Mil CIV 2
Tips for the transitioning military helicopter pilot “THE LIST”
When I was transitioning out of the military, my friend, Nico, told me there are three things that will influence job satisfaction: location, pay, and your boss. “If you are lucky you will get two of the three,” he said. Nico later modified the list to include schedule and equipment, bringing the total to five and saying you are lucky if you get three out of the five. The advantage we had in the military was that every two to three years, we would move. But in civilian industry you may be at the same job for many years, so choose your career wisely.
Before you start your hunt for your new career in “Life 2.0,” you should list these five things and add in a few more if needed. For example, career progression, company reputation, job title, daily responsibilities, or your job role may be a priority for you. When your list is completed, put the items in order from your highest priority to your lowest, and consider what is best for you
and your family. For example,
being close to home (location) might be a huge factor for you, so it would be at the top of your list. What you are going to fly (equipment) perhaps isn’t that important and would go to the bottom. To someone else, their work-life balance (schedule) may be a priority over how much money they make (pay).
How everything stacks up isn’t the same for everyone. You or your family unit’s unique priorities should be considered before accepting any position. I was once offered a very prestigious position with a well-known company for really good pay, but when I looked at my list of priorities that included the desire to give back to my community of transitioning military members, this offered job wouldn’t allow me to do that so I passed.
The only unknown from Nico’s list when applying it towards a new job is the “boss” category. You
may have worked for him or her before, or you may have friends who work for your prospective employer who can help you make an informed decision. However, a majority of people transitioning out of the service have no idea what it will be like to work for a new boss, possibly for many years. My best advice is during the end of every interview, do not pass on the opportunity to ask good questions. Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
Some great questions to ask at the end of the interview include: (1) Is there a large turnover rate in your department? (2) How long have you been working at this company? (3) What do you see for the future of the flight department,
or what do you
think the makeup of the flight department will be in five years? (4) What opportunities do you see available for company pilots in the future? (5) You have talked about some of your successes
in the flight department; tell me about some failures and how they were dealt with? (6) How would you describe your management style, and what traits do you look for in an employee? Using these or similar questions can give you a good idea of what it is like to work at the company and, more importantly, how it is to work for your potential boss.
Nico’s list has served me well the past four years, and I hope it serves you well also. At the end of the day, I hope this helps you make a well-informed decision. But most importantly, trust your gut!
About the author: Marc Stanley retired from the U.S. Army in 2015 after 26 years, and is now a corporate pilot for MassMutual flying AW139 helicopters. Stanley regularly teaches
military-to-civilian
transition classes at industry events and volunteers with veterans outreach programs.
By Marc Stanley
20
Jan/Feb 2020
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