Getting rehired after quiting

[colombia_atc]

If you’re actually interested in coming here I would ask again. We just got our first permanent ATM in something like 5 years.

I will put it on the list to be included in my next batch of job request packages. I just sent out 3 more today. Gotta say it's hard to get motivated about it when so many facilities don't seem interested in hiring using the reinstatement program. I'm concentrating my efforts now on facilities where I've got someone at the facility helping from the other direction.

 

[JNev]

We can always use more controllers at MRY! Need all the help we can get to work our 3 CRJs

 

[Mike Kilo]

We can always use more controllers at MRY! Need all the help we can get to work our 3 CRJs

Uhhh try 9ish with 3 E170’s, 2 E145’s, and a twice weekly A319!

 

[JNev]

Uhhh try 9ish with 3 E170’s, 2 E145’s, and a twice weekly A319!

I forgot the sarcastic font!

 

[mAiTaInVFRaToRbElOw]

Gotta say it's hard to get motivated about it when so many facilities don't seem interested in hiring using the reinstatement program.

Decide on one facility, whatever your reasons. Call to setup a face to face meeting to sell yourself. Make an (good) impression and submit paperwork to that one facility. Hurry up and wait... reinstated. A face to a name goes a long way. That’s how I did it, one and done.

 

[colombia_atc]

I will put it on the list to be included in my next batch of job request packages. I just sent out 3 more today.

Decide on one facility, whatever your reasons. Call to setup a face to face meeting to sell yourself. Make an (good) impression and submit paperwork to that one facility. Hurry up and wait... reinstated. A face to a name goes a long way. That’s how I did it, one and done.

I've met four managers face-to-face so far. They seemed mostly uninterested in the process. I'm not the most social person, so that is probably working against me a little bit. It's a lot different from bidding on transfers when I still in the FAA... I put in a few bids and had facilities fighting over me. I'm great on paper, I ace training programs, and I'm top-notch on the scopes... but my bland personality works against me and I'm not good at faking it. My first job out of high school was in sales and I bombed horribly. 🙂

That's why I've changed my tactics a bit and am trying to enlist anyone who's trying to get out of their facility to work on the manager from the other end. I know a guy who pulled off something similar a couple of years ago and he suggested it.

I've got a couple of job prospects on my desk. The pay is killer sweet, but spending the next 3 years of my life in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan is not my first choice.

I appreciate the insight. I'll just keep plugging away. If it doesn't work out within 3 or 4 months I'll probably just accept one of the contract jobs.

 

[GulfBravoPapa]

Just because someone recruits you to come to their facility doesn't mean they'll get to leave. There are too many variables with the new transfer program so why would anyone else put in the effort? If you want back in then you need to put in the work and the effort. Educate the ATM where you want to go. Nobody is going to do the work but you.

 

[colombia_atc]

Just because someone recruits you to come to their facility doesn't mean they'll get to leave. There are too many variables with the new transfer program so why would anyone else put in the effort? If you want back in then you need to put in the work and the effort. Educate the ATM where you want to go. Nobody is going to do the work but you.

It has happened but you're right that there are no guarantees. I am putting in the effort and don't expect anyone to do that for me. I'm just looking for someone who can pour a little extra gasoline on the fire. If someone on the inside is reminding the manager every day, it does help. As I said, this was recommended to me by a friend who accomplished exactly this trick, which is why I am trying it now. It's not the only tactic I'm using, of course... it's just the latest page in my repertoire.

 

[Maintainvfr]

I've met four managers face-to-face so far. They seemed mostly uninterested in the process. I'm not the most social person, so that is probably working against me a little bit. It's a lot different from bidding on transfers when I still in the FAA... I put in a few bids and had facilities fighting over me. I'm great on paper, I ace training programs, and I'm top-notch on the scopes... but my bland personality works against me and I'm not good at faking it. My first job out of high school was in sales and I bombed horribly. 🙂

That's why I've changed my tactics a bit and am trying to enlist anyone who's trying to get out of their facility to work on the manager from the other end. I know a guy who pulled off something similar a couple of years ago and he suggested it.

I've got a couple of job prospects on my desk. The pay is killer sweet, but spending the next 3 years of my life in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan is not my first choice.

I appreciate the insight. I'll just keep plugging away. If it doesn't work out within 3 or 4 months I'll probably just accept one of the contract jobs.

A couple things I want to throw in there

Don't tell people you're going to Ace the training programs or you're top notch on the scopes. I'm assuming you're just saying that on here and not in real life, but still.

In your other post you said you can "work again for another 3-4 years." Honestly, that's just not worth it. If that's what you have until you're eligible, then don't bring it up. If you're 52, then realistically your chances are low. No matter how good you are, it's going to take a chunk of that to train. Why would someone go through the trouble, especially since a lot of facilities have trainees tripping over eachother right now.

 

[colombia_atc]

A couple things I want to throw in there

Don't tell people you're going to Ace the training programs or you're top notch on the scopes. I'm assuming you're just saying that on here and not in real life, but still.

In your other post you said you can "work again for another 3-4 years." Honestly, that's just not worth it. If that's what you have until you're eligible, then don't bring it up. If you're 52, then realistically your chances are low. No matter how good you are, it's going to take a chunk of that to train. Why would someone go through the trouble, especially since a lot of facilities have trainees tripping over eachother right now.

