Pursue career as Airline Pilot or back to School for MBA?
Posted by LectureLeast9804@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 29 comments
Long story short. Was a pilot in the U.S. military and I will be resigning my commission and leaving in around a year. I am quite tired of the lifestyle, moving, deployments, and getting haircuts.
I flew a decent amount and got some qualifications. I will not be able to make it to the legacy, but most likely go direct to the regionals to boost up my hours and then the legacy carriers.
Additionally
I have been studying for the GMAT. current score is mid 600's and thought about going to a T20 MBA program as my resume from military is pretty well fleshed out. Plus using the GI Bill plus yellow ribbon program, the degree will essentially be free if not heavily subsidized.
I am curious if anybody has any thoughts on the two different career paths for long term happiness, quality of life, money, etc. Trade off of essentially not working for two years and the even longer term implications of AI.
Ultimately would like to end up back in California Bay Area (United Airlines), but also not opposed to living abroad for better qualities of life.
Any and all info/guidance/recommendations/tips are appreciated.
trollisme_iamtroll@reddit
There’s a lot you’re not telling us here.
“Resigning my commission”…. What? Why don’t you just separate? Sounds like you have a year left to go anyway, and resigning your commission generally doesn’t get you out of your commitment.
“Was a pilot in the U.S. military”… so I’m taking that as you’re still in the military but no longer flying? By choice? Forced to stop?
I’m only asking because these are all questions you’ll be asked at your regional interviews, and probably your legacy interviews in a few years if you get that far.
I don’t want to bother giving advice if you’re like “oh I stabbed my commander and I’m in Leavenworth right now”
LectureLeast9804@reddit (OP)
lol fitting username
When you become a pilot in the mil you fulfill contract. I can’t “separate” until I do so.
Resigning commission is how you separate as an officer.
Most pilots in the military fulfill ground billet tours for 1-2 years. Currently in mine and can easily return to the cockpit if I choose to do so.
You might be right about Leavenworth tho ;)
trollisme_iamtroll@reddit
I guess I’ve just never heard it phrased as “resigning my commission” by anyone I’ve ever worked with. When it was time for me to go I set scheduled a date of separation. I’m former active mil (USAF) turned legacy guy.
Legacy pro’s: I feel like the job is hands-down more satisfying than any desk work. Travel perks for yourself/wife/kids you can’t get anywhere else. The pay can be very very nice. If you wanted to earn the equivalent with a white collar MBA-job you’d have to be pretty elite in your field… meanwhile there’s people upgrading to narrow body captain at 1-3 years at my airline.
Legacy con’s: the life style isn’t for everyone. When you first start out your schedule can be horrendous (ex: sitting reserves through the holidays). Not home every night for your wife/kids. Harder to stay consistent with diet/gym on layovers. If you get hired at the wrong time, you could be stuck as an FO for 10+ years, subject to furloughs, etc.
It’s a Crap ton of work to get your ATP, military competency, convert your military hours to civilian time, fill out apps, keep apps updated, secure interview, and then actually pass interview.
Going regionals is going to be a little rough - at least according to the guys in my training class who were former regional guys. Expect a significant pay drop compared to O4 pay for a few years, and expect a slight drop compared to O4 pay once you get to a legacy. Year 2 at a legacy you’re off to the races pay-wise. You’re also going to have to get through 2 different ground schools at 2 different airlines now that I think about it.
White collar: ^you don’t deal with hardly any of the above, but you have to do soul-crushing corporate work. You’re home every night but you work with normies who fake-laugh and can only engage in vapid corpo-speak.
LectureLeast9804@reddit (OP)
Appreciate the response. Grinding through regionals does seem brutal, but unavoidable for forward progress in this field.
SRM_Thornfoot@reddit
Why would you think you can't go directly to the Majors? Most military pilots do.
LectureLeast9804@reddit (OP)
Limited hours
NonVideBunt@reddit
I’ve seen alot of my friends pursue both paths since I’ve left AD over 10 years ago. Let’s just say this, I know a lot of them that pursued the MBA / consulting world that eventually became airline pilots because of the hours they were putting in and how miserable they were at the “rat” race. I don’t have any friends that went to a Legacy/Major that decided, never mind let’s go get that MBA after all and go into corporate America.
Live in the Bay Area, drive to work for UA, and never look back.
LectureLeast9804@reddit (OP)
Thank you
poopybuttwo@reddit
I have a top 10 MBA and for fly fun. I sleep in my bed every night and have a lot of flexibility to raise my family. My wife works too, which wouldn’t really work with young kids if I was a full time professional pilot. I have the ability to read books every evening with them, help with homework, cook, and go to the playground and stuff.
Notably, 1) this wasn’t true when I graduated, banking and consulting are likely roles that absolutely crush your life early career (I went into a VC associate role, no way I was going to have time for flight blocks - took be a decade to carve out enough flexibility), and 2) a 600 GMAT isn’t going to get you into an MBA that will place you into the roles that justify the degree. I squeaked by with a 690 and should have gotten a 720+ but had a ‘hook’.
What type of business role are you seeking? MBAs, even too 5, are much more regional or industry focused than people often think.
