Resume and that first job application
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Resume and that first job application
I know there are a heap of threads on where to go and making the pilgrimage North/ West, however as a soon to be a newly minted CPL graduate I wanted to seek some advice from those who have tread this path about how to format/ structure a resume and cover letters for potential employers. What do they want to see/ hear? How do you make a good impression without annoying them or be a nuisance?
Any advice (below or by PM) on how to go about getting that first start would be appreciated.
Cheers.
Any advice (below or by PM) on how to go about getting that first start would be appreciated.
Cheers.
Name, contact details, licence and ratings together with a simple break down of your hours. Second page, education, other qualifications outside of aviation and referees.
List specific aircraft type hours logged, not just your total time. ie rather than 500 TT, list 20 ME, 30 IR, and specific aircraft e.g. 10 C206, 10 PA-38 etc for insurance requirements.
Remember the person you talk to on the front counter might be the owner or chief pilot. Even if they aren't, still treat them nicely. Present yourself in a pilot shirt and dress pants.
List specific aircraft type hours logged, not just your total time. ie rather than 500 TT, list 20 ME, 30 IR, and specific aircraft e.g. 10 C206, 10 PA-38 etc for insurance requirements.
Remember the person you talk to on the front counter might be the owner or chief pilot. Even if they aren't, still treat them nicely. Present yourself in a pilot shirt and dress pants.
There was a whole thread dedicated to resume specifics, but I can't find it. Anyone else?
In the meantime search 'resume' and you won't struggle to find advice that has been given many, many times.
Information regarding the Top End
Getting past the receptionists when looking for Charter jobs
I mostly agree with bloodandiron. Just don't put down every model of every aircraft ie. C172R C172N etc. and no more than 2 pages. Good luck!
In the meantime search 'resume' and you won't struggle to find advice that has been given many, many times.
Information regarding the Top End
Getting past the receptionists when looking for Charter jobs
I mostly agree with bloodandiron. Just don't put down every model of every aircraft ie. C172R C172N etc. and no more than 2 pages. Good luck!
No more than 1 page unless you have some serious flying experience. The important information easily fits onto 1 page.
Here is a tip. Most GA employers aren't interested in your ATPL exam results. Just list you have passed them if that's the case. They also aren't really concerned about aviation diplomas. Almost every school now gives out diplomas. Having worked in customer service or holding a bus licence is important.
I can almost guarantee that most GA employers never flick to the second page unless something about you stands out. As you are a newbie this is highly unlikely.
Here is a tip. Most GA employers aren't interested in your ATPL exam results. Just list you have passed them if that's the case. They also aren't really concerned about aviation diplomas. Almost every school now gives out diplomas. Having worked in customer service or holding a bus licence is important.
I can almost guarantee that most GA employers never flick to the second page unless something about you stands out. As you are a newbie this is highly unlikely.
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They also aren't really concerned about aviation diplomas. Almost every school now gives out diplomas
If I've got two identical candidates except for one having a diploma, it will influence my decision. If you worked at Maccas and made it to manager I'll also want to know about it. I might need someone to run my office whilst I'm on holidays and if the other almost identical resume on my desk doesn't have it.... well....
Of those 400-450 resumes, I have never not flicked through all of the pages. You might have listed that you volunteered at a gliding club that my best mates Dad flies at... bingo, there's a potentially good reference for you.
As they say, it's not what you know, it's who you know. I'll always take someone that gets a good wrap from someone that I trust versus the unknown.
Stickwiththetruth is probably the only boss who goes through 400 CV's. But here is the rub. If he gets a recommendation from a current employee, those 400 people wont be in with a chance.
We didnt have high mins but we never got close 400 CV's when we advertised. Even so at least half didnt have the min requirements. If you dont meet 75% of whats asked for your really wasting your time.
We didnt have high mins but we never got close 400 CV's when we advertised. Even so at least half didnt have the min requirements. If you dont meet 75% of whats asked for your really wasting your time.
If you dont meet 75% of whats asked for your really wasting your time.
Most employees ask for too much. It’s just flying an aeroplane after all.
as a soon to be a newly minted CPL graduate
Flying up north on light singles is a lot like taxi driving - not the operating, but the customer relations. Chasing up jobs in town, preventing passengers doing a runner etc. A part time job as a taxi driver for a few months gets you some skills that transfer nicely.
Similarly, being able to drive a forklift/the owner's truck are also skills which help.
When you're a new pilot, your flying experience is obviosuly going to be slim - a resume that shows you can help out in other areas of the business stands out a bit.
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I never said that I received 400 resumes for the one job!!
More like 20 jobs over a number of years with 20 applications on average. Of the pilot jobs that I have personally advertised through AFAP I'd say there were around 15-20 applicants on average, of which perhaps half at best actually met the requirements for minimum hours, instrument ratings and aircraft type experience.
Eg. Must have 208 experience.
Candidate - I don't have a 208 endorsement and I haven't flown one, however I see them taxi past at Bankstown heaps of time so I assume I can get one no dramas.
That's the calibre of what you're up against people! That line above is a direct quote, seriously!
More like 20 jobs over a number of years with 20 applications on average. Of the pilot jobs that I have personally advertised through AFAP I'd say there were around 15-20 applicants on average, of which perhaps half at best actually met the requirements for minimum hours, instrument ratings and aircraft type experience.
