting rooms.



I may be putting a fairly big bunch of my eggs in this basket.. but then again it's not like I'm gonna run out of eggs - just gotta re-group and head off in another direction if it doesn't work out and not think twice about it.

We'll be just fine! no one stress too much.. the good news is that EVERYONE'S on hold with TOL in hand from Feb/Mar/April/June PEPC's and there's no reason to think it's a personal issue with our ability to complete the application process or fulfill the job description.

[CubPilot84]

I must build on what ya'll are sayin and add hey... at least you have a TOL... Patience young padawan, all you guys are in the upper echelon of current applicants. Your time will come soon.

[BigBOSS]

Originally Posted by CubPilot84

I must build on what ya'll are sayin and add hey... at least you have a TOL... Patience young padawan, all you guys are in the upper echelon of current applicants. Your time will come soon.

But in the end, it is still a crap shoot.

[coastalattack]

Hey guys,

I definitely know what you all are going through. I've been waiting since last May after graduating CTI for something to happen and it does get frustrating and somewhat depressing. One of the worst parts is constantly being asked, "When are you going to OK?" for which I never have a solid answer. I do feel like I'm really counting on this job and for me to actually like it and do well at it, two things I'm not even sure about. I've taken tours of towers and such, but who can really know if they'll like it without having done it before? And coworkers play a big role. Is it pretty much the consensus that almost all controllers are cocky egomaniacs? If so I'm afraid I won't fit into that. Hopefully that's just a rumor. Either way, here's to hoping I can find a temp job and pay the bills til the winter!

In the meantime I'm hoping to dip my foot into an area dealing with childhood obesity because I absolutely abhor seeing it around me. So if this doesn't pan out, maybe I can help a lot of kids nip a potentially dangerous problem in the bud. We'll see.

These forums have really helped though, before I knew they existed I swear I was the only person in this situation just waiting and waiting. Thank you all for being on here and knowing (sadly) what it's like when even your close friends don't really understand it. Hang in there and maybe, just maybe, we'll have the job of our dreams. Hey, I gotta stay positive somehow!

[ATCJefe]

Originally Posted by coastalattack

Is it pretty much the consensus that almost all controllers are cocky egomaniacs? If so I'm afraid I won't fit into that. Hopefully that's just a rumor.

I have worked with some real stand up controllers. i have also met and worked with the egomaniacs. I would say it's about a 1:1 ratio, with some facilities being better than others.

As for the topic of this thread. I did not re-enlist in the military (where I had a steady paycheck, awesome benefits, and had just been promoted) because I was under the assumption that ALL ex-military controllers would be picked up within a few weeks of applying. Unfortunately, what my ex co-workers didn't tell me is that the one qual I didn't get is the one required to get picked up through the VRA announcements... And trust me, I have plead my case to the HR rep in charge of the VRAs.

So, here I am. Waiting along with everyone else. Unable to find a job, even in a market supposedly not hit hard by the economy (I did have an interview this morning and it went well, so maybe in about 3 weeks or so I can earn a REAL paycheck, in stead of depending on the great Republic of Texas to make sure I don't starve to death). I am currently "working for free" as a construction foreman (some might call it interning) until I get a good grasp of the construction business and can prove to them that I am an asset and not a liability.

I am frustrated that I gave up a job with decent job security to do what i love in the civilian sector without being educated on the process. I guess I am partly to blame, but at the same time, I feel duped into thinking that it would be a smooth transition, where we all know this is not the case!

Good luck to everyone!! I am glad to know I am not the only one struggling right now!

[PrincessintheTower]

The thing I can relate to most is the constant questioning about when I'm going to OKC. It's depresssing everytime I have to tell people I still don't know. Then you get some people who have the nerve to ask "but you're sure you got the job, right?" Well, I'd like to say yes with confidence, but I still get that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Sometimes I feel like I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop...

[Umlaut]

Not to rain on everyone's sob stories, but at least all of you were lucky enough to get selected to begin with.

