As a drone pilot, you may struggle with demonstrating a diverse range of skills on your resume to make you stand out in a niche but rapidly growing industry. Our guide offers step-by-step advice to showcase your technical proficiency, flight experience, and unique qualifications, ensuring your resume captures the attention of potential employers.
- Find different drone pilot resume examples to serve as inspiration to your professional presentation.
- How to use the summary or objective to highlight your career achievements.
- How to create the experience section to tell your story.
- Must have certificates and what to include in the education section of your resume.
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Don't stress out over your drone pilot resume format
Remember, the elaborate design of your drone pilot resume isn't what impresses recruiters most. They are primarily searching for candidates who meet the job requirements. The main aim of your resume should be to clearly and concisely explain why employers should hire you.
Here are four straightforward steps to consider in your drone pilot resume design:
- Organize your resume based on experience: Start with your most recent roles. Besides using reverse chronological order, choose jobs relevant to the position you're applying for.
- Include your contact details (and portfolio or LinkedIn link) in your resume's header to ensure recruiters can easily reach you. If considering adding a professional photo, check acceptable practices in different countries first.
- Don't omit essential drone pilot resume sections such as the summary or objective, experience, and education. These sections should reflect your career progression and align with job requirements.
- Maintain conciseness in your resume. For those with less than ten years of experience, a one-page format is advisable.
Regarding the format to submit your drone pilot resume, PDF is preferable. PDFs are more likely to maintain their formatting when processed through recruitment software or ATS, saving you time in the application process.
When selecting a font for your drone pilot resume, consider the following:
- Choose ATS-friendly fonts such as Exo 2, Volkhov, Lato, etc., to keep your resume's content legible;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are easily readable by ATS;
- While Arial and Times New Roman are common choices, opting for unique typography can help your resume stand out.
Concerned about ATS compatibility with charts and infographics? Our recent study has debunked this and other myths.
Different markets have specific resume formats – a Canadian resume could vary in layout.
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PRO TIP
Highlight any significant extracurricular activities that demonstrate valuable skills or leadership.
The five (plus) definite sections your resume for a drone pilot job should include are:
- Header with your headline, contact details, and/or a preview of your work
- Summary (or objective) to pinpoint how your success aligns with the role
- Experience with bullets of your most relevant achievements in the field
- Skills to integrate vital job requirements (both technical and personal)
- Your further dedication to the field, showcased via relevant higher education and/or certifications
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- FAA Part 107 certification or equivalent drone piloting license specific to the region of operation
- Documented flight hours and experience with specific types of drones or UAVs
- Experience with aerial surveying, photography/videography, or other specialized drone applications
- Understanding of airspace regulations, safety protocols, and flight operation procedures
- Technical skills in drone maintenance, troubleshooting, and payload integration
Adding your relevant experience to your drone pilot resume
If you're looking for a way to show recruiters that your expertise is credible, look no further than the resume experience section.
Your drone pilot resume experience can be best curated in a structured, bulleted list detailing the particulars of your career:
- Always integrate metrics of success - what did you actually achieve in the role?
- Scan the drone pilot advert for your dream role in search of keywords in the job requirements - feature those all through your past/current experience;
- Dedicate a bullet (or two) to spotlight your technical capabilities and how you're able to use the particular software/technology in your day-to-day roles;
- Write simple by including your responsibility, a job advert keyword or skill, and a tangible outcome of your success;
- Use the experience section to also define the unique value of working with you in the form of soft skills, relevant feedback, and the company culture you best thrive in.
Industry leaders always ensure that their resume experience section offers an enticing glimpse at their expertise, while telling a career narrative. Explore these sample drone pilot resumes on how to best create your resume experience section.
- Piloted multi-rotor drones for aerial surveillance on construction sites, increasing site security and project management efficiency by 30%.
- Conducted over 500 hours of flight operations for topographical mapping and surveys, improving project planning accuracy for civil engineering projects.
- Led a team of 5 in implementing drone technology for ecological studies, resulting in a significant reduction in field time by 40% and cost-savings for the company.
