Last month we formatted your resume and talked about a giving it a professional look ("Career Tips: A Current Resume," September 2009 AOPA Flight Training). Now let's put the information into categories.
Your certificates and ratings should be listed using their full descriptions. If you're a commercial pilot, make a heading titled FAA Certificates and Ratings and then under that list Commercial Pilot: Airplane Single Engine Land, Airplane Multiengine Land, and so forth. Put each certificate or rating on its own line. Include any knowledge tests completed if you haven't yet passed the checkride; your FAA medical certificate (preferably Class I) and the date of issue; as well as your FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit.
Flight times should be designated by whole numbers, not rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 hours, and broken down into total time, PIC, SIC (if any), multiengine, turboprop, jet, and instrument (both simulated and actual).
Your education section should contain your college data with dates attended and degree(s) received (for example, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 1989-1993, B.S. Marine Biology). If you have no degree, list your high school data and any college time you completed, including dates attended and major field of study. Do not include any flight schools attended unless you believe they will enhance your standing with a particular employer. Special training courses might pique their interest in you.
Employment history should be a listing of jobs you've held during the past 10 years, starting with the most recent one. Include the dates for each employer, your title, and duties. Rather than just say CFI, describe the type of students you teach and any ground courses or special studies. List any awards or accomplishments, including scholarships, special recognition, honors, or opportunities that you've received. Although such information is not required, you can list vital statistics age, height, weight, citizenship, and marital status.
When you've accumulated an additional 50 to 100 hours of flying time or six months have passed, send prospective employers an updated resume. Appearances do count, so use your resume as an opportunity to impress with your good qualifications and aviation abilities.
Capt. Karen Kahn is the author of Flight Guide for Success: Tips and Tactics for the Aspiring Airline Pilot and a career counselor.
