total nOOb

wynnpoe3 · April 2nd, 2008, 13:23

This is for anyone who can give some good advise (which seems to be most):
I'm 23, full-time student at The University of Kentucky. Been full-time in school for about 4 years, although not close to getting a degree because I can't find anything I like. Have a close family friend that has been an ATC for many, many years, and have gone to work with him a few times just to see what it was like and enjoyed it.
I have been working since I was 15, so about 8 years. Some if that was full-time, most was part-time stuff due to school.
I have not applied or anything yet. Just wondering, w/o a degree, but four years of school, and a bunch of work time, some full-, and some part-time, would that get me considered.
I have been flying, although no liscense, pretty much since i was in diapers. Have most of my time, unlogged, in Bonanzas and Barons. Will this help me out any, moreso on the job as opposed to getting the job?

Anything else you want to fill me in on would be great too.

I think that is all that I have for right now. I would definitely appreciate some constructive feedback from you guys!

Thanks!

ATLTRACON · April 2nd, 2008, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by wynnpoe3

This is for anyone who can give some good advise (which seems to be most):
I'm 23, full-time student at The University of Kentucky. Been full-time in school for about 4 years, although not close to getting a degree because I can't find anything I like. Have a close family friend that has been an ATC for many, many years, and have gone to work with him a few times just to see what it was like and enjoyed it.
I have been working since I was 15, so about 8 years. Some if that was full-time, most was part-time stuff due to school.
I have not applied or anything yet. Just wondering, w/o a degree, but four years of school, and a bunch of work time, some full-, and some part-time, would that get me considered.Wait until the next general public announcement comes out and apply. You have the basic qualifications to be hired.
I have been flying, although no liscense, pretty much since i was in diapers. Have most of my time, unlogged, in Bonanzas and Barons. Will this help me out any, moreso on the job as opposed to getting the job? It will help you in knowing the pilot side of things, to some extent.

Anything else you want to fill me in on would be great too. Are you really sure that this is what you REALLY want to do??? It is a long haul for someone who is not sure.

I think that is all that I have for right now. I would definitely appreciate some constructive feedback from you guys!

Thanks!

wynnpoe3 · April 3rd, 2008, 00:14

Thanks. Any guess on when the next General Public announcement will be?
And for the long-shot question: If I make it to, and through OKC, will knowing anyone in the FAA help in getting a job at all? I'm sure I know the answer, but it's worth it to ask.

SQuirell88 · April 3rd, 2008, 10:33

I have no idea when the next announcement will be, but I would venture to say not until Fall 2008 at earliest.

The long-shot question: After applying, you may/may not be selected to take the AT-SAT test, if you do take the test and pass w/ at least at 70, you wait for a referral to a state, once you get a referral you are assigned to a PEPC OR interview w/ someone locally where you currently live and also have all your medical, security etc checks done, then you get a tentative offer wait for your security etc to clear and get a final offer...then you are assigned a date for OKC, spend 3-4months there and then go to your tower.

I read somewhere 95% of OKC students pass. However the washout rate on the job has increased.

Knowing anyone in the FAA before you get an offer I don't think has much help...this is a govt job so most hiring is all procedural compared to private companies. I could be totally wrong though...but haven't heard of anyone getting 'special' treatment.

ajcowing · April 3rd, 2008, 11:21

The only way that I could see knowing someone, in the FAA could help, is if you had a specific facility that you wanted to go to.

Say you were referred to Florida, and the only place that you would want to work, within Florida, was at the Sarasota tower, and you happened to know the manager there. If he would put in a personal request to have you slated to go to his tower, and their was a position open there, you would have a very good chance, of getting on, in that particular location. As far as getting to that point, though: being selected to take the ATSAT, being referred to a state, and being put on an interview list for a particular state, knowing someone within the FAA wouldn't have any pull.