- Operated quadcopter drones for commercial real estate photography, capturing over 200 properties and enhancing online listings to drive sales.
- Managed the coordination and execution of aerial shots for promotional materials, which increased client engagement by 25%.
- Developed and maintained strict safety protocols during flight operations, maintaining a 100% safety record over the entire tenure.
- Executed precision agriculture flights with fixed-wing drones, covering over 10,000 acres of farmland and optimizing crop yield through accurate data collection.
- Partnered with agronomists to develop tailored drone solutions that increased farm productivity by 20% through enhanced crop monitoring.
- Facilitated workshops on drone technology for local farmers, empowering them with the skills to leverage UAVs for their own agricultural practices.
- Designed and executed search and rescue missions using thermal imaging drones, assisting in the safe recovery of missing individuals in challenging environments.
- Collaborated with local law enforcement agencies to integrate UAV capabilities into their operational toolkit, enhancing their surveillance and monitoring potential.
- Trained junior drone pilots in advanced flight techniques and emergency response protocols, ensuring team readiness and efficient mission execution.
- Directed drone cinematography for feature films and television, contributing to the visual storytelling by providing unique aerial perspectives and dynamic shots.
- Managed a fleet of high-definition video drones and coordinated complex flight plans in regulated airspace, adhering to strict FAA regulations.
- Enhanced team productivity by implementing innovative software for flight planning and editing, slashing production times by 15%.
- Operated drones for wildlife monitoring and anti-poaching efforts in multiple national parks, gathering data that contributed to the conservation of endangered species.
- Trained park rangers in UAV operations, strengthening the park's long-term surveillance and environmental protection capabilities.
- Efficiently managed data collection and processing workflows, leading to a streamlined analysis process that supported the park's strategic conservation planning.
- Executed delivery flights for commercial goods using heavy-lift drones, decreasing delivery times by an average of 50% across urban areas.
- Oversaw the development of a proprietary drone traffic management system, improving operational efficiency and safety for the entire drone fleet.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by pioneering drone delivery solutions that offered an innovative approach to last-mile delivery challenges.
- Spearheaded the integration of drones for infrastructure inspections, notably bridges and wind turbines, improving inspection accuracy and reducing downtime by 25%.
- Collaborated with engineering teams on drone data analysis to aid in preventative maintenance strategies, prolonging the lifespan of critical infrastructure assets.
- Established a reputation for meticulous pre-flight planning and risk assessment, which ensured the highest levels of safety and operational excellence.
The following content includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top responsibilities present on the task lists for drone pilot professionals.
Top Responsibilities for Drone Pilot:
- Test performance of electromechanical assemblies, using test instruments such as oscilloscopes, electronic voltmeters, or bridges.
- Install or program computer hardware or machine or instrumentation software in microprocessor-based systems.
- Read blueprints, schematics, diagrams, or technical orders to determine methods and sequences of assembly.
- Modify, maintain, or repair electrical, electronic, or mechanical components, equipment, or systems to ensure proper functioning.
- Inspect parts for surface defects.
- Install electrical or electronic parts and hardware in housings or assemblies, using soldering equipment and hand tools.
- Verify part dimensions or clearances to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Fabricate or assemble mechanical, electrical, or electronic components or assemblies.
- Align, fit, or assemble component parts, using hand or power tools, fixtures, templates, or microscopes.
- Produce electrical, electronic, or mechanical drawings or other related documents or graphics necessary for electromechanical design, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the total number of flight hours you have as a pilot to demonstrate experience and dedication.
- Document the variety of drone models you have operated, showcasing your adaptability and technical proficiency.
- Detail the percentage of successful missions or projects completed on time to emphasize reliability and efficiency.
- Present the scale of operations by noting the largest area surveyed or managed, displaying your capability in handling extensive projects.
- Enumerate any cost savings achieved through the use of drones in your projects, showing your contribution to financial efficiency.
- List the number of training sessions or workshops you have led, illustrating your leadership skills and expertise in the field.
- Quantify the amount of data you have collected or processed, reflecting your capacity to handle information-intensive tasks.
