Ever dreamt of being a pilot? In this episode of A-Z Jobs, host Nate is joined by Chris, a Captain with a major Australian airline. Chris’s path to the cockpit was a marathon, not a sprint. He shares how a childhood model plane sparked a lifelong passion, why the Air Force told him not to bother, and how he washed thousands of dishes to fund his flying lessons.

We cover:
✈️ The reality of self-funding your pilot licenses.
✈️ The moment he was physically hit by a senior Captain—and how airline culture has changed.
✈️ Why failing is a crucial part of a pilot’s training and career.
✈️ The importance of mentors and how to find them in any industry.
✈️ Why the best part of the job shifts from the planes to the people.

Chris offers brutally honest advice for aspiring aviators and reveals the simple, three-word mantra that guides his professional life. This is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by aviation or navigating a challenging career path of their own.

Listen for an inspiring story of persistence, luck, and why you should never, ever be a knob.

#AZJobs #Podcast #Pilot #Aviation #CareerAdvice #Qantas #Boeing #Airbus

A-Z Jobs Podcast: The Airline Safety Guardian (Not in the Air!)

Ever wondered who makes sure your flight is safe before you even board? In this episode, host Nate is joined by Grant, an Air Safety and Compliance Manager with over 30 years in aviation.

We go behind the scenes of this high-responsibility career, exploring:
✈️ His Start: From a Saturday airport job and carrying bags for a future President to his time in the stressful world of air traffic control.
🛡️ The Real Job: What a Safety & Compliance Manager actually does—and why it involves so much more than just rules.
💬 Mastering Difficult Conversations: Learn the crucial skill of giving constructive feedback without making it feel like criticism, a lesson applicable to any career.
🚀 Career Fast-Tracking: Grant’s actionable advice on using shadowing, mentoring, and building relationships to accelerate your own career in any industry, especially aviation.

If you’re fascinated by high-stakes professions, love a good "how it works" story, or want to learn how to build a career through connection, this episode is for you. Grant’s story proves that sometimes the most critical roles in aviation aren't in the air, but on the ground ensuring everyone's safety.

#AZJobsPodcast #AviationCareers #SafetyAndCompliance #AirTrafficControl #CareerProfiles #JobSpotlight

Pattern making, fashion design, and the art of living on your own terms. In this episode of A-Z Jobs, Nate talks with Vladimir—a Moscow-born pattern maker and artist now based in Bangkok. Vladimir reveals how he built a career working with international fashion houses while staying true to his artistic passions. From the technical side of clothing construction to the freedom (and challenges) of a nomadic lifestyle, this conversation explores creativity, responsibility, and the importance of continuous learning.