COVID-19 Series: Job Satisfaction Working In Aviation and Aerospace Industry

18 Apr 2020, Singapore: Someone asked me ... any pointers for "Job Satisfaction Factors working in the Aviation ad Aerospace Industry" ... at time of COVID-19 pandemic?

Let me start with the negative side which people don't know ...

1. Highly regulated and audited industry.
2. Highly unionism industry ... some company have 3 different union in one company. 
3. High level of stress - especially those is the MRO and Engine Center, every mistake you do can cause "hundred-thousand" and affect air-safety of a plane. You can even ground a plane - your family will be very proud!
4. Processes driven industry! If you don't like reading policies and manuals, this is not the industry for you.
5. A lots of certification to maintain the company business operations e.g., CAAS, FAA, etc.
6. It is not a high paying industry if you compare it to pharmaceutical or oil and gas industry..
7. An industry that is currently affected by COVID-19 and it is easily impacted by wars, terrorist, oil and gas industry, tourism industry and etc.

The positive side of working in the aviation industry ... can lead to Job Satisfaction: - 

1. Lots of learning opportunity - believe me as a HR professional, when I talk to people about EHS or International Trade Compliance (ITC) topics - you will not think I am in HR.
2. The aviation industry is a very structured, policies and processes driven - the positive side is - very well written policies and procedures for your next create career development.
3. Management are highly engage with the employees - it is part of the industry culture.
4. Lots of communication channel for employees to voice out and there are reporting mechanism in place to govern ombudsmen issues and address potential non-compliance behave.
5. Elements of Human Factor - when it comes to work, the aviation industry embrace the elements of Human Factors in their shop-floor management e.g., they will always have some form of balance on work-life for you.
6. Remuneration: In this industry, either you are (i) high in base salary (or fixed cash components) and low in variable bonus; or (ii) low base salary (or fixed cash components) with high variable bonus. You will always be fairly compensated ... you only need to manage your own life style ... but some people in Singapore will tell you "Money is Always Not Enough".
7. Education Assistance Program - it is a common employment benefits in the aviation industry that the company will sponsor your education or development - you only need to make a commitment to develop yourself and invest personal time to study. 

The above pointers is just my personal opinion and observation - does not represent the industry and the organization I work with. 

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