- Specify the reduction in man-hours or risk mitigation through your piloting skills, proving your impact on safety and productivity.
Action verbs for your drone pilot resume
Remember these four tips when writing your drone pilot resume with no experience
You've done the work - auditing the job requirements for keywords and have a pretty good idea of the skill set the ideal candidate must possess.
Yet, your professional experience amounts to a summer internship .
Even if you have limited or no professional expertise that matches the role you're applying for, you can use the resume experience section to:
- List extracurricular activities that are relevant to the job requirements. Let's say you were editor-in-chief of your college newspaper or part of the engineering society. Both activities have taught you invaluable, transferrable skills (e.g. communication or leadership) that can be crucial for the job;
- Substitute jobs with volunteer experience. Participating in charity projects has probably helped you develop an array of soft skills (e.g. meeting deadlines and interpersonal communications). On the other hand, volunteering shows potential employers more about you: who you are and what are the causes you care about;
- Align job applications with your projects. Even your final-year thesis work could be seen as relevant experience, if it's in the same industry as the job you're applying for. Ensure you've listed the key skills your project has taught you, alongside tangible outcomes or your project success;
- Shift the focus to your transferrable skills. We've said it before, but recruiters will assess your profile upon both job requirements and the skills you possess. Consider what your current experience - both academic and life - has taught you and how you've been able to develop your talents.
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PRO TIP
If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your drone pilot resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.
Popular drone pilot hard skills and soft skills for your resume
Apart from assessing your professional expertise, recruiters are on the lookout for whether your skills align with the job.
Your profile would thus be assessed in regard to your:
- Hard or technical skills - your ability to perform on the job using particular technologies or software
- Soft skills - how you adapt, communicate, and thrive in different environments.
Both types of skills - hard and soft skills - are important for your resume, so make sure to create a dedicated skills section that:
- Lists up to five or six skills that align with the job advert.
- Integrates vital keywords for the industry, but also reflects on your personal strengths.
- Builds up further your skills with an achievements section within which you explain what you've achieved thanks to using the particular skill.
- Aims to always quantify in some way how you've used the skill, as it's not enough to just list it.
What are the most sought out hard and soft skills for drone pilot roles?
Check out the industry's top choices with our two dedicated lists below:
Top skills for your drone pilot resume:
Drone Operation
GPS Navigation
Aerial Photography
Flight Planning Software
Remote Sensing Technology
Regulatory Compliance Knowledge
Data Analysis Software
Mechanical Maintenance
3D Mapping Software
Real-Time Data Transmission
Attention to Detail
Problem-Solving
Communication
Team Collaboration
Time Management
Adaptability
Critical Thinking
Decision Making
Creativity
Stress Management
Next, you will find information on the top technologies for drone pilot professonals from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Top technologies for Drone Pilot’s resume:
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
PRO TIP
The more trusted the organization you've attained your certificate (or degree) from, the more credible your skill set would be.
The basics of your drone pilot resume certifications and education sections
Improve the education and certification sections of your drone pilot resume by:
- Dedicating more prominent space to certificates that are more recent and have helped you update your skill set
- Keeping all the information you list to the basics: certificate/degree name, institution, and graduation dates
- Writing supplementary information in the details of your certification or education section, only if you lack experience or want to show further skill alignment
- Including your credential or license number, only if the information is valid to your application or certification
Within drone pilot job adverts, relevant education, and certification are always listed within the key prerequisite for the role.
Ensure you meet all job requirements with some of the leading certificates in the industry:
The top 5 certifications for your drone pilot resume:
- Remote Pilot Certificate – RPC (Federal Aviation Administration – FAA)
- Basic National UAS Certificate – BNUC (EuroUSC International)
- Certified UAV Operator – CUO (Unmanned Vehicle University – UVU)
- Professional Remote Pilot Certification – PRPC (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International – AUVSI)
- Drone pilot Ground School Certificate – DPGSC (drone pilot Ground School)
The content below includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top associations for drone pilot professionals.
