Airline Pilot

How I found this job:
Industry contacts.

Training provision in this company:
Initial: Full training provided for type-rating on BAE146 type aircraft (I already held Commercial Pilots Licence). Qualified to fly type as First Officer (co-pilot).
Recurrent: Simulator and classroom recurrent training every 6 months. Line check annually. Various other recurrent training (first aid etc) at varying intervals.

Career development / progression in this company:
First Officer (now) to Senior First Officer (this requires 1500 hrs flying experience, gained at approx 700-800 hrs per year) to Captain (requires 3000 hours and extensive further training). Also roles are available in training and management.

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
In no particular order of importance:

1. Teamwork.
2. Ability to prioritise and focus.
3. Ability to remain calm under pressure.
4. Decisive decision making.

Most interesting part of my work:
Every day is different; flying over the Alps on a clear day; climbing into the sunshine on a grey wet day; handflying approaches on rough days.

Most challenging part of my work:
The frequent bad weather. Technical problems. Unsocial hours.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:
Flying is only for the thick-skinned and dedicated.

Transnational ICT Hardware and RFID Procurement

How I found this job:
Airbus is part of EADS, the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company - one of the biggest companies in Europe. Growing up in France, I was familiar with the brand, and reckoned that my linguistic abilities and business degree would suit their requirement for an educated and international workforce. I therefore applied for the Airbus graduate programme, which I started 10 months ago.

Influencing factors in accepting this job were:
I was interested in Defence and Aerospace because it is an industry at the forefront of technology, international business and world politics. The Airbus Direct Entry Graduate (DEG) scheme is recognised as one of the best in the UK, based on the Times Top 100 Graduate Programmes. I wanted an employer who would develop me, and I wanted international mobility. Airbus has its own airline which operates daily across 12 different sites in 4 countries.

What my role involves:
I am part of a team which specialises in sourcing IT equipment used throughout our offices and factories (i.e. not the equipment which ends up on the aircraft). This ranges from simple laptops to complex factory networks, and Radio Frequency Identification solutions. Sourcing involves understanding the requirements from our internal customers, finding potential suppliers, identifying and selecting the best supplier, implementing the buying process, monitoring supplier performance, and resolving daily issues. (However, I have also followed numerous training courses, some of which are certified by various institutions such as the Air business Academy and the Air Transport Authority). I have also spent 3 months in the Finance Function and am currently visiting suppliers across the USA for 6 weeks. (Overall I have accumulated 17,000 airmiles in the last 3 months).

Most important skills and knowledge I use in my job:
The main skill is common sense - knowing how to behave in different situations, whether talking to the CEO of a small American start-up,  the VP of sales of a multi-national Japanese supplier, or collecting information from the technician on the assembly line.

The ability to communicate effectively to different audiences, the ability to constantly think ahead and foresee problems, assessing the situation from the other party's point of view, building trust, strong IT skills, managing your manager, knowing how to pack a case.

Most interesting and challenging part of my work:
The most interesting part is learning on a constant basis! The technology is daunting, but some of it is mind-blowing. The end product itself is fascinating (and I knew nothing about planes when I started).

The biggest challenge is working within a huge organisation with multiple managers and trans-national teams, which can lead to confusion and lack of vision for the overall objectives.

Advice for current TCD students entering the employment market:

• Talk to as many graduates who have entered graduate employment as you can!
• Read and research anything that touches graduate employment - starting with the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers book.
• Know what industry you want to work in, choose what kind of player you are looking for, tailor your application to what that employer is looking for, and be more prepared than the other candidates.

Other relevant information on my career to date:

After graduation I wanted the gap year I had not taken before college, but wanted to earn money and learn new skills in the process. I became a Tour Manager for Contiki, leading coach tours of 51 clients lasting up to 46 days at a time across Europe.

I then joined E.ON Ruhrgas North Sea Exploration and Production, working in their Supply Chain, which manages the contracts for personnel and equipment for both onshore and offshore activities. (As a contractor in Oil and Gas based in London, the salary is substantial despite my lack of knowledge in oil and gas). During that time I was looking for graduate programmes in aerospace and applied to approx. 50 employers worldwide, and eventually got the first application I sent!! (and received many many rejection letters in the meantime). Good luck!!!!