One of the biggest organisational challenges in todays’ aviation environment is hiring or retaining personnel. Malta is no different. Several organisations hold back on their expansion ambitions as they cannot hire, or hold onto, the required staff to sustain that growth. In some cases, hiring a person boils down to taking a chance on someone that lacks the required experience but has the right attitude. The following is my experience:
In July 2015, I actively started looking for aviation career opportunities that will take me away from the hangar floor. I sent my CV and, what I thought was a really strong cover letter, to at least 30 companies – Zero replies.
After about 3 months, my mind started wondering, was a career away from the hangar floor really the path I wanted to take?
Finally, on 12th November 2015 I got a reply. My heart went from 0 to 170 beats per minute in literally one second. The company was a Russian owned, Maltese registered company, operating a number of private jets. Exciting.
He asked if I was looking for ‘simple CAMO engineer job’ – CAMO – Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation – In a nutshell, a CAMO engineer’s responsibility involves making sure an aircraft is maintained at the right time, at the right place, according to the correct standards – there is absolutely nothing ‘simple’ about it.
Was this my lucky break? There could only be one answer to his email – ‘yes’. I was motivated to learn and was ready to put in the hours. A day later he replied:
‘Good afternoon,
Are you aware of that means 24/7, low salary and clear focus to deliver each second high quality performance and a very small chance to get promotions?
Regards,
XXXX / Director/ Accountable Manager’
He sent his reply right before lunch, and it messed up my appetite (and whoever knows me, not eating lunch is a pretty big deal). Is that what aviation is all about?!
That email really put a dent in my confidence. Once again, was that the path I really wanted to take? Looking back, thankfully, that opportunity never materialised.
Fast forward a month and another opportunity presented itself. The interview was scheduled on a Wednesday, some time in mid-December, with a growing, private jet operator in Malta.
It was a hot Wednesday morning. I arrived at around 9:00 am and nervously walked their offices. Everyone was dressed so elegantly – men wore suits with tie clips and the women wore dresses with heels.
The office was full of commotion and movement, the place was bustling and to say that I was intimidated is an understatement. A six foot, white haired, english man walked up to me, introduced himself and escorted me to his office.
We chatted for a while. He seemed to understand my plight. He offered me the job as a CAMO engineer.
I wasn’t messing around, I shook his hand and accepted the job offer. My first day on the new job, the first day of the rest of my life was the 4th January 2016.
Today, I wish to sit down with the english man to pick his brain on why he hired me. I had hands on aircraft maintenance experience but he knew I never had an office job, he knew I did not tick any of the role’s advertised requirements. For some reason, he took a chance on me.
Was it my attitude? Was the company desperate for personnel? Maybe it was a combination of both, it didn’t matter. I was at the right place at the right time. The perseverance had finally paid off.
That job changed my life. The job exposure was more than I could ever ask for. That ‘simple’ CAMO job was my lucky break.
Currently, the industry is passing through a personnel shortage crisis. The aviation is a highly regulated industry with several technical requirements. Someone without experience needs to start from somewhere. To all the hiring personnel, do not be scared to take a chance on someone.
I can’t thank the 6 foot, white haired English man enough.
Rome, October 2016