Writing an Effective Resume

Ashley Green from PilotPool.com is in the business of linking airlines with pilots who want to fly for a living. She has been very busy lately, but has taken a break to give PilotPool Pilots some advice on producing a professional aviation resume and I have included it here. ___________________________________________ As we embark on scheduling more airline interviews, I would like to offer the following resume advice to our students before they upload resumes to PilotPool:

1. Choose a simple and concise format.  The eye should flow with ease from one section of your resume to the next. Make sure columns are formatted correctly. In an effort to accomplish this, try to keep your resume within one page. If you are struggling to decide on a format, the following is a very basic one for pilots: 
   1. Your Contact Info: Make sure e-mail is work appropriate and all info is current.  
   2. Objective: Position for Company. 
   3. Qualifications: Highest rating held, total time, type ratings. 
   4. Credentials: PIC, SIC, Multi, etc- any hours that show you meet the minimums the airline is looking for). You may also choose to list your medical here. 
   5. Experience: List only jobs that relate to aviation or validate your ability to perform a task or procedure that will carry over into aviation making you a valuable asset. List in chronological order starting with the current job being displayed first 
   6. Education: Self explanatory. 
   7. Professional Awards/Achievements: Honors societies, scholarships, academic achievements that would be listed on a transcript
2.  Select a basic font that is easy to read. You want the interviewer to concentrate on your credentials, not the aesthetic appeal of a font.
3.  Proofread! Have spelling and grammar check turned on as you write your resume. Once it is complete, send it to family member or friend to look over.Only list pertinent information.  While some of your life accomplishment may be admirable, if they can not be listed in an “accomplishments/awards” section, leave them out.
4. Include “keywords” that are relevant to your job such as “crew resource management” and “multi-tasking”.
5. Follow the directions! If you are applying online and are told to fill out a standard application in lieu of a resume, make sure you read the directions first. If the company requires a cover letter, make sure one is attached.
6. If you are told to print out an application and bring it with you, pay attention to the details such as requested pen color and if you should check boxes or mark them with an "X". If you are unsure of something you are being asked, have two copies filled out with both options and ask for clarification at the start of the interview. This will show your interviewer you pay attention to details; a vital skill in the aviation industry.
7. Be contentious of your time frame  If you are asked to complete a task within a certain amount of time, it is for a reason. Failure to comply with a given deadline is one sure-fire way to be disqualified from a job before you even interview.
8. If you are bringing a resume into an interview (and you always should have a few copies on hand), print it out on white paper. Keep it in a portfolio so that is stays crisp until the moment you present it to your interviewer.  
9. Anytime you e-mail a company, you allow them to view the profile picture on your account. Along with making sure your e-mail is work appropriate, you will want to display a picture that reflects an applicant the company would be interested in. This also goes for social media accounts such as Facebook,  Google+ and Twitter.

Keep in mind there are plenty of resources out there to assist you in your resume writing process. If you are still feeling unsure about anything, many companies will look over your resume and highlight any mistakes for a small fee. Remember, a resume is your one chance to sell yourself to a company before you even set foot in an interview.