The guest lecture given by Avjobs was comprised of many useful tips and was reinforcement for many of the subjects we have previously talked about. One of my favorite quotes of the lecture was “No never means no, it merely means no for now”. Don’t give up. Avjobs discussed many aspects but what rang true and stuck out in my mind was “selling me.” We have talked about this many times, but what I really liked was the point he brought up, we all sell every day. The last time we wanted to go somewhere for lunch, we were trying to sell the idea to our friends.  We wanted the end result of eating where we wanted to go. This means that we are all capable of building an amazing resume and tailoring it to the job we are applying for.

We began to talk about how to secure a job and Avjobs brought up the statistic that 80 percent of jobs go unadvertised. His example was Jeppesen and the 150 jobs that they had open that were not yet up on the Avjobs.com. This is a great lead in point for getting your foot in the door. This is a great example of how having your foot in the door, even if it was not your Jeppesen dream job, could lead to another job. Just working in the company shows that you want to be there, and you will have a significant heads up about the 150 jobs that become available almost as soon as it happens. One of the great examples of how you get a job in the company and then move to other jobs within the company is listed above.  It is networking that will help you get your foot in the door to start with. After you have made your connection, Avjobs stressed to only apply for jobs that you are qualified for.  Then make sure that you are flexible when it comes to location, pay, and other factors if it is your first industry job. I definitely agree with this point.  There is no point in wasting anyone’s time, neither mine nor the company’s, with incomplete paperwork or by applying for a job that you are not qualified for in the first place. The company stressed the importance of creating value for you; make yourself someone the company needs. After you get the interview, it is important to follow up.  If you are turned down, don’t give up.  Always follow up on the chance that they may have an opportunity available. If you are turned down again, a technique they brought up was asking for a chance. Avjobs said “Why not ask for a chance by saying, Give me an opportunity for six months and if you don’t like my work fire me.”.  I feel that this could be a great opportunity for you, your career, and also the employer. If they don’t like what you are doing, there are no strings attached.  If they do like you, everyone wins by helping the company reach a greater goal.

The final section addressed was what employers find important. I feel that some of the most valuable information presented during the discussion was that an employer wants someone that they can have a good relationship with. They want someone that wants to work for the company and has common ground with the potential employer and that personality is everything!

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MVCC A&P Certificate Program Description

The Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) Airframe & Powerplant Certificate program is located at Griffiss International Airport in Rome NY. The MVCC A&P Program is FAA FAR147 approved (Cert #VXYT570K). This program is unique because it spans three consecutive semesters over the course of twelve months. It provides the required 1,900 hours of FAA curriculum, and all students are issued a seven drawer roll-around Snap-On, or MAC cabinet box tool set as part of the program tuition. With the A&P certificate program being only one year in length, it is ideally suited for those who need to obtain their FAA certification in as short of time as possible in order to get back to work.

The MVCC Aviation Training Center offers training on a functional Boeing 727-100 and a wide variety of general aviation aircraft. The presence of two heavy jet MRO’s on the same airport also offers exposure to different aircraft types for students. The program has been involved in several military aircraft restoration display projects including a B-52 and F-4 Phantom.

In addition to the FAA A&P certificate, students may also chose to continue with MVCC for two more conventional college semesters to achieve an AAS degree in Mechanical Technology: Aircraft Maintenance.

MVCC has two main campuses and several off campus locations, with approximately 8,000 total students.  It is also part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, which allows for all standard forms of financial aid to be applied to the cost of the tuition and fees, and insures all programs offered by MVCC are maintained to the highest academic standards. Because MVCC is a non-profit community college, the tuition rates are much lower than other similar programs offered by private educational institutions. Room and board in the upstate New York area is very affordable which also contributes to keeping the overall cost of obtaining an A&P certificate through MVCC very affordable.

