Does DCA Really Help You Get an Airline Job (My Perspective)

[FO_SHIZZLE]

I was going to just post this as a reply in another thread but I just figured I would start is as a new one. Be forwarned, it's long.

I came into the industry during a down cycle. That is one of the reasons I came here. I remember as a student people were getting hired out of here and I talked to old instructors and people I knew from my pt.61 training and a couple of people I know from other 141 places and it was just not happening there. Now, fortunately the industry is hiring alot now which I think is great, but it is a volatile industry and no one really knows what is going to happen several months from now.

As far as DCA helping to get a job I will say this and you can infer what you like:

I turned my resume in at the academy at around 10am on a Tuesday. Around 1030 on Tuesday I recieved a call from HR at a certain 121 carrier asking if I wanted to interview on the following Thursday. Now while I was up there for my interview, there were three of us from the academy, another instructor from LA with several hundred hours of hi-perf multi time and 6 others that consisded of 737, KC-135, C-130, AWAC, Dornier, Sabb-340 pilots.

My point in this is that we were definately the low time pilots in the group. Would I have gotten that interview opportunity if I were not at the academy. Judging by the high caliber of pilots we were interviewing with, I have my doubts, but I do know I would have had to probably wait a while to get that interview if I did at all.

Now this airline was where I really wanted to be, and I consider them one of the best in the biz, but after the interview I decided to just go out on my own and fill out several applications on my own just to see if I could get an interview somewhere and line up a contingency(sp?) plan. Well it's been three weeks and all these regionals that I applied to, all of whose minimums I exceed, have yet to call me back. Minimums are minimums, but that does not mean they will call you when they have people that are very much more qualified than you wanting the same job.

As everyone knows DCA guarantees an interview only, not a job. That interview is only given to people that complete their time as instructors. So that means you have to get hired as an instructor first. I was able to read that in the ads before I came here so I did not feel misinformed as some do.

The system worked for me and has seemed to work for many others. It does not however work for some others for a multitude of reasons. As I said before, DCA only guarantees and interview, not the job. Once you get your foot in the door it is up to you. BTW, I did get hired...now if I can just make it through training I'll be in good shape.

[FatBastard]

Allright FO!! Cool man and Congrats!

And people say I'm a bad Bastard.............