What does a typical day look like for you?
Arriving early into the office and arguing with Matt about who is making the first coffee. Once this is finally settled, I open my laptop and start working on any requests/emails that dropped in overnight. Managing my charter requests and preparing proposals for our clients. Then when I find some free time, grabbing the phone and reaching out to potential new business.
What do you love about working in aviation?
How crazy the day can become. One minute you can be sat there watching a football draw, then you are working on three requests for sports charters. I love the fact we can play a part in a football away fixture or a company incentive trip, you can ensure the client has very good experience and that is great for job satisfaction. However, the most enjoyable part of the job; speaking with new people from all over the world and making new connections.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
I would say the most challenging part of the job is keeping mentally motivated. As brokers our job is to reach out for new business and with this comes many rejections. Being in the game for over a year now I have learnt to adapt to this, however when I started out this was an eye opener for me.
What do you do when you are not working?
Majority of my time I spend watching my cats chase each other round the flat, one of them is blind so it always ends horribly may I add! I try my best to get out the house and play football on Sunday and end the game with a pint or two before settling down for the evening to finish whatever series I have on the go.
Where would you be working if you hadn’t chosen aviation?
I would have turned pro if it wasn’t for my knee!
Most likely I would have been working as a carpenter, which I have done for 7 years prior to my brokering role. Massive change I know; there’s only so many times I can smack my fingers with a hammer in the pouring rain!
Connect with Tom Pillings, Aircraft Charter Broker