LectureLeast9804@reddit (OP)
Great points, love the idea of being home with family. You’re right about the GMAT score, currently studying for my second go at the test.
In regard to roles I was thinking entrepreneurship or consulting. But truthfully, I’m not even sure what’s your there.
Skynet_lives@reddit
So I am reading between the lines here. But you already are a pilot, A MIL pilot at that. The fact that you are debating this leads me to believe you aren’t in love with aviation.
For that fact I would say go do your MBA if that’s something you’re more interested in. While you can go direct to a regional you are correct that you have 4 seniority lists to climb.
That is a lifestyle all its own for sure. I don’t think as bad as the MIL pilot life. But I totally understand people who don’t want to do it.
LectureLeast9804@reddit (OP)
I certainly don’t hate aviation. In fact I found quite a lot of joy among the clouds. Merely that, I did a lot more than fly in the mil. But flying has never been my “passion”
So I wondered if perhaps going into business might lead to find my passion
AdParticular3832@reddit
I’d wait on law school. It’s not out of the question later as with airline seniority you will have time to study. But until you’re senior you don’t have a lot of control of your schedule so law school, unless it’s self paced, will be tough.
ORaleigh@reddit
Go to the regionals and work the on MBA as a side gig on layovers if possible. Build hours and apply to the majors. If you hate the lifestyle at the regionals, pull the rip cord and go the business route. Leave yourself both options as you head into the next phase.
The majors are the same job as the regionals, but slightly better QOL and much better pay.
Equal-Actuator-6246@reddit
Yes this is what I was going to say. I am a CFI while also working on a business bachelors degree. I think it is very do-able if you just stay focused which seems achievable for you. In my opinion education is always beneficial (especially when it’s free and paid for by the military). If I were in your shoes and was in the military I would try and use every benefit I could get out of it. The worst thing that could happen is you don’t like the regionals- just try it out for a bit and see. I think being a pilot is obviously much “cooler” but I know there are a lot of lifestyle negatives, especially if this is your second career and you have a family at home. Cheers and good luck!
PILOT9000@reddit
MBA. Work for a defense contractor and fly for fun.
eitilt@reddit
How much flight time do you have? A lot of my buddies stayed in to get grad degrees and be managers, I did not.
The difference is I don’t have an MBA, they make 200K+ less than me a year. Plenty of time to explore other interests in your off time as well.
Nyaos@reddit
Do you get an honorable discharge from resigning a commission? Kinda curious how that works.
Pilot hands down. Even though it’s just a job after doing it for a while it’s one the best jobs out there, even in this economy and is surprisingly automation resilient for a while due to the high capital cost of buying new airplanes.
If you want to make a career change do it later while you have employment as a pilot, don’t leave yourself as an unemployed veteran.
Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit
officers have to resign their commission.
unless you done something wrong you get an honorable discharge.
redditburner_5000@reddit
I'd normally vote MBA as a no brainer, especially from a tier one. But you're already a pilot and can step into a real airline with real money without the initial training and time building grind and uncertainty that goes with that. Fastest time to money is airlines.
It depends on what you want and your risk tolerance.
LikenSlayer@reddit
Pilot route hands down.. Will also allow you time to get MBA in the future if you still desiren while maintaining seniority. Remember if you have a MBA & don't use it. Stands for "Moving Beef Around"
curiousengineer601@reddit
Big spread in the top 20 MBA programs and many of the jobs that result are just sad compared to being a pilot.
MedalDog@reddit
I'm a lawyer. I vote pilot.
Distinct_Hamster_830@reddit
What’s wrong with being a lawyer?
MedalDog@reddit
Nothing in particular. Was just trying to make the point that, as a non-pilot (and in a profession somewhat similar to those who get MBAs), I'd vote pilot in this circumstance.
aftcg@reddit
Not as awesome as being a pilot. Sauce: imma pilot.
Next best gig, being a firefighter. Sauce: retired firefighter
Lol
ltcterry@reddit
Fly. Do an MBA online for personal satisfaction. Focus on finance. Invest well. Good to go.
caelum52@reddit
Don’t be an office worker. MBAs are a pain in the ass and unless you go to a top school they’re usually not worth it.
Best case scenario you do your MBA, get a job as an associate at an MBB firm to make 200k working 60 hours a week, maybe survive to manager level and exit to industry for 300k but be bored out of your mind and work a lot.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Long story short. Was a pilot in the U.S. military and I will be resigning my commission and leaving in around a year. I am quite tired of the lifestyle, moving, deployments, and getting haircuts.
I flew a decent amount and got some qualifications. I will not be able to make it to the legacy, but most likely go direct to the regionals to boost up my hours and then the legacy carriers.
Additionally
I have been studying for the GMAT. current score is mid 600's and thought about going to a T20 MBA program as my resume from military is pretty well fleshed out. Plus using the GI Bill plus yellow ribbon program, the degree will essentially be free if not heavily subsidized.
I am curious if anybody has any thoughts on the two different career paths for long term happiness, quality of life, money, etc. Trade off of essentially not working for two years and the even longer term implications of AI.
Ultimately would like to end up back in California Bay Area (United Airlines), but also not opposed to living abroad for better qualities of life.
Any and all info/guidance/recommendations/tips are appreciated.
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