New Aer Lingus Careers website

Locker10a

Aer Lingus seem to have a fancy careers website with alot of information on all the different jobs and career opportunities in Aer Lingus! It includes interviews with staff from all departments! Its quite a good website really so i thought id post a link here for those of you(of which there are many here!) who wish to pursue a career in aviation

http://careers.aerlingus.com/

omega man

Some good insightful job profile videos. However not much on the job front at present.

Locker10a

omega man wrote: »

Some good insightful job profile videos. However not much on the job front at present.

True but Aer LIngus took on pilots and cabin crew last year and this year so they may do so again next year sometime and ive seen a few office vacancies over the last few months too! in general its very difficult to find work here but if your interested in aviation its a good website to keep an eye on

A320

i'm a Bit confused as they haven't officially advertised for engineers in over 5 years!!!

Stovepipe

they have usually taken on ex-EI/FLS/SRT people with experience on type, as replacements for retirements.
regards
Stovepipe

searescue

Great website - all it needs now are a few vacancies :P

JJLongford

Any thoughts on future Cadetships from Aer Lingus?

It's over a year since their last cadet drive for 20. I'd imagine retirements and attrition over 1.5 years would see that go from current pilot numbers. How are they filling gaps? Have there been / will there be Direct Entries? They've got the A350s coming in 2014 is it? So there will be the added team needed for those too?

Personally, I can't see it being long until the next drive for Cadets. With improving numbers, positive investor sentiment and possibly a less negative outlook with the economy they'd be mad to let it go much longer.

Also, I wonder will Aer Lingus and Aer Arann tie up for recruitment of pilots and share resources in future? If it's going to be a long term arrangement surely that makes a lot of sense?

MikeMichael

There was a 14 year or so gap between the last one and they seemed to manage ok.

A320

Stovepipe wrote: »

they have usually taken on ex-EI/FLS/SRT people with experience on type, as replacements for retirements.
regards
Stovepipe

Yea thought as much,would love to see a development in eng circles

Tenger

A320 wrote: »

i'm a Bit confused as they haven't officially advertised for engineers in over 5 years!!!

Wasn't there and engineering recruitment drive last year? Pretty sure it was discussed at length here on boards.

A320

Tenger wrote: »

Wasn't there and engineering recruitment drive last year? Pretty sure it was discussed at length here on boards.

That was apprentices

Turbine

Locker10a wrote: »

ive seen a few office vacancies over the last few months too!

Yeah but did you not notice none of those were entry level jobs, most of them requiring at least 5 years experience in the industry.

I find it hard to believe Aer Lingus is only taking on people for senior roles. Which leads me to believe the entry level roles are being handed out to family members or those 'in the know', which wreaks of nepotism.

Tenger

Turbine wrote: »

.....I find it hard to believe Aer Lingus is only taking on people for senior roles. Which leads me to believe the entry level roles are being handed out to family members or those 'in the know', which wreaks of nepotism.

So, just because a company is not hiring entry level positions they must be secretly hiring amongst staff members families? Great theory,any factual basis?

-How about the fact that EI have shed so many staff over the last 5 years and slimmed down their day to day operation. Thus they are doing more with less at the moment. Many staff who were eligible took early retirement and currently EI have no staff retiring. Hence no need to replace turnover.
-It was mentioned that EI were contracting out some of their 'back office functions' as part of the Greenfield, so I assume some staff were re-assigned positions during this process. perhaps eliminating the need for new recruits in some sections.
-On the other hand by re-organising themselves and moving away from the pre-floatation corporate structure they have created new positions to oversee various parts of the operation. These positions require new staff in place who have experience in the business.

Does that satisfy your conspiracy theories towards Aer Lingus recruitment policies?


Personally I feel that EI are getting the careers site up and running so that when they do run a recruitment drive (6-12 months?) the infrastructure is already done. I am sure they will begin the process of taking on new staff on fixed term contracts at 'competitive' salary levels in other to prevent the traditional year on year increase in staff costs.

Turbine

Tenger wrote: »

So, just because a company is not hiring entry level positions they must be secretly hiring amongst staff members families? Great theory,any factual basis?

-How about the fact that EI have shed so many staff over the last 5 years and slimmed down their day to day operation. Thus they are doing more with less at the moment. Many staff who were eligible took early retirement and currently EI have no staff retiring. Hence no need to replace turnover.
-It was mentioned that EI were contracting out some of their 'back office functions' as part of the Greenfield, so I assume some staff were re-assigned positions during this process. perhaps eliminating the need for new recruits in some sections.
-On the other hand by re-organising themselves and moving away from the pre-floatation corporate structure they have created new positions to oversee various parts of the operation. These positions require new staff in place who have experience in the business.

