Jimmy Tran

Interview Project: Part 1

Communication 1010-009
Background Information
My Interviewee:
I am planning on interviewing JT. He works at FedEx Express at the Salt Lake
City airport as an aircraft maintenance technician. I will be interviewing JT at FedEx
in one of our extra meeting rooms we have since we both work there. The reason
why I chose to interview JT is because I always see him working hard and actually
fixing the aircraft while the others just stand there and watch him. I am currently
the Team Leader for the ramp operation at FedEx and I get to see JT fix the aircraft.
My goal is to work at FedEx Express as an aircraft maintenance technician.
Career Research:
The reason I chose to become an aircraft maintenance technician is because I
take pride in the work I perform. I feel as if I dont perform to a certain standard, I
will be putting others lives at risk. Ive taken all of my aircraft maintenance class at
SLCC airport campus. I am in the process of taking all of my written, oral, and
practical. As an aircraft maintenance technician, I will most likely have a graveyard
shift so that will be hard on my schedule. Most maintenance technician move from
state to state just to find a job so that will be interesting and nerve wrecking as well.
As aircraft maintenance I will be working in groups to get a section done. I
dont have a problem working as a team because of the experience I have right now
with FedEx. I am interested to learn how an aircraft can lift with basic physics and
how aerodynamic works. In this interview, I want to learn more about the day to day
activities and the difference between line maintenance and HUB maintenance.
Interview Schedule
Opening:
Hello JT. Thank you for taking time out of your day for me. The purpose of our
meeting is so I can interview you on the career you have chosen and I also have
interest in this field. Ill be asking you about how you got into the aviation field, your
schedule and its impact on your family life, and how you got in with FedEx Express.
Ill be writing just a few notes, but you can keep talking while I write. This
should take longer than half an hour. Are you ready to start?
Body:
Topic 1: Getting Started in the Aviation Field
First, Id like to find out how you got started in this field.
1. Why did you choose a career in the aviation field?
a. Why would you say that you made a good choice?
b. What regrets do you have about working in the aviation field?
2. How did you get started as an aviation maintenance technician?
a. Would you start in this way if you could do it over again?
3. What other elements are required beyond schooling to become a successful
technician?
a. What other fields could you transition into without additional
schooling?

4. What types of knowledge or skills would I need to gain before I become a

technician?
a. Does knowing about cars help you understand how some system works
in the aircraft?
5. How prepared did you feel, initially starting as a technician?
a. What helped you become a better technician?
Topic 2: A Typical Day
Now that I know how you got started, Id like to hear what your current job is like.
1. Can you tell me about a how a typical day plays out in your workplace?
a. What task are the most difficult?
b. Which are the simplest?
2. What do you like most about your job?
a. What would you say you like least about your job?
3. Can you tell me about your schedule?
a. How accommodating is your schedule to your personal life?
b. Are you allowed to take vacation time or days off when you choose?
4. Im interested in how this career might interact with a family life. Do you
mind if I ask whether youre married or have kids?
If yes:
-If your wife or kids got sick one morning when were scheduled to work, what
could you do?
-How does your work life affect your family?
5. Would you recommend this career to a new family?
Topic 3: Getting in with FedEx Express
My next questions are about getting in with FedEx Express
1. How did you get a job with FedEx Express?
a. Did you have work experience before FedEx? If yes, did it help you get a
job with FedEx?
2. Is there a program you can do to get into FedEx? If yes, would you recommend
it?
3. Why did you choose to work at FedEx over other companies?
4. What are the requirements needed?
5. What could I do to increase my chance of getting a job with FedEx?
The Interviewees turn
1. Is there anything else you think we should talk about?
Closing
Thats all the questions I have. Thank you so much for taking time out of your
day for me. I have learned quite a bit and you have been extremely helpful.
You showed me many different options I have and opened up my view about
aviation maintenance.
I have this evaluation form you need to fill out in order for me to get credit.
Please be completely honest because the feedback will just help me out whether
good or bad and it wont affect my grade. I wont get a grade until my professor
receives it. So if you dont mind, please fill it out and email it to him.

Thank you so much!

Jimmy Tran
Interview Project: Part 2
Communication 1010

Interview Analysis Memo

Date: November 22, 2016
To: Professor Reiher
From: Jimmy Tran
Subject: Interview Analysis Memo, COMM 1010-9
I interviewed JT who is a Senior Aviation Maintenance Technician at FedEx
Express where I currently work as a Team Leader for the Ramp Operation. Im
currently getting an associate in Applied Science with a background of Aviation
Maintenance and I have finished all my maintenance courses. I just need to take my
exams to get my licenses.
This memo will summarize what I have learned from the interview.
Summary of Lessons Learned
Getting Started in the Aviation Field
I learned that you only need 2 years of school to become an Aviation
Maintenance Technician through SLCC and at the end of schooling you need to take
3 written exams and 2 orals and practicals. Ive also learned from school and JT
that the aviation field is extremely detail-oriented because if you miss something
and it causes the plane to malfunction then the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will interview you and
investigate what had happened.
In the aviation field, seniority is everything. With seniority, you bid for
schedules and vacation time. The lower seniority you have the more likely you will
work graveyard shifts and the weekends. Depending on the facility, it can take 1520 years to move to day shift with weekends off.
JT shared with me that you need to be willing to learn about all the systems
about the aircraft to become a better mechanic and also to be curious of why
something broke in the aircraft. He also told me replacing a part will only temporary
fix it so its better to find out why it broke or what cause the problem in the first
place. The other thing JT shared with me is that mechanics can make anywhere
from $18 - $56 an hour depending if you work for a major airline or just do general
aviation.

