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Technical pilot interview preparation

First impression is the best impression

AERO-PEDIA

Pilot interview preparation

Aero-Pedia Muizelaarstraat 23 8740 Pittem - Belgium Phone 32.51.77.99.19 Fax 32.51.77.99.19

T able of Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The preparation Typical questions Body language Follow up Writing your cv Common mistakes

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Chapter

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How to Prepare for a Pilot Interview
eing prepared for any interview increases your chances of getting a job. Pilots preparing for interviews must consider their flying experience, past employment and decision-making skills in order to be prepared for the interview. Preparation goes beyond being mentally ready, however. In addition, pilots must have all necessary documents and present a clean formal appearance to be strongly considered for available positions.

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7 steps to prepare :
1. Research the company or airline where you will be interviewing. Being familiar with the history, procedures and mission of these airlines will allow you to identify personal experience or attributes that make you a qualified candidate. One of the most common questions asked in job interviews is, "What would you bring to our company?" Knowing the background of the company can help you respond in an informed manner. 2. Brainstorm some sample questions that you may be asked. Some of these questions may be about your background, your aviation training, your employment history or your leadership skills. Think of as many questions as possible and determine how you would answer them. 3. Think of possible scenarios they may give you regarding passenger safety, flying and other situations where you would need to act quickly. These scenarios help your potential employers determine how strong your decisionmaking skills are. Think of situations in your professional experience where you have had to make an important decision and it turned out well. Think of situations where your decision did not elicit the results you wanted. Both experiences can be valuable in helping you determine how to respond to these scenarios 4. Familiarize yourself with all aspects of your resume. You should be able to know important dates, companies and degrees that are on your resume without having to consult it. Print out at least two copies of each resume on high-quality resume paper before going to your job interview 5. Contact all individuals you are listing as references and be sure that they will allow you to use them as references before going to your interview. Only list references who will say positive things about you and can provide details about your employment that potential employers will find useful. 6. Prepare necessary documents you might need to bring to the interview, including a driver's license or photo ID, your pilot's license and your social security card, pilots logbook(s), medical certificate, English level tests, training files. 7. Prepare and clean your clothing the night before your interview. You should wear clean, pressed formal business attire to all pilot interviews. Be sure that you present a clean, professional appearance on the day of the interview. First impressions are very important!

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Typical questions :
1. Tell me about yourself. Since this is often the opening question in an interview, be extracareful that you don't run off at the mouth. Keep your answer to a minute or two at most. Cover four topics: early years, education, work history, and recent career experience. Emphasize this last subject. Remember that this is likely to be a warm-up question. Don't waste your best points on it. 2. What do you know about our organization? You should be able to discuss products or services, revenues, reputation, image, goals, problems, management style, people, history and philosophy. But don't act as if you know everything about the place. Let your answer show that you have taken the time to do some research, but don't overwhelm the interviewer, and make it clear that you wish to learn more. You might start your answer in this manner: "In my job search, I've investigated a number of companies. Yours is one of the few that interests me, for these reasons..." Give your answer a positive tone. Don't say, "Well, everyone tells me that you're in all sorts of trouble, and that's why I'm here", even if that is why you're there. 3. Why do you want to work for us? The deadliest answer you can give is "Because I like people." What else would you likeanimals? Here, and throughout the interview, a good answer comes from having done your homework so that you can speak in terms of the company's needs. You might say that your research has shown that the company is doing things you would like to be involved with, and that it's doing them in ways that greatly interest you. For example, if the organization is known for strong management, your answer should mention that fact and show that you would like to be a part of that team. If the company places a great deal of emphasis on research and development, emphasize the fact that you want to create new things and that you know this is a place in which such activity is encouraged. If the organization stresses financial controls, your answer should mention a reverence for numbers. If you feel that you have to concoct an answer to this question - if, for example, the company stresses research, and you feel that you should mention it even though it really doesn't interest you- then you probably should not be taking that interview, because you probably shouldn't be considering a job with that organization.
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Your homework should include learning enough about the company to avoid approaching places where you wouldn't be able -or wouldn't want- to function. Since most of us are poor liars, it's difficult to con anyone in an interview. But even if you should succeed at it, your prize is a job you don't really want. 4. What can you do for us that someone else can't? Here you have every right, and perhaps an obligation, to toot your own horn and be a bit egotistical. Talk about your record of getting things done, and mention specifics from your resume or list of career accomplishments. Say that your skills and interests, combined with this history of getting results, make you valuable. Mention your ability to set priorities, identify problems, and use your experience and energy to solve them. 5. What do you find most attractive about this position? What seems least attractive about it? List three or four attractive factors of the job, and mention a single, minor, unattractive item. 6. Why should we hire you? Create your answer by thinking in terms of your ability, your experience, and your energy. (See question 4.) 7. What do you look for in a job? Keep your answer oriented to opportunities at this organization. Talk about your desire to perform and be recognized for your contributions. Make your answer oriented toward opportunity rather than personal security. 8. Please give me your defintion of [the position for which you are being interviewed]. Keep your answer brief and taskoriented. Think in in terms of responsibilities and accountability. Make sure that you really do understand what the position involves before you attempt an answer. If you are not certain. ask the interviewer; he or she may answer the question for you. 9. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm? Be realistic. Say that, while you would expect to meet pressing demands and pull your own weight from the first day, it might take six months to a year before you could expect to know the organization and its needs well enough to make a major contribution.

