Get that aviation job interview by
simply polishing up your CV.

Our expert team of Resourcers look at hundreds of CVs each week, and all too often come across unprofessional or poorly written applications.  If you want to secure your ideal aviation job, read on. Dean O’Sullivan, AeroProfessional’s Resourcing Team Leader, and his team share their top tips to help ensure your CV secures you an interview.

1. Read the job advert
It sounds obvious that you would read a job advert before you apply, but we receive so many applications from candidates who do not meet the requirements of a job.  If it says you need a particular skill or experience that you don’t have it, simply don’t apply.  It is just a waste of everyone’s time.   Also, you should submit your CV in the same language as the advert,  if the ad is in English, send your CV in English.

2.Be Truthful
Telling lies on your CV is not a good idea – as Tory leadership hopeful Andrea Leadsom recently found out. Research suggests that over a third of British people have admitted to lying at least once on their CV.  Don’t do it, you will get caught out and it could affect your future employability.

3.Tailor your CV to the job
If a job description states specific skills, you must highlight these on your CV.  For example, if the vacancy requires experience of leadership, show real examples that demonstrate how you have led a team.

4.Keep to the point
The purpose of a CV is to concisely communicate the qualities you have, and the value you can bring to the company.  Stick to the facts and the benefits they have delivered.  If the job role is for an aviation customer service representative, perhaps state your ability of dealing with difficult customers and a real-life example of when you turned around potentially bad situation into a positive outcome.

5.Include information employer needs to know
If you are applying for a Captain or First Officer Pilot job role, you should include which aircraft you have flown and how many hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) or as P2 on those aircraft.  Remember to include the relevant qualifications, type rating or licences you hold.

6.Keep it to a maximum of two pages
Include a brief introduction summarising your skills and qualities, then move straight on to your most recent position.  Add a bullet pointed list to highlight your key responsibilities, giving concise examples where relevant.
As you go further back in time, you can be increasingly brief in your description of your roles and responsibilities.

7.Keep it professional
Recruiters are interested in the skills you will bring to their company; they don’t care about your star sign!  You might want to highlight a handful of your hobbies, to show your interests out of work and demonstrate your soft skills.  Keep them honest and select ones which will support your application.  If you are applying to be part of a team, and you enjoy playing a team sport, be sure to include this.  Aviation is a global industry, be sure to highlight any language skills you have, this will be a great asset to you.

8.Explain gaps in your work experience
Recruiters will immediately identify any unaccounted for period in your work history, ensure you address them and explain the gap.

9.Formatting and presentation
When recruiters receive hundreds of CVs into their inbox, the ones that give a good initial impression are those that are clear and well presented.  Keeping white space around the text makes it easier for information to be found quickly, don’t try to squash lots of text on the page in size 8 font.

10.Proof read your CV and cover letter
One of a recruiters’ biggest irritations are spelling mistakes in CVs. Make sure you address the cover letter to the right person and the stated job role you are applying for is correct.  There is nothing more frustrating than someone who claims they have ‘good attention to detail’ and then subsequently has typos throughout their application.