A Typical Day
The FedEx station here in Salt Lake is only a transit location so JT is
performing line maintenance which means he doesnt have all the parts here and
his goal is to fix what we can and get the plane out safely. JT has to communicate
with the pilots to see if there was anything wrong with the aircraft while flying and
he has to check log book to see if there are any write ups so he can see if he can fix
it. He also works with four other mechanics.
JTs work schedule is Friday through Monday from 2pm to 12:30pm because
he has lower seniority than the other mechanics. If a plane is broken and has to stay
overnight, JT and his crew will stay a little later to see if they can fix it and if not
then they will leave a report of what is wrong and what they tried to fix it for the
morning shift mechanics.
A typical day for JT is he first starts out by seeing how many aircrafts are
arriving today and at what time. Usually the planes dont arrive until 5:20pm so he
will check to see if any of the aircrafts have a write up from the previous mechanics
and if they do then he will fix that first when the aircraft arrives. Until then JT
organizes the tool room, organizes the shelf life materials such as epoxy, organizes
the parts room, and if there isnt much to do then he will check to see if he has any
computer training to do.
JTs job is not as flexible because theres only four mechanics working at a
time and if 1 or 2 of them calls in sick or is on leave of absence then he cant just
leave and come back. If all 4 mechanics were there and he had some sort of
emergency, then the other mechanics will cover for him while hes gone. JT also
shared with me that if Im going to work in the aviation maintenance field then I will
need a very flexible wife who is supportive and is willing to work around my
schedule because the aviation field has cause a high rate of divorces.
JT loves his job because there really isnt a typical day at work. Something
different could be broken every day or nothing could be broken that day. Its always
something different for him so thats why he loves his job. He was going to be an
engineer but he said he couldnt stand just being in the office and dealing with
numbers all day.
Getting in with FedEx Express
There are 2 different paths of getting in with FedEx Express as an aviation
maintenance technician. The first path is becoming a Material Handler and wait until
there is an opening for a program called Maintenance Technician Program (MTP).
The second path is to also work as a Material Handler and work at a major airline for
18 months and then apply for an aviation mechanic job. Both paths have its pros
and cons.
The pros about MTP is that you basically secured a job with FedEx as a
mechanic. The first 3 years, you are basically a technician doing a paid internship.
The starting pay is around $17 an hour. After 3 years, you become a junior
mechanic which will bump you up to $36 an hour. After the 3 years of being a junior
mechanic, you have to take a test to become a senior mechanic and once you
become a senior mechanic for 3 years you topped out at $54 an hour. The cons

about the MTP program is that it is 18 months longer than the second path and you
lose out on money you could have made going the second path.
The pros about the second path is that you are 18 months ahead of the
mechanics which means when you apply for a FedEx aviation mechanic job, you are
basically considered a junior mechanic and getting paid at $36 an hour. With those
18 months ahead, you have more seniority as well so youll have a better chance at
getting a better shift than the technicians that are barely getting out of the MTP
program. This path will also make you top out at a faster rate and youre earning
the most you can. The cons about this path is that you are working 2 jobs at time
and that can be very tiring plus it can affect your work performance at both jobs.
The other con is that you dont when there will be an opening for a mechanic job so
you could be doing both jobs for a while.
JT shared with me that he first started at Delta and worked there for about 15
years and then applied for FedEx as a Senior Mechanic. I would do the same path as
JT but FedEx stopped hiring senior mechanics.
The path that I will most likely take will be the second path because I want to
earn more money and start my career as soon possible. Im willing to struggle for 2
years so that when I do move out of state and work for FedEx I will have enough
money for the move and for the apartment.
Interview Analysis
This interview has helped me a lot. I didnt know the options I had with
getting a job with FedEx as an Aviation Maintenance Technician. This also showed
me that I can make a lot of money with just a 2-year degree. It has also shown me
that this career could be really risky and cause relationship problems.
JTs advice for me was to take my tests and get my license as soon as
possible and start learning how different aircraft systems works and to just always
be curious and willing to learn because if you dont step up and learn more
complicated systems then youll always be doing the dirty work. With the advice JT
gave me, I will definitely try to hurry and start my career and hopefully my girlfriend
will be supportive and come with me.
Analysis of my Interview Process
I already knew JT so the interview wasnt that bad or else I would be super
shy to talk to him or even interview him. Im glad I did this assignment because I
probably wouldnt have gone out of my way to ask him some simple questions that
would me with my life.
I tried to remember the questions I had for JT but I couldnt remember them
all and so I ended up bringing my interview project part 1 paper and just looked at
from there. Next time I will be more prepared and try to remember the questions
and write out an outline so it would be easier and keep the flow of the conversation
going. JT did go off topic a few times but they were interesting stories so I didnt
mind. I was not dressed up to interview him so it made it a little more casual so the
interview was more of a talk.

At the end of our interview, I was a bit more comfortable but I didnt know
how to end the interview. I was unprepared and didnt have the evaluation form with
me so I had to run to my backpack and get it. I did thank him for the time he took
out of work to interview me and shook his hand but it was kind of awkward because
he only had 30 minutes left to finish some work up before he had to leave. I told him
thank you and that I would buy him an Asian Sandwich. This assignment was very
helpful to me and made a clear path for my career.

Letter of Thanks

I will actually buy him a thank you letter and it will say
Dear JT,
Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you about your career. You
are an awesome person and I hope one day someone like you will show me the
ropes. I appreciate the time you took out of your busy schedule for me. I learned so
much about the different paths I can take to get into FedEx and I really appreciate
all the advice you gave me which will definitely help me with my future.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Tran