10. How long would you stay with us? Say that you are interested in a career with the organization, but admit that you would have to continue to feel challenged to remain with any organization. Think in terms of, "As long as we both feel achievement-oriented." 11. Your resume suggests that you may be over-qualified or too experienced for this position. What's Your opinion? Emphasize your interest in establishing a long-term association with the organization, and say that you assume that if you perform well in his job, new opportunities will open up for you. Mention that a strong company needs a strong staff. Observe that experienced executives are always at a premium. Suggest that since you are so wellqualified, the employer will get a fast return on his investment. Say that a growing, energetic company can never have too much talent. 12. What is your management style? You should know enough about the company's style to know that your management style will complement it. Possible styles include: task oriented (I'll enjoy problemsolving identifying what's wrong, choosing a solution and implementing it"), resultsoriented ("Every management decision I make is determined by how it will affect the bottom line"), or even paternalistic ("I'm committed to taking care of my subordinates and pointing them in the right direction"). A participative style is currently quite popular: an open-door method of managing in which you get things done by motivating people and delegating responsibility. As you consider this question, think about whether your style will let you work hatppily and effectively within the organization. 13. Are you a good manager? Can you give me some examples? Do you feel that you have top managerial potential? Keep your answer achievementand ask-oriented. Rely on examples from your career to buttress your argument. Stress your experience and your energy. 14. What do you look for when You hire people? Think in terms of skills. initiative, and the adaptability to be able to work comfortably and effectively with others. Mention that you like to hire people who appear capable of moving up in the organization.

15. Have you ever had to fire people? What were the reasons, and how did you handle the situation? Admit that the situation was not easy, but say that it worked out well, both for the company and, you think, for the individual. Show that, like anyone else, you don't enjoy unpleasant tasks but that you can resolve them efficiently and -in the case of firing someone- humanely. 16. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a manager or executive? Mention planning, execution, and cost-control. The most difficult task is to motivate and manage employess to get something planned and completed on time and within the budget. 17. What important trends do you see in our industry? Be prepared with two or three trends that illustrate how well you understand your industry. You might consider technological challenges or opportunities, economic conditions, or even regulatory demands as you collect your thoughts about the direction in which your business is heading. 18. Why are you leaving (did you leave) your present (last) job? Be brief, to the point, and as honest as you can without hurting yourself. Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. where you considered this topic as you set your reference statements. If you were laid off in an across-the-board cutback, say so; otherwise, indicate that the move was your decision, the result of your action. Do not mention personality conflicts. The interviewer may spend some time probing you on this issue, particularly if it is clear that you were terminated. The "We agreed to disagree" approach may be useful. Remember hat your references are likely to be checked, so don't concoct a story for an interview. 19. How do you feel about leaving all your benefits to find a new job? Mention that you are concerned, naturally, but not panicked. You are willing to accept some risk to find the right job for yourself. Don't suggest that security might interest you more than getting the job done successfully.

