Pilot Careers – What are Airlines Looking For On Your Resume?

If you’re interested in a pilot career, you want to know what personnel managers for the airlines often sort through many resumes for each posting.

There are many things that airlines look for when they’re hiring captains and first officers for Airbus 320s, Boeing 737s, and other pilot jobs. Get out a copy of your resume and review how well your resume reflects the items they value most.

While there may be many candidates that have similar or equal skills and all should meet the posted minimums for the job, here are some ways you can really stand out from the crowd.

Having a type rating sets candidates apart.

“This really convinces a potential employer that they’re hiring students with the discipline, focus and ability to handle an aircraft that goes 8 miles a minute, not 2 miles a minute,” said Peter Dunn, chair of flight education programs at Florida Tech, referring to more typical collegiate training aircraft. “That’s 85 tons, not 1,600 pounds.”

Be sure your hours and ratings are current on ANY resume you send out, whether or not it’s specifically required by the position!

Communications Skills (listening, verbal, written). By far, the one skill mentioned most often by employers is the ability to listen, write, and speak effectively. Successful communication is critical in business.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

  • Exceptional listener and communicator who effectively conveys information verbally and in writing.

Flexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities. Deals with your ability to manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities, and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

  • Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent projects.

Interpersonal Abilities. The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is essential given the amount of time spent at work each day.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

  • Proven relationship-builder with unsurpassed interpersonal skills.

Leadership/Management Skills. While there is some debate about whether leadership is something people are born with, these skills deal with your ability to take charge and manage your co-workers.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

  • Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and coaches employees to meet high performance standards.

Multicultural Sensitivity/Awareness. There is possibly no bigger issue in the workplace than diversity, and job-seekers must demonstrate a sensitivity and awareness to other people and cultures.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

  • Personable professional whose strengths include cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport with a diverse workforce in multicultural settings.

Planning/Organizing. Deals with your ability to design, plan, organize, and implement projects and tasks within an allotted timeframe. Also involves goal-setting.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

  • Results-driven achiever with exemplary planning and organizational skills, along with a high degree of detail orientation.

Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity. Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using your creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along with the available information and resources.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

  • Innovative problem-solver who can generate workable solutions and resolve issues.

Teamwork. Because so many jobs involve working in one or more work-groups, you must have the ability to work with others in a professional manner while attempting to achieve a common goal.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

  • Resourceful team player who excels at building trusting relationships with customers and colleagues.