Does that satisfy your conspiracy theories towards Aer Lingus recruitment policies?

I've been checking the Aer Lingus site for jobs constantly for the last 12 months. In that time, no entry level jobs have been advertised. Its also no secret that up to 75-80% of all jobs are never advertised publicly. So I don't think its inconceivable that Aer Lingus would only advertise entry level jobs within the company.

Aer Lingus also has a policy of only providing work placements to family members, so it shouldn't come as that much of a shock that nepotism still exists within the company, or that such nepotism may extend to full-time roles.

A320

Turbine wrote: »

Aer Lingus also has a policy of only providing work placements to family members

to be fair i got in there years ago during college and I have zero family members there so unless it's changed

Turbine

A320 wrote: »

to be fair i got in there years ago during college and I have zero family members there so unless it's changed

Dunno then but that's the response I got a few years ago, and I know several people who've been told the same recently.

omega man

Turbine wrote: »

Yeah but did you not notice none of those were entry level jobs, most of them requiring at least 5 years experience in the industry.

I find it hard to believe Aer Lingus is only taking on people for senior roles. Which leads me to believe the entry level roles are being handed out to family members or those 'in the know', which wreaks of nepotism.

Really :rolleyes:

In my opinion Aer lingus traditionally always promoted from within but under recent restructuring they felt the need to look outside for experienced and well qualified professionals to fit their new business model.

LeftBase

One need only mention Aer Lingus here and the aul heave ho starts!:D

One of the FOs I met with recently in the crew room is Irish and trained at FTE. He told me that a guy from his "class" in FTE had a father who was a Captain in Aer Lingus. When they finished up and hit the market about 8 months ago he was taken on by Aer Lingus despite the fact there was no positions advertised on the website. Being "in the know" or "on the inside" does help it seems with Aer Lingus. However these things are common in all companies in all industries and if it was my dad I wouldn't complain.

That's just the hand we're dealt!

Bessarion

Turbine wrote: »

I've been checking the Aer Lingus site for jobs constantly for the last 12 months. In that time, no entry level jobs have been advertised. Its also no secret that up to 75-80% of all jobs are never advertised publicly. So I don't think its inconceivable that Aer Lingus would only advertise entry level jobs within the company.

Aer Lingus also has a policy of only providing work placements to family members, so it shouldn't come as that much of a shock that nepotism still exists within the company, or that such nepotism may extend to full-time roles.

So just because EI are not advertising entry level positions they must be nepotistic?

As another poster pointed out, maybe they are filling those positions from internal reshuffling?

In point of fact EI have taken on quite a number of cabin crew over the last 12 months. They asked for CV submissions 'for future recruitment' about 12 months ago.(There was a thread on boards about it) From this they had a pool of prospective new cabin crew who have been slowly trained up over the last 12 months. No need to advertise again as they got the applicants 12 months ago. In addition there was the pilot cadet scheme last year and the engineering apprentice scheme around the same time.

You seem to have a problem with EI promoting internally. Why?

The majority of EI positions over the last 12 months HAVE been internally advertised......because EI want 'their own' people in new roles. These staff need less training than external candidates and in some cases may need no training. EI afterall use ASTRAL which is a very company specific booking/operational system. I hated having to learn it many years ago. If EI want a route network analyst,flight dispatcher or flight planner why look outside when you have many staff members who are perfectly ready to step into those roles? With the reduction in staff numbers EI do not want to spent the resources on training up external candidates if internal are equally qualified/capable.

Again on a matter of clarification there have been several managerial positions advertised externally in the last 6 months. So EI obviously feel that their existing human resources offer the skills they require for supervisory roles but are not afraid to go elsewhere if required.



As for the reference to work experience/placement.....this has been discussed elsewhere. Offering work experience is not regulated in the same way as actual recruitment,it is up to the individual company to decide their own policy.


For the record I had/have no family members working in EI. Back in the late 90's I got in on my my own merits as did the majority of my colleagues. But you know what, If I had some interview tips to offer a family member I would offer them freely.

Turbine

Bessarion wrote: »

In point of fact EI have taken on quite a number of cabin crew over the last 12 months. They asked for CV submissions 'for future recruitment' about 12 months ago.(There was a thread on boards about it) From this they had a pool of prospective new cabin crew who have been slowly trained up over the last 12 months. No need to advertise again as they got the applicants 12 months ago. In addition there was the pilot cadet scheme last year and the engineering apprentice scheme around the same time.

