Dejected

[Paddles_up]

I have been in aviation only seven years. This being my second career I have LITERALLY had to work my way to where I am now. I have ALWAYS had an overall goal when I got into this business...and that would be to dispatch for Alaska Airlines.

I lived in Alaska when I graduated from dispatch school. Whereby aviation jobs are VERY hard to come by. I had to accept a job cleaning planes "to get my foot in the door", from there I went to the ramp where I made a very fine "biffy girl" (smurfette was my nickname)....and then on to operations, load planning, load master and finally dispatching for "podunk" Part 121 carrier in ANC. While I was there, I went back to college, changed my major to aviation and completed my degree.

When I was in the middle of "The Big D", I heard this company was hiring so I applied. I knew this company was owned by Alaska Airgroup. I had also spoken to a senior dispatcher for Alaska who was a fellow member of ADF (Airline Dispatch Federation) he recommended that I take a job with this company to "get my foot in the door" here. So I accepted a this job with high hopes of getting picked up by Alaska.

Well, it's been three years and Alaska has had job openings in dispatch 4 times. I have applied for the positions every time. I have been granted 2 interviews out of the 4. The previous time when I was granted an interview, I asked the personnel lady if that was "three strikes you are out". She said, "Not at all, you interview very well and we'd like to see you back".

In the three years I have been here Alaska has hired 2 people from our department. (The remainder have been "off the streets".) Of the two people that have been hired, BOTH have been young white males. Niether of them have the experience, education or maturity that I have.

My question is:
Is it worth continueing to pursue a career to meet my goals?
"Take my lumps" and remain here?
Pursue employment elsewhere?

Sign me dejected! :mad_2: :frown_2: :confus_2:

[Jessica]

Don't even want to hear you thinking about giving up on a goal of yours, my little 'Spatcher! You've come this far already and while I don't blame you for being frustrated - you just need to stick it to them! If you think that pursuing employment elsewhere will help you reach that goal of being with AS, then do it. If not, then grit your teeth and stay with QX until you get your AS position. I'd hop a flight and go meet everyone in the AS dispatch/operations department and their hiring manager, so they have a face-to-face encounter w/you. Call the recruiter and ask questions - just to engrain your name into their brains. I know you...you are a hard worker...and you can do anything you want to do! Chin up, babe - and give 'em hell! :pilot:

[Angelflyer]

i agree 100% with Jess. Any airline would be lucky to have you as their dispatcher. i think you should hang in their and try again when you are eligible? When is that probably six months or a year? See i have already talked to you about this too. You know how i want to be a f/a and i told you who i wanted to work for the most. Alaska being one of them. i am always being told why don't you go and be a csa with them and then transfer when a f/a opening becomes avail. well it really isn't that easy is it. Hang in there. it will be okay. Horizon is a really good company from what i have heard.

[SFOFlyboy]

I'd hang in there Dispatcher... You *do* have your foot in the door and soon enough someone at Alaska is gonna realize how foolish they were to pass you over.

You'll get there... we have faith in ya! :laugh:

[Paddles_up]

Thanks for the support. I do appreciate it. However, even if I do get a job with Alaska as a dispatcher, it will be difficult being junior in seniority to someone "I" helped train! It's a very tough bullet to bite!

[Dr. Loverboi]

DXVixen,

You mentioned that your overall goal was to dispatch for Alaska Airlines. You have not reached that goal, therefore, you must not give up in your quest for it.

What you must do is go back and review your past interviews. You must see what things you did that you were outstanding in, as well as the areas where improvement needs to be made.

You must also make some name recognition for yourself. From going to your parent company's home office, to talking with those in the department you wish to work, to talking with the people who will interview you down the road, you must show them that you have a "go-getter" attitude.

A friend of mine got his first real break that way, because the interviewers saw a lot of enthusiasm in his demeanor. That indicated that he really wanted the job more than the others did. :smile_2:

Keep us posted on your progress!

[Dr._Playmate]

<font color="purple">'Spatcher,

It may feel like quite the circuitous route right now, but don't give up. All job searches are tempered with harsh realities. I performed many jobs before Hef came along. Please don't let pitfalls interfere with your original intent to reach your goal. You'll get there. You're a hard working, determined woman! :smile_2:

Dr. Penny Playmate </font color>

[i]Disclaimer: Data and information is for the humourous consumption of the audience. No one shall be entitled to claim detrimental reliance on any information provided or expressed. Violations of Section 69 are subject to criminal prosecution in a sexual court.

[Karen 737]

<font color="deeppink">
Honey, you need to work your way upwards, keep going for the dream of the lifestyle that you want.
I mean, take me and Stan for example, I longed to be a rich socialite with a penthouse sweet in Manhattan, with a rich husband and lots of nice clothes, and I had to go through 2 marriages before I got that.
And, if Stan wants a bit of touchy-touchy I get a ski-lodge in the Bahamas, it's tit for tat!
Keep reaching for that goal!
Kisses </font color>

[Dr. Loverboi]

In reply to:<hr />
I performed many jobs before Hef came along.



I'd like to hear about some of your past employers, Penny! :grin:

[Doc._K_N_Owitall]

I feel with ya on this one.

Even though we try to make it so, seldom does life appear fair.
Sometimes that hurts like a bitch !

[SUPERGUY]

Stay the course. You have come this far and are working with a great company. When you do get on with Alaska, things are only going to get better. Don't lose site of what you want, when you get there, it's even sweeter!

[777FlyGuy]

This is a tough one.

I don't necessarily agree with everyone else that says you should stick around in your current position. As we all know, this business in lots of cases comes down to dumb luck. You apply with 4 different airlines and you end up with the first one that hired you.

I started my airline career in CS with American. However, I was contract and working through AMR, not AA. So the pay and the flight benefits were horrible and not worth it at all. So, I decided to try becoming a flight attendant. I interviewed with NW and UA on the same day. NW liked me, UA didn't. I accepted the position with NW and worked there for 2 years. Ultimately, I became frustrated because I really wanted to be working for UA or AA. NW's airplanes were old, their service was lousy, and I was not happy. So, I decided to apply at UA again and was hired on my first try. I have been here for 5 years now and am very happy.

The moral of the story is - sometimes a particular airline will not hire you for one reason or another. Like you said, maybe you don't fit the particular profile of what the particular manager is looking for. It has nothing to do with you personally, it's just the way the cards have been dealt. My advice to you is to look around the industry and see what other airlines are hiring dispatchers. Granted, you may have to move to ORD or PHX or ATL or someplace for a couple years. But, if you gain experience at a major airline, then you could always reapply at AS if you wanted to. JMHO, but it would show them that you are not afraid to go after your dream of being a dispatcher at a major airline. Plus, your experience level with the types of planes that AS flies would be greater as well.

Hope this helps and I'm sure you're a terrific dispatcher everyday! :laugh: