"That Guy"

This post is mainly for those of you who are thinking of getting into this profession. I'm going to call them "That Guy" posts. This particular post is going to be about that guy you should try to avoid being.

At every stop in my maintenance career there has been "That Guy". That guy who feels the need to stand over you while you work and tell you how what you are doing is wrong. That guy who always has a better or quicker way to do the job and can't figure out why you won't do it his way.

The thing about "That Guy" is that he usually only comes around after you have begun or after you have finished the job at hand. "That Guy" usually is spouting his knowledge when a roomful of people can hear it to attest to his greatness. "That Guy" is often the last to help and the first to have problems doing even the simplest tasks. In fact "That Guy" is a legend in his own mind.

"That Guy" is in reality a guy who when you think about all his stories you figure out that you have never seen him do any of this stuff. "That Guy" a needs constant spotlight shone on him when in fact he does nothing noteworthy.

My own "That Guy" experience happened when I first started at SWA. I got hired in with another guy who had a lot of Line Maintenance experience, worked on several types of planes, at several different companies, doing things that sounded amazing to me. "That Guy" even knew two thirds of the mechanics at Oakland from previous employment. Me, on the other hand, having come out of hangar work and knowing nobody put "That Guy" on somewhat of a pedestal in my estimation. As it turned out "That Guy" is a big wind bag who does more talking and complaining than work. The thing is it took me about three years to realize this and by the time I did we at SWA had hired and in most cases fired a bunch of other "That Guys".

So when you start your career don't be "That Guy" who is boastful, pushy, and a know it all. Believe me things go a lot easier for you if you are open to advice, modest, and ask a lot of questions.