More than a year passed since I started searching a good flight school. I started with Europe (and finally got my PPL), then obtained a FAA CPL in the US. It required a lot of effort, I checked out tons of information. Generally I suppose that I made a right decision.
Now I understand that it was pretty easy compared to getting a first pilot job. I was understanding that when I started my journey, but some abstract knowledge differs from posessing a license and not having any job available. Let me can explain a little more. There are plenty of schools across the US and Europe. As a result, one should only analyze available information, feedback etc. Almost every school wants you as their student. In other words, the problem is to pick the most convenient one, in terms of instructors, policies, price etc. No doubt that it is a difficult choice, but you still have a lot of options. Finally you will have a license, sooner or later.
The job market is a totally different story. Nobody wants a brand new pilot with 200 hours in a small piston aircraft. In Russia nobody wants a pilot with foreign license at all. In other words, I have no valuable experience. I have only a great passion to fly and pretty good English. And I have my license, of course.
What can I do? I will apply to small carriers, again and again. What else? I will increase my hours and obtain additional ratings. Moreover, I will study for my EASA ATPL. Probably at some moment some company (or even a country) will experience a pilot shortage, and I am going to take any opportunity. And even if nothing like that happens, I am going to increase my experience. Some day I will have enough qualification for taking my first job. I am moving on.
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