Best Pilot Resume Examples & Templates
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Start or advance your career as a pilot with an expertly constructed pilot resume that showcases your skills, experience and qualifications. A pilot resume needs to demonstrate your expertise in the field as well as your interpersonal skills.
Update your current resume or start a brand new one with this guide and our Resume Builder. You’ll have the tools and knowledge to craft a compelling pilot resume that will grab the attention of a hiring manager.
Start by editing this pilot resume sample template, or explore our 40+ resume templates to find the best one for you.
Pilot resume example (text version)
Julius Gardner
Lexington, KY 40502
555-555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Top-notch pilot with extensive experience in aviation industry. Highly skilled in navigating aircraft and adhering to FAA regulations while providing safe, comfortable experience for passengers. Skilled in emergency procedures with aptitude to make quick and decisive decisions under pressure.
Work History
May 2016 – Current
Blue Sky Airlines – Lexington, KY
Pilot
- Thoroughly check weather conditions, airports and other facilities along the planned route.
- Accurately complete post-trip paperwork and make adjustments to navigation charts and aircraft manuals as necessary.
- Conduct minimum twice-daily preflight inspections and reviews of aircraft maintenance status.
January 2009 – April 2016
Blue Sky Airlines – Lexington, KY
Pilot – First Officer
- Greet boarding passengers, answer questions, provide assistance with baggage or miscellaneous issues if needed.
- Maintained flight proficiency and knowledge of aircraft systems by attending monthly simulator and ground training.
- Assumed captain duties over 30 times due to captain unavailability or incapacitation.
August 2004 – December 2008
Lexington Flight Center – Lexington, KY
Flight Instructor
- Coordinated and executed student instruction schedules six days per week.
- Instructed students in simulator, live flight and classroom environments.
- Assessed students’ operation or understanding of aerodynamics, aircraft navigation, radio operation and emergency procedures.
Skills
- Modern aviation and aircraft technology
- Teamwork and collaborative skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Spatial awareness
- Management and leadership abilities
- Ability to remain calm under pressure
- 3,000+ flight hours
- Checklists understanding
Education
Wings Flight Training Danville, KY
License Commercial Pilot
5 essentials of a top pilot resume
Contact details
It’s essential to include accurate and up-to-date contact details in your pilot resume. This information should be prominently displayed at the top of your resume, including your full name, city and state, email address and phone number. Also, include your professional website or LinkedIn.
Personal statement
The pilot resume summary, or professional summary, is your introduction to the employer. In no more than five sentences, present who you are as a candidate, including your years of experience, your strongest skill and a significant professional accomplishment.
For example:
Experienced commercial pilot with over a decade of flight experience. Skilled in flying a variety of aircraft and navigating complex flight plans. Dedicated to ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers while maintaining a solid record of on-time departures and arrivals.
Skills
Pilot resumes should include a list of skills demonstrating aviation industry expertise. Hard skills may include proficiency in operating specific aircraft types, knowledge of flight planning software and expertise in navigating complex air traffic control systems.
Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving, are also essential for pilots. Other examples of soft skills include leadership, adaptability and attention to detail. A pilot’s ability to remain calm under pressure and make quick decisions is also important to highlight on their resume.
Work history
Pilot resumes should include a detailed work history highlighting the candidate’s experience and achievements in the aviation industry. This section should include past employment, the positions held and the duration of each role. It is important to include specific details about the types of aircraft flown, the routes operated and any special certifications or licenses held.
Demonstrate quantifiable achievements, helpful in showcasing a pilot’s skills and experience, using three bullet points per role. For example:
- Successfully completed over 400 flights, logging over 2,000 flight hours with zero incidents or accidents.
- Improved fuel efficiency by 10% through strategic flight planning and adjustments to altitude and speed.
- Developed and implemented a new training program for new pilots, resulting in a 25% reduction in training time and a 15% increase in pass rates.
By including specific achievements like these in their pilot resume work history section, pilots can demonstrate their proficiency in the industry and show why they are a valuable asset to any aviation team.
Education
The education section of a pilot’s resume should highlight any relevant degrees or certifications earned. This section should include the institution’s name, the degree or certificate earned and the completion date.
For example:
Bachelor of Science in Aviation
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL
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Action words for a standout pilot resume
Action verbs are crucial for making a pilot’s resume stand out. Strong verbs can help to convey a sense of leadership, expertise, and accomplishment.
For example, “Navigated challenging weather conditions to transport 200 passengers to their destination safely” is much stronger than “Completed flights safely.” The former provides insight into how you’ve successfully navigated your career, while the latter only shows a pilot task.
Examples of action verbs for a pilot resume are:
- Operate
- Communicate
- Navigate
- Monitor
- Execute
- Check
- Inspect
- Coordinate
- Respond
- Maintain
Pair up action verbs to your accomplishments quickly using our Resume Builder. Check out our 800+ resume examples to help you create your perfect pilot resume.
