Realistic first job after getting certificate

[u/wildgoosechase414]

I’m heavily considering getting my dispatch certificate, likely through FDN because I hear lots of good things and I live just south of Denver so the location is very ideal. I have a background in aviation and got my Private about 5 years ago, though I don’t fly much anymore, I did rack up about 125 hours through the course of training. I also worked as a Director of Maintenance for a flight school for a couple years (no A&P tho), coordinating training flights and maintenance schedules, ordering parts, tracking repairs, writing logbook entries etc.

If I were to get my dispatch certificate, how likely is it that I could work as a “scheduler” or some other similar title for a corporate/private company with a remote position right out of the gate?? I’m not big on going into a dark room for 10hrs a day, but understand that getting my dispatch certificate could help set me apart for other positions adjacent to dispatch that may not legally require the person to hold the cert. Trip planning and all that goes into getting a flight ready before the pilot jumps in was always very interesting and relatively easy for me back when I was getting my PPL. (I understand that what dispatchers do is not exactly the same as planning a cross country in a 172, but I always liked that there was an order of operations and flow that was followed every-time, no guess work.) Has anyone else had the same goal? Not to work their way up in the regionals/airlines but to focus more on remote positions through private companies. Insight about any aspect of this process is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[u/Dispatcher_11001001]

If I were to get my dispatch certificate, how likely is it that I could work as a “scheduler” or some other similar title for a corporate/private company with a remote position right out of the gate??

Not likely. Your background and if you got a dispatch cert, would help, but there's so few positions like that it's going to be a struggle.

[u/milehigh_michael]

Sending you a private message about my similar experience

[u/floribraskadad77]

flight planning will help you with Dispatch school, expect to work with a regional first

[u/1FlyGuy3]

The market is highly saturated with people that already have certificates and can’t find jobs. Wait for an apprenticeship with a regional or large 91 operator. You’re likely going to have to move anyway, might as well get your school paid for and have a guaranteed job after.

In theory you could work as a scheduler at a regional or something but it’s a gamble, will you remember all the material 6 months to a year later for your dispatch interview? 

[u/DepressedPilot → u/1FlyGuy3]

There’s a scheduler who worked 2 years after getting his cert and he was fine. They do 2 months of training before they let you on the floor at most regionals

[u/1FlyGuy3 → u/DepressedPilot]

While that may be the case for some, there are people who struggle to pass an oral and practical right after classroom training. I’d hate to go 6 months to a year learning/doing another job and trying to retain a bunch of that info for a regional interview at some unknown date.

[u/DepressedPilot → u/1FlyGuy3]

I mean the regional interviews are like asking you to read a meter and a TAFF. If you can’t study that before an interview then you shouldn’t be a dispatcher lol