Put yourself in the position of a consumer. You are in the market for a new something, perhaps a car, a stereo system, or a household appliance. If you engage in comparison shopping between brands X and Y, you will acquire several printed brochures about the products along the way. The object for you is to compare the features and benefits of each. However, the manufacturer wants to attempt to sway you with the brochure itself. If the printed piece is in color and professionally executed, you will be positively persuaded about the product. If, however, a salesperson hands over a brochure that is smudged, bent, black and white, and printed on cheap paper stock, you may tend to think the product is cheap.
Whether you're attempting to earn that first flying position as a flight instructor at your local FBO or a career with the flight department of a Fortune 500 company, consider the potential employer as a consumer. That manager or owner is shopping and making comparisons between brand X and brand Y. That's why your r�sum� is so important; it really is your product brochure advertising you.
There is a popular truism about pilots: We make excellent aviators but lousy business people. Acquiring a job is a business transaction. However, most pilots, especially those in the early stages of their career, have little knowledge about constructing a businesslike r�sum�.
Here is a startling fact about r�sum�s. In a competitive market, such as when 20 CFIs are applying for one opening at a flight school, a r�sum� is used to disqualify you.
When the chief flight instructor is pressed to fill a position but has a bundle of r�sum�s to go through, he or she will quickly scan through the stack and look for disqualifiers. "Oh! That guy doesn't have enough time. This one used a typewriter and white-out. Doesn't he have a computer yet? Oh, yuk! Look at the color of this paper. It's passion pink! Ugh!" Factors such as paper quality or style can disqualify an otherwise qualified individual. If you think all this is an exaggeration, have a chat with your boss sometime.
So, the job hunter must design a r�sum� that is professional and absent of disqualifiers. Start with quality white or off-white paper. The same paper stock should be used for the r�sum�, cover letter, and envelope. With today's technology, an outstanding r�sum� can be put together on a personal computer, but definitely use a high-grade printer. Pick a type style that is crisp and easy to read, such as Helvetica or Arial. Include lots of white space. Make the r�sum� appear uncluttered.
Let's examine each major component of the r�sum� example we have here.
Name: Although type size could be a trifle larger than the remaining copy, there are some human resources folks who say, "If the name is huge and bold, this seems to indicate a good-sized ego!" Go figure.
Address and contact information: This information should be obvious. If there is only one address and phone number, this data could be centered under the name. These days, it can useful to provide an e-mail address also. The example has an important lesson for job-seekers still in college or for anyone who is mobile: Include two pieces of contact data. For the university student, provide your campus contact information and mom and dad's. Your parents will know how to get hold of you...at least until the loans are paid off!
Speaking of phones, anyone looking for work should professionalize that answering machine or voicemail greeting. Let's say Hank Appleby, the chief pilot at Frontier Airlines, attempts to contact you by phone. Instead, he gets your answering machine. Your message goes like this: "Yo, dude! I'm out right now. God only knows where. But, hey, like you know what to do, huh? So, do your thing!" Need I say more?
Objective Education: Specify the most recent educational experience first. If you have a college degree, including high school training is normally not a requirement. The employer is most interested in advanced education. If you have earned a degree, it is assumed that you completed high school. If you also attended an aviation academy include information about where and when.
Specialized training: Too many pilots omit this item. Remember that there are more than 650,000 people who hold some sort of pilot certificate. Many of these individuals have a college degree. Something special in your training experiences, such as an altitude chamber course at an Air Force base or a crew resource management program at FlightSafety International, increases your value to an employer. You have more to offer than just a wallet full of certificates and ratings.
FAA certificate: Include all pertinent information. There is an area of caution, however. Some consultants recommend providing the date when a particular certificate was earned. So, let's say that you have a total of 376 hours of flight time, but you earned your commercial pilot certificate in 1963. The r�sum� reviewer might conclude that you are an "old timer" of at least 40-some years of age and you have flown an average of fewer than 10 hours per year. Right or wrong, that could be a red flag to the decision-maker. Your r�sum� may make its way to the "round file" without a second thought. On the other hand, if you earned that commercial ticket in 2000 and now have 537 hours of flight time, that information could be of benefit since you are truly an active pilot. Consider your own situation when deciding what information to include.
Flight experience: Notice that only the bare minimum is included. This example does not list multiengine time, actual instrument time, or dual given. Unless you have ample time in a specific category, you may be well served to omit the specifics. For example, stating that you have eight hours of multiengine time or four hours of dual given probably won't help you. If that prospective boss is impressed with everything he or she sees on your r�sum�, you may be contacted with a question like this: "So, how much dual-given time do you have?" This gives you a chance to elaborate by responding, "About four hours. But, as you know, I received my CFI at Billy Bob University, and our training was excellent. I am so confident that I can do the job for you that I'd be willing to come out to your flight school, rent an airplane, and give you or your chief instructor a lesson on any task in the commercial practical test standards. You can then judge for yourself. I could be there Tuesday." You just invited yourself to an interview.
Work experience: Contemporary r�sum� construction lists jobs held but also includes three or four bullet points that answer key questions, such as, "What did I do at this job?" For the beginning, low-time pilot, remember that even nonaviation jobs tell your employer something positive and important about you.
Even though Joe was only a part-time ramper, you can conclude that he was trained in fueling procedures, aircraft handling, and public relations. Holding a part-time job while in school also speaks to the work ethic of the individual.
Achievements: If you have anything special to blow your own horn about, list it. If you made the dean's list all four years in college, let that employer know that you are a sharp individual. Did you participate in the FAA's Wings Program? Promote your interest in safety. These tidbits can distinguish you from a run-of-the-mill applicant.
References: "Available on request" is sometimes included although it really is superfluous. If a company is willing to hire you but would like to contact references prior to making a job offer, would you deny that request? It's a good idea to have a list of references prepared and ready to go. You may not want to provide it unless you are specifically asked, but having it ready means you won't delay the hiring process by scrambling to put something together after the fact.
No-no's: Be careful about listing hobbies and activities. You identify hunting as one of your pastimes. But your future boss finds hunting morally objectionable. Now you have a problem. However, if you've done your homework in advance and learned that the interviewer is an avid golfer, it would not hurt to include golfing in the r�sum� - if you really do play golf, of course.
Pictures? Never! You may look too old or too young for the job. And while your potential employer is not allowed to ask you about your age, he or she is sure to draw conclusions from the materials you provide.
You may be tempted to replicate the r�sum� example and use it personally. That's fine. However, do experiment. Any bookstore is filled with books on r�sum�s. If you're currently attending school, the career counselor will have many resources. Be sure to include the information recommended in a format that suits you. Remember, the r�sum� is your ticket to a job.
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