I'm not talking about cabin crew, engineering, or pilots. I'm talking about on the ground vacancies, specifically entry level ones at that.

Bessarion wrote: »

You seem to have a problem with EI promoting internally. Why?

The majority of EI positions over the last 12 months HAVE been internally advertised......because EI want 'their own' people in new roles. These staff need less training than external candidates and in some cases may need no training. EI afterall use ASTRAL which is a very company specific booking/operational system. I hated having to learn it many years ago. If EI want a route network analyst,flight dispatcher or flight planner why look outside when you have many staff members who are perfectly ready to step into those roles? With the reduction in staff numbers EI do not want to spent the resources on training up external candidates if internal are equally qualified/capable.

I don't have a problem with them advertising internally. I just think it's bad form not to open up a certain amount of entry level positions to external candidates who may or may not be better qualified/suited to the role. Like I already said, it's well known that up to 75% of all jobs are never publicly advertised, so Aer Lingus is not alone in that respect. But most companies still advertise externally for a certain proportion of roles, if for no other reason than to get new blood into an organisation.

And particularly at a time of severe recession when graduates are finding it extremely difficult to find work, why shouldn't they have an opportunity to apply for such roles? If all entry level roles were to be advertised internally through reshuffling of staff, the end result is higher emigration because of fewer opportunities for graduates.

Also FWIW, didn't Aer Lingus recently spend millions switching their systems over to Amadeus specifically for the reason you outlined above, as well as the fact that their own in-house system had serious limitations?

Bessarion wrote: »

Again on a matter of clarification there have been several managerial positions advertised externally in the last 6 months.

I never said otherwise. Again my post specifically referred to entry level roles. The whole reason I even mentioned this issue is because over the last year I've only ever seen management roles advertised or ones that required years of experience to apply for.

Bessarion wrote: »

As for the reference to work experience/placement.....this has been discussed elsewhere. Offering work experience is not regulated in the same way as actual recruitment,it is up to the individual company to decide their own policy.

That's fine, but it's a ridiculous policy. But that's just my opinion, though I'm sure plenty of people who got turned down for work placement just because they didn't have a relative working in Aer Lingus would agree with me.

Bessarion

Turbine wrote: »

......I just think it's bad form not to open up a certain amount of entry level positions to external candidates who may or may not be better qualified/suited to the role........

And particularly at a time of severe recession when graduates are finding it extremely difficult to find work, why shouldn't they have an opportunity to apply for such roles? If all entry level roles were to be advertised internally through reshuffling of staff, the end result is higher emigration because of fewer opportunities for graduates.

So you are advocating a return to the 1980's when EI were used as a Govt employment agency? What if EI don't require people for entry level positions? Or maybe you want them to use their own time/resources to open the field to external candidates?
EI are a business who wish to make money, thus if they can fill positions at the lowest cost by reshuffling staff then they will do that. It is the Govt's responsibility to stem emigration, not private companies.

I gave examples of entry level opportuntities offered over the last 12 months..............sorry they weren't exactly what you were looking for.


You do realise that most EI jobs are physically located airside? Or at least located in a security restricted area. To get there you need an ID,which involves a security check (at the expense of the company) perhaps EI are able to bypass some of this if the student for work placement is personally known to an existing staff member. Or maybe EI want to be sure that the work placement person will not waste the time/money spent on a security check, a family member will be under pressure to 'not cock it up'.

If it upsets you so much email the CEO or HR director.

Turbine

Bessarion wrote: »

So you are advocating a return to the 1980's when EI were used as a Govt employment agency? What if EI don't require people for entry level positions? Or maybe you want them to use their own time/resources to open the field to external candidates?
EI are a business who wish to make money, thus if they can fill positions at the lowest cost by reshuffling staff then they will do that. It is the Govt's responsibility to stem emigration, not private companies.

