CTI Geo Preferences Question

bradjackman Trusted Member Salt Lake City

So I've seen that CTI's (and everyone?) now only get two geo pref choices. Can you put one state, and then "Anywhere" for the second choice, or is it pickier than that. I'd like to stay close to family, but am willing to go anywhere if that's what it means to get the job. How do I convey that without having them say "Hey, here's a sucker to send to Guam! Forget his first choice, send him packing!"

Also, anywhere to specify your real intents, as in "Anywhere on the west coast, continental USA" or such?

Any thoughts?

blakeh Trusted Member SLN

I dont think that theres an option for "anywhere"...but, I believe you can tell them "anywhere" in the notes. Obviously, that doesnt mean they will read it at all. But you can try. As for the Guam thing. I guess you could put something like, "willing to relocate anywhere in continental US". Or something like that. You get what im saying. Worth a try!

Good Luck!

ksheyman Junior Member Seattle

hi. i dont know if it will be helpful but i've heard several anecdotes about geo pref. i have heard of people getting job offers in states they didn't even put on their application. then agian i've heard of people putting only one state and getting an offer for that state. when i toured seattle center one of the people in charge of hiring kept insinuating that you can even specify only one facility that you're willing to work. it really seems as though the faa hiring process is a total crapshoot and getting hired and where you get hired just completely depends on someone throwing a dart at the wall and hitting your name. i'm sure the preferences help but they aren't that crucial.

personally i'm going to put only one state, but if i get an offer elsewhere i will probably take it. i'd like to live close to my family but it's not a dealbreaker.

mbalunda Epic Member

You have to pick at least one state, with the option to pick two states. There isn't any 'anywhere' option, but there is a section for comments. You could put that you'd be willing to work anywhere in there, but there is no gurantee they'll take it into consideration.

The comment section is really meant for the larger states with a lot of facilities, you can then list specific counties you are interested in our actual facilites you'd like.

ATCtower Epic Member

Actually,

For CTI students, there is no longer the option to put comments on the application anwhere in the vicinity of the geographic preferences. I applied on 3/2/09 and was only given two drop down boxes. They included the lower 48, AK, HI, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The second box deleted the state of the first choice. There was no comments section at that time. I believe it to be a thing of the past having a comments line.

rogersjf Trusted Contributor New Jersey

ATCtower is correct, with the box being unavailable now, however Geo Prefs is the second criteria for being selected do to the fact if they need people at a certain location and in a certain state they will pick you up faster, so if you put say Delaware which has only one tower and doesn't need someone for a bit then you kinda are just screwed, and they may offer you a random state you did not pick or wait a couple years for an opening. good luck...

** the more FAA locations in a state means the quicker you get picked up if that is your state pref **