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The OP does not want to go back to teaching in Middle Schools (for which I don't blame her!), and has always wanted to work at an airport. If TSA is not the best choice for her, what are the other options? She lives very near an airport (and knowing which one would help funnel some suggestions, perhaps) and has a background in teaching and some certification in travel, also trained to be a flight attendant. I don't know if I explained that correctly....for example it will read "position: Ticket Agent Oakland Airport" and someone who has been with the airline for a year might have been driving to San Jose or SFO waiting for that spot...also once hired for the spot sometimes the airlines will want to transfer you where there is need for your postion.... Also you may have to start out working at the Airlines hubs before you can transfer to another closer job.... Unfortunately with my husbands military position that would be hard on us as a couple..... |
Current going pay for Customer service Reps? major airline...
Pay: 1st Year - $9.00/hr 2nd Year - $10.00/hr ...here is the info for Southwest.... http://www.southwest.com/careers/csa.html ....and I am going to add I have had a lot of encouraging advice behind the scenes here.... ^ |
I suppose I am going off-topic, as the original question was about your qualifications to work for TSA.
Still, I suppose you have checked job listings at the Port of Oakland's Job Center, which includes information on Oakland Airport. (If that is the one nearest you...???) |
I took my test today and finished in an HOUR ( it was supposed to take 3 hours).....I got my e-mail that I passed and am now scheduled for my interview....and back round check.... ;)
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Originally Posted by FliesWay2Much
Just a few thoughts from someone who has had nearly 30 years in the military and civil service...
1. The best advantage of a civil service career for a spouse of an active duty person is the transferability of civil service. Certainly, you can do the same thing as a teacher. 2. I would look at www.usajobs.opm.gov. Braoden your search as much as possible. You'd might be surprised at what's out there that might interest you. Think out of the box! Since it's still early in the fiscal year, there are a lot of vacancies out there. The TSA doesn't hire any slower or faster than other agencies, and it would be good to have multiple opportunities out there. As a teacher, I assume you wouldn't want to leave before the end of the school year anyway, right? 3. The TSA is excepted service, meaning they can fire you for any reason (or no reason at all). It's the closest the government comes to "at will" employment used by most provate sector firms. If you got into a career or career-conditional position, your job and tenure would be much more stable & secure. 4. The legacy and culture of the TSA derives from the FAA Office of Civil Aviation Security. (FYI, I interviewed for a Senior Executive position with them in the late 1990s. In 20/20 hindsight, I'm glad I wasn't selected!) The culture is extremely bureaucratic and rigid. Taking care of people was not a very high priority. If you are a person with a "checklist mentality" who does well in a rigid organization where people are expected to toe the line, I suspect you would do well in an organization like the TSA. If you do better in an organization with collegial decision-making and an unstructured culture, the TSA is definitely not for you! 5. Carefully examine your motivations. The TSA should be a means to an end. If you feel motivated to take part in national security or the "war on terror," recognize that there are lots of ways to do this -- both in government and in the private sector. Heck, I'd argue that being the best teacher you could possibly be is more important to national security than staffing a TSA checkpoint or patting down a grandmother. If you want to work at an airport, you'll see very little of it at a checkpoint. You certainly won't be a part of aviation operations. If that is your motivation, consider applying to be an air traffic controller. 6. Read the screener posts here on FT. You'll find examples of everything from cynicism to disgust at their agency and its managers. These people are hardly a scientific sample, but they are a sample of the TSA workforce nevertheless. There are other message boards out there primarily for screeners. Although I suspect there has been some cross-fertilization, I don't detect any difference in the overall organizational sttitudes. 7. Also, read the recent DHS IG report on the TSA before you make a decision. I believe one of the screener web sites also has a copy of a TSA workforce survey of some sort. 8. Above all, sort out in your own mind that you aren't considering TSA employment just to "escape" from your present job. "Escape" is never a good reason to make a career change. Flies, We've certainly had our disagreements, and I consider you an unreasonable TSA-basher. However, this is genuinely good advice. trixie, You have to know what you're getting into. I've been a screener for a little over three years now (both as a private contract screener and federal screener) and I still enjoy it. There are three things I ask you to consider carefully: Dealing with passengers on a daily basis. A vast majority of people you will deal with are pleasant, friendly, and some of them will even thank you for being there. A small minority of them can be irritable or unpleasant, but this is usually as the result of something else going on in their lives (going to or just leaving a funeral, rushed for time, going on a trip they're not looking forward to, etc.), and this requires you to be patient and understanding. It's a matter of the people skills and customer courtesy skills you already have (I don't believe TSA or any other agency can teach this skills, you either have them or you don't). Then there are the very small number of passengers who are downright ugly and will call you names, question your moral integrity and do what they can to make your work difficult. Be prepared for a woman to call you lesbian just because you have to clear her breast area with a limited-pat down inspection. You have to have thick skin and can't allow yourself to be insulted. There are procedures for dealing with these passengers, but that's not my point. My point is that you will encounter these sort of people and you cannot let it get to you. I don't agree with many of the TSA bashers in here and consider them frequent whiners. However, do read their comments and insights because they are included in the people we serve. They represent a very small fraction of the general public you will encounter; however, some of them are that way because somewhere a TSA screener gave them a very negative experience.Dealing with the TSA bureaucracy. Some folks in here have commented how frustrating it is; I think it's the exact same frustration dealing with ANY federal bureaucracy, not just TSA or DHS. My point is that you need to be aware of how frustrating it can be when it comes to resolving pay issues, insurance claims, vacation pay, etc. Being a military spouse, I am certain that you're already familiar with a lot of these things. I'm just letting you know that it's not going to change. I'm a retired military officer and a lot of my benefits are already covered; so I'm not affected by a lot of these things. Dealing with your fellow co-workers. You will be working with people who vary in age, maturity and interests. This is no different than any other job where you work as part of a team. Just be prepared for the spectrum and variety. I enjoy people, and,as an outside observer, I smile to myself as I hear the younger screeners boast, complain, or gossip about whatever is going on in their lives. To me, it's better than candid camera or the new fad of reality TV. Sometimes, I wonder if I was the same way when I was that age and at other times I just smile understandingly, knowing that the youngster is about to learn something the hard way. The difference is that I'm a lead screener, so I'm very accustomed to exercising leadership. I heard the same types of stories from young soldiers. And while getting an unwanted insight about the personal lives or beliefs of people is not always pleasant, what matters to me is how well, how competently and how professionally they perform their duties. As with some of the young soldiers whose personal values differed than mine, I've seen them perform in an outstanding manner and deliver the type of professional conduct required under the most trying of circumstances when weaker people would fail, certainly during the heat of battle. While screeners certainly don't face those extremes, I've seen them act one way in private but act quite professionally and competently when on the floor. That's all that matters to me. It's all that should matter to you. Passengers are allowed to have a bad day. Screeners are not. That's unfair, but that's the nature of customer service. You need to know that before you come in. Good luck. |
Originally Posted by Bart
Passengers are allowed to have a bad day. Screeners are not. That's unfair, but that's the nature of customer service. You need to know that before you come in.
