The transportation industry can be volatile, so it's a good idea to keep on top of airline jobs news and trends all the time. You can find out what airlines are fiscally sound, which ones are not and which ones are hiring for the most jobs in the airline industry.

There are some things to look for when you seek out airline job information online and in print. You should look for:

1. Reputable sources of airline employment and industry information.

2. Sites that provide trends and financial analysis information for employment in the airline industry.

3. Commercial airline jobs predictions for the future, so you know what jobs will be available as your career progresses.

Action Steps
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Search airline job boards for trend and analysis information

As transportation costs rise, more airlines seem to be struggling or merging. That's why there's much more to airline employment than airline job listings. You need to know what airlines are viable, what airlines are struggling, and where the best opportunities for employment may be. They may be in areas of the globe you'd like to discover, and they may be in other areas of aviation, like helicopters, management or logistics.

I recommend: Access Intelligence updates their regional airline information site daily, and they offer news and trends in a variety of other aviation careers, like helicopters, maintenance and more. Flightglobal is one of the premier websites for airline information, including industry analysis, airline job openings, and interviews with airline professionals about the future of the industry.

Look for information on future careers in the airline industry so you can plan your career according

Aviation is always changing, and it's a safe bet that aviation jobs in the future won't be anything like they are today. That's why keeping abreast of aviation information, and planning now for your future aviation career is so important. Luckily, many organizations and schools offer information you can use today to create your dream career in the airline industry tomorrow.

I recommend: One of the biggest professional aviation organizations is the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). They offer Cleared to Dream.com for young people interested in piloting careers in the future. If you're a young woman hoping for a career in aviation, visit The Ninety-Nines website, to learn more about this professional women's pilot organization and the scholarships and mentoring opportunities they offer.

Utilize professional trends and analysis reports to see what commercial airline jobs are doing today

You may know exactly what it is you'd like to do in the airline industry, but there may not be numerous job opportunities in that field. To discover where airlines are hiring, look at airline job boards to calculate what areas hire consistently, and what areas do not. For example, with many airlines cutting flights due to high fuel costs, your best bet may not be a pilot job, but perhaps a dispatcher or logistics job that plans flights for fuel efficiency and peak loads.

I recommend: An up-to-date analysis of the airline industry is available at Compaedia. Read about the global airline industry and make your decision about corporate airline jobs and the hiring future. Business Exchange offers financial information on the airline industry with daily updates and predictions about bankruptcy and airline closings.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember, continuing education is a key ingredient of airline employment. New planes may be added to the flying mix, you may move up from co-pilot to captain, or from cargo to passenger planes. Training and development, including periodic simulator and training sessions are part of the requirements for airline pilots, so be ready to continue to learn and grow throughout your airline career.

Airline employment is so diverse that you can find a career match regardless of whether you're a people-person or someone who prefers more technical skills. Though the industry is among the first hit by high oil prices or a downturn in the economy, it still offers a number of lucrative careers.

Some of the airline careers you may be interested in exploring:

1. Commercial or private pilot.
2. Airport ground crew.
3. Aircraft maintenance and repair crew.
4. Flight inspector.
5. Flight attendant.
   

Action Steps
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Investigate the pay scale for airline jobs

Before you invest in your airline career, you should know whether the compensation of jobs in the airline industry is right for you.

I recommend: Get a general idea of the pay for all airline jobs at Salary.com. Review pilot pay scales for different airlines at Will Fly for Food.

Get airline career training

Whether you want to be a pilot, work behind the scenes or a yearn to be a flight attendant, career training puts you a step ahead of other job applicants.

I recommend: Airline Transport Professionals (ATP) offers flexible training for pilots, and they help place their graduates. If you're interested in maintenance, you can take four levels of training through Aviation Maintenance Training Technologies. Most airlines train the flight attendants they hire, but you can get a boost by completing a training course through Jet Set Aviation Professionals.

Create an industry-specific resume

Each airline job requires a specific skill set. If you know what skills to highlight in your resume, you're likely to get an interview.

I recommend: You can upload your existing resume for airline jobs to Aviation Resumes for a personalized evaluation. The service will also revise your resume to make it more attractive to potential employers.

Search online job boards geared towards airline jobs

Though you can check individual company websites for corporate airline jobs, you'll find it easier to apply to jobs by accessing a portal or job board that focuses on airline jobs across the industry.

I recommend: JS Firm specializes in airline job listings and allows you to post your resume online so you can quickly apply to job postings. Though it requires a fee to access the job database, AirlineJobFinder has customized search options to find the airline job you want. Here, you can also post your resume and create a profile. A membership to Avjobs.com gives you access to a number of professional aviation job search benefits, as well as a database of airline job listings.

Attend job fairs to meet with recruiters face to face

At in-person meetings, you have the chance to get to know a number of companies in a single event and apply for a number of corporate airline jobs.

I recommend: At the annual Pilot Job Fair, you can meet with recruiters from dozens of airlines. For a broader range of aviation careers, attend the Aviation Industry Expo, held each spring.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Because fewer qualified pilots are available for commercial airlines, the salary for this position is in a rising trend.
• •  If you're not sure if employment in the airline industry is right for you, consider getting an entry level job at your local airport. Working at the airport, especially for one of the major airlines, can help you decide whether the work is right for you and also improves your resume.

