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A COVID-19
Career Survival Guide for Pilots

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A COVID-19
Career Survival Guide for Pilots

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the global job market and economy, and the aviation sector has experienced a significant downturn. Many pilots, First Officers and Captains alike, have found themselves on indefinite leave or let go by struggling airlines. Unprecedented times require creative solutions, so to manage this difficult time in aviation, we’ve compiled a pilot’s guide to surviving the COVID-19 industry downturn.

 

Stay connected.

Register for aviation mailing lists (check ours out here), keep an eye on platforms that advertise pilot job opportunities, and talk to your friends in the industry. You never know where your next pilot job opportunity might come from!

Continue to apply for pilot jobs you have all the required skills and qualifications for, where possible. There is a lot of pilot talent and few positions in the current climate, so make your applications worthwhile by only applying for positions you meet all the criteria for.

Finally, if you’re in communication about a job opportunity, don’t be afraid to reach out to your potential employer or recruitment agent to check in. While you don’t want to be a hassle, the occasional check-in will show your agent or potential employer that you are eager, and keep you front of mind as a job candidate.

 

Finding job opportunity

If you have work, keep it.

Even if your current position isn’t your dream pilot job, hold onto it; in the current economic climate, a job in aviation is worth more than gold.

The saying also goes that it’s easier to get your next job if you already have one. This is true both because your current position can garner you new job contacts and opportunities, and because potential employers like to see that you’re actively working and have current skills and experience.

 

Think outside the box.

Perhaps you’ve only ever considered being based in one country, or only flying for a specific set of airlines. But the likelihood of finding the perfect pilot job that ticks all the boxes of remuneration, location, and hours is unlikely – even in a normal job market. Now is the time to look at the trends in aviation, evaluate your options, and consider flying for airlines or in locations you may not have considered previously.

 

Evaluate aviation options

Look good.

Don’t worry, we’re not telling you to hit the gym! But it is important to look ‘professionally’ good. This means making sure your pilot CV and your LinkedIn profile are up-to-date and easy and attractive to read. You can check out IAC Global’s comprehensive guide to writing or refreshing your pilot CV here. It’s also important to look the part if you connect with any potential employers or recruitment agents either in person or via online video platforms.

 

Reskill.

Do you have a half-finished degree you always thought you’d go back to? Or an area of interest in which you could take a short course to formalise your knowledge? Now is the time to think about new skills you can develop, or transferable skills you can tweak and apply in a new industry. New skills might gain you temporary employment or even put you on your next career path in a different field.

If the pilot’s life is the only one for you, then use this time to refresh and upgrade your skills and knowledge in aviation.

 

Nothing lasts forever.

Last but not least, nothing lasts forever! This pandemic will not last forever, and the aviation sector will slowly but surely return to providing a sustainable job market. This may not happen soon, and the aviation sector of the future is likely to look different from what it did before COVID-19, but the industry will bounce back. As the aviation sector recovers, airlines will be looking to hire eager pilots once again.