I just got my first job in GA and the manager let me go through all the resumes on file and gave me tips on what they look for in resumes- shouldnt be sharing this info with you since half of u are my competition but since im nice:)

-Avoid gaps in employment history or briefly explain if you have them.
-Stick to only 1-2 pages
-If you look like a geek do not include your photo:8
- Do not include a pre primary style cover page
- Stick to a simple easy to read format
- Tailor your cv to the position your applying for, if its your first job in a small GA company you dont want to come across over qualified.
- My boss like a very brief section about hobbies. apparently he can tell alot about them just by a few of their hobbies ie you play rugby- he knows your not an overweight lazy sloth.
- Dont put in the line "I've already written off a plane so thats unlikely to happen again" That was in a girls resume in her "about me section" amongst her love for cooking cupcakes:ugh:
- I know someone else said dont come in, its probably true for big companies but if its your first GA job and its a small company it might be the go- thats how i got my gig.

Im not an expert but those are the tips i recieved and i hope this might help someone.

Good Attitude amatuer :ugh: Remember, some people do occasiionally jump rungs in the ladder, do you want them pissing on you from above or helping you up? I take it back if you're joking.

I'd really love to know how you could do that in an aviation sense.

So I shouldn't put in that I live next to my computer refreshing D,G &P every few seconds while snorting sherbert and biting my toenails?

What do hobbies have to do with work ethic? What does weight have to do with work ethic? It's my time off and I'll do whatever the f*ck I want to in it.

Besdies if my hobby is playing rugby does that mean I also have a side hobby of public urination, defecation and drunkeness?? I think I can tell a lot about your boss from that comment...

That is pretty funny....mmmmm cupcakes....

Whatever you do, even if it's a meeting your 'mate' has set up for you on a day off, DON'T go in in thongs and a t-shirt. That is how I got my first multi gig. The more qualified "I've got 300 hours on a PA-31" bloke rocks up late with messy hair in pluggers boardies and a printed t-shirt. I was dressed in slacks, shirt and tie, total of 25hrs multi. guess who got the job flying bongos...mmmm bongos....I miss bongos


I agree Chimbu, It would be nice. I sent an enquiry off to an ad like that requesting clarification ie what aircraft types etc. All I got back was "Our client does not wish to divulge that information at this stage, but we welcome further information from you..." Sorry, fail...

Thanks for the posting there remoak, simple and to the point.

j3

If you already have the job how can the others be competition? :rolleyes: You will learn very quickly that this is a very small industry indeed.

Another tip:

A very big NO NO!

NEVER EVER go up to a Chief Pilot at the local Aero Club and ask for a job!

They are there to unwind, not interview pilots! If you are introduced by a mutual aquaintence, fine, have a chat, but don't ask for a job!

Also, I have no problem seeing people who turn up at the door. If I have time I will see them, if not, then they are asked to email me their resume with a note saying they dropped in.

Geez j3pipercub dont shoot the messenger :ouch:

In regards to my earlier comment "You guys are my competition so i shouldnt really being sharing this with you , but since im nice" It was just a light hearted comment not to be taken seriously. Chill people:p

Now answering your question about coming across over qualified- when you have multiple different degrees and pocketed 1000 different accomplishments my boss takes it as an indication they are high achievers with higher expectations and assumes they wont be happy living out bush in a shearers shack in 48 degree heat, flying 172s in a repetitive pattern 6 days a week 7hrs a day and spending the rest of their time washing plane bellies. Just an assumption of his.

In terms of the hobbies and interest section he likes, i was also suprised. But being a small GA company out in the sticks he doesnt want a nerdy guy that sits on the computer all day -hes after strong athletic outdoors types to help out around the place with other labouring jobs. Thus the guy whos interests are say footy and fishing would be preferred over a guy whos interests are i dunno IT or something like that.

Im sure when you get to the bigger city companies and airlines the guy with the degree and whos interest are IT would probably be preferred- so its not doom and gloom if your more on the nerdy side of things:8

Amatuer, I did mention that I took it back if it was a joke and I do. However...

Is that a Commercial Op? And do 172 P-Charts go that high?

Ah I see, he's after a laborer that he wants to pay pilot's wages for. And is this before, after, or during flying 6hrs a day and degreasing the belly? Give it time, wait till the novelty wears off.

Glad you're sure mate, as long as you're sure, then that's all that counts. :ugh: Just got your first job and already an expert, awesome. I am a nerd so I'm glad you think it'll be ok when I get to the bigger city companies...

But when you get to 'bigger city companies' I always thought it would be hours and being a decent human that counted. If it came to IT degrees then I'll fail there too. But that's just from my rather limited experience.

j3

j3...what is your problem???? enjoy picking on the newbies do we?? i take it you're so experienced in aviation that you must have forgotten what its like to be starting out....

If we're talking about getting up noses, this is an attitude that gets up mine (I know it's your bosses' attitude amateur, I'm not having a go at you). On paper I'm overqualified for my position, with post grad tertiary and various exciting achievements :} that aren't needed for my aviation job. However, I like my job and I wouldn't want to work anywhere else. Fortunately in the interview my (current) boss had the courtesy to ask me directly whether I would be afraid to get my hands dirty, and of course I said no.

Just because a person has tertiary qualifications doesn't mean they're an office dwelling tosser, nor does it mean they're puny / incapable of physical work. They may be, of course, but IMHO dismissing them out of hand because of their perceived 'uppitiness' is very unfair and probably means you cut out some good candidates.
Hey, send in a resume. Be aware though that it's one of the few industries where a photo is required with the application:}:E

Surely we must have the weakest unions and unity of any workforce in Australia. Maybe the hospitality guys /gals have a worse one.

