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Airline Industry Workers
Hosted by Natalie Kauffman
Career Counselor and Training Specialist
Friday, November 16, 2001; 11 a.m. EDT/EST
Natalie Kauffman, M.S., NCC, NCCC, is a certified career counselor and training
specialist in private practice, who specializes in career growth and
exploration. For over 16 years, Natalie has been providing comprehensive
individual and group career development sessions throughout the Greater
Baltimore area. She continues to teach career assessment and planning at the
college level to both traditional and nontraditional students. She received her graduate degree in Applied Behavioral
Counseling with a concentration in Career Counseling from The Johns Hopkins
University.
For this discussion, Natalie tackles the difficulties surrounding the airline industry and its workers. More importantly, she offers advice on how to stay afloat and succeed during these hard times.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Naperville, Ill:
Is there any hope that unemployment benefits will be extended? I'm an out-of-work travel agent retraining in a new field. 26 weeks is not going to do it for me. Wouldn't the government be better off spending the additional 13 weeks to give permanently displaced workers more time to retool and resume contributing significant tax revenue? The jobs we're getting by on are not going to put much in the federal coffers.
Natalie Kauffman: Dear Naperville, Ill., There is always hope regarding anything, even the extension of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. However, MD's UI Public Relations Office has not heard any rumors regarding an extension at either the state or federal level.
What do our live Post participants think about making congressional phone, email or letter contacts about this issue?
Also wanted Naperville to be aware of two websites: one is volunteersforcareers.org, a site designed to assist individuals who have been displace in their work lives as a result of 9/11 events, and the other is www.acinet.org, a federal web site that, among other job search things, helps job seekers locate employment and training sites nearest them. Employment and training sites provide free job search assistance and some retraining $dollars$.
Wishing Ill. success with re-employment,
Natalie
Boston, Mass.:
My husband is a pilot for American. We are lucky so far that he has not been laid off, but are worried about the future. He has a B.S. from a respectable school, but has spent his entire adult life as a pilot. He has never had another job, and has no experience in any other field. Can you suggest any "transition" fields for a pilot in his mid-30's? Is there anything he should be doing now to prepare for being laid off?
Natalie Kauffman: Dear Boston,
Being laid off is something your husband can not control. However, he can control looking at career options. He also can control fiscal planning. Some sites to consider regarding career options include www.jobhuntersbible.com and www.bls.gov/oco.
The present is always a good time to reassess career opportunities.
Career is life,
Natalie
Washington D.C.:
Do you think that the accident on Monday was an act of terrorism? If so, what kinds of precautions are going to happen to prevent this kind of sabotage happening again?
Natalie Kauffman: Not sure DC. What do our Post Live participants think?
As far as future airline security prevention measure, the future is now. According to BWI's PR office, the FAA has donated a new, state-of-the-art, 3D luggage scanner. I'd imagine something along these lines are/will happening at other airports. At BWI, there is more fully staffed check points, too. Plus helpful feel-better-about-flying info is periodically put on bwiairport.com.
Look forward to hearing more,
Natalie
Washington D.C.:
I was one of the many layoffs. I don't have much of a savings...how am I going to survive. There is obviously no hope of the job climate getting any better for a while. How do I get back on my feet again?
Natalie Kauffman: DC, Sounds like you need to work on short and long term goals simultaneously. What can you do now to bring in money? Have you ever been interested in doing anything else than you had been doing? If so, what do you need to do to go in that direction?
Your local employment and training office provides free job search assistance. Some local area 2 and 4 year colleges/universities do, too. What Color is Your Parachute? by Bolles, SoulWorks by Bloch & Richmond and Life Work Transitions.com, Putting Your Spirit Online by Knox and Butzel are some helpful book resources for long term planning assistance.
Wishing you success with your transition,
Natalie
Arlington Va.:
What kind of help is going to laid off airline workers?
Natalie Kauffman: Arlington and Alexandria,
For immediate assistance, consider the websites volunteersforcareers.org and www.counseling.org. Also visit your local employment and training office, which provides jobseekers with free employment assistance.
