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Pilots - Here’s How to Spot Financial Red Flags If you caught my post on Wednesday, you saw how Spirit Airlines’ situation is a red flag that we need to be paying attention to. Furloughs, potential bankruptcy, layoffs - these aren’t just company-specific issues… They’re signs of broader shifts in the industry. So what can we do as pilots to protect ourselves? It starts with doing a little homework before you commit. This good news is, you don’t need to be a financial analyst to understand if a company is in a tough spot. As pilots, we put our careers in these companies’ hands, so a basic understanding of their financial health is essential. Here’s a quick checklist to help you assess an airline’s financial stability before you sign on: Check Recent Earnings Reports – Look for trends. Are company profits consistently down? Are there big reported losses even with high travel demand? These two reports alone can give you a sense of where the company stands. Watch for Major Layoffs or Furloughs – This is often the first move when cash flow gets tight. If a company’s letting people go, especially in pilot positions, that’s a big red flag. Pay Attention to Debt Announcements – If the airline is restructuring debt or trying to renegotiate terms, that’s a sign they may be struggling to meet obligations. Look at the Stock Price Trends – A plummeting stock isn’t always a sign of trouble, but if the company’s stock has tanked and is staying low, it’s worth digging deeper to understand why. Follow the Big Moves – Are they selling assets like aircraft or facilities? Are there talks of mergers or other liquidations? These moves often signal a need to generate quick cash or consolidate to survive. Bottom line: You don’t have to dive deep into financial analysis, but it pays to stay aware. Before committing your career, take a few minutes to review these indicators and understand the stability of the company you’re entrusting with your future... If you enjoy posts like this one where we go beyond just discussing the usual hours, resumes, and interview tips - Let me know in the comment below so I can make this content as valuable as possible for you. Fly Safe, - James #AviationCareers #PilotLife #IndustryTrends

Ever feel like you're stuck in a holding pattern, circling endlessly around your career goals? Maybe your logbook of tasks is overflowing, your financial instruments are giving you odd readings, or your mental autopilot just won't disengage. Trust me, I've been there, and so have countless other pilots I've coached. Here's the thing: It's not your fault. You're simply too close to your own flight path to see the bigger picture. Just like you wouldn't attempt a tricky approach without proper guidance, tackling our career obstacles requires both emotional and strategic skillsets. It's not something you can always do solo. Having a co-pilot to support you through the turbulence of transition is crucial. That's where the Raven newsletter comes in: Think of it as your weekly pre-flight briefing, packed with: 1. Real-world career challenges (and how to overcome them) 2. Life lessons from fellow Raven Pilots who've been in your shoes 3. Insights from my own journey and the support crew that's helped me along the way Click the link to sign up. https://lnkd.in/gpD4zM89 Or, if you're ready to file a new flight plan for your future, check out the link next to my name or on my profile to explore my coaching focus areas and book a free session. Good luck and fly safe.

Here’s secret weapon for conquering networking anxiety: Honesty. Feeling nervous about talking with a recruiter? Tell them. Don't know what to ask? Admit it. Want to practice your pitch? Just say so. People appreciate authenticity. Especially recruiters. They get it. They were once in your shoes too. And they see so many lies all day that any breath of honesty is breath of fresh air for them. Here's a simple script to get you started: "Hi, I'm [Your Name]. I'm a bit nervous, but I'm here to learn. What questions should I be asking you?" Trust me, this approach works wonders. It's like switching from turbulence to smooth air – suddenly, the conversation flows. What's holding you back from being more open at networking events? Good luck and fly safe.

Lately I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how profits are impacting hiring. In Q1 2024: Southwest lost $231 million Spirit lost $143 million Frontier lost $26 million Just this week, Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian took a shot across the bow by saying: "You cannot, if you are on the lower end of the industry's food chain, continue to post losses, particularly given the health of the demand set we've seen over these last couple of years.” Bastian went on to say airlines losing money “will not be given the opportunity to run business models they have.” You’d think with passenger demands seeing record highs, everyone would be raking in the cash. So, what’s causing all of this: Low airfares - The average price of a plane ticket is the lowest it’s been in 15 years. Extra capacity - Airlines flooded the market with capacity in a desperate attempt to boost revenue. This is great for travellers and horrible for airilnes and their employees. So what does this mean for you as a pilot? Your career strategy needs a gut check. Making decisions today based on what worked for your buddies 6 months or a year ago won’t work. A lot of things are changing, and they’re changing quick. The carriers (121 and 135) with strong business models are hiring. Strong carriers are making moves behind the scenes, fine tuning their selection criteria, and grabbing the best candidates. Bottom line, those carriers are in the drivers seat right now and they know it. That’s why they are leveraging the crap out of this hiring market by adjusting their scoring criteria to suck up the best candidates they can find. Once you understand how these changes are being made, how to leverage the scoring criteria, and use that knowledge to differentiate yourself, you will be successful. If you’re experiencing any of the following, we should talk: - Shooting out resumes and getting no response… - Have your app in and aren’t getting any phone calls… - Have an item in your background that you’re concerned about… - Getting “Thanks But No Thanks” emails after interviews and don’t know why… - Have an upcoming interview and you’re not sure if you’re fully prepared… - Making a transition and don’t konw what you don’t know… There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that I can share with you on a 1-on-1 call to help you adjust and adapt accordingly. If you’re experiencing any of these issues and want to know a better way, click the link in the comments ?? and book a time to talk. We know how to help you navigate this.

I have heard and read so many opinions on Pilot Hiring in 2024 and I wanted to share my thoughts on this issue.