Getting a Job?!

[cactuskooler]

I work at my local airport cleaning planes and doing odd jobs for an air charter business. The only reason I got the job was because my dad and I spend a fair amount of time out there and got to know the owner. He offered me a job one day we were out there. I said sure and started the next day, no interview or application.

If I were you I would probably go to some of the local businesses and ask if they need someone to clean and what not. The business' planes are their store front window, as I'm told frequently.

[B17Skull12]

yeah i hate to be the one to break it to you but work alot of the times doesnt involve something you love, at least not when you're starting out, i work on the water captaining boats because i'm a boat nut but it took years to get to this point and alot of odd jobs I didn't really enjoy. At your age find something that pays decent and thats not too crummy, theres alot of jobs that require expierence and age; and working at a grocery store isnt bad, working at any kind of store gives you alot of time to flirt with women.

winner.  Look hard buddy.  The 1st is always the hardest to get.  Took me a year to get my 1st job.  Look hard is my best advice.  Don't get frustrate because you will.

[Ack-Ack]

Get a job as a game tester at one of the many gaming houses in L.A.  Pay for QA isn't bad for someone starting out, plenty of over time if you want it and you get to play games all day.  Can't ask for a worse life.


ack-ack

[superpug1]

I shouldn't be to hard for you get a job down at the FBO or any of the flight schools or hangars. Just head up there and check around, you cant lose anything from it. Even if you are just mowing around the runway. Heck, my first job was at US Flight Academy at the local airport. I was a janitor, grounds keeper, plane washer, and a spare hand whenever they needed me in the hanger. It was great, I learned how to bleed brakes, charge landing struts with nitrogen, change barrings, grease new ones, I even helped paint a piper Cherokee. I started the day I turned 16 so that I could buy gas for my truck. That was about 3 years ago. After that I got my life guard certification and became a life guard, now I'm a pool manager. So you could try that too. It pays well.

[Spikes]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Golfer, the GA airport I'm hoping to go to is Van Nuys airport, here in SoCal.  Very busy airport, lots of companies, and I've taken one (my only one) flight lesson and a bunch of tours there.  Basically everything you said is what would be perfect for me.  Washing/detailing, line servicing, all that.  So, how would I go about doing something like that?  Would I go find an FBO and give them a resume, or would I contact the company directly, or...?  (Just a note, I'm still attending high school, but I have pretty okay grades and have 2+ years of JROTC experience.  Would any of that help or hinder my plan?)  But like I said, the job opportunities you listed are perfect for me.

Another thing that would be smart to do is find the job that you actually like, and it would no longer be a job. I've noticed many people say it's not much of a "job" but rather a "hobby" if you like what you do.

[Rino]

     One good thing is that you live by the busiest GA airport in the country.
If you want to be line service, make sure you have a driver's lics.  I've been
working on the flightline for about 22 years.  Right now times are a little tough
for the guy looking to break in.

     I work about 30 miles west of NYC and unfortunately we have a hiring freeze
in effect for the last couple months.  The good thing about line is that they usually
don't require experience and will provide training.

     I know one thing I look for most is a good work ethic.  Be on time and don't be
afraid to ask questions.  No one wants to see someone hurt or equipment damaged
because someone was afraid to "look stupid".  Showing enthusiasm is great but try
to know your limits.  The line can be a very dangerous place, especially a busy airport
like Van Nuys.

     Oh yeah, usually at the starting line service level they will only require that you fill
out an application.  One important thing is that you are drug free as most major FBOs
will require a pre-employment drug screening.

[Fugita]

Get a job as a game tester at one of the many gaming houses in L.A.  Pay for QA isn't bad for someone starting out, plenty of over time if you want it and you get to play games all day.  Can't ask for a worse life.


ack-ack

"Grandma's Boy"
That was a funny movie

[SSgtHam]

Again, thanks for all the replies.  I'm thinking I'm most likely going to wait until summer and finish off my junior year in high school before I go apply.  As I said before, I am 16, I do have a driver's license, and I'm also drug free (woo! yay!)  So, I think I'll head down there after some more research at the beginning of summer.  Hopefully I'll land a job similar to line service or anything like that, but I think i'll have a pretty good chance with all the companies that are there.  Plus, I have a really good feeling that the experience I have in JROTC might really help out a lot, not only with a job like this, but jobs in the future as well.  I also do realize that if I can't go work at the airport, supermarkets and stuff like that will work out just fine for me.

[CAVPFCDD]

winner.  Look hard buddy.  The 1st is always the hardest to get.  Took me a year to get my 1st job.  Look hard is my best advice.  Don't get frustrate because you will.

why did you quote me? i win with the best response?

[Grayeagle]

As has been said .. go look around.
van Nuys has a lot of places to look
Useda stop by there after work about once a week on the way home an just walk around ..ask if we could take a close look at some of the planes ..hangars .. an the like. Place is a treasure trove of just cool things to see and great people to talk to.

If yer gonna look for a job there, dress the part and groom a bit.
No scruffies, look professional.

Get into a word program an make up a simple resume, one page, list your strengths, what you can do for the company, and how you're doin in school. Talk to a school counselor if you need some ideas, they have 'em

Don't let anyone steer you away from what you want to do.
Take the time to do it right and be persistent
If you want on at Clay Lacy Aviation, for example ..go there at least once a week and bug them
They need enthusiasts, not worker-drones

-GE aka Frank

[Fugita]

I played my very first round of golf at that little exec. course just down the road from the Airport.

Are "Heavenly Body" and "Screamin' Mimi" still parked at the Van Nuys Airport?

[Selino631]

I work at Chick-fil-A. Nothing wrong with that. I get FREE chicken!