QF411,

I don't enjoy picking on the newbies, nor do I think I am experienced. I just find some of the attitudes displayed by some fo the newbies to be irritating and frustrating.

j3

Gee wizz J3 did that pipercub fly up your ass or something? If i have offended you in anyway i do apologise- but im guessing your just naturally a d*ck. And like i said im no expert was just passing on the tips my boss gave me- thought it might be helpful to someone going for a similar type job. As for the 48 degree thing trust me i asked the same thing- Its going to be an interesting summer :\ And yes it is a commercial operation- And yes he does wants labourers but he doesnt pay pilot wages for that -its to earn our keep. And by the way J3 if you read carefully these were purely the attitudes and opinions of the business manager and chief pilot of my company- never did i say i agreed with them.

j3pipercub

Cheers.

One thing though...

It's actually not about work ethic. As with photos, you can tell a lot about a person by how they have fun. So, for example, if someone plays in a band on their days off, you can be fairly sure that they have good hand-eye co-ordination and may well do better in the sim than others. if someone restores classic cars, you can be fairly sure that they have an eye for detail and like to do a job properly. If someone admits to riding an R1 or a Gixxer, you can predict that at some point they may well be away from work for an extended period while they recover from their injuries. Same goes for rugby players.

Of course it's probably illegal to ask someone their hobbies in Australia, so... :ugh:

Damn you did a much better job of trying to explain that than i did :ok:

Amatuer,

You didn't offend me before, but calling me a d*ck did offend me, not that you would care much at this point.

You have your first job, congrats, honestly congrats. The things you will learn about yourself, your limits and the industry will amaze you. Good luck, you will need it.

I was never having a go at you in my first post, I was having a go at your boss, if everything that you put in there were your boss' words. I hate the attitude of your boss, it is so prevalent in the newbie CPL scene that it makes me sick.

I was merely pointing out the myriad of things wrong with this view point, not attacking you personally.

However, I must say that not everything you mention is your boss' opinion. The statement in your second post:

is quite ridiculous considering you have just gotten your first job. Don't go making statements or assumptions where you have no experience. I am also pretty sure this is not your boss' viewpoint.

A word of advice, I would keep the rule breaking to yourself, especially the flying 7 days a week, unless your company has a special dispensation. Already I reckon I could narrow down to a few companies who you work for, just on the info you have provided in your posts. Now if I were a CASA FOI (and yes they do look here, just like they look on youtube occassionally. Don't believe me? Just ask the caravan drivers who were in Maree earlier this year) where do you think I might drop in for an audit if I were passing through. Just be careful and TRUST NO-ONE!!!!!!

remoak,

That of course is true in that respect and context, and I don't have an issue with listing a hobby, but to discriminate against someone because they do or don't play rugby or are carrying extra weight????

Although I am an under-achiever, I think I'm a pretty hard worker when set a task. That being said, I have been put to shame when loading/unloading freight/dirty laundry etc by guys with a much larger BMI than myself. On the flipside, also know some weekend football players who are some of the lazi-est b@stards around when it came to working alongside them.

To factor in people's hobbies, sure. To discriminate, ridiculous.

Might also start using that CV template. Mine is similar, but does need a rework.

j3

Thank you for an actual constructive post j3 :D and yes that last bit was my own assumption but am i too wrong to assume that over two candidates going for an airline position identical hrs both suitable personalities ect that the one who also has a degree in aviation or say business studies would not have an edge over the other?

Agreed. It's just to help build up a picture.

Here's a question I have about job adverts:

- Current MECIR, 2 renewals

Does this mean I can (or need to) fork out the extra money and renew my MECIR 2 extra times in 3 weeks to get by this requirement? Or do I have to wait around 2 years and renew my licence every year?

Main thing is that I have the required flight time, but it is all overseas and I recently just got my Australian ATPL (converted from FAA).

Just curious as to how I should "look good" without my photo. :}

Rhino

Really interesting, and slightly disturbing thread.
My view on a CV is that it is merely a snapshot and thus useful to a very limited degree.
Like Remoak, the majority of my experience has been in Europe where 1 page is the norm..anything else is considered fluff.
Tailwheel, I have a question mate,
How can you be open to litigation if you clearly state at the outset of an interview process/advert etc that your organisation doesnt discriminate on the grounds of age race etc etc.
I'd be interested in anyone with some sort of credibility in this regard to clue me up...simply because you can find discrimination anywhere if you want to find it. i.e. she got the job cos shes a girl, or hes taller than me..so you dont like/employ short people.
Just would like to know how you can be proven to discriminate when you publish a disclaimer..and candidates submit CV's of their own free will?

this is why large companies have standard application forms that are required to be filled out so that everyone being accessed is answering the questions that the company wants to know, ie its harder to pretty things up:ok:

On the topic of Referees.
A referee is there to confirm the decision not make the decision.
Your referees are valuable to you.
Only disclose them at preferred candidate stage.
If your CV stacks up and given it's a small industry a recruiter should be able to work out who you will name as a referee without you actually naming them. e.g. if you worked for xxx air charter, it is likely that mr smith the chief pilot of the time will be a referee.
Referees that are rung up and harrassed frequently by a junior HR person, with nothing better to do, will soon desert you.