Eg. Must have 208 experience.
Candidate - I don't have a 208 endorsement and I haven't flown one, however I see them taxi past at Bankstown heaps of time so I assume I can get one no dramas.
That's the calibre of what you're up against people! That line above is a direct quote, seriously!
Capt Fathom - how wrong you are.
Employers ask for specific requirements for two reasons (IMO):
1/ Insurance requirements are very specific, and must be met, otherwise in case of accident or incident, there may be no insurance. No employer in this country and current litigatious environment will knowingly send out an employee and an expensive piece of company equipment without secure insurance coverage (particularly if there is a member of the general public on board).
2/ Training standards have fallen so far that the higher minimums are in a vain attempt to get someone with a bit of experience under their belt who have made some of the early, amateur mistakes, and (hopefully) lived and learned.
It's only flying an aircraft? If it is so simple, then why is it so hard to get someone to do it well?
StickWithTheTruth - watched the boss's blood pressure skyrocket the other day as some hopeful candidate told the CP that as the candidate had 70 hours PIC, of course that was close enough to the company minimum of 100 hours PIC...The candidate wanted to know why the remaining 30 hours couldn't be gained under ICUS?
Employers ask for specific requirements for two reasons (IMO):
1/ Insurance requirements are very specific, and must be met, otherwise in case of accident or incident, there may be no insurance. No employer in this country and current litigatious environment will knowingly send out an employee and an expensive piece of company equipment without secure insurance coverage (particularly if there is a member of the general public on board).
2/ Training standards have fallen so far that the higher minimums are in a vain attempt to get someone with a bit of experience under their belt who have made some of the early, amateur mistakes, and (hopefully) lived and learned.
It's only flying an aircraft? If it is so simple, then why is it so hard to get someone to do it well?
StickWithTheTruth - watched the boss's blood pressure skyrocket the other day as some hopeful candidate told the CP that as the candidate had 70 hours PIC, of course that was close enough to the company minimum of 100 hours PIC...The candidate wanted to know why the remaining 30 hours couldn't be gained under ICUS?
A company I worked for put on a new pilot. Son of owners mate or something like that. We had a 700 hour min for hiring that was not negotiable due to "insurance". Well they just paid an extra premium for this guy and everything was fine apparently.
Also, a C208 is pretty easy to fly. One large skydive company has no trouble putting 200 hour people in them.
Also, a C208 is pretty easy to fly. One large skydive company has no trouble putting 200 hour people in them.
as pilotchute mentions, it all comes down to what the company are willing to pay for insurance really. You can insure anyone you want on any aircraft you want if you're willing to go high enough of course. Any prospective employer will likely consider taking someone under the minimums if they feel you're worth the extra money compared to other applicants.
As others have said, keep it to 2 pages max, first page should be all the essential details, hours, types, aviation and directly related qualifications to the job (ie, do they have a forklift? do they use a bus for transfers? what qualifications do you have that directly relate to those things? Do they deal with tourists mostly and do you have a lot of Hospitality experience?) Keep it short and sweet then use the second page to list anything else that might help put you ahead of someone else they're considering, cause that's when they're likely to read that second page.
A MASSIVE point I'll put here, make sure you know who are applying to for your initial email, relate your experience quickly to what they do. So many times I've had people applying for "Co-Pilot Positions" in their subject and I delete them without reading them, why? Cause the company I was at didn't use Co-Pilots and tells me they'd done no research at all and was a quick and easy way to sort people initially. Go on their website, check what aircraft they fly, have you flown their types? Make sure you mention it in your email!! Do they do tourist flights and you've got hospitality experience? MENTION IT IN YOUR EMAIL!! I always used to have a basic email template that stayed the same but the first paragraph was always typed to suit the Company I was applying to.
The key is to make it easy for the employee to see you working for them, make it easy for them to imagine you walking in the door, being awesome and making them a pile of money whilst making them as few headaches as possible.
As others have said, keep it to 2 pages max, first page should be all the essential details, hours, types, aviation and directly related qualifications to the job (ie, do they have a forklift? do they use a bus for transfers? what qualifications do you have that directly relate to those things? Do they deal with tourists mostly and do you have a lot of Hospitality experience?) Keep it short and sweet then use the second page to list anything else that might help put you ahead of someone else they're considering, cause that's when they're likely to read that second page.
A MASSIVE point I'll put here, make sure you know who are applying to for your initial email, relate your experience quickly to what they do. So many times I've had people applying for "Co-Pilot Positions" in their subject and I delete them without reading them, why? Cause the company I was at didn't use Co-Pilots and tells me they'd done no research at all and was a quick and easy way to sort people initially. Go on their website, check what aircraft they fly, have you flown their types? Make sure you mention it in your email!! Do they do tourist flights and you've got hospitality experience? MENTION IT IN YOUR EMAIL!! I always used to have a basic email template that stayed the same but the first paragraph was always typed to suit the Company I was applying to.
The key is to make it easy for the employee to see you working for them, make it easy for them to imagine you walking in the door, being awesome and making them a pile of money whilst making them as few headaches as possible.
Don’t underestimate outside non aviation experience also, put it on there. Before my first job I was responsible for 150 odd people. I went to two different interviews and both CFIs were more interested in my previous line of work and responsibilities than what flying I had achieved.