20. In your current (last) position, what features do (did) you like the most? The least? Be careful and be positive. Describe more features that you liked than disliked. Don't cite personality problems. If you make your last job sound terrible, an interviewer may wonder why you remained there until now. 21. What do you think of your boss? Be as positive as you can. A potential boss is likely to wonder if you might talk about him in similar terms at some point in the future. 22. Why aren't you earning more at your age? Say that this is one reason that you are conducting this job search. Don't be defensive. 23. What do you feel this position should pay? Salary is a delicate topic. We suggest that you defer tying yourself to a precise figure for as long as you can do so politely. You might say, "I understand that the range for this job is between _____ and ______. That seems appropriate for the job as I understand it." You might answer the question with a question: "Perhaps you can help me on this one. Can you tell me if there is a range for similar jobs in the organization?" If you are asked the question during an initial screening interview, you might say that you feel you need to know more about the position's responsibilities before you could give a meaningful answer to that question. Here, too, either by asking the interviewer or search executive (if one is involved), or in research done as part of your homework, you can try to find out whether there is a salary grade attached to the job. If there is, and if you can live with it, say that the range seems right to you. If the interviewer continues to probe, you might say, "You know that I'm making ____ now. Like everyone else, I'd like to improve on that figure, but my major interest is with the job itself." Remember that the act of taking a new job does not, in and of itself, make you worth more money. If a search firm is involved, your contact there may be able to help with the salary question. He or she may even be able to run interference for you. If, for instance, he tells you what the position pays, and you tell him that you are earning that amount now and would Like to do a bit better, he might go back to the employer and propose that you be offered an additional 10%.

If no price range is attached to the job, and the interviewer continues to press the subject, then you will have to restpond with a number. You cannot leave the impression that it does not really matter, that you'll accept whatever is offered. If you've been making 80,000 Euros a year, you can't say that a 35,000 Euros figure would be fine without sounding as if you've given up on yourself. (If you are making a radical career change, however, this kind of disparity may be more reasonable and understandable.) Don't sell yourself short, but continue to stress the fact that the job itself is the most important thing in your mind. The interviewer may be trying to determine just how much you want the job. Don't leave the impression that money is the only thing that is important to you. Link questions of salary to the work itself. But whenever possible, say as little as you can about salary until you reach the "final" stage of the interview process. At that point, you know that the company is genuinely interested in you and that it is likely to be flexible in salary negotiations. 24. What are your long-range goals? Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. Don't answer, "I want the job you've advertised." Relate your goals to the company you are interviewing: 'in a firm like yours, I would like to..." 25. How successful do you you've been so far? Say that, all-in-all, you're happy with the way your career has progressed so far. Given the normal ups and downs of life, you feel that you've done quite well and have no complaints. Present a positive and confident picture of yourself, but don't overstate your case. An answer like, "Everything's wonderful! I can't think of a time when things were going better! I'm overjoyed!" is likely to make an interviewer wonder whether you're trying to fool him . . . or yourself. The most convincing confidence is usually quiet confidence.

Body Language During pilot Interview.

Body language is very important in a job interview, sometimes, it can let interviewers know more about you than what you tell them. When we are in stressful situations, our body usually react accordingly. For examples, some of us may tap fingers or bite nails. These habits can send unintentional negative messages to the interviewers. However, body signals can also reinforce our verbal statements if used correctly. The following are some tips to help you use positive body language: Handshake:

Wait for the interviewer to initiate the handshake (You are too aggressive if you initiate the handshake).

Your hands are clean, warm and reasonably free of perspiration. Firm, two to three shakes. Use only one hand and put your hand all the way into the interviewer's hand, with the palm up (You may be seen aggressive if the palm faces down).

Facial Signals:

Carry a warm and natural smile. Keep eye contact, but don't stare. Avoid pursed lips, faked cough, frowning, looking sideways or peering over your glasses (These signals may send the message that you are nervous or arrogant). Nod slowly. Rapid nodding sends a message that you are impatient and are eager to add something to the conversation.

Seating:

Wait for the interviewer to direct you to a seat. If you feel uncomfortable, you may ask the interviewer:" Where would you like me to sit?" Keep a personal space of 30-36 inches. Sit to the back of the chair with your back straight. Lean slight forward to show your interest in the conversation. Women should avoid crossed legs and instead. Men should avoid sitting with their legs too wide apart or with one ankle over the other knee.

Posture:

Move slowly and deliberately. Do not hurry any movement. Keep your shoulders back, smile and keep eye contact when appropriate.

