Career Advice: Looking good—on paper

A résumé is formatted in one of three ways, depending on the career field and employer requirements. The three formats communicate an applicant’s experience via chronological, functional, or combination layouts. Pilot résumés are formatted more closely to the combination style because the latter portion lists experience chronologically. Flight-time summaries are functional in nature and are listed at the upper portion of the page. All résumés should be kept to one page for easy review by potential employers. When you are drafting your résumé, keep the following principles in mind:

• Provide direct, succinct, and clear statements with action verbs and active voice.

• Relate accomplishments that identify with the employer’s job description.

• Continually proofread and edit.

The most difficult task in creating any résumé is maintaining balance, which can be obtained through continuous improvement. Balanced formats consist of three sections: header, flight time, and experience summaries.

The header is your name and contact information. Separate the header from the remaining document with a solid, thick line to transition readers. Both the summaries and work experience portions could be divided into three columns. The left column contains subheadings and dates for quick cross-referencing. The right column is descriptions of work experience and is where action verbs illustrate your achievements.

Professionals spend an average of one to two days researching and updating their résumés annually.Writing in the active voice conveys to the reader your experience and how it fulfills the job requirements of the employer. Maintaining one page isn’t possible with complete sentences. Keep font sizes readable, and style something traditional, such as Times New Roman.

The best way to land the next flying job is to have a flying job. A comprehensive and detailed summary of certificates, ratings, and flight experience conveys a sense of due diligence to the reviewer. Researching and communicating precise totals conveys that you took the time to create a professional-looking résumé. A solid résumé requires an investment of effort. It is a living document that evolves as you gain experience. Periodic updates allow for quick submission should opportunities arise. Professionals spend an average of one to two days researching and updating their résumés annually.

Flight time summary. The breakdown of your flight time should be adapted to highlight your flight experience. You should add or delete categories as required. A safe rule of thumb is to only include time greater than 20 hours. This is based on application requirements of some companies. One exception would be if the aircraft was rare, unique, or highlights a skill such as tailwheel experience.

Chronological experience. Work history is best detailed by time, with your most recent or current job listed first. Document dates in the month-year format. Leave enough space between the columns to ensure the document is easy to read. The middle column will list the appropriate employer separated by another space with a one- or two-sentence description of your experience or relevant titles highlighting the timeframe. The length depends on overall work experience, but the last subhead should be your education highlights. Remember, writing in the active voice with action verbs in the descriptions is essential.

Achievements, volunteer service, and availability. Relevant achievements, volunteer service, and availability are optional and should be included only if they are relevant and if space permits. Achievements might highlight mishap-free flight hour awards or a high GPA at an institution where cum laude was bestowed. Listing volunteer service is less restrictive and doesn’t necessarily follow the same guidelines. Employers prefer well-rounded applicants. Mentioning community service that illustrates customer service traits, such as volunteering at a humane society, demonstrates desirable skills of teamwork and compassion.

What might work for one individual might not produce the same results. You will find the right job through trial and error, continuous review, and commitment. This example detailed here is geared toward civilian positions; government positions require a different format. Research each prospective employer so that your résumé can be tailored to show that you are the candidate who will exceed the job requirements.

Résumés evolve to facilitate efficient uploading and data mining by the human resources department based on pre-established values. Qualified applicants could easily be overlooked if a résumé is not tailored toward the targeted employer. There is no one correct format, and résumés may differ based on objectives—just be flexible and open to suggestions. Good luck and happy job hunting.