MVCC Aviation Maintenance contact information:

Mohawk Valley Community College
Aviation Training Center
116 Langley Rd
Rome, NY 13441
Office: 315-334-7792
Fax: 315-338-7825

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With retirement rates increasing and the aviation industry expanding, the demand for qualified personnel has never been greater.

Today, there are many challenging careers available in the aviation & aerospace industry. The complex operations of each company require many skilled employees and offer a wide variety of job opportunities. Those that want to join this dynamic industry know that endless possibilities lie ahead.
https://www.avjobs.com/avschools/

1. Follow Directions

• If they ask for five copies and an original - do it
• Put the paperwork in order that it is listed
• Staple if that is directed - don't put in folder or binder
• Do not send attachments - i.e. videotapes, CD's

2. Letters of Recommendation

• Should be current - not several years old
• One letter from person in aviation - knows your skills and experience, abilities, on the job performance, etc.
• One letter from person who has known you for a long time - neighbor, church leader, scout leader, teacher - can address your moral character, how you have worked to get where you are today
• One letter from someone who knows your work ethic - could be aviation person or good friend - address history of your achievements, how and where you are expecting to go from here
• Make sure letter is signed by person who writes it - include name, address, phone number, and e-mail address

3. Appropriateness

• Make sure you are eligible for what you are applying for
• Must meet minimum requirements - i.e. apply for type rating but do not have private certificate; AT for management

4. Neatness Counts

• Make clear copies!
• Copy both sides of logbook to one 8 ½ x 11" page
• Sign each page and total time for every page
• Make sure others can read your handwriting

5. Are you current?

• Current and appropriate medical
• Copy of drivers license and driving record - plan ahead (airline requirement)
• Copies of all your certificates - not just latest one

6. Fill in the Blanks

• On application - fill in the blanks legibly!
• One application per company or scholarship

7. Writing the Essay

• Address the guidelines and questions given for the essay
• Be original - let reference letters state "you always wanted to fly," your struggle, your accomplishments (refer to item 2)
• Try introduction, "My attraction to the industry began with…" "I always wanted to receive training from…"
• Don't reiterate what resume and letters of recommendation have already addressed
• Three main points
• Introduction, Body, Conclusion
• Look up website for possible guidelines or additional instructions

8. Assembling the Final Product

• Put the papers in the order given - there is a reason for the order
• All pages are exactly the same size
• Originals all in one set, clear copies in others
• One package per scholarship
• Don't send letters of recommendation separately - sealed letters sent separately not good - find different person

9. Ship On Time

• You are responsible for obtaining all required items in ample time for collating and shipping
• Place each complete scholarship package in separate envelop and seal well with return and shipping addresses clearly visible
• If multiple scholarships to one organization - place all singular envelopes in one large envelop and make certain the outer container/envelope is sufficient for that journey!

10. Follow Up

• Do not call and ask if package arrived
• Send via UPS, FedEx or certified mail - check tracking number
• Remember - your odds are thousands of times better than the lottery!
• Do a good job and think positive thoughts

Remember - "If you don't ask, You don't get."  There are thousands of scholarship opportunities available at any given time.  If you don't apply for them you'll never get one.  Do your homework, research, and look diligently for scholarship opportunities available to you.  There are too many for us to list them all, but we have provided a short list of places you can visit to get started.  Short list of  URLs for Scholarship Applications and Information:

• NBAA Scholarship Update
• UAA
• WAI
• 99's
• NBAA

Since 1948, Emily Griffith Opportunity School has prepared students for employment for the general and commercial aviation industry. Originally located at Columbine Airfield and then Stapleton International Airport, students trained to meet the rigorous and challenging airframe and powerplant (A&P) requirements to take the FAA examinations for their A&P certifications. To continue to meet today's demanding standards for qualified aircraft technicians, Emily Griffith Opportunity School has recently completed a new multi-million dollar educational facility at Front Range Airport. This new state-of-the-art facility in Watkins, Colorado provides students hands-on training using operational-ready aircraft. It is our mission to prepare students not only for today but for the future. more>>