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Hands:

Avoid negative hand messages like running fingers through hair, biting fingernails, wringing hands, adjusting tie (nervous), and touching nose or face, clasping hands behind behind head, rubbing back of neck (untrustworthy or defensive).

The Interview: Body Language Do's and Don'ts, Your heart

feels ready to leap out of your chest. Beads of sweat build on your forehead. Your mind is racing.

It's not a full-blown interrogation -- although it may feel like it -- it's just a job interview. While it's no secret that job interviews can be nerve-racking, a lot of job candidates spend a significant amount of time worrying about what they will say during their interview, only to blow it all with their body language. The old adage, "It's not what you say, it's how you say it," still holds meaning, even if you're not talking. You need to effectively communicate your professionalism both verbally and nonverbally.

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Because watching your nonverbal cues, delivering concise answers and expressing your enthusiasm at once can be difficult when you're nervous, here's a guide to walk you through it: Have them at "hello" Before you walk into the interview, it's assumed that you will have done the following: prepared yourself by reading up on the company and recent company news; practiced what you'll say to some of the more common interview questions; and followed the "what to wear on your interview" advice. So you're ready, right? Some hiring managers claim they can spot a possible candidate for a job within 30 seconds or less, and while a lot of that has to do with the way you look, it's also in your body language. Don't walk in pulling up your pantyhose or readjusting your tie; pull yourself together before you stand up to greet the hiring manager or enter their office. Avoid a "dead fish" handshake and confidently -- but not too firmly -- grasp your interviewer's hand and make eye contact while saying hello. Shake your hand, watch yourself If you are rocking back in your chair, shaking your foot, drumming your fingers or scratching your... anything, you're going to look like your going to look the type of future employee who wouldn't be able to stay focused, if even for a few minutes. It's a not a game of charades, it's a job interview. Here's what to do (and not do):

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Don't: Rub the back of your head or neck. Even if you really do just have a cramp in your neck, these gestures make you look disinterested. Rub or touch your nose. This suggests that you're not being completely honest, and it's gross. Sit with your armed folded across your chest. You'll appear unfriendly and disengaged. Cross your legs and idly shake one over the other. It's distracting and shows how uncomfortable you are. Lean your body towards the door. You'll appear ready to make a mad dash for the door. Slouch back in your seat. This will make you appear disinterested and unprepared. Stare back blankly. This is a look people naturally adapt when they are trying to distance themselves.

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Do: Sit up straight, and lean slightly forward in your chair. In addition to projecting interest and engagement in the interaction, aligning your body's position to that of the interviewer's shows admiration and agreement. Show your enthusiasm by keeping an interested expression. Nod and make positive gestures in moderation to avoid looking like a bobblehead. Establish a comfortable amount of personal space between you and the interviewer. Invading personal space (anything more than 20 inches) could make the interviewer feel uncomfortable and take the focus away from your conversation. Limit your application of colognes and perfumes. Invading aromas can arouse allergies. Being the candidate that gave the interviewer a headache isn't going to do anything in your favor. If you have more than one person interviewing you at once, make sure you briefly address both people with your gaze (without looking like a tennis spectator) and return your attention to the person who has asked you a question. Interruptions can happen. If they do, refrain from staring at your interviewer while they address their immediate business and motion your willingness to leave if they need privacy. Stand up and smile even if you are on a phone interview. Standing increases your level of alertness and allows you to become more engaged in the conversation. Say Goodbye Gracefully After a few well-thought-out questions and answers with your interviewer, it's almost over, but don't lose your cool just yet. Make sure your goodbye handshake is just as confident now as it was going in. Keep that going while you walk through the office building, into the elevator and onto the street. Once safely in your car, a cab or some other measurable safe distance from the scene of your interview, it's safe to let go.

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Job Interview Follow up

What happens between the first job interview and making the hiring decision will vary from company to company and position to position. When closing the interview you probably asked for information about what happens next in the interview process. How do you conduct yourself in terms of this process? When and how should you follow up to keep the focus on your application but to avoid becoming annoying. If you know approximately the time frame for the hiring decision you will have a better idea of how soon to follow up. For example if they have told you they expect to make the decision within the next week you will need to follow up more quickly, after a couple of days. If it is a longer time frame or they have not given you a specific time frame it is usually best to wait about a week before making contact. Whatever the time frame, you should not wait for the interviewer to contact you. You need to make contact to know what is happening and to keep yourself in contention for the job. Use this initial job interview follow up to highlight your enthusiasm for the position and to get more details about the status of the hiring decision. During the follow up call you can thank them again for the interview and restate your interest in the position. Find out if you are still under consideration for the position. Ask if there is any further information they need. Find out when you can expect a final decision. You want to show the interviewer that you are interested in the job but avoid sounding desperate. Be polite and professional. "I just wanted to thank you again for your time on Monday and to let you know that I am really interested in this opportunity. I was hoping that you would be able to give me an update on my application...."

