Dispatcher Resume—Sample and 25+ Writing Tips [+ 911 Jobs]

Ask and hiring managers will tell you—

Reading many dispatcher resumes is like trying to follow a garbled call.

You know how to speak clearly and make yourself understood—

It’s time to do the same for your dispatcher resume.

Whether you’re dealing with the chaos of emergency situations—

Or working in the hyper-organized airline industry—

Let us give you an edge over the competition.

In this guide:

• A dispatcher resume sample better than most.
• How to make the perfect dispatcher job description for resumes.
• How to write a resume for dispatcher jobs that stands out.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing a dispatcher job.

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Looking for other ways to put your professional phone manner and communication skills to use? Check out just some of our guides:

• Career Change Resume—Examples and Skills
• Delivery Driver Resume—Examples and Skills
• Firefighter Resume—Examples & Skills
• Janitor Resume—Examples & Skills
• Lifeguard Resume—Examples and Skills
• Medical Receptionist Resume—Examples and Skills
• Military to Civilian Resume—Examples and Skills
• Pilot Resume—Examples and Skills
• Police Officer Resume—Examples and Skills
• Resume with No Experience—Examples and Skills
• Security Guard Resume—Examples and Skills
• Stay at Home Mom Resume—Examples and Skills
• Truck Driver Resume—Examples and Skills
• Warehouse Resume—Examples and Skills

Haven't found your resume? Check our list of over 280 professional resume examples. 

Dispatcher Resume Sample

Now here’s how to write a dispatcher resume they’ll love:

1. Choose the Right Dispatcher Resume Format

Imagine this:

The hiring manager scrolls through your dispatcher resume—

And without skipping a beat—

Deletes it.

Why?

He has 23 resumes waiting in his inbox, most of them look really promising—

Yours, at first glance, not so much.

So—

Make sure your resume format is as clean and crisp as digital audio. Here’s how:

Dispatcher Resume Format

• Use the reverse-chronological resume template to show your most recent stuff first.
• Pick subtle resume fonts like an Arial, Verdana or Noto in 11–12 pt.
• Set the margins of your resume to an inch and don’t crowd the page.
• When it comes to resume length, send in a one-page resume. Dispatchers don’t typically need more.
• Include these sections: Resume Header, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.

Check the job ad:

Does it mention a preferred file format?

If not, then go with PDF—it’ll preserve your resume formatting better than *.docx files.

Why is this so important to check the job ad?

Some employers use old ATSs (Applicant Tracking Systems) to parse resumes that can’t deal with PDF. Regardless if you'll go with PDF or not, you should always use ATS friendly resume template.

2. Start With a Crystal-Clear Dispatcher Resume Objective or Summary

Start your dispatcher resume like you start a call:

Clearly and confidently.

Your resume profile is what sets the tone for your resume.

Been working as a dispatcher for at least a year already?

Use a resume summary as your profile. It’ll let you make the best use of all that experience.

Use:

1. One adjective (efficient, reliable, dedicated)
2. Job title (Dispatcher)
3. Years of experience (2+, 3+)
4. How you’ll help (provide reliable dispatch support)
5. Two or three of your most relevant achievements (made 40+ outbound calls per day to confirm delivery dates, time frames, addresses, and phone numbers, assigned work vehicles and onboard equipment to operators, increasing delivery efficiency by 5–10%)

These resume summary examples show how:

Dispatcher Resume Samples—Resume Summary

Dedicated 911 emergency dispatcher with 4+ years’ experience, skilled in using CAD systems. Seeking to provide efficient coordination at the Erie County PSAP. At the Brooklyn PSAP, monitored radio traffic on up to 12 frequencies at a time and completed 40+ minor and supplemental police reports each month.

Emergency dispatcher with 4 years’ experience. Seeking to join a team with a sense of humor. At the Brooklyn PSAP, monitored radio traffic on multiple frequencies at a time and completed minor and supplemental police reports.

See that?

The first of these dispatcher resume samples impresses by getting two things right:

It doesn’t dwell on what the dispatcher wants from their employer, instead focusing on what they can do to help and—

It puts numbers to what would otherwise be duties, turning them into achievements.

Writing an entry-level dispatcher resume with less than a year’s experience?

Write a resume objective for your profile and talk up achievements from non-dispatcher jobs if need be. Take a look at these career objective examples:

Dispatcher Resume Objective—Examples

Passionate dispatcher with 10+ months’ experience, skilled in maintaining detailed records. Seeking to provide efficient coordination at the Erie County PSAP. At Pacific Freight, processed and updated 30+ orders per day and liaised with over a dozen drivers to coordinate routes and resolve routing issues.

No experience working as a dispatcher but I’m a quick learner. Previously worked as a dog walker and nanny.

