Any advice
Moderator
One page brief resume, in three sections:
Don't bother with references until asked. I've never seen a bad written reference and I'm not interested in the referees you "set up" for me to call. If I'm really interested I will call your last one or two employers.
Unless the job specification requires minimum educational level (e.g. Year 12), I wouldn't bother with educational details unless you have a related or unrelated tertiary qualification, which you should include with personal details.
Pay extra, careful attention to balanced layout and clarity! Can a competent Chief Pilot skim your resume in a minute or two and have a complete mental summary of YOU?
One page brief covering letter:
You may have been Head Prefect at High School, had a 10 minutes ride in a two seat Spitfire and have a Certificate of Merit in Apiculture, but none of that is relevent in an initial application resume or letter. During an interview, if asked for any additional experience to add, you may mention your time in Air Cadets, remote area flying, working in a hangar etc - but only if asked. Don't bore the socks of the interviewer!
I probably see at least 10 or 15 applications each week. Avoid the following (taken from this week's crop of applications):
So many people lose a job even before the interview by trying to look over qualified, impossibly enthusiastic, or qualified and experienced in every other job except the position being applied for.
Phone or preferably call on the employer no longer than a week after you sent the resume, confirm receipt and ask for an appointment to meet and discuss.
If all else fails, don't forget the Playboy center fold!
- Name, address and contact details (no date of birth, marital status, religion, blood type, parents names etc);
- Abreviated and clear summary of aeronautical hours, ratings and type endorsements;
- One or two line summary of last two or three jobs only.
Don't bother with references until asked. I've never seen a bad written reference and I'm not interested in the referees you "set up" for me to call. If I'm really interested I will call your last one or two employers.
Unless the job specification requires minimum educational level (e.g. Year 12), I wouldn't bother with educational details unless you have a related or unrelated tertiary qualification, which you should include with personal details.
Pay extra, careful attention to balanced layout and clarity! Can a competent Chief Pilot skim your resume in a minute or two and have a complete mental summary of YOU?
One page brief covering letter:
- Introduce yourself and the position you are applying for;
- One sentence why you can do the job (endorsed on type, remote area experience etc), no BS, just the hard, honest facts;
- Ask for an interview at the CP's convenience.
You may have been Head Prefect at High School, had a 10 minutes ride in a two seat Spitfire and have a Certificate of Merit in Apiculture, but none of that is relevent in an initial application resume or letter. During an interview, if asked for any additional experience to add, you may mention your time in Air Cadets, remote area flying, working in a hangar etc - but only if asked. Don't bore the socks of the interviewer!
I probably see at least 10 or 15 applications each week. Avoid the following (taken from this week's crop of applications):
Career objective – to work full-time in a great company.
I am a motivated individual who maintains a passionate desire to meet the needs of my customers to promote both short and long term goals.
I believe that I work well in a team environment, can handle getting instructions from fellow workers and persons in higher authority and I accept help when needed and also value people’s opinions.
I strongly believe that it is hard for younger people to get into a career without any previous experience.....
Phone or preferably call on the employer no longer than a week after you sent the resume, confirm receipt and ask for an appointment to meet and discuss.
If all else fails, don't forget the Playboy center fold!
Tail Wheel, can you suggest a preferred size for the playboy center fold? Are we talking just the standard double A4 or would a triple really get you in there? How scantily clad would you suggest the model be? Is it better to try and find one that is "Aviation Related" or is that completely irrelevant?
Considering Women are also just as likely to be submitting a resume are they actively encouraged to do the same? would including their own playboy center fold picture (assuming they have one) hinder or assist in your opinion?
Considering Women are also just as likely to be submitting a resume are they actively encouraged to do the same? would including their own playboy center fold picture (assuming they have one) hinder or assist in your opinion?