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You can also use e-mail to follow up after the interview and send an e-mail along these lines. Good Morning , Thank you again for the time you spent with me on Thursday. I enjoyed the interview and would like to restate my interest in this opportunity. Please call or e-mail me with an update at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, ........

The company may have specified at the job interview that they would prefer it if you did not contact them but to wait for them to come back to you. At the interview close ask when you can expect to hear from them. Wait a couple of days beyond the date given and if you have not been contacted follow up with a call or email to the interviewer or even human resources. Politely ask about the status of your application. This courteous job interview follow up inquiry should prompt some feedback about the position. If there is still no information, ask for a specific date to phone back to get feedback.

A successful candidate does not sit back and wait once the interview is over. Proactive job interview follow up demonstrates both your commitment and your professionalism to the company and gives you the edge over the other candidates.

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Common job interview mistakes

To You may have heard the horror stories--job hunters who take phone calls or text during an interview, or bring out a sandwich and start chomping, or brush their hair, or worse. You wouldn't do any of those things, would you? Of course not. But there are tons of other job interview no-no's you may not have thought of. Or that you've forgotten. The job hunting trail is long and arduous, and a little refresher course can't hurt. So for your edification and enjoyment, here are the most common job interview mistakes: 1. Arriving late. 2. Arriving too early. 3. Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette. 4. Bad-mouthing your last boss 5. Lying about your skills/experience/knowledge. 6. Wearing the wrong (for this workplace!) clothes. 7. Forgetting the name of the person you're interviewing with. 8. Wearing a ton of perfume or aftershave. 9. Wearing sunglasses. 10. Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece. 11. Failing to research the employer in advance. 12. Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm. 13. Inquiring about benefits too soon. 14. Talking about salary requirements too soon. 15. Being unable to explain how your strengths and abilities apply to the job in question.

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16. Failing to make a strong case for why you are the best person for this job. 17. Forgetting to bring a copy of your resume and/or portfolio. 18. Failing to remember what you wrote on your own resume. 20. Asking no questions at all. 21. Being unprepared to answer the standard questions. 22. Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying. 23. Talking more than half the time. 24. Interrupting your interviewer. 25. Neglecting to match the communication style of your interviewer. 26. Yawning. 27. Slouching. 28. Bringing along a friend, or your mother. 29. Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair. 30. Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking. 31. Saying "you know," "like," "I guess," and "um." 32. Name-dropping or bragging or sounding like a know-it-all. 33. Asking to use the bathroom. 34. Being falsely or exaggeratedly modest. 35. Shaking hands too weakly, or too firmly. 36. Failing to make eye contact (or making continuous eye contact). 37. Taking a seat before your interviewer does. 38. Becoming angry or defensive. 39. Complaining that you were kept waiting. 40. Complaining about anything! 41. Speaking rudely to the receptionist. 42. Letting your nervousness show.

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43. Overexplaining why you lost your last job. 44. Being too familiar and jokey. 45. Sounding desperate. 46. Checking the time. 47. Oversharing. 48. Sounding rehearsed. 49. Leaving your cell phone on. 50. Failing to ask for the job

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The good pilot CV

I would like to list some golden rules to a good Pilot CV

Prepare a Cover Letter. This is your "advert" for your CV Make sure your CV is grammatically correct and the spelling error free. Let a professional proof-read the document Your resume should not be longer than one page Have your contact details on top of each page Do not use fancy fonts, use one font type only Make sure your CV has no gaps Avoid unwanted information (religious details, pictures) depending on local requirements Do not use negative words/terms: E.g. Unfortunately, low experience or that you are a 'hell of a motorcyclist' if your hobby is biking

If you can tick off all the points above, your CV has a good chance to be reviewed. Have you discovered open points, want to refine your work or don't know where to start at all, then please read on...

