I Got Hired: Pilot at Easyjet

Posted on: 1 May 2024 by Richard Finch in Graduate stories

Dean Woods is a Mechanical Engineering Class of 2022 graduate, now working as a pilot at Easyjet.

An idea I once had in the middle of the night whilst doing one of my many uni assignments was to travel the world with minimal stress and not always be stuck in an office. Being a pilot sprung to mind.

A quick google of job opportunities lead me to EasyJet’s accelerated training scheme programme. Fast forward 6 weeks from that moment and I was accepted onto the programme!

The training is vigorous, long hours, sometimes overwhelming but nothing my degree didn't prepare me for. Hard work, discipline, and being able to manage stress levels effectively helped me progress with ease through the following year. At the time of writing this, there is still another 8 months of the programme left (2-year training programme) but I am thrilled to be doing what I am doing.          

6 months of my training is based out in Phoenix, Arizona. I get to fly at times during the golden hours of sunrise and sunsets. It's a marvel to witness and really is a pinch me moment when I see it. Along with great views of the sky, the consistent warm weather is fantastic whilst living here. And the cherry on top, being able to fly over fantastic scenery such as the Grand Canyon, all whilst trying to outrun a thunderstorm in a light aircraft.   

Re-entering the classroom was the biggest challenge - starting a 2-year training programme in a completely different career pathway immediately after graduating a 5-year uni course. It feels like the classroom lifestyle will never end. But, just keeping my head down, staying disciplined to the workload, and celebrating the small wins along the way kept me level headed and mentally stable throughout the following months that were based in a classroom. Now, get to enjoy the fruits of my labour living my best life in the sunshine and having an office in the sky as cliché as it sounds.                

"It's okay to not have a roadmap planned out for your career. Life is like that, anything can change at any moment so just play your best move, one at a time, and see where it takes you. Do not fear switching careers if you feel it is best. There are opportunities everywhere!

For current students who feel like they aren't learning content that is relevant to what they want to do; I am doing something completely unrelated to my degree, but my degree is worth its weight in gold to me because I learnt how to learn so to speak. Uni offers you a chance to build that skill which I feel is the most important. If you can master the art of being good at learning and doing something

You're not particularly interested in, or find difficult to start with, the skills you learn are effectively gold dust. Once you end up doing something you are really interested in, there is no reason why you cannot be the best in your trade. An example of how my mindset changed from starting to uni to finishing; (Day 1, I have no idea what they're trying to teach me and have no clue what to do, I just want to pass)---(Final year, I have no idea what they're trying to teach me but I know I’ll understand and be able to do it once I do my research, I want at least a high 1st grade)

Never give up with whatever task you're doing. See it through to the end!