One of the first and most important rules of résumé design is to format the résumé for the job.

Look at the airline application website. They delineate the qualifications and flight time requirements required for the position. Make sure your résumé includes all of the requirements and your flight time broken down into categories that match the application specifications. For you military types, is there anything at all about "primary" or "secondary" time? No. So don't include it. All airlines want to know your Total Time, Pilot in Command Time, Second in Command Time, etc. as defined by the FAA. In addition, some airlines want to know your Turbine PIC time, and most don't care how much simulator time or helicopter time you have. Always check the application website to determine what numbers that particular airline wants.

Those figures should be available clearly and at a glance near the top of your résumé.

Your résumé is your "calling card". It represents you in your absence. You want it to be representative of your talents, but also of yourself and the job to which you are applying. Although you are touting your qualifications and experience, you must also convey a certain humility. The second most important rule in résumé composition is: do not lie! You do not want your résumé to portray you as less than honest. Many people are initially disregarded because their résumé conveys the wrong impression: arrogance, apathy, questionable character, negativity or sloppiness. Don't be the one that lands on the bottom of the pile!

As you compose your résumé, keep in mind that once you are hired you will be at the bottom of the seniority list, being the Captain's go-fer. You will be slogging through the snow during your preflight, while the Captain stays inside where it is warm. All the major airlines hire people with potential to be Captains - hence their stringent requirements - but also those who show a willingness to start at the bottom and work up. Make this show in your résumé!

A good way to start is to compile a Personal Inventory. This is a list of facts, places, names, dates, flight time breakdowns, education record, awards, honors, activities, teams and many other things that you could use as you compose your résumé and fill out job applications. It is a great tool for getting organized and deciding what is relevant.

The bottom line: include only accurate, verifiable information and pay very close attention to spelling, text alignment, grammar and punctuation. Make your numbers and career progression clear, concise and easily recognizable. Keep everything brief and positive. Don't use acronyms. It takes finesse to be able to balance pride with humility. ChecklistComplete.com is here to guide you as you compose your perfect airline résumé!

Example résumés are available on ChecklistComplete.com. Click on to see them.

Plenty of “White Space”
Check all spelling & grammar
Do NOT rely on spell checkers!!!!
COMPARE YOUR résumé WITH THE APPLICATION
CLEAR ~ CONCISE ~ ACCURATE ~ PROFESSIONAL

Examples:

PILOT/AIRCRAFT QUALIFICATIONS:
Airline Transport Pilot
Commercial/Instrument Airplane Multiengine Land
Type Ratings: EMB-145, ATR-42, CASA 212
Flight Engineer Turbojet
FAA Class I Medical; no restrictions
Certified Flight Instructor Ratings: Single Engine Land; Instrument, Airplane
US Passport

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Captain
Flight International, Inc.; Anchorage, Alaska
CASA 212-200. FAR Part 135 on-demand passenger/cargo operations within Alaska and Canada. Operations ranging from busy international airports to remote fields.

First Officer
Specialized Transport, Inc.; Melbourne, Florida
CASA 212-200. Day/night low-level navigation, formation flying, and tactical airdrop missions to remote airfields in support of Army Special Forces, Navy Seals, Golden Knights, Army Freefall Schools, and Air Force Combat Control Teams.