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This guide will help you write a great aviation resume that can pass recruitment with flying colors. Get off to a flying start with our pilot resume template and tips from experts.
Being a pilot sounds glamorous. But let's face it—not all aviation jobs are on the same level. After you've done all the hard work necessary to get your license, you expect a job that comes with great pay and benefits, and not one that involves extremely long work hours and little reward.
A great pilot resume can help you maximize your chances of reaching for the stars. And with our help, you'll write one with the speed of light.
In this guide:
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William K Beavers
Airline Pilot
Personal Info
676 Brighton Circle Road
Stewart, MN 55385
320-562-0292
williamk@beavers.com
Summary:
Focused and passionate commercial airline pilot with 4+ years of experience, racking up over 5000 hours: over 1500 hours as Pilot in Command, and 2000 as Second in Command. 500 nighttime hours. Certified and experienced on the Boeing 737-800, Airbus A321 and Bombardier CRJ200. Commended in 2018 for highest punctuality. Successful emergency landing in 2018 due to engine fire. Seeking a position as an international long-haul pilot for Delta Air Lines.
Experience
Airline Pilot
Spirit Airlines
2015–2019
Education
Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science Management with Professional Pilot Concentration
Texas Southern University
GPA: 4.0
2008–2012
Certifications
Awards
Languages
Key Skills
Let’s get your own airline pilot resume to the Mile High Club.
Here's how to write a pilot resume:
1. Use the correct pilot resume format.
2. Write a professional profile to highlight your qualifications.
3. Add a job description of a pilot to the work experience section.
4. List degrees and courses in the education section.
5. Select extra sections for your aviation resume.
Keep reading to learn how to complete these steps in more detail:
When you’re in the cockpit of your 737, you know where everything is. Every gauge, every instrument, whatever you wanna know, you know where to look. Your resume format has to work the same—the reader should be able to navigate the sections to find what they’re looking for exactly.
This is how you do it:
OK, let’s put the engines on.
Pilots are meticulous, pay attention to detail, and check every gauge before take-off. Unfortunately, it won’t be a pilot reading your aviation resume. It will be a recruiter who won’t be doing a thorough instrument check. This is why you need to convey all the information quickly and concisely.
The best way to do that is with a resume profile. A resume profile is a short paragraph at the top of your resume which summarizes your skills and experience in a few sentences.
Here’s a quick formula to get your pilot resume profile right:
Here’s an example:
There is no use in telling the recruiter what they already know so don’t list your responsibilities and tasks. Focus your pilot resume summary on your achievements, numbers, and things that set you apart from the rest.
If you do not have commercial experience, you may opt for a resume objective. In it, you should focus on your existing experience, any awards, commendations, or good feedback you received in training. List all your hours and certifications to underline your passion and commitment.
Expert Hint: Before you start each application, make sure to check the airline for their requirements. Some will have very specific requirements regarding type ratings, and may be less willing than others to pay for you to do them. There aren't many airlines in the country, so make every shot count.
Don’t state the obvious. Everyone knows what a pilot does. Instead, in your work experience section tell them about your hours, commendations and notable achievements.
This airline pilot job description nails it:
Airline Pilot
Spirit Airlines
2015–2019
That’s like comparing an A380 with a Cessna. The good example quantifies your performance, instead of just saying what a pilot does. However, what if you are writing a resume with no experience?
If you haven’t held a commercial flying position yet, it is wise to replace this section with an expansive flight hours and certifications section. You could also write about accomplishments that you may have from other work experience, volunteering, or school related activities.
And one more thing—picking the right skills to put on a resume can help.
Beware:
Don’t just copy and paste. Don’t be silly—everyone knows, or at least hopes, that an airplane pilot has good eye to hand coordination. Choose wisely.
Expert Hint: Which airlines pay the most? United, American, and Delta Airlines all average above $250/hr, with Southwest close behind at $242. The rest range between $200 and $130. Consider writing a targeted resume for the top 4 airlines.
Many say that you don’t become a real pilot until you first fly solo. Others say that you need to fly an X amount of hours to call yourself a pilot. Regardless, you can make your education section an additional reason to hire you.
List your school name, diploma type, GPA (if you’re a fresher), and graduation date.This airline pilot resume example shows how:
Education
Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science Management with Professional Pilot Concentration
Texas Southern University
GPA: 4.0
2008–2012
Stand out by using bullet points to highlight your achievements.
If you don’t have commercial flying experience, you may extend your resume education section further!
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Once you have all the key information in your aviation resume, it can pay off to add a few bonus resume sections such as:
These two airline pilot resume examples show you clearly the difference it can make:
Certifications
Awards
Languages
Other
Think about what’s relevant. Applying for international flights? Make languages the focus. First time applying to a commercial flying position? Focus on the certifications.
One last thing.
Write a cover letter. There’s no better way to show you’re passionate about your job.
Expert Hint: Pilot resumes must always be sent with supporting documents. Attach copies of your licenses, ratings, medical certificates, passport and more. To save time, check thoroughly with each airline on what they require.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s how to make sure your aviation resume passes with flying colors:
Got questions on how to write a great resume for commercial airline pilot jobs? Did we help you get your airline pilot resume right? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.
Check out more useful resources:
Resume words that add horsepower to any resume. This resume action words list is so well organized you can find the best resume verbs for your resume in your sleep.
Can a resume be two pages? Or should you always make it shorter? The best answer: if your relevant and eye-popping achievements can’t fit on one page, write a 2-page resume.
Looking for killer cover letter templates to take your job search to another level? Search no more. The best free cover letter templates are a few scrolls away from you.