Yeah because that's why other airlines and companies in other industries regularly take on graduates, because they're acting as an employment agency for the government.:rolleyes:

lintdrummer

Turbine, you obviously would like to work for ei but are frustrated at the lack of opportunity to get a foot in the door. You come across as bitter towards the company now which is not a good trate in a prospective employee.
Graduates are struggling to find work in every industry at the moment, that's just an unfortunate consequence of the current economic climate.
Work placement for "insiders" is a myth. I've only met one lad on placement from college and he has no connection to ei. Couple of interns there too with no "connections".
Keep your head up, if you have such a strong desire to get into the industry you'll get there.

lintdrummer

Double post

mml415

I was told by a friend of mine a few days ago that EI are looking for Cat A's and B1's unrestricted in Dublin. I have since applied for the job, but was wondering if anyone could tell me how good my chances of getting the job would be, in your own opinion of course! I do not have my Cat A licence yet, however i have all my EASA 66 modules to B1 and B2 level, and hope to have my Cat A by the end of the year. I have 4 yrs experience as an apprentice engineer with Ryanair and I currenty work in the UK doing A and C checks on 757, 767, A320,321 and 330. I'm just worried that 1: as I dont have my Cat A yet, they wont consider me at all. And 2: there seems to be a lot of this "it's who you know on the inside" talk going around, and that will affect my chances aswell. I would absolutely love to get this job, because I would be set for life with them, and I'd be in Dublin, close to all of my friends and family. Just looking for an honest opinion about how optimistic I should be! I'm praying that I at least get an interview!!

Turbine

No point starting a new topic just for this but just wondering has anyone else on here applied for the Fleet Specialist vacancy? Aer Lingus doesn't specify any required experience in the job description, but would I be right in saying a position like Fleet Specialist would be aimed at someone with a few years experience in the industry?

Tenger

Turbine wrote: »

No point starting a new topic just for this but just wondering has anyone else on here applied for the Fleet Specialist vacancy? Aer Lingus doesn't specify any required experience in the job description, but would I be right in saying a position like Fleet Specialist would be aimed at someone with a few years experience in the industry?

I would guess experience is preferable but if they didn't state it as neccesary in the info then I wouldn't worry about it. Can I assume 'fleet specialist' is more of a number crunching type position? Looking at fuel consumption metrics, cost/upkeep/utilisation ratio's and the like?


EDIT: I had a look at the website, these are the 'essential criteria';
-3rd level qualification in a business, engineering or related discipline or a proven track record
-Strong commercial focus with a clear understanding of Aer Lingus’ commercial position
-Appreciation of the aircraft/airline industry and current trends
-Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office
-Current unrestricted worldwide passport
-Fluent in English, both written and spoken
-Provide verifiable references
-Able to pass a 5-year security background check*
-Possession and demonstration of the key competencies and skills outlined below

I would hazard a guess that the reference to 'proven track record' means if you have actual experience in the area then you can skip the 3rd level qualification bit. Not other mention of experience perferred.

So Turbine, you were going on and on 3 weeks ago about EI not hiring entry level positions that appealed to you.It appears that their HR dept reads boards.ie and decided to give you a chance to apply. I can't see how you cannot apply for this role.

D.R Adams

mml415 wrote: »

I do not have my Cat A licence yet, however i have all my EASA 66 modules to B1 and B2 level, and hope to have my Cat A by the end of the year. I have 4 yrs experience as an apprentice engineer with Ryanair and I currenty work in the UK doing A and C checks on 757, 767, A320,321 and 330.

How many years experience in total have you got? If you have all your B1 & B2 modules done and have the relevant years of experience then just apply for the B1/B2 instead of wasting time with the A.

Turbine

Tenger wrote: »

I would guess experience is preferable but if they didn't state it as neccesary in the info then I wouldn't worry about it. Can I assume 'fleet specialist' is more of a number crunching type position? Looking at fuel consumption metrics, cost/upkeep/utilisation ratio's and the like?

I would hazard a guess that the reference to 'proven track record' means if you have actual experience in the area then you can skip the 3rd level qualification bit. Not other mention of experience perferred.

So Turbine, you were going on and on 3 weeks ago about EI not hiring entry level positions that appealed to you.It appears that their HR dept reads boards.ie and decided to give you a chance to apply. I can't see how you cannot apply for this role.

Cheers for the reply. I applied the day it was put up so I'm hoping I'll hear something back, but I was just curious if they'd be after someone with a few years experience.

mml415

D.R Adams wrote: »

How many years experience in total have you got? If you have all your B1 & B2 modules done and have the relevant years of experience then just apply for the B1/B2 instead of wasting time with the A.

I have my 4 years as an apprentice plus the few months that I've been out of my time. So I don't have enough experience yet for B1. The job offer was for Cat A AND B1 unrestricted positions, so I've essentially applied for both the A position and the B1 position. But as I don't have the experience yet for B1, I'm aiming for the Cat A, and then over time ill be able to gain the extra experience I need for the B1. I can't apply for the B1/B2 yet as I don't have any type ratings...