It would appear only a small percentage even get selected, so be excited you made it that far. Personally, I wouldn't even dream of griping on hear if I could just be selected, and I would be more than thrilled to wait out the process knowing I had a great career all but guaranteed to me.

I'm not trying to start anything or give anyone a hard time, but understand if the majority of us sitting on the "not picked" side of the fence would kill to be in your shoes. So pardon most of us for a lack of sympathy here.

[Raydon]

Originally Posted by coastalattack

Hey guys,

I definitely know what you all are going through. I've been waiting since last May after graduating CTI for something to happen and it does get frustrating and somewhat depressing. One of the worst parts is constantly being asked, "When are you going to OK?" for which I never have a solid answer. I do feel like I'm really counting on this job and for me to actually like it and do well at it, two things I'm not even sure about. I've taken tours of towers and such, but who can really know if they'll like it without having done it before? And coworkers play a big role. Is it pretty much the consensus that almost all controllers are cocky egomaniacs? If so I'm afraid I won't fit into that. Hopefully that's just a rumor. Either way, here's to hoping I can find a temp job and pay the bills til the winter!

These forums have really helped though, before I knew they existed I swear I was the only person in this situation just waiting and waiting. Thank you all for being on here and knowing (sadly) what it's like when even your close friends don't really understand it. Hang in there and maybe, just maybe, we'll have the job of our dreams. Hey, I gotta stay positive somehow!

yes to all of that. I've actually found more solace and assurance here than with my friends/family and in some weird way find my contacts/acquaintances from this site and stuckmic to be better friends than the people I've known for years.

As a fellow applicant, and as an administrator for stuckmic I've had the privilege of meeting a few individuals from both sites in person in the last year or so and the comradery i've found has been really satisfying.. everyone's in the same boat in one way or another, and through these sites it's my belief that we're going to have better connections and an easier transition into the industry than if we were going it alone.

[Devin the Arkie]

Originally Posted by PrincessintheTower

The thing I can relate to most is the constant questioning about when I'm going to OKC. It's depresssing everytime I have to tell people I still don't know. Then you get some people who have the nerve to ask "but you're sure you got the job, right?" Well, I'd like to say yes with confidence, but I still get that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Sometimes I feel like I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop...

Yea, I thought about it today after people asking forever on "when I'm going to OKC"... I'm going to start telling people that I'm just in the FAA's hiring "holding pattern!"

[SnareMV17]

I know exactly what you all mean. My friends and family keep asking me "have you heard anything new from the FAA?" It makes the whole process that much harder because I'm sure all of us have that one little thought in the back of our heads that somehow we're never going to hear from our HR Rep or anyone at the FAA again, falling through the cracks, and then go on searching for something else that seems less satisfying.

Yes, we're fortunate to be where we are at this point, but now that we're on the threshold, we can't help but wonder if we'll ever make it to the other side.

Obviously this isn't the last bridge we'll cross in our careers, but getting a piece of paper that says you are in and you'll be getting CA$H MONEY for it really does make it all an official reality.

I, myself, have gone the last 8 years as a volleyball coach and doing private lessons on the side to keep me in it while going through school. I always knew I had an interest in aviation and was convinced I was going to the pilot route until the industry went under a while back and then ATC seemed like the perfect fit. Let's all hope it's not too good to be true.

But to end this post with a glimmer or optimism, I have faith that eventually the good people at ACD or whatever we're calling it will come through for us and we'll all meet at the after party. ZOA can't come soon enough. I am trying to get a facility tour there some time this week or next. Have a friend who is a CTI student at UND who is interning there over the summer. Says it's awesome. Who knows! We may some day look back at all this and laugh about how scared we were.

[WoH]

Agreed.

It's been a year now. Whoever thought we would have applied for a job that needed us and that we were qualified for and a year later have nothing to show for it. Literally...nothing. An AT-SAT score I guess...but other than that the pubnat next week is square one again.