Also, don't think in a box about career options. Meaning, if laid off from this airline position then I should apply for this other position outside of the airline industry. We are more than our current/recent professions. What other things/activities do you do? Have you ever considered other career options?
Natalie
Fairfax, Va.:
It seems that during the past ten years, a large number of industries have reengineered (downsized, rightsized) their organizations for one reason or another.
As I see it, these activities created quite a mess: loyality is now gone from both sides, office politics are vicious since people are desperate to keep their jobs, careers are harder to manage, many people work 50 hours or more a week, salaries have been relatively stagnant when measured against the increases in the cost of living (especially rent)...
Are there any books/studies that seriously address contemporary causal relationships between corporate behavior (bottom line driven) and the impact of that behavior on the American society?
Natalie Kauffman: Dear Fairfax,
There are many books. The US Dept. of Labor is a good research agency for these issues. One of their publications is the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, available at your local library. Another, updated every 2 years and now available online, is the Occupational Outlook Handbook,
www.bls.gov/oco.
Happy researching,
Natalie
Vienna, Va.:
Hello, Natalie...I'd like to make an observation. Obviously, the prospect of mass layoffs and possible bankrupcies in the airline industry is not good, but it may be a blessing (and quite a good one) in disgiuse.
No one can argue that up until Sept. 11, the airline system was grossly overcrowded and getting worse all the time. It was not just a case of the the air traffic control system
being unable to keep up, or of airports not having enough runway capacity; it simply was a case of TOO MANY PEOPLE and TOO MANY PLANES flying. Now, due to security delays
and public fear of flying, we simply are not going to have as many planes in the air. While this could mean some layoffs and maybe even bankrupcies, it will give the whole aviation industry a much-needed break from frenzied working conditions and the ridiculous overcrowding we've seen so much of. And don't forget, fewer planes per square mile of airspace means less chance of mid-air collisions. Some people, of course, HAVE to fly for buisness or other reasons, but many other people are going to discover that after years of flying everywhere for often petty reasons, they're going to find that they DON'T HAVE to take that long vacation by air and go to grandma's house, Disney World, European junkets, etc..... every couple of months. They'll learn to stay put and enjoy vacations locally or take the train or drive.
Natalie Kauffman: Dear Vienna,
Thanks for sharing your observation. What do our live Post participants think?
Natalie
Virginia:
Layoff airline workers can consider joining the Air National Guard. Skills are easily transferrable. http://www.ang.af.mil/
Natalie Kauffman: Wow, thanks VA. Keep the options coming, Natalie
Brooklyn NY:
If less than 10% of checked baggage is examined for explosives -- and apparently this will be the norm for some time -- what other means do airlines utilize to deal with this gaping hole in security? They assert there are actions they are taking, but for security reasons they're not telling us frequent-but-terrified flyers. What are these actions? Are these other actions effective? I'm a frequent flyer, who cannot believe this security lapse has been permitted to go on for such a long time.
Looking for reassurance,
Jim Israel
Jim Israel
Natalie Kauffman: Dear reassurance seeker, Jim,
Individual airline websites are currently addressing the security issues, as are airport websites. However, you may need more than tangibles to help reassure yourself. Consider connecting to the American Counseling Association's website for options: www.counseling.org.
FEAR: Fantasized Experiences Appearing Real
Take care,
Natalie
Oakton, Va.:
Why all this groaning about airline industry cutbacks? For years we have had too many planes flying and too much demand in the system. Now we are going to have fewer planes up there.....down to a much more reasonable level.
Natalie Kauffman: Oakton,
Too many planes, too much demand, more reasonable level--according to who?
Natalie
Washington D.C.:
Hi Natalie
What is this last crash going to do to the airline industry? We all need to have the airlines up and running, how will they survive?
Natalie Kauffman: Hard to say DC . . . a good friend who typically vacations at one of the islands over Thanksgiving is still going. Other typical vacationers are canceling. There's a growth in video conferencing as business travelers postpone travel plans.
What do our other live Post participants think/feel?
Natalie
Burlington, Ontario:
If Monday's plane crash was sabatoge on the ground and if attacks get to the point where Surface to Air Missiles become another tactic used by terrorists. Would the airline business survive in its' prsent form? Would secure air corridors need to be created? Would people be willing to even think of of the airline industry as a career at all?
