Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Ah. Well if your eligible get on that application ASAP. Out of curiosity are you a British citizen too or just US / soon to be Canadian?

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

:) I'd be very curious as to what subject colchar is studying. I'd assume something involving frothiness.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Fairy tales I believe. ;)

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

James,

I don't know you, but I read your posts here, and I like reading them.

I'd say, in general, don't do a "random" degree. What are the studies you already did (even if you didn't finish them)? I did a very random one, & didn't finish it. Not having a degree hasn't hampered my job ops, having started & not finished has.

Air Canada requires minimum PR status for crew, & *prefers* 2 languages. It's been a while since I looked at the others in that domain, but I'm pretty sure the requirements are similar. The recruitment process for cabin crew in most airlines requires mainly skillful acting talents, regardless of one's qualifications and aptitudes.

Ramp staff: I frequently see ads; if you already have experience, I'd say go for it, & call up your former bosses/colleagues for contacts/plugs!!

I've some other thoughts, but I'll pm them :)

S

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

I have a Canadian friend who I met in China, who worked for Air Canada,. She must if worked for them for at least 25 years as when she retired she was given a 'golden ticket' - free flights with them anywhere in the world - may explain at nearly 70 years old, she is the most travelled person I know.

She was fluent in French (first language), English, Greek and Spanish though.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Yes Air Canada does have preferred language requirements, and its why I never get a call for any customer service positions with them, just too many people who know another language, plus Air Canada has to give preference to French/English speaking applicants.

I have applied on the ramp in Vancouver, but haven't gotten any calls from them.

All my old co-workers from my airline days are long gone from the airline industry, all have been laid off, outsourced, or they got fed up and left. I am in contact with a few, but like me no longer have contacts in the industry, and they all live in the US having never lived or worked in Canada, so I have no contacts in Canada in the airline world. I did but we have lost contact and no clue where to find them.

The biggest issue with ramp, is really no airline in Vancouver has it in house anymore, Air Canada might be the only one left (I am not sure about the small airlines like Air North and such). I know Westjet outsources, as do all the US airlines I know of, United did have it in house, but they now outsource.

Horizon (Part of Alaska Airlines) still has CSR's and hire from time to time, I just fail to actually get an interview. I do know all their recruitment is done from Seattle head office, which makes it hard as well, as there is on direct point of contact person locally that can be contacted, and you have to apply online, no other option.

If the outsourcing companies offered benefits, and a suitable wage, I'd consider them, but they are all part-time, nearly min. wage, no benefit jobs, so its not worth it.

Westjet I have had some interviews with over the last few years, but they hire based on corporate culture, and experience really isn't anything to them if you don't match their ideals and what they want culture wise, so I never succeed to the final stages of hiring, never gotten past the phone interview, so I don't really count them as an option, plus except for Calgary, and Fort Mac, best of my knowledge they outsource the ramp everywhere else in their system.

For the jobs I would enjoy, I was born 20 years too late, had I been born in 1958, I could have had a nice career with an airline before the outsourcing craze started in mass. lol

I worked for America West on ramp from 1998 to 2001, then operations 2001 to 2002 (then I had a choice to be laid off, or transfer to passenger service, so I transferred) then passenger service 2002-2003 and then they outsourced the airport I was at, and there were no openings in a city I could move to, so I left the company in May 2003.

I worked briefly for US Airways (pre-merger) in a temporary position when they were in the process of outsourcing and replacing long term employees with cheaper labor, but I was laid off 6 months later.

America West merged with US Airways, who has now merged with American Airlines, and nobody I worked with at America West survived the first merger with US Airways, they all either left voluntary or involuntarily and we have all lost contacts with anyone left in the industry.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Just US right now, and Canadian PR. I have native status in the US with a tribe, but it doesn't give me any benefits in Canada, but its not really a useful citizenship even if the card says I am...lol

I've never even been to Europe, I did all my travels the other direction from North America to Australia, and southward into Mexico and the islands of the Caribbean, and within North America.

I only found this website when searching for immigration info back in 2005 when I was doing my paperwork, and seemed interesting and eventually joined.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

My degrees are in History.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

That's what I thought. The Jackanory of academia. :p

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Just read this elsewhere and thought it pertinent...

If you feel you endure the workweek just to get to the payoff of the weekend, you're in the wrong business. Find work you enjoy; then you won't see time off as a chance to finally do something fun, but as a chance to do something else fun.

While you'll never love everything you do in your professional life, you should enjoy the majority of it.

Otherwise you're not living–you're just working.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

If you knew anything about academia or the academic study of History your opinion might carry some weight. But since you are a stranger to both, your opinion has about as much importance as a fart in a hurricane.

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Ok James.

Playing Devil's advocate here : given that you seem (my perspective after reading your posts on job searching - I totally agree it's not easy) to shoot down suggestions on suitable jobs given here in answer to your questions, what sort of job does actually appeal to you, given the restrictions you mention?

(Benefits are pretty hard to get, nowadays, on entry. They can be negotiated/worked up to)

S

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Interesting :)
Thats how I found this site too! :thumbup:

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Au contraire, I know quite a fair bit about academia, both as a long time participant and as a topic of research, so I do know a thing or two about the dichotomy of the behavioralist and normative persuasion. But however relativistic and unprofitable the latter might be, it was meant as a joke. I'm sure once you've defended you won't be as touchy. :)

Re: Should I just try for a random degree?
 

Just unemployed. ;)