Totally understand about the people asking. Every holiday...graduation...wedding...all of those people are asking. What's up with the FAA? I know they must be thinking that we're crazy! Who would wait a whole year and then start over.

And don't diss those TOL people so badly. I'm worried for you guys. Someone said that thousands of people were waiting with TOLs to go to OKC. You can't process that many people in any reasonable amount to time. They could be waiting for years. I just don't know how long the FAA will string those people along before their TOLs "expire"

Here's a tip: Next time you get a time line estimate from you HR rep, go ahead and ask them if there is a facility with a greater need that you could transfer too. They fast track academy dates for people assigned to facilities that need people.

[KT430]

So I'm patietly waiting for the PUBNAT 8 to come out, just like 50,000 other people. My main question is; for all those that have applied for previous PUBNATs and then reapply for the new ones, does that mean that the applicant pool just keeps getting deeper as each PUBNAT comes out? Because if they (FAA) has to sift through previous PUBNATs and then new applicants, that must take forever. Not saying that those that have already applied shouldn't, its just a question.

[futureatcihope]

Well it is nice to see that I am not the only one with these feelings. I can say that it is even scarier since finding out that I failed the mmpi. That was the last thing I was worried about through this whole process. Now I have a job I dispise, a manager looking for a reason to get rid of me since they received the security letter and no real idea if I will get a FOL. All I can say is hopefully we all will look back on this and be able to have a good laugh at how nervous we all were.

[jeffm1999]

Originally Posted by KT430

So I'm patietly waiting for the PUBNAT 8 to come out, just like 50,000 other people. My main question is; for all those that have applied for previous PUBNATs and then reapply for the new ones, does that mean that the applicant pool just keeps getting deeper as each PUBNAT comes out? Because if they (FAA) has to sift through previous PUBNATs and then new applicants, that must take forever. Not saying that those that have already applied shouldn't, its just a question.

At least in the early PUBNATs we were specifically told by HR reps to apply to each new announcement. Don't know if that changed or not. But I was picked up through PUBNAT 2 and I had applied for 3-7 and as far as I know it automatically skipped over me since I already had an offer. I know some others have had slightly different experiences, such as getting two different offers and then being able to choose, but it seems as though they have gotten those bugs worked out, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[jeffm1999]

But, on the topic....

I was going to college to be able to advance in my current field, and was slowly realizing that I didn't love what I currently do. I always knew I wanted to do something with aviation, but I didn't think it would ever be a reality for me. I have a private pilot's license, but that's it. I didn't think I could realistically become an airline pilot, plus I had just gotten married and I didn't want to be away from home all the time.

I was informed about the off the street hiring by my wife's dad, who is a controller. It sounded perfect, since I could be at the airport everyday and be able to sleep in my own bed at night. I applied through pubnat 2 and was fortunate enough to do well on the ATSAT.

After I got my ATSAT score, I thought the process would move swiftly for me, so I didn't register for the upcoming semester at college. BIG MISTAKE in retrospect. I have been waiting 14 months since I applied and my interest in my current job keeps getting progressively lower. Now my company is closing their denver office and I am going to get laid off sometime in the near future. So I quit going to school (my own stupidity), I am stuck at my crappy job for now, I am somewhat patiently waiting for the FAA to call and hoping it happens before I get laid off.

I totally have all my eggs in the FAA's basket. But like others have said knowing that you are not alone helps, and knowing that all of this effort is going to be well worth it in the end keeps me going. I feel like this career is going to be perfect for me and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure I get to OKC and beyond.

That is my story... let's hear yours...

Good luck to us all, and see you all in OKC eventually (hopefully sooner than later)

[KT430]

Well thats good, I was affraid that those new to the application system would be looked over buy previous applicants. I just hope that maybe they have made things more streamlined than they were in the past.

[jcpilot]

Originally Posted by jeffm1999

But, on the topic....