I obviously don't know anyone, within the FAA, however, because I'm moving 1000 miles across the country, to go to a level 5 tower! It's all good though; I'm getting my foot in the door. I'm hoping that I'll get the "stray puppy syndrome" (find a puppy, take it into your home with every intention of finding a good home for it, and then loving it so much that you decide to keep it)!

Good Luck!!!

Zoesmom1020 · April 5th, 2008, 01:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajcowing

The only way that I could see knowing someone, in the FAA could help, is if you had a specific facility that you wanted to go to.

Say you were referred to Florida, and the only place that you would want to work, within Florida, was at the Sarasota tower, and you happened to know the manager there. If he would put in a personal request to have you slated to go to his tower, and their was a position open there, you would have a very good chance, of getting on, in that particular location. As far as getting to that point, though: being selected to take the ATSAT, being referred to a state, and being put on an interview list for a particular state, knowing someone within the FAA wouldn't have any pull.

I obviously don't know anyone, within the FAA, however, because I'm moving 1000 miles across the country, to go to a level 5 tower! It's all good though; I'm getting my foot in the door. I'm hoping that I'll get the "stray puppy syndrome" (find a puppy, take it into your home with every intention of finding a good home for it, and then loving it so much that you decide to keep it)!

Good Luck!!!

Did you want to leave Fl? I am about an hour south of you and I really would like to stay in the state, if I had my choice I'd stay right here and work at RSW, although I don't think they have any openings. I was just wondering, my husband would like to move back to the midwest, but now that it seems like a possibility he is changing his mind, he likes the weather here! Good Luck in Iowa(?)

ajcowing · April 5th, 2008, 15:04

Ideally, I would've like to have gotten on at either the Fort Myers or Sarasota towers, simply because I have a mortgage in North Port, however when I had applied that wasn't an option. There were something like 10 different states, with open announcements, and Florida wasn't one of them. I had thought seriously about finishing up my CTI degree, so that I would have a shot at staying in the area, however the 6 hour, roundtrip drive, to Miami was killing me. So, I applied for several states, up North, that I could see myself living in. I'm originally from Nebraska, and have only lived in Florida for 3 years, so moving isn't as big of a deal to me, as it may be to the next person. Obviously, I have my home to deal with it, here in North Port, but it looks like we'll be renting it out, until we can get it sold. Florida has a lot of perks, for sure: weather, beaches, amusement parks. But, raising 2 kids it also has it's disadvantages: a lack of good paying jobs (for my husband), a poor school system (compared to other states), and it's fair share of pedafiles. So, if I didn't have kids, I would be devestated to leave, but having kids, and living 1800 miles away from their grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins, I think that the move will be a blessing. That's not to say that Sioux City is where I would've chosen to move, had I the option. I would've loved to have been slated to Lincoln, Omaha, Des Moines, or Denver, but apparently that's not "in my cards" right now. I'm planning on going to Sioux City, to certify, and then would like to transfer to one of those other locations, until my kids get older. I love Florida, and once my kids are grown, will probably look at it as a permanent location, but until then, I want to transfer back closer to family. I believe that Fort Myers is in need of a couple of controllers, right now, so maybe you'll get lucky, and get to stay put. Have you filled out a geographical preference sheet yet?

Zoesmom1020 · April 6th, 2008, 17:46

I applied in the Feb 08 open enrollment, so I put Throughout the Nation as my first choice and throughout florida as my second. But when we get the email about putting in our preferences we are going to put RSW down as our first choice. I have lived in Florida my whole life, raised on the east coast and moved here 4 years ago, but my husband has only lived in FL for 3 years and just recently started making real friendships and now wants to stay. The weather anywhere else scares me.

I wouldnt mind driving if I was placed in Sarasota because we really like where we are living, but the waiting is excrutiating!

I am hoping that since we went in and talked to the manager and others that our names will stick in their heads and we will have a better chance of being placed there. We also told them that we have no intention of training and leaving, so we would be a more stable hire. We'll see...