B-787 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 272 posts, RR: 1 Posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 3025 times:
I'm looking for a job now and got a call today to interview for CO for either LAX ticket agent or ramp agent P/T, both positions are 9.50/hr. I have other jobs on the table that are offering 12.21 and 12.50 in cellular store sales F/T. Obviously being an a.net member you all know which one i'd like to take not to mention I had to turn down OO (ramp F/T) because the interview was the day of my finals (college student). Making this choice is hard and I would like to hear opinions from everyone especially CO employees. To add to the fray I am in the final phase for the TSA as an airport screener. Thanks in advance for any insight.
Lincoln From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 3887 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 3009 times:
The CO folks at LAX are great... My perception is that the gate agents are slightly nicer than the ticket agents, but I would go for the CO job if I were in your place (and could make things work on $9.50/hr), much more room to grow with an airline than cellular sales, plus I think CO even offers their P/Ters travel benefits.
Good luck! Let me know if you take the job, I'll be sure to say "Hi" next time I'm at LAX.
Lincoln
CO Is My Airline of Choice || Baggage Claim is an airline's last chance to disappoint a customer || Next flts in profile
Cory6188 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2686 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2978 times:
Believe me, getting in with an airline like CO will offer you far more opportunities and perks than you could ever get working at a cellular phone store.
And also, if you get the job by mid-Februrary, I'll be sure to say hi when I fly in from EWR and when I go out to HNL.
AirCop From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2970 times:
I would agree with both Cory6188 and Lincoln that working for CO would be much better than cell phones. Would you really want to wake up each morning knowing that you going to talk to people regarding phone packages. On the other subject, I have no idea what you are studying in college but working as a screening for TSA, that's taking boring to another level, and working for a government agency is not really flexible, what if they change work schedule suddenly, what happens with school?
B-787 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 272 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2953 times:
I will definatly post an update and you all have a good point. On a side note I was just wondering what the raises look like at CO? By the way AirCop i'm my major is psychology.
LUVRSW From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 498 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2940 times:
UN_B732 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 4286 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2802 times:
B-787, go for a job at Continental. So much better/easierthan cell phone store.
If you don't get the job at CO, doing something you love -- shoot me an e-mail if you need any help with cell phones -- their my speciality.
-Mr. X
EA CO AS From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 12559 posts, RR: 64 Reply 7, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2799 times:
Bottom line - you're on airliners.net, not cellularphones.net. What does that tell you about which job you'll get more enjoyment from?
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem - government IS the problem." - Ronald Reagan
Av8rPHX From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 713 posts, RR: 9 Reply 8, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2784 times:
Why not try to get both jobs, you'll probably need them both to support yourself on crappy airline wages
Laxintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22027 posts, RR: 51 Reply 9, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 2742 times:
Well I'll be the lone dissenter here so far.
I'd say unless you are looking strictly for fun and really dont need the wages, I'd recommend you go for the cell phone gig.
Working at CO will not only provide less income however you will have little say about your schedule being at the bottom of the seniority and will very likely end up working the least desirable shifts.
At least at the cell phone store you know you'd be sleeping in your bed every night while earning a few more dollars.
I am not saying the airline business does not have good aspects, however I would think about the reasons behind you seeking employment and how it will somehow benefit you in the future with your planned choice of careers once you finish school.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
FlyHoss From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 598 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 2714 times:
Let's say you get offered a position at CO...
You'll be very junior and get some tough shifts like late nights and (very) early mornings. But you are young and that's what every newbie gets.
You can also use that position to later bid on other vacancies/positions within the company. For example, if you're not from SoCal, you might be able to use a position at LAX as a launch pad to get back home (or nearer to it). Also, you might consider bidding some of the seasonal positions, like EGE (Eagle, CO) during the winter if you like skiing, snowboarding, etc. (EGE is pretty expensive place to live, though).
As a part-timer, you can normally expect to be able to pick up shifts from other agents; I'd guess you'll be working at (or very near) full-time hours rather quickly.
What are your career plans? As young as you are, you could view this as the first step of a long career. Good luck.
EA CO AS From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 12559 posts, RR: 64 Reply 11, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 2641 times:
Quoting Laxintl (Reply 9): I'd say unless you are looking strictly for fun and really dont need the wages, I'd recommend you go for the cell phone gig.
Good point, although a $12.50/hr cell phone gig isn't going to pay for rent in Southern California either - a second job will be a necessity no matter what.
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem - government IS the problem." - Ronald Reagan
Lincoln From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 3887 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 2524 times:
Quoting Laxintl (Reply 9): Working at CO will not only provide less income however you will have little say about your schedule being at the bottom of the seniority and will very likely end up working the least desirable shifts.