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Originally Posted by trixievictoria
I took my test today and finished in an HOUR ( it was supposed to take 3 hours).....I got my e-mail that I passed and am now scheduled for my interview....and back round check.... ;)
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Dealing with passengers on a daily basis. A vast majority of people you will deal with are pleasant, friendly, and some of them will even thank you for being there. A small minority of them can be irritable or unpleasant, but this is usually as the result of something else going on in their lives (going to or just leaving a funeral, rushed for time, going on a trip they're not looking forward to, etc.), and this requires you to be patient and understanding. It's a matter of the people skills and customer courtesy skills you already have (I don't believe TSA or any other agency can teach this skills, you either have them or you don't). Then there are the very small number of passengers who are downright ugly and will call you names, question your moral integrity and do what they can to make your work difficult. Be prepared for a woman to call you lesbian just because you have to clear her breast area with a limited-pat down inspection. You have to have thick skin and can't allow yourself to be insulted. There are procedures for dealing with these passengers, but that's not my point. My point is that you will encounter these sort of people and you cannot let it get to you. Bart Thank you for your insight...the thing I find funny and this is just an observation not a criticism....several poster swho have offered advice keep stressing that I need thick skin and people will be mean. I am in no way a shrinking violet. I have taught Middle School and have very good experience in doing tasks that are unpleasant as well as encouraging folks to do that which they do not want to do. I have had to pull a screaming mad parent off of a teaching partner and defusing the situation. I have dealt with screaming mad parents when their anger is directed at me. I have been a team leader for veteran burned out teachers as well as the very wet behind the ear new teachers . The more I see the advice the more I think the customer service part is the piece of cake. Teachers are trained in using nonverbal cues to attain goal behavior. They are trained to defuse situations with positives and they are never ever allowed to yell or get angry themselves they have to maintain self control in any situation. I have done very well in that area and have been commend for it. As well as my ability to get along with everyone. Now the X-ray thing…I am never going to master that! ARGGHH! That was very difficult. :confused: Thank you for your input I appreciate everyones help! |
Originally Posted by trixievictoria
Now the X-ray thing…I am never going to master that! ARGGHH! That was very difficult. :confused:
I happen to believe we have an exceptional training program here at San Antonio. We push our screeners to the next level. We've been hit by no-notice surprise testing by TSA inspection teams and smoked 'em. Not just bragging here; the head inspector told us he was truly impressed. We enjoy a perfect pass rate on our annual recertification tests for x-ray skills. I'm curious, are you artistically inclined? Paintings? Photography? Do you enjoy reading? Please indulge my strange-sounding questions. You can PM your response to me if you wish or just respond in here. thanks |
Have fun doing the bag shuttle run while your there as well trixie. :)
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I'm curious, are you artistically inclined? Paintings? Photography? Do you enjoy reading? Please indulge my strange-sounding questions. You can PM your response to me if you wish or just respond in here. Now I am curious... @:-) |
Originally Posted by trixievictoria
I was an Art Major in High school....and I like to read.
Now I am curious... @:-) A good trainer will challenge your call by asking you: "where's the threat?" rather than indulge you each time you call a bag check. This will force you to articulate why you interpreted the object inside the bag as a threat or prohibited item. Take care. |
Reading x-rays won't be a problem for you. I hate to stereotype, but here it goes: artistic people have the ability to "see" 2-dimensional images as real objects. Non-artistic people (generally speaking) have a difficult time grasping the concept. Neither is a bad way to learn or go about thinking...but each kind of thinker is clearly better suited for certain kinds of jobs. What a great point you made!! @:-) Thank you....you know we lived in CRP, TX for years...an we ^ loved San Antonio! |
I’ve had to delete several posts here this afternoon since they were becoming too personal in nature.
I’d like to remind everyone....and especially those posters who are new to FlyerTalk....that this forum is about the issues of Travel Safety and Security. Attacks of any type on fellow posters will not be allowed. Thanks for your cooperation. ____________________________________ Cholula Travel Safety/Security Forum Moderator |
Originally Posted by FWAAA
After reading this post, I've changed my mind - I'd rather you work for the TSA than teach.
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