Just like before—

That first dispatcher resume example is all about the value you can bring in the future—

And quantifying the value you brought to previous employers.

Finding writing your resume profile a little tricky?

Here’s a simple trick:

Write your dispatcher resume objective or summary last of all. That’s all it takes.

3. Write the Best Possible Dispatcher Job Description and Skills Sections

Your dispatcher job description is not—

A place for you to list your dispatcher duties and responsibilities.

Instead, it’s your opportunity to show them what you can handle—

By describing what you’ve handled in the past.

So—

Fill your resume work experience section with achievements.

How to write a job description for dispatchers:

1. Take your time, re-read the job ad.
2. Spot any dispatcher skills and duties in it.
3. Think of times you’ve impressed employers with those skills.
4. Write resume bullet points that describe and put numbers to those times.

These dispatcher resume examples show how:

Dispatcher Job Description for a Resume

911 Emergency Dispatcher

Brooklyn PSAP, Brooklyn, NY

December 2019–present

• Entered caller information into the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatching) system up to 60 times a shift.
• Completed 40+ minor and supplemental police reports each month.
• Monitored radio traffic on up to 12 frequencies at a time.
• Entered data into the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) database with 99% accuracy (according to internal audit performed in January 2019).

911 Emergency Dispatcher

Brooklyn PSAP, Brooklyn, NY

2019–present

• Entered caller information into the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatching) system.
• Completed minor and supplemental police reports.
• Monitored radio traffic on multiple frequencies at a time.
• Entered data into the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) database.

Quite the difference.

The first example is much more impressive for having put numbers to accomplishments.

Writing an entry-level dispatcher resume?

Use achievements that look good on a resume but come from non-dispatcher jobs.

Before you move on—

It’s time to write a resume skills section.

But—

Less is more:

Aim to cover the skills mentioned in the job ad and not much more besides.

These lists of dispatcher resume skills will help you get a handle on the differences between soft and hard skills:

Dispatcher Resume Skills

Hard skills

• Professional phone manner
• Account management
• Performing administrative tasks
• Service orders
• Maintaining records
• Touch typing (67 WPM)
• Police radio alphabet
• ProQA software
• AQUA software
• Computer skills

Soft skills

• Customer service skills
• Communication skills
• Listening skills
• Time management
• Organization
• Prioritization
• Critical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Coordination
• Conflict resolution skills

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4. Turn Meh Education Into a Reason to Hire You

There are many dispatcher jobs out there—

How much education matters depends on the field—

But one thing remains the same:

Your education section can always make or break your application.

So—

List degrees (skip for high school diplomas), school names, and graduation years.

Then—

Add bullet points that speak to key skills.

This dispatcher resume example shows how:

Dispatcher Resume Sample—Education Section

BS in Business Management

City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY

Expected graduation: 2023

• Pursued a passion for global logistics coursework.
• Maintaining a 3.9 GPA.

Short on dispatcher experience? 

Extend your resume education section to cover projects, classes, and accomplishments that show dispatcher skills like calmness under pressure and communication.

5. Fill In Your Dispatcher Resume With Added Sections

Whether you’re a 911 dispatcher or a truck dispatcher—

A lot goes into your job that isn’t covered by the experience, education, and skills sections.

So fill in the missing details—

Add one or two of these sections:

• Additional Activities
• Foreign Languages
• Classes Taken
• Awards to Put on a Resume
• Hobbies and Interests
• Volunteering on a Resume
• Certifications
• Professional References

These two dispatcher resume examples show yes vs no:

Dispatcher Resume Examples—Extra Sections

Certifications

• Emergency Telecommunicator Certificate, National Academies of Emergency Dispatch, 2019
• BLS (Basic Life Support), 2019
• First Aid, CPR, AED, American Red Cross

Languages

• English – native speaker
• Spanish – fluent

Hobbies and Interests

• Cockroach racing
• Curtain design
• Bolder tossing

Languages

• English, Spanish

Night, meet day.

Adding hobbies and interests can be a great idea.

Why wasn’t it so great here?

Because every single thing you add to your dispatcher resume has to be relevant to the job ad.

One final step:

There’s still the matter of a dispatcher cover letter.

Have you been asked not to include one?

No?

Then you’ll definitely need to write a cover letter to go with your dispatcher resume.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

For a dispatcher resume that gets interviews:

• Use the dispatcher resume template up top. It’ll get through to hiring managers five by five.
• Put dispatcher achievementsin your resume profile, work experience, and education sections to show you’ve been there and done that.
• Go with the right dispatcher skills. Check the job ad to find out what skills those are.
• Write a dispatcher cover letter. Put your passion on display as you show them you’re exactly who they’re looking for.

Did you find our dispatcher resume samples helpful? Do you have any questions or advice when it comes to writing a 911 or police dispatcher resume? Drop us a line down below.

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