When you think of corporate airline jobs, you probably think of jobs like pilot, co-pilot, flight attendant and perhaps check-in clerks at the counter. However, there are dozens of careers in the airline industry, mostly behind the scenes, that offer excellent employment opportunities. For example, airlines need accountants, IT professionals, PR and human resource professionals, just like any other major corporation. They also need mechanics, airplane cleaners, menu planners, baggage handlers, customer service agents and flight planners as well.

Where can you find training for airline jobs? There are specific training companies that specialize in training for jobs in the airline industry, but you can also turn to private training to prepare yourself for airline job openings:

1. Online training schools for flight attendant jobs give you the skills you need to be hired.

2. Private flight instruction and gaining a pilot's license is the first step in getting rated to fly large commercial airplanes.

3. Trade schools that offer aviation mechanics are stepping-stones to a career in aviation.

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Find the right airline employment training for your needs

If you want to work for an airline, find a school that specializes in airline jobs and airline job listings, so you'll get the right training for the industry. Remember, there is plenty of competition for an airline job, so make sure you get high quality, reliable training from respected sources, and you'll have an edge at jobs in the airline industry.

I recommend: One of the most respected private schools for aviation training is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. They have campuses all over the country, and you can train for a wide variety of careers in the airline industry. For online flight attendant training to qualify for the best flight attendant jobs, visit Airline Career.com, who offer training to prepare you to work for some of the world's biggest airlines.

Think about the different types of airline jobs training and education

As with most industries, there are different education and training options. You can go with a private company that specializes in training for airline jobs or a company that trains pilots for placement in their own airline.

I recommend: Check out the pilot training and career development program at ATP, located in select cities. Look into the Delta Connection Academy for a comprehensive pilot training program from a trusted and recognizable company and maybe you'll have a job after completing the program.

Look to the military for training for careers in the airline industry

If you can't afford airline training schools or trade schools to study for your airline career, consider the military. For example, if you qualify, you can study at the Air Force Academy, graduate as an officer, and often obtain an airline job when you leave the military service.

I recommend: Some of the best places to train may not be the university or trade school. Attending the Air Force Academy is one way to jump start your aviation training, they offer careers in every aspect of aviation, complete with training. Baseops.net offers a comprehensive military pilot training program. There are several different options for this program including: attending the Air Force Academy or complete AFROTC at a University, attending OTS and serve on active duty, join the Air Force Reserves or join the Air National Guard.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Just because the airline industry is changing doesn't mean you can't change with it. Train to be a pilot, if that's your dream, but don't overlook other options, like learning how to train so you can become a training officer if pilot jobs aren't open. Learn to dispatch as well as work on the counter so you'll have something to fall back on if airlines cut back. Think outside the box when training for airline jobs and you'll always have a successful career in aviation.

Employment in the airline industry is diversified and can benefit both those who wish to fly through the air and those who would be better suited on ground. Pilots require numerous hours in the classroom and up in the air, whereas airline crew members spend countless hours working on the most important pieces of the plane's mechanics. Before you invest large amounts of time and money in schooling, you should familiarize yourself with some common airline jobs and their definitions.

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Commercial pilot

Becoming either a commercial or private pilot requires numerous of hours both in a classroom and up in the air. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a commercial pilot cannot fly more than 100 hours per month or 1,000 hours per year. This is only one of the rules that a commercial pilot has to abide by to have this prestigious position.

I recommend: Learn more about becoming a commercial pilot and how the pilot is part of the entire flight crew at the Air Line Pilots Association, International.

Copilot

Also called the first officer, the copilot is trained and qualified to fly the airplane in case of an emergency. The copilot backs up the pilot, assisting in numerous communication aspects between the plane and the towers needed during the flight.

I recommend: Learn more about the copilot's job at Airline Job Finder from M&L Research.

Flight dispatcher

A flight dispatcher plans and monitors air traffic. From the planning stages until the completion of the flight, the flight dispatcher is in charge, along with the pilot, of ensuring a safe flight. How both parties do this is by filing a detailed flight plan.

I recommend: Read more about what a flight dispatcher does and the responsibilities involved in the job at the Airline Dispatchers Federation.

Flight attendant

As a flight attendant, your job is to ensure the safety of all passengers within the airplane. With safety as the main function, you end up spending more time with passengers than anyone else on board. You are also responsible for making sure passengers are comfortable, assisting with any reasonable needs they may have.

I recommend: Visit AVjobs to learn more about what it takes to become a flight attendant.

Baggage handler

The baggage handler takes the freight and luggage and passes it through the airport, ultimately handing it over to the airplane's underbelly. Working closely with a freight handler, the two groups of people manage to get all goods on board the aircraft.

I recommend: Learn more about education training and requirements for a baggage handler at State University.

Aircraft mechanic

An aircraft mechanic inspects, fixes and service airplanes, whether they're for commercial or private use. Additionally, the mechanic might specialize in a certain area of the aircraft, requiring the use of an entire crew to manage an air fleet.

I recommend: Learn more about what schedules are mandated by the FAA from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics under the Occupations in the Industry subhead.