HR Professionals: Should I put "Private Pilot" on resume?

If you are dealing with HR you are already wasting time. Do some networking and get your CV in front of the person who can actually hire you. Why fly the airways when you can get a "Direct-to"?
 
snowbird said:
If you are dealing with HR you are already wasting time. Do some networking and get your CV in front of the person who can actually hire you. Why fly the airways when you can get a "Direct-to"?
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Oh... don't get my started on my "magenta line" rant. :D
 
snowbird said:
If you are dealing with HR you are already wasting time. Do some networking and get your CV in front of the person who can actually hire you. Why fly the airways when you can get a "Direct-to"?
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Ummm....where I work HR makes the hiring decisions. Is that unique? Aside from my last job out in AZ, the last 5 jobs have worked that way....

In fact, it hasn't been since I worked at Autozone like 6-7 years ago that anyone besides HR had that decisonmaking power, and then it was the Store Manager.
 
SkyHog said:
Ummm....where I work HR makes the hiring decisions. Is that unique? Aside from my last job out in AZ, the last 5 jobs have worked that way....

In fact, it hasn't been since I worked at Autozone like 6-7 years ago that anyone besides HR had that decisonmaking power, and then it was the Store Manager.
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It's not unique, but it changes as the job type changes. For my positions, I've found that HR acts as a gatekeeper, handles some of the advertising and maybe initial vetting, then turns the resumes received over to the hiring manager to review and call in. HR will then handle verifying data, running the background check, etc.
 
gprellwitz said:
It's not unique, but it changes as the job type changes. For my positions, I've found that HR acts as a gatekeeper, handles some of the advertising and maybe initial vetting, then turns the resumes received over to the hiring manager to review and call in. HR will then handle verifying data, running the background check, etc.
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I think that is basically how hiring works where I am employed now. I'm certain HR doesn't make the final decision, it is the department manager. Most of the other companies where I have worked were too small to have an HR department at all.
 
In my company, hourly jobs are often hired by HR, while salaried positions are vetted by HR, and then the manager who has the vacancy makes the hiring decision.
 
It was at the bottom of mine, along with a couple of other things that I feel are personal accomplishments, when I applied for a job recently. The HR fellow called me on the phone to arrange an interview, and was going over my resume, and just before he finished he commented. What exactly is a private pilot, do you fly planes?" I told him that I fly planes, but I can't fly them commercially. His comment was, "cool". I wonder if he will bring it up at the interview. I'm probably not going to. I think that whenever the interviewer says "cool" about something that you do, it is a good sign.
 
When I was working for non family members I always interviewed with the president. Never talked to HR until it was time to fill out W4's
 
SkyHog said:
Ummm....where I work HR makes the hiring decisions. Is that unique? Aside from my last job out in AZ, the last 5 jobs have worked that way....

In fact, it hasn't been since I worked at Autozone like 6-7 years ago that anyone besides HR had that decisonmaking power, and then it was the Store Manager.
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Depends on the position and the size of the company along with who you know in the company. If you know the right person--it won't really matter how big they are--they'll push you through.
 
I'd say put it on there for many of the reasons stated above. As someone who occasionally lends a hand with parsing out decent resumes (my company is small and doesn't have an HR person), seeing something like "Private Pilot", "Scuba Instructor", "Skydiving Jumpmaster", or anything else that requires a lot of study, training, and dedication would set them a step above the rest in my book.
 
t0r0nad0 said:
I'd say put it on there for many of the reasons stated above. As someone who occasionally lends a hand with parsing out decent resumes (my company is small and doesn't have an HR person), seeing something like "Private Pilot", "Scuba Instructor", "Skydiving Jumpmaster", or anything else that requires a lot of study, training, and dedication would set them a step above the rest in my book.
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I agree. Also, things like Volunteer Fireman that show an interest in making our world a better place to live in. Maybe HR doesn't think it adds to your profile, but down the line you will be impressing your future manager.

I once hired a banking documentation specialist who put "Bush Pilot" at the bottom of her resume. Impressed the heck out of me.
 
snowbird said:
If you are dealing with HR you are already wasting time. Do some networking and get your CV in front of the person who can actually hire you. Why fly the airways when you can get a "Direct-to"?
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And in a perfect world, that would be possible. But I don't live in that world, and the state of the economy has severely softened 'the market' for positions that I'd be qualified for/interested in, thus making it necessary to cast my net much wider than you would think. I have a few people working for me in my network that are trying to do exactly what you suggest. I am also willing to reply to blind ads/recruiter ads.
 
jesse said:
Because it may be construed as a positive more often then a negative.
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I think that's unlikely. HR folks can be pretty conservative and unless they've been tasked with finding a "risk taker", chances are they would see pilot experience as a negative if they notice at all. An exception might be if applying to a small entrepreneurial firm. IME, even in the general population, well over half view recreational flying as a crazy, high risk activity involving people who haven't "grown up yet". Also, for the "layman" there's little understanding of the commitment and perseverance required to achieve the ratings.
 
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I indicated I'm a pilot on my resume. It must have helped. Now, I have this really cool job down here in Texas!












:goofy:
 
lancefisher said:
I think that's unlikely. HR folks can be pretty conservative and unless they've been tasked with finding a "risk taker", chances are they would see pilot experience as a negative if they notice at all. An exception might be if applying to a small entrepreneurial firm. IME, even in the general population, well over half view recreational flying as a crazy, high risk activity involving people who haven't "grown up yet". Also, for the "layman" there's little understanding of the commitment and perseverance required to achieve the ratings.
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You stated it MUCH better than I did Lance.
 
So....

Why list just this one addiction? Why not list all of them?

Pilot, Alcoholic, Philanderer, Gambler

That'll get me noticed if I'm ever in the job market again!

:rolleyes:
 
tdager said:
You moved yet?
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I'm posting from Spring, TX as we speak!

I was gonna meet up with PJ and a few others tonight but my brain and body are still fried from almost no sleep all week long followed by driving out here. So, I offered an apology and politely bailed to retreat to a vegetative state.
 
As I said last night, Welcome to TX! Give me a call if you want someone to come along for an "area familiarization flight".
 
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