Pilot resume format
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Pilot resume format
I'm a new cpl with mecir and I'm just looking for a bit of advice regarding how most pilots format their resumes. Especially as I obviously have no previous aviation references or experience. I'm particularly looking for advice from people who employ low hour pilots about what kind information they are interested in from a prospective employee.
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Cheers
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Mate. keep it simple. Your name, Contact, hours broken down, and endorsements and ratings.
and any other relevent (sorry about spelling drunk one bottle of red already) stuff.
They dont want to know you were a boy scout for 3 years.
If still unsure talk to Pinstripes solutions (on the Web as well)
Troopy
I spent most my money on booze and woman, the rest I wasted.
and any other relevent (sorry about spelling drunk one bottle of red already) stuff.
They dont want to know you were a boy scout for 3 years.
If still unsure talk to Pinstripes solutions (on the Web as well)
Troopy
I spent most my money on booze and woman, the rest I wasted.
2 very important things with resume's let alone flying resumes.
SPELLING
FORMAT
The first one could be the difference between it getting binned by the receptionist and it making the Chief Pilots desk. (I bet I have spelling mistakes in this post hehe)
Second one could be the difference between making it to the desk and it actually getting read.
As Troopy said (In a much more lacquered state than I wish I was atm) keep your resume simple. Its like a personal information sheet with references and BRIEF work history. The cover letter is where you sell yourself.
SPELLING
FORMAT
The first one could be the difference between it getting binned by the receptionist and it making the Chief Pilots desk. (I bet I have spelling mistakes in this post hehe)
Second one could be the difference between making it to the desk and it actually getting read.
As Troopy said (In a much more lacquered state than I wish I was atm) keep your resume simple. Its like a personal information sheet with references and BRIEF work history. The cover letter is where you sell yourself.
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Hey bloke:
Well done on getting to your current level and on having the sense to ask those who have gone before 'how to....?'
In another life I was a personnel manager. PM me your email and I'll send you a simple Resume format that will do the job.
Note, that is Resume, NOT CV; there is a significant difference. A Resume is a brief. A CV (CURRICULUM VITAE) is a blow-by-blow of your life to date. Don't send a CV. Don't send a Resume either; take it in yourself. The boss will want to SEE you and TALK to you.
My opinions only.
Well done on getting to your current level and on having the sense to ask those who have gone before 'how to....?'
In another life I was a personnel manager. PM me your email and I'll send you a simple Resume format that will do the job.
Note, that is Resume, NOT CV; there is a significant difference. A Resume is a brief. A CV (CURRICULUM VITAE) is a blow-by-blow of your life to date. Don't send a CV. Don't send a Resume either; take it in yourself. The boss will want to SEE you and TALK to you.
My opinions only.
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One page. Absolutely always.
Name in big letters on the top
Immediately under that (before your address or phone number or anything else ) a highlighted box or bullet points or something with your hours summary :
- any targetted time appropriate to the employer (i.e. if it's a CV going to a bush operator and you've got some C206 time, or an Aztec rating for a bank runners job, then put that in first).
- P in C
- Multi
- Turbine / night / IFR time as appropriate (don't bother if you've only got 3 hours turbine or something)
- Total time
That is the most important thing because that's as far as most chief pilots will ever read. If they're interested then they'll read the rest of the CV below, which can contain in any particular order
Your personal details : address / phone number / email / marital status etc etc.
Qualifications : list of your relevant licences, type ratings, multi crew qualifications, first aid certificates etc etc. Don't list your correspondence course in bovine artificial insemination or your grade 5 in classical piano or anything else that isn't aviation related. (you might laugh but people actually do it - honestly).
RELEVANT employment history. If it's your first job then yeah working in ops or plane washing or something counts as relevant experience. No GA operator wants to read a 20 line paragraph about all the great decision making skills you gained assembling hamburgers.
Training history : where you trained and did you finish high school is really all they want to know. The one-page CV is not the place to make a huge great list of every single 98% pass mark you got in your ATPLs.
Referees (Not a bad idea, but only if they are genuinely experienced and respectable aviators who are happy to talk it up on the phone for you. if you know anyone who's a captain - or even better a training captain - at a decent airline who's willing to be a referee for you, then fill your boots. If you don't know anyone like that then it's better just to put nothing, don't put your old Mcdonalds shift manager as a referee cos it makes you look like a muppet).
And that's IT. Less is more when it comes to cold selling the CV's.
Name in big letters on the top
Immediately under that (before your address or phone number or anything else ) a highlighted box or bullet points or something with your hours summary :
- any targetted time appropriate to the employer (i.e. if it's a CV going to a bush operator and you've got some C206 time, or an Aztec rating for a bank runners job, then put that in first).
- P in C
- Multi
- Turbine / night / IFR time as appropriate (don't bother if you've only got 3 hours turbine or something)
- Total time
That is the most important thing because that's as far as most chief pilots will ever read. If they're interested then they'll read the rest of the CV below, which can contain in any particular order
Your personal details : address / phone number / email / marital status etc etc.