Natalie Kauffman: Burlington, if the scenario you paint comes to pass, I don't see how the airline business could possibly survive in its present form. Do you?
However, there'd still be an airline industry--I'd guess more militaristic in nature.
Natalie
Virginia:
From VA again. Thanks. Also the http://www.afreserve.com/bases.asp or those who were former active duty. Money is good.
Natalie Kauffman: VA,
What's this web site?
Natalie
Washington D.C.:
How is everything that has happened going to further complicate air travel?
Natalie Kauffman: How DC? In many different ways and at many different levels. Not just the airlines, themselves, nor only the passengers. Think about how many industries are impacted by the airlines and airline travel. Already the security field and training for the field is growing.
Natalie
Silver Spring, Md:
Natalie: Since you opened the discussion up for opinions, I have to agree with Vienna and
Oakton....too many planes, too much demand. The cutbaks in airline travel are ultimately going to be a good thing once we get past the initial shock of the layoffs.
Natalie Kauffman: Thank you Silver Spring. How about our other Post participants?
Natalie
Arlington, Va.:
While I'm sure the Oakton and Vienna posters have their reasons for believing the system is overloaded, let me offer one reason why there is "moaning and groaning" about airline industry cutbacks. BECAUSE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS. I'm not for sustaining a system that is truly overburdened (and I'm not convinced that this one is)simply so people can remain employed, but I also wonder how people who are not in the airline industry can take such a cavalier attitude about the massive unemployment cutbacks may cause. It must be nice to be in such a secure field as they must be - I wish them both luck.
Natalie Kauffman: Arlington, thanks for your input. There are not secure fields today.
Natalie
Washington, D.C.:
I hear that the airlines will be raising rates due to the attack to cover some costs. Shouldn't they be lowering it to attract travellers and giving bargain flights that are hard to resist? A lot of other industries such as the car industry are eating up a lot of cost by offering bargains and 0% interest, and are doing rather well.
Natalie Kauffman: DC, I haven't heard this. Had recently, since 9/11, traveled by plane to San Antonio & was surprised ticket costs weren't less. What have other live Post participants heard, read, thought?
Natalie
Washington D.C.:
Do you think that security should be regulated by the feds or by the airlines?
Natalie Kauffman: I think regulations need to be worked out cooperatively between the experts. Other opinions?
Natalie
Washington D.C.:
If the federal government will be regulating security and if they will be hiring the workers, will they be speeding up their hiring process? Because I don't see how we're going to get the people that we need to fill those slots if they maintain they're current process of hiring. It's agonizingly slow and completely inefficient for the demands for bodies in the airports. What do you think?
Natalie Kauffman: I agree, DC. Changes will take place assuredly as will an increase in security training programs. For our participants interested in this field, consider linking with local employment and training centers. These centers will probably be charged with expediting the training and hiring: www.acinet.org will link you to a center nearest you.
Natalie
Fairfax, Va.:
Trouble with the Guard is that they don't want any "older" people - over 35 I think it is.
Natalie Kauffman: Is this true? Check out your local guard office and the websites supplied by our Post participant.
Natalie
Burlington, Ontario:
Retreating into ourselves maybe a consequence of the collapse of easy and safe travel. Being on the road may take on an entirely new meaning in the 21 Century. The one consequence of events of recent attacks will be a slow down of globalization. The economic consequences will be far reaching as will politics at the local and international level. Up until this point Western capitalism was based on three things, greed consumption and waste. The Frontline investigation entitled the Saudi Time Bomb illustrates the tremendous difficulty western capitalism faces in the months and years ahead. Airline attendants might need to be recruited and retrtained to nurses in war against bioterrorism. Do you think the gov't could mobilize to do the massive retraining that will be needed?
Natalie Kauffman: Burlington,
Consider today's show--Burlington, Ontario and DC and others throughout the land talking and sharing. Not a one of us boarded a plane. Globalization is here to stay. Today's water cooler is whatever large body of water you want it to be.
Natalie
WashingtonJobs.com:
Sorry everyone, we're out of time. Thanks for participating.
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