A320

mml415 wrote: »

I can't apply for the B1/B2 yet as I don't have any type ratings...

You don't need a type rating to apply for a B1/B2 basic license

mml415

A320 wrote: »

You don't need a type rating to apply for a B1/B2 basic license

Sorry I meant that I can't apply for the B1/B2 jobs at EI because I don't have a type rating.

Stovepipe

Stick in a CV anyway.

regards
Stovepipe

pclancy

Turbine wrote: »

Aer Lingus also has a policy of only providing work placements to family members, so it shouldn't come as that much of a shock that nepotism still exists within the company, or that such nepotism may extend to full-time roles.

Having spoken to many people on here over the years that got good jobs at Aer Lingus through knowing or being related to absolutely nobody I beg to differ. One day all the state bodies might have ran this way but its not really workable in the modern world.

Turbine

pclancy wrote: »

Having spoken to many people on here over the years that got good jobs at Aer Lingus through knowing or being related to absolutely nobody I beg to differ. One day all the state bodies might have ran this way but its not really workable in the modern world.

Well myself and others have been turned away for work placement for college because we didn't have family working in Aer Lingus. So nepotism does exist there, all I suggested was that a similar attitude could also extend to full-time roles. Your argument that this wouldn't be workable in the modern world doesn't hold up because I saw first-hand nepotism in full force when it came to hiring at another former semi-state and now privatised company.

Tenger

His phrase was "I beg to differ", he was not slamming your argument, merelt offering his experience of the situation. And pclancy was referring to the inference (by you) that the work placement 'nepotism' extends to actual employment. Just because it happened elsewhere is no proof that it happens here.

Not everyone has a chip about this company policy (which every company is entitled to enact as they see fit)

Stovepipe

@turbine, we currently have a guy from UL on work experience, who has no prior connection with EI whatsoever. I know this because I asked him. Anyone who has ever worked in the private sector, self included, has often encountered the-son-of or the sister of,etc etc, so it is not confined to State or semi-state companies.

regards
Stovepipe

pclancy

I used to think out of all the state bodies Iarnrod Eireann was the last remaining one with rampant nepotism. Until I met a large group of trainee drivers out drinking in Portlaoise one night and realised most of them were "direct entry" and hadnt had to work their way up the usual admin/engineering/ticket staff route into the drivers cab with a little help from Daddy...

An airline just couldnt function like that these days. Perhaps work placements are kept tight by certain staff for their own interests as you say. Perhaps not. But I don't know any pilots that have sons/daughters racing to follow their footsteps. One or two but many have been steered towards alternate careers

Stovepipe

Nepotism works both ways. I know of one ex-EI senior pilot who was so disliked by his colleagues that his son, who became an EI pilot, became the butt of much ill-attention until it was eventually realised that he wasn't the cut of his father at all and he was left alone. I encountered a somewhat similar case in the Don , in which an unpopular son was retained because his father managed to plead his case.
nepotism is in all walks of life.

regards
Stovepipe

mml415

Can anyone tell me if they applied for the engineering positions that Aer Lingus were advertising on the careers website please? Or do you know anyone who went for one of them? And have you/they heard anything from them yet??
Thanks!

PapaSierra

"You can apply online on this site to any current vacancies [link to current vacancies]. We do not accept applications by email, post or telephone unless you have special requirements

You can also express your interest in a particular job, even if we are not currently recruiting. To do this check for "Expression of Interest" vacancies here. We are not recruiting yet for those vacancies, but if we do recruit in the future you will be first in line for assessment.

If still can't see a vacancy that fits your skills you can apply speculatively. Don't forget to fill in all the screens, and attach your CV. You will receive an automatic acknowledgement when we receive your application."

That's what I found in their FAQ section however I could not find any links to "Expression of Interest" anywhere on the website.

Also what do they mean by "If still can't see a vacancy that fits your skills you can apply speculatively." How can I possibly do it if they "do not accept applications by email, post or telephone"?

It's really confusing

Tenger

Are you referring to the previously mentioned "expressions of interest" for cabin crew. I can assure you that it was there, I personally saw it. Along with a quick list of questions under the heading "Is cabin crew the job for you?"

Perhaps they took it down after receiving the number they wanted?
Or the could be changing the requirements to "within 90 mins travel of Heathrow"!!!

PapaSierra

It looks like they took it down. Probably their servers couldn't handle all the CVs uploaded by all those desperate 200hrs pilots (like me ). I can only hope that, in the next 15 years, they will reactivate that option again...