Qualifications : list of your relevant licences, type ratings, multi crew qualifications, first aid certificates etc etc. Don't list your correspondence course in bovine artificial insemination or your grade 5 in classical piano or anything else that isn't aviation related. (you might laugh but people actually do it - honestly).
RELEVANT employment history. If it's your first job then yeah working in ops or plane washing or something counts as relevant experience. No GA operator wants to read a 20 line paragraph about all the great decision making skills you gained assembling hamburgers.
Training history : where you trained and did you finish high school is really all they want to know. The one-page CV is not the place to make a huge great list of every single 98% pass mark you got in your ATPLs.
Referees (Not a bad idea, but only if they are genuinely experienced and respectable aviators who are happy to talk it up on the phone for you. if you know anyone who's a captain - or even better a training captain - at a decent airline who's willing to be a referee for you, then fill your boots. If you don't know anyone like that then it's better just to put nothing, don't put your old Mcdonalds shift manager as a referee cos it makes you look like a muppet).
And that's IT. Less is more when it comes to cold selling the CV's.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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I concur with the above posters; keep it brief and with correct grammar and spelling. The first page should be your full name at the top. Then adress, residential and postal if different.
Followed by phone numbers, age and date of birth, marital status, then licences and ratings held with number of renewals if applicable.
Then your flying times; the whole thing neatly laid out on one sheet of A4.
Above all, do not turn it into a booklet laying out your schooling etc with interests, hobbies etc with a photograph of a 747 on the cover as once turned up on the CP's desk at a company I worked for in PNG. (It went into the circular filing cabinet unread by the CP)
I spent my money on Aviation, Women (plural) and Booze!! And after that I did'nt have any left to waste!!
Followed by phone numbers, age and date of birth, marital status, then licences and ratings held with number of renewals if applicable.
Then your flying times; the whole thing neatly laid out on one sheet of A4.
Above all, do not turn it into a booklet laying out your schooling etc with interests, hobbies etc with a photograph of a 747 on the cover as once turned up on the CP's desk at a company I worked for in PNG. (It went into the circular filing cabinet unread by the CP)
I spent most my money on booze and woman, the rest I wasted.
Last edited by Pinky the pilot; 30th Mar 2007 at 10:45. Reason: Posted before reading Luke's post!
Pinky - that booklet CV with the 747 on the cover, was it part of a front page collage? I think I saw the same resume dating from about mid - late 90's.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Compressor stall; This was in 1991 and it was about a four or five page 'booklet' which if memory serves correctly, came from a young bloke with a brand new CPL.
Only myself and one of the other base pilots looked at it; The CP saw the cover with the 747 photo and promptly binned it!
And to repeat what a previous poster mentioned; Don't post it, take it there personally!
Only myself and one of the other base pilots looked at it; The CP saw the cover with the 747 photo and promptly binned it!
And to repeat what a previous poster mentioned; Don't post it, take it there personally!
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when they ask how many hours you have????
Reply....how many do I need.???....
When they tell you.......write that down on your CV
Reply....how many do I need.???....
When they tell you.......write that down on your CV
Last edited by pakeha-boy; 2nd Apr 2007 at 11:01.
I'll be sure to delete the 747 photo and basket weaving course from my current draft before I send it anywhere.
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Whilst hours are important, it's Johnny on the spot that gets the job. If you are unemployed and can be there to start tomorrow and have roughly the right hours as the next guy you have much more chance. Those that already have a job and write stuff like "I can start with 2 weeks notice" or "I live in PNG but want a job back in OZ" will struggle I'm afraid unless they have a very specific skill / rating / endorsement that the employer requires.
In summary, make yourself available at extremely short notice to be able to be there the next day, don't go saying how you might be able to get a day off from Coles sometime next week, it won't fly and nor will you.
In summary, make yourself available at extremely short notice to be able to be there the next day, don't go saying how you might be able to get a day off from Coles sometime next week, it won't fly and nor will you.
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gann
I love your name. Fate will be on your side!!
There is so much good advice here for you. The only thing I would add, is don't put "I don't drink", that equates to does not get the job!!!
Good luck. Enjoy flying.
I love your name. Fate will be on your side!!
There is so much good advice here for you. The only thing I would add, is don't put "I don't drink", that equates to does not get the job!!!
Good luck. Enjoy flying.
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xxx are you seriouse? what if COLES is your bread and butter? that is some really bad advice.
Do you want to be a PILOT or do you want to work at COLES for the rest of your life?
I can tell you, from experience, that Johnny on the spot gets the job, just like the early bird gets the worm.
Rarely does a job in aviation come along where they are looking for a 210 Charter pilot, with applications closing in 4 weeks, then you go along for an interview in 4.5 weeks, then tell them that you have to give your current employer 4 weeks notice. It simply doesn't happen in reality. The only exception to this would be a Amphibious Van Pilot, hey, there's not many of those around and perhaps an airline, but the small operators are a here and now operation.
I didn't say to quit your job at Coles. Take a sick day, tell them you are going to the dentist or your aunt is sick, just be prepared to go there and meet them face to face as soon as you can.