How did you pick your state?

jarhead0863 Trusted Member Grand Forks, ND

Hey everyone. I'm sure that a lot of you guys that have gone through the application process may have had a hard time picking a few states in which you would like to work. I'm sure that for some of you it was easy. For those of you that had no preference at all as to where you wanted to work, how and why did you choose a certain state? Was it because you lived in that state or near it? Was it because you saw a facility in that state that you liked? I am asking because I could careless what state I work in for ATC. So what are some things that you guys did to figure out where you wanted to work?

boondr PHD without a degree North of the Equator

1. State where I live. (VA)
2. State where the family lives.(NH)
3. Closest state to where I live(MD)
4. Closest state to where my parents live.(MA)
5 State my wife would like to live in (HI)



That is the order I used on the majority of the VRA applications I did. I switched up some of the last three throwing in other random states I thought might offer a good chance of hire.

I ended up with VA, at the exact facility I wanted.

oh and Semper Fi

where were you stationed?

jarhead0863 Trusted Member Grand Forks, ND

Stationed? You mean military? I'm in the military, just a CTI student. Jarhead was a nick name I've had for a while, but no military for me

duranme Trusted Contributor San Diego (SCT)

#1 Pick where they are hiring
#2 eliminate any and all states with combined letters of T, E, X, A, S.

That was my process... Luckily I got the only state I put down and had my TOL in hand 2months after the announcement closed...

GolfJuliet F*** Terrorism

CTI grads only get to pick two states. Any guess as to what will be my #1?

duranme, I like your #2 strategy hopefully it'll deter people from putting down the great state and they'll have any open slot for me......some day..............

duranme Trusted Contributor San Diego (SCT)

Cti's and ojt's are gonna have it rough, the big facilities (lvl 12's) are starting to clear away from non prior rated as the trend has been pretty bad getting them through the training.

I know that currently texas has a big line waiting. So to those applying to that state good luck, and be patient. Best bet is to take anything they give you and hope to transfer out after a few years, its a sh*tty situation to be somewhere you don't wanna be but you need to get your foot in the door somehow.

GolfJuliet F*** Terrorism

It'll be a few years before I apply so maybe it'll get better. I'm not sure what I'm gonna put down for my #2 though. I'm thinking probably OK or AR with hopes of getting out asap.

DeGro1317 Rookie Edgewater, FL

Picked Florida only and crossed my fingers. Luckily it worked.

GolfJuliet F*** Terrorism

That's actually crossed my mind bc I've lived in TX my whole life and seen about half of the US and couldn't imagine living anywhere else....can't you go back and add another state later on?

Queue Junior Member

I'm still thinking about my states, trying to balance places I'd like to live (New England) with places that have more/bigger facilities. I really wish I could just put "New England." The whole region is smaller than almost 20 different states.