After almost a year, finally landed a CFI job. Here’s what it took:
CFI earned 6/2025 First pilot job as skydiving pilot obtained 3/2026 CFII earned 5/2026 First real CFI job at an actual flight school 6/2026
The full story is much longer but to sum it up I quit my full time stable job, live in my car in the airport parking lot to afford the loss of that job that I replaced with a jump pilot job that I moved 1800 miles to get. Walked into a flight school with close to 600 hours and now Im working at a 141 program that I never applied to, never called, never emailed. Just showed up resume in hand and shot the shit with the chief pilot.
If you want it, don’t give up. Work full time to afford to spilt time then when you have the right hours (complex, HP, XC, night, different aircraft) be willing to move somewhere new and go after it. If its not happening where you are at, go to it.
edit: I’m not a kid, grown man in his 30s who had a decent paying career prior and own place. Gave a lot up, pinch pennies, but I’m flying. I know not everyone can go after it same way if have certain responsibilities. Just wanted to motivate others not to give up