I'm in no way saying that I'm the best controller out there, just that I'm not someone who struggles through programs, is weak, or slacks off. ATC has always come naturally to me and I picked up on it instantly. I check out at minimum hours and am usually just waiting to build hours to the minimum once I'm on the floor in OJT. When I went to my last facility (a 12) I told them straight up that I was a hard worker, would burn up the training program, and would be working as FPL coverage as soon as they could get me to minimum hours... and that's exactly what happened -- I was fully certified less than 3 months after walking through the door. Everybody else I came in with was either still in the labs or still working on their first scope. The managers, supervisors, and other controllers appreciated that and said they wished that more people would be like that. I'm not trying to brag, just saying that I'm the opposite of dead weight and I'm definitely not weak. When I show up for work I'm ready to work. I don't like being in training and my goal is to get out of training as rapidly as possible. This is an attitude that has helped me get picked up by busy facilities in the past, so I'm sticking with it. I do know this: Nobody ever got a job by saying "I'm really not that great" or "They probably won't hire me." There are always a million reasons why you might not get the job you want. You have to ignore those negatives and concentrate on the positives... pump yourself up.

As to whether anybody will hire me... That's up to them. 3 or 4 years was pretty common before moving on, when I was in (my last selection agreement with the FAA specified a minimum of 3 years). If nobody wants a body for 4 years, that's fine... it's not the end of the world. I have other options but I'd like to work airplanes again for the FAA if that works out.

 

[ajmezz]

Have you tried just applying to a prior experience bid? There’s a pretty good chance they’ll offer you higher level facilities due to being certified at a 12.

 

[colombia_atc]

Have you tried just applying to a prior experience bid? There’s a pretty good chance they’ll offer you higher level facilities due to being certified at a 12.

Yes. The reason that I've been writing on this message board recently is specifically to try this particular tactic -- getting a controller on the "other end" involved. There are plenty of other tactics I've been using (bids, etc.) but there's no need to write about those on the message boards as it would serve no purpose. I am throwing a lot of darts at the dart board and this is only one of them. This message board is a very tiny percentage of everything I'm doing in my search.

I don't really care about the pay level of the facility, as long as it's not super-slow and boring (I'm targeting Level 8 [H] and higher for traffic, not pay). I already have my good time and my high 3.

I do have a couple of job offers already, but so far none from the FAA, and none that are particularly appealing (Afghanistan, etc.).

EDIT: I did actually have someone from the FAA try to recruit me, but it was a headquarters-type job (ATCS in name only). Not really my cup of tea.

 

[Shikaka]

I can push it with mt ATM if you want to come to RNO, keep in mind we wash people on GC here. NEST, Academy, Prev Exp...whatever you can get washed on GC/CD...

 

[ajmezz]

I can push it with mt ATM if you want to come to RNO, keep in mind we wash people on GC here. NEST, Academy, Prev Exp...whatever you can get washed on GC/CD...

Is it difficult/complex or do they just typically not get it to begin with?

 

[colombia_atc]

I can push it with mt ATM if you want to come to RNO, keep in mind we wash people on GC here. NEST, Academy, Prev Exp...whatever you can get washed on GC/CD...

I will add RNO to my list and let you know what I decide. Training used to be the same way when I was at MEM, back when it was an up/down facility. Almost everybody that washed out did it on GC... it's a real ball-buster during the FedEx pushes.

I'm hoping to get something busier (for the traffic, not the pay), but I'm considering it.

 

[Shikaka]

Is it difficult/complex or do they just typically not get it to begin with?

Well the current two who look to be in a dire situation are both previous experience hires and NEST washes, one from PDX and the other from BOI.

I wouldn't say difficult, definitely more complex since nothing can be standardized. That's where they're having issues, small SOP and big grey areas.

 

[Roger_Roger]

Well the current two who look to be in a dire situation are both previous experience hires and NEST washes, one from PDX and the other from BOI.

I wouldn't say difficult, definitely more complex since nothing can be standardized. That's where they're having issues, small SOP and big grey areas.

Wow so probably either alaska fss or fired

 

[Shikaka]

Wow so probably either alaska fss or fired

Out of the last 4 to wash this year 1 went FD, 1 went FSS and two straight up resigned. IDK how they plan to handle it if it goes that way but they've both been in training a significant amount of time and are on their second facility. My trainee is just now realizing he is going to a TRB.

 

[Wizard]

Out of the last 4 to wash this year 1 went FD, 1 went FSS and two straight up resigned. IDK how they plan to handle it if it goes that way but they've both been in training a significant amount of time and are on their second facility. My trainee is just now realizing he is going to a TRB.

Are they not safe? Makes 0 sense how anyone could struggle at a 5 tower. Sounds like a training program problem.

 

[Shikaka]

Are they not safe? Makes 0 sense how anyone could struggle at a 5 tower. Sounds like a training program problem.

Some people aren't meant for the job, the ability to receive, understand and respond appropriately sometimes isn't there whether it's a prior military or CTI or OTS. We can wash any and all.

And yes magically capable of being unsafe at times.