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Pilot CVs are different... There is a lot of information about effective CVs in books or on the internet. There are even companies out there which are specialized on this subject. Note that not all information you find e.g. in your local library can be applied to pilot CVs. The nature of the pilot job requires that a pilot CV contains certain information you will not find in a 'normal' CV. Having said that, I still recommend to read a good book with expert advice for preparing a CV as it contains loads of useful information. Your local library is full of them. Once you read through it compare it with a book about Pilot CVs and you know the differences.

What does a Pilot CV consist of? A pilot CV consists of a cover letter, resume and of supporting documents. You can find examples of Pilot CVs in our download section. Companies also often want you to fill in a so-called Employment Application. Occasionally it is also requested to add a Flight Data Form.

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Cover Letter The cover letter is the introduction to your CV. Keep it short and maximum one page long. Its a challenge to make your cover letter unique. This is especially true if you are applying to many companies. Avoid using too many 'I's', make paragraphs short and get to the point. Use a conversational writing style. The cover letter normally starts with a reference to your rsum followed by a statement that you are interested to join Airline ABC. Other objectives could be requesting an application, sending a revision or application. Always make sure that you tell the recruiter your objective clearly. And why not using the cover letter to briefly address the highlights of your resume? Tell the recruiter that you have x hours jet experience, been involved in flight instruction and have glass cockpit experience! If you know your preferred airline wants mainly pilots with turboprop experience, make sure you point this out in your summary of highlights. Try to write your CV in such a way that you come as close as possible to the airlines most desired pilot profile. Let's look at the structure ofa typical cover letter...

Heading The header of the letter should consist of your contact details such as name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Do not list your Skype, ICQ or MSN name...

The recipient of the letter If you know the recruiter by his/her name, make use of it. A personal letter has a better effect compared to a generic 'To the recruiter of ABC Airlines'. Ask around who is in charge of new hires. Sometimes you find such information in a pilot forum, or on pilot career websites. You may also want to consider calling the company switchboard and to ask the operator there of the name of the person in charge of the recruitment. Do not forget to ask for the correct spelling of the name too! If you do not know the name of the person, use e.g. Dear Pilot Recruiter, Dear Pilot Staffing, Dear Pilot Manager or just Dear Recruiter.

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The letter opening The first paragraph should contain the reason why you are writing to airline ABC. Two to three lines will be sufficient. Also state your objective and that you have attached a rsum.

The letter body In this section you can make points by matching the desired pilot profile of the airline. If you state points relevant to the requirements of the airline, the recruiter does not have to hunt for this information. Consider also adding any closely anticipated but not yet achieved qualifications. E.g. "...expect to complete my ATPL written exam by...".

The letter closing Ask yourselves why should this company hire you and not someone else and close your letter with a statement promoting you as a strong candidate for the position on offer. The letter closing should also contain a request for action on the company's part. But be discreet and not too demanding. E.g. "If necessary, please forward an application form..." or "...I look forward to meeting with you personally in the near future..." Short paragraphs make it easier for the reader to absorb the information. The closing has ideally two paragraphs with two or three sentences each. The cover letter should be brief and not exceed one page. Sign your letter personally and with a contrasting ink color such as blue. And my last advice on cover letters: If a company requests you to send a rsum only, then do not send any cover letter anyway. It would most likely have a negative effect.

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Rsum

Your rsum is a handy summary of your flying qualifications and is often referred to by interviewers during an interview. Most airlines ask you to submit a rsum along with other documents when you first apply. You might need to bring more documents along when you are invited for an interview. Make sure you know what the preferred way of sending the documents is. Many airlines allow you to e-mail or fax the documents. You might ask yourselves why airlines want you to fill in also an application form after you have sent them your complete rsum. Your CV is self-made and tells a lot about you. Its the first impression the employer gets from you. Once the airline thinks you are a potential candidate, they need to collected all the relevant data of applicants in a structered way so that they can compare them with each other. Thats when the application form is requested.

A good rsum does

reflect your tastes and standards tell the recruiter what he needs to know, not what is nice to know about you sell you as a pilot, not anything else look well organized, is computer-generated and stands out and is only one page long

Have a good friend or professional service proofread the documents and only produce your own CV if you are adept with a home computer and can print the documents in letter-quality with a laser or ink-jet printer.

