Hey everyone!
I just thought that I would post an update and hear if anyone has any opinions for me moving forward.
These past few months have been a long wait, to say the least. About 3-4 weeks post program I got a call from the regional training support manager congratulating me on completing the program, with no checkride failures, and they offered me an instructor position with ATP. I made my location selections and have been waiting for the call since. In the meantime, I’ve worked on my AGI and IGI exams, and I initially began applying to non-instructing jobs. I’ve been flying as often as I can, maybe once or twice every couple of weeks, just to keep proficient. It’s not as much as I’d like, but it’s enough to keep me comfortable. But as the weeks went by, I heard back from almost none of the jobs I applied for, and received no update on my status with ATP. I can’t say I’m surprised, I was either barely qualified or under the hours for most of the positions. So I began to look at perhaps instructing at other schools in my area, either part time while I waited or long term if the right position was available. I called to inquire and even took some flights at some of these flight schools just to get my foot in the door. But it appears that, similar to ATP, there is either a backlog of instructors or they just simply aren’t looking for new instructors. To summarize, most flight schools in my area are either not hiring, or are looking for experienced instructors who will commit to them. So for the past few months, I’ve waited. I understand the value of an ATP job and the connections they have, so I was always willing to risk delaying my journey for the best instructing experience I could get.
To cut a long story short, today ATP advised us of a new page that allows us to see our position in line for an instructor position. I logged in right away to see that my first choice had me in 19th. 19th, I don’t know what to say or think honestly, I know that some people have waited up to 6+ months, but 19th for a location that currently has 9 instructors is unsettling. My second choice has me at around 15th, and my third choice was ‘first available’ which still has me at around 9-10 for most locations. I’m not entirely sure how the site calculates your position, it seems to have no weighting on what people selected as their first, second, or third choice. It also appears that if any of your choices have ‘first available’ listed, you have a spot in line for every location. So there is the possibility that the positions in line are inflated. Essentially people in front of me might not have selected my location, but are in line anyways from ‘first available’? Again I could be wrong, I’m just trying to justify how others have waited 3-6 months with this number of applicants. If I’m actually 19th, it could be easily a year or more. To say this news is disheartening is an understatement. I’m a bit lost at the moment. I have been hesitant to ‘all in’ commit for any job I can get my hands on, in anticipation that a very good job offer is waiting in my back pocket. I tried my best during my time as a student to show that I could be a good instructor for ATP, and I thought my performance might shorten my wait or increase my chances of staying at home, but maybe not. It appears the site updates every night, and as everyone else has had the opportunity to see and change their selections, there is the possibility of some movement. Until I wait for a few days or a week or more, I won’t have an idea how the positions move.
Essentially, I’m reaching out on here to see if anyone had anything they could add or perhaps some advice for me moving forward. I know there is a lot more I could have done post program to secure a job elsewhere, but I never realized I was this far back from a position. Over these last few months, my eagerness and excitement for teaching has increased drastically, but this throws a wrench in my plans. This really is the first time in my 22 years that I have no clear path moving forward. Additionally, if anyone else is in line for a position, I’d love to hear your thoughts and your position. I don’t really have an idea what the position means in comparison to other students also waiting.
I appreciate everyone for taking the time to read my long post and I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts and opinions!
Thanks,
Roscoe