I was going to college to be able to advance in my current field, and was slowly realizing that I didn't love what I currently do. I always knew I wanted to do something with aviation, but I didn't think it would ever be a reality for me. I have a private pilot's license, but that's it. I didn't think I could realistically become an airline pilot, plus I had just gotten married and I didn't want to be away from home all the time.

I was informed about the off the street hiring by my wife's dad, who is a controller. It sounded perfect, since I could be at the airport everyday and be able to sleep in my own bed at night. I applied through pubnat 2 and was fortunate enough to do well on the ATSAT.

After I got my ATSAT score, I thought the process would move swiftly for me, so I didn't register for the upcoming semester at college. BIG MISTAKE in retrospect. I have been waiting 14 months since I applied and my interest in my current job keeps getting progressively lower. Now my company is closing their denver office and I am going to get laid off sometime in the near future. So I quit going to school (my own stupidity), I am stuck at my crappy job for now, I am somewhat patiently waiting for the FAA to call and hoping it happens before I get laid off.

I totally have all my eggs in the FAA's basket. But like others have said knowing that you are not alone helps, and knowing that all of this effort is going to be well worth it in the end keeps me going. I feel like this career is going to be perfect for me and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure I get to OKC and beyond.

That is my story... let's hear yours...

Good luck to us all, and see you all in OKC eventually (hopefully sooner than later)

What facility are you going to? Has your HR rep given you anything to go on? There are only a handful of PUBNAT2ers that are not in OKC yet, so I'm just wondering what the hold-up is in your case.

Hopefully that FOL will be here soon!

[jeffm1999]

I am headed to APA. Pretty busy vfr tower just south of Denver, it is where I did my ppl training, so I am really excited about it. My process has been held up by everything under the sun. MMPI retake, medical clearangce issue I had to get some additional testing for, my facility is not in really desperate need, etc.

"unable" contact HR. It seems like they are too busy to return my emails, but I have not bothered them too much. I figure they are super busy and they will get to me when it's my turn. I just hope I haven't fallen through any cracks. Unfortunately I think you are right and that I am one of the few pubnat2ers still left FOL-less, but hopefully my number will get called soon.

Let's hope those FOL's start flowing!!

[KT430]

So is putting two Geo pref on your application would seem to limit (all your eggs in one basket) you in your chance of gettting picked up right? Say the areas you pick have no need for new staffing.

[Zhaj]

I'm a PUB2er still waiting on my FOL. I had to go through the MMPI2 retake which caused a severe delay in my processing. I just hope that my facility is not one of the extremely overbooked and that being from PUB2 gives me an edge despite getting cleared later than most 3-4ers.

Hang in there peeps, this is close to just straight up mental abuse lol
If anyone at ZSE has an idea of how the facility is looking as far as staffing plllleeassssee let me know

[SinglemomATChopeful]

Originally Posted by WoH

Agreed.

It's been a year now. Whoever thought we would have applied for a job that needed us and that we were qualified for and a year later have nothing to show for it. Literally...nothing. An AT-SAT score I guess...but other than that the pubnat next week is square one again.

Totally understand about the people asking. Every holiday...graduation...wedding...all of those people are asking. What's up with the FAA? I know they must be thinking that we're crazy! Who would wait a whole year and then start over.

And don't diss those TOL people so badly. I'm worried for you guys. Someone said that thousands of people were waiting with TOLs to go to OKC. You can't process that many people in any reasonable amount to time. They could be waiting for years. I just don't know how long the FAA will string those people along before their TOLs "expire"

Here's a tip: Next time you get a time line estimate from you HR rep, go ahead and ask them if there is a facility with a greater need that you could transfer too. They fast track academy dates for people assigned to facilities that need people.

As far as the fast track thing, transferring to another station that is in greater need doesn't mean crap! I transferred my station 2 days after I got my TOL due to my HR Rep asking me to. She promised that I would be fast tracked through and it proved to be quite the opposite. Just hang in there guys!