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Please do not

include a photograph unless its requested. Many companies are not allowed to process CVs with attached photographs use colored paper use too many font types. Stick to only one font type such as Arial, Verdana or Times New Roman

Let's start to construct an effective pilot rsum. Using a word processor software on a computer is the best way and it also allows you to update your documents at later stages during your career. A rsum consists usually of 8 components. These are: Heading, Objective, Certificates and Ratings, Flight Times, Work History, Formal Education, Professional Training, and Availability. Optionally you may add Special Interests, Memberships and Awards for example. Add them only if space permits.

The Heading Start with your name on top of the page and center it. Words/titles like 'Rsum' can be omitted because recruiters know from the layout and content of the page that it is your rsum. Add your address and contact details. If you are applying for an airline in the U.S., you should also add your social security number below your name. Provide an alternative telephone number and use an answering machine. If a recruiter is unable to reach you, he/she will move on the next pilot on the list .

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Objective The objective starts with the first major heading which should be in all caps. E.g. "GOAL" or "POSITION OBJECTIVE". State the specific position you desire. Consider customizing your position objective by placing the airline logo in fron of the name of the airline. A one-line statement is sufficient.

Certificates and Rating Most important are your type of licence (ATP) and your ratings. Put them first followed by your Medical, Instructor Ratings and other qualifications (e.g. A&P licence). If your vision is uncorrected 20/20 add this too after your medical information. If you are 30 years or older this can be a bonus!

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Flight Time Listing your flight time is essential on your rsum. A typical flight time summary should include:

Total Time Pilot-in-Command Second-in-Command Instructor Pilot Turbojet Turboprop Multi Engine Single Engine Instruments

Multi engine /single engine time resp. PiC and SiC should add up to the total time. There are hundreds of ways on how to present your flight time. Airlines also often interpret flight times differently and it is quite often simply confusing. As a military pilot you can use the civilian way of logging flight time: from block out to block in. Use necessary conversion factors if needed. Make sure you rather underestimate your flight time instead of overestimating it. Fligh times should not be rounded off to and should be as exact as possible.

Work Experience In case your experience consists of flight experience only, use the header "FLIGHT EXPERIENCE" otherwise use for example "EXPERIENCE". Your most recent employment or present job shoud be on top of the list. Note that your chances to be hired are far higher if you are currently employed.

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Special Training and Achievements This information should appear towards the end of your resume and consists of a list of significant ground and flight schools related to your most important positions, ratings, licences, ...Non-aviation achievements can be listed too, but list them only if you believe they are of interest to the airline.

Education This part covers your formal education. High school is normally not listed and the focus is on university and college. If you are from the U.S., state yor GPA if it was 3.0 or above. If you attended college but do not have a degree, state for how long you were enrolled in credits earned or years attended. A completed degree program should only show your graduation date, not the start and end date of the program.

Availability It is a good thing to indicate by when you would be available for the new assignment. If you are employed in the U.S., indicate that you would give your current employer two weeks ' notification. In Europe this is often too short and its quite normal to indicate 3 months. Once you get the job its often possible make arrangements with your current employer to shorten the notification period.

Interests This section is optional, but there are good reasons to include it. IT or language skills are always an asset these days and should be added. Other technical skills can also be of interest and could help when discussing technical details with an aircraft mechanic. Hobbies like music, writing, traveling show that you have also a life beside aviation. Involvment in sports should be listed too as well as activities that reflect a team effort, flexibility, leadership (e.g. charities, community causes). Avoid mentioning interests that the airline or recruiter consider dangerous. Car or motorcycle racing, water rafting, paragliding are such hobbies just to name a few.

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Supporting Documents It is quite common that the airline requests you to send with supporting documents with your resume. They can include:

Copies of your licences, flight ratings and certificates Copy of your passport and medical cerificate Recommendations from previous employers Letters of recommendation and/or support from refrences Copy of your degree Language proficiency certificates Military discharge papers

E-Resumes Most airlines accept electronic resumes. If this option is available to you, it is highly recommended to make use of it. It makes things a lot easier when it comes to updating your credentials and it makes the storage and retrieval of your data easier for the operator. While sending your resume electronically is the preferred way, it also bears some risks. Make sure you submit your documents in the correct or requested format. If nothing is indicated about the format use the PDF format. Also a good way is to combine your cover letter, resume and supporting documents into one file.

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