Top skills for a pilot resume
To create an exceptional pilot resume, it is essential to emphasize critical skills that demonstrate your safety expertise and impressive navigational skills. Refer to the pilot job description for your resume to direct your writing process and align your skills with the job requirements.
Examples of pilot skills for resume are:
- Flight navigation and planning
- Communication and teamwork
- Decision making and problem-solving
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Situational awareness and adaptability
- Leadership and management
- Safety and emergency procedures
- Technical proficiency with flight instruments and systems
- Customer service and interpersonal skills
- Physical and mental endurance and resilience
You can include more skills in your cover letter, which expands on your resume for a pilot. A cover letter is an excellent opportunity to highlight your soft skills and include even more quantifiable achievements. Our guide on how to write a cover letter can help you create the perfect complement to your pilot resume.
Certifications for a pilot resume
Certifications are an essential component of a pilot’s resume, as they demonstrate their qualifications and expertise to potential employers. The most important certification for a pilot is a commercial pilot’s license, which requires extensive training and flight experience.
Pilots may also hold additional certifications, like
- Certified Flight Instructor
- Airline Transport
Other certifications that could be included in a pilot’s resume may include instructor ratings, air traffic control certificates and safety management system accreditations. By showcasing their certifications on their resume, pilots can highlight their knowledge, skills and dedication to their profession.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
Pilot resume FAQ
How to make a pilot resume?
Making a pilot resume requires highlighting your skills, certifications and experience in the aviation industry.
- Start by crafting an attention-grabbing summary statement that highlights your qualifications and experience as a pilot.
- List your certifications, including your private pilot certificate, commercial pilot certificate, instrument rating, multi-engine rating and airline transport pilot certificate.
- List any additional certifications or qualifications that you possess, such as aircraft type ratings or flight instructor certifications.
- Include all relevant work experience, including the name of the organization, job title and the duration of your employment. Highlight any leadership or management positions held.
- Emphasize your technical proficiency with flight instruments and systems, communication and teamwork skills and decision-making abilities.
Remember to use strong action verbs and quantify your achievements to make your resume stand out. Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for and use the job description to guide your writing.
How to put pilot skills on a resume?
To put pilot skills on a resume, start by reviewing the job description and identifying the skills required for the position. Then, list the relevant skills in a separate skills section or incorporate them into the job descriptions in your work experience section.
Emphasize skills such as technical proficiency with flight instruments and systems, communication and teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making abilities and leadership.
Use strong action verbs and quantify your achievements to make your skills stand out. Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for and use the job description to guide your writing.
What should you include on your airline pilot resume?
On your airline pilot resume, you should include your certifications, flight hours, work experience, education and any additional qualifications or achievements. Emphasize your technical proficiency with flight instruments and systems, communication and teamwork skills, problem-solving and decision-making abilities and leadership.
Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for and use the job description to guide your writing.
Do’s and don’ts for building a pilot resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your pilot skills and experience.
- Use action words to make an impact on your pilot resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target pilot job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your pilot resume.
- Format your pilot resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your pilot experience and skills.
- Boast about your “incomparable” pilot abilities.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that do not pertain to a pilot.
- Forget to proofread. A pilot resume with errors is unprofessional and will be discarded.
Top 4 tips for acing a pilot interview
Research the employer
To prepare for an interview, it is important to research your potential employer through various sources such as official channels, news, social media and connections with current or previous employees. This will help you to improve your interview answers and ask relevant questions at the end of the interview.
Practice.
Practice potential interview questions, like behavioral questions. For example:
- Describe a Time When You Needed to Cope With a Stressful Scenario
- What Have You Learned From Your Work Experience So Far?
- How Do You Deal With Conflict? Give Me an Example
- Following Company Policies With Which You Disagree
- Going Above the Call of Duty To Get the Job Done
Be mindful of your body language, which can communicate a lot before you even speak. By focusing on both verbal and nonverbal communication, you can improve your overall interview performance.
Ask questions.
Formulate questions to learn more about the role and company, and figure out if this is the right move for your career.
For example:
- What are the specific requirements for this pilot position, including the type of aircraft, flight hours and certifications needed?
- What is the company’s safety record, and what measures are in place to ensure safe flight operations?
- How does the company support ongoing training and development for its pilots, and what opportunities are available for career advancement?
- Can you describe the company’s culture and values, and how they align with your own personal and professional goals?
- What is the process for scheduling and managing flight routes, and how does the company handle any unexpected changes or delays?
Use open-ended questions during the interview process. This approach gives the interviewer ample time to provide detailed responses. Consider bringing a small notebook or piece of paper with your questions, so that you can jot down important details from their answers.
Find your references.
Seek out former managers, colleagues, or other professionals who can provide positive feedback about your skills and abilities to serve as references. Be sure to inform these individuals about the job search process and whether they should anticipate a phone call or email from prospective employers.
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Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Airline and Commercial Pilots
- Federal Aviation Administration What are the differences in the types of pilot licenses (certificates)?
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Types of Certificates
- Sterling Flight 7 FAA Ratings & Certifications on Your Path to Professional Pilot
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Pilot Resume Example
Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
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