Just from the income perspective - yeah, $9.50/hr isn't wonderful (to be perfectly honest, it's less than my first job paid, so if that impacts how you view my advice...) but you are (probably) at an age now where you can live relatively inexpensively (dorm room, with parents, etc.), and taking a somewhat less than diserable job now will get your foot in the door for later opportunities with CO. (Most large companies open jobs to internal canidates before external canidates, so many of the prime jobs are filled from within)
The scheduling thing is also important to consider but, again, if you ever think you'd want to work for an airline (CO in particular), you're going to start at the bottom of the senority list anyways... you might as well get it taken care of now. There will be people after you (eventually).
Also, in addition to looking at hourly rate of compensation, look at the entire benefit package (don't know where CO stands on any of these, let alone the unnamed cellular stores):
- Vacation / Sick Time?
- Health / Life / Disability / AD&D insurance?
- Travel benefits?
- Where you can go in [1/2/5/10 years]?
For example, in my case, I'm well compensated from a cash perspective, but when you look at my employer's benefit package (Vacation, Sick Time, Health Insurance, Internet Access, ...) I make about $7,000 a year (or about $3.50/hour) more than I think I make.
Just things to think about...
Lincoln
[Edited 2006-01-04 19:52:46]
CO Is My Airline of Choice || Baggage Claim is an airline's last chance to disappoint a customer || Next flts in profile
Copter808 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 752 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 2496 times:
Go for the CO job--particularly if you remain part time and work another job. I did that 10 years ago and don't regret it for a second!
B-787 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 272 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2407 times:
Well thanks folks, the 1st interview is tomorrow. The other offer I forgot to mention is for Comcast as a cable installer for 12.21/hr F/T. I currently work at Best Buy at 9.64/hr P/T. I am in school but I need cash so I have to make a choice fast as I just got employed at Comcast. 9.64 is so so but at a Best Buy with no comission it just plain sucks. If CO's 1st year raise is good I would take it . My main focus is working enough hours but not too many (school). Best Buy's idea of P/T is 16-20 if your lucky these days. I would love to work about 30 hours a week. Does anyone know if you get to come home at any time during training at CO, and do they pay food too?
Socalatc From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 509 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 2399 times:
What about Alaska? They start at 10.10 in LAX as a CSA, and you may have a little more job security at AS. Just my 2 cents.
B-787 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 272 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 2390 times:
Socalatc, the shady thing is I already applied at AS and got a rejection e-mail. The only airline I really wanted to work for is CO but I applied at all the carriers I could at LAX. A month ago if I heard from CO you could bet your top dollar that I would be on it but now it is a tough call. The reason I really am thinking now is that this could be my first and only real opportunity to work at an airline since I can work for so little as a student. The one thing about the opening with CO is I can't waste the 6 months that I heard it could take to get hired but lets see. CO has held a soft spot in my heart because my earliest memory in life is being onboard a CO plane, CO is also the airline I have flown the most (non-rev). Lincoln, I do see your point about the benefits but both Comcast and CO are the most attractive out of all the possible employers (TSA, Comcast, CO, Fuse Mobile-3rd party Verizon Wireless store).
LUVRSW From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 498 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 2384 times:
I would go for the CO gig. This will give you an opportunity to check out a career while still in college, so that you can make a determination if that is the path you want to take later in life. You will need two jobs either way, maybe pick up a job at Starbucks in LAX!
B-787 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 272 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 2296 times:
Well folks I went on the first interview and they gave me the option of interviewing for ticket sales or the ramp agent and I chose ticket sales. The interviewer said that they have not hired for 5 years. The interview went smoothly without a hitch. I was wondering if anyone has info on the pay raises or if I could ask for a higher hourly?
CcrlR From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 2203 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 2285 times:
Good luck with the CO job. I am actually applying for a job as a cargo agent with CO or a Aircraft Fueler/Ramp Agent with Servisair at ORD. I would like to do the aircraft fueler job and will get a aplication done and due to a family emergency I have to stay here and help out at home and this will give me some time for working at ORD.
"He was right, it is a screaming metal deathtrap!"-Cosmo (from the Fairly Oddparents)
Tundra767 From Hong Kong, joined Jan 2005, 429 posts, RR: 4 Reply 23, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 2173 times:
Actually its 3 weeks in IAH. 2 weeks at the base you are hired for for a total of 5 weeks. You are also flown home on Fridays after class and back to IAH on Sunday's.
LUVRSW From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 498 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2121 times:
Ask for a raise? Yeah...if you don't want to get called back...
25 FLAIRPORT: just wondering how part time works in the airlines. I know full time you get messed up hours, but what would a normal low seniority part timer in the
26 B-787: LUVRSW, true, true, but you know I had to ask . FLAIRPORT, from what I hear for a P/T it's 4 hours a day 5 days a week with crappy shifts due to senio
27 CO7e7: B-787 Keep us posted with what happens.. Good Luck
28 Malaysia: Reminds me of advising my friend in SEA for ramp, He wanted flight benefits and asked me if working Alaska Ramp would work, but no (they outsourced) b
29 B-787: Do gate agents ever go outside on the ramp?
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