Top US associations for a Drone Pilot professional
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- American Society for Engineering Education
- American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International
PRO TIP
The more time and effort you've put into obtaining the relevant certificate, the closer to the top it should be listed. This is especially important for more senior roles and if the company you're applying for is more forward-facing.
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Best practices to your drone pilot resume summary or objective
To start, how do you know if you should include a resume summary or a resume objective ?
- Resume summaries are ideal for drone pilot professionals with more experience, who'd like to give a quick glimpse of their biggest career achievements in the top one-third of their resumes.
- On the other hand, resume objectives serve as a road map for recruiters. Candidates use the objective to show how their experience aligns with the drone pilot role they're applying for while showcasing the North Star of their career (or where they want to be as a professional in the next couple of years).
The resume summary or resume objective could be the perfect fit for your drone pilot resume. The function of both is to highlight your professionalism succinctly. So, keep your writing specific: include no more than four sentences and target your application to the role. Here's how these specific resume sections help the drone pilot candidates stand out.
Resume summaries for a drone pilot job
- Seasoned drone pilot with 8+ years steering high-pressure aerial photography assignments for topographic mapping and commercial real estate showcases. Acclaimed for piloting complex missions in varied environments, adept in the use of DJI and Parrot systems, and recipient of the 2021 SkyView Excellence Award for outstanding UAV operational achievements.
- Dedicated aerial videographer transitioning from cinematography with 5 years of experience leveraging drone technology to create award-winning films. Brings hands-on expertise in video editing and drone mechanics, seeking to apply creative flair and technical know-how to execute complex aerial surveys and inspections.
- Former military aviator with 10 years of rigorous flight experience, now pivoting to commercial drone operations. Highly skilled in the use of thermal imaging and LiDAR sensors for precision data collection, and a history of leading successful reconnaissance missions, aiming to deliver high-accuracy results in industrial inspection services.
- Emerging drone enthusiast, equipped with 200+ hours of flight time gained through self-directed learning and community service projects. With a strong grasp of FAA regulations and a portfolio showcasing diverse flying capabilities, aspiring to apply meticulous attention to detail and safety protocols in a professional surveying context.
- Recent aerospace engineering graduate with a fascination for UAV technology and its revolutionary potential in environmental monitoring. Intent on leveraging analytical skills, a fresh perspective on drone applications, and a strong commitment to pioneering drone solutions for ecological research and conservation efforts.
- As a novice with a passion for remote-controlled aircraft, diligently completed FAA Part 107 certification and am now eager to contribute 100+ hours of volunteer flight time to professional missions. Aim to utilize keen interest in aerial photography and videography to support innovative surveying and mapping projects.
Average salary info by state in the US for drone pilot professionals
Local salary info for Drone Pilot.” Source: My Next Move, National Center for O*NET Development. Accessed 10/15/2024
| State | Average Salary (in USD) |
|---|---|
| US National Average | $65,080 |
| California (CA) | $77,140 |
| Texas (TX) | $59,940 |
| Florida (FL) | $79,560 |
| New York (NY) | $65,660 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $64,400 |
| Illinois (IL) | $112,950 |
| Ohio (OH) | $60,270 |
| Georgia (GA) | $62,840 |
| North Carolina (NC) | $50,760 |
| Michigan (MI) | $60,570 |
Four more sections for your drone pilot resume
Your drone pilot resume can be supplemented with other sections to highlight both your personality and efforts in the industry. Use the ones you deem most relevant to your experience (and the role):
- Awards - to celebrate your success;
- Interests - to detail what you're passionate about outside of work (e.g. music, literature, etc.);
- Publications - to show your footprint in the wider community;
- Projects - to pinpoint noteworthy achievements, potentially even outside of work.
Key takeaways
At the end of our guide, we'd like to remind you to:
- Invest in a simple, modern resume design that is ATS friendly and keeps your experience organized and legible;
- Avoid just listing your responsibilities in your experience section, but rather focus on quantifiable achievements;
- Always select resume sections that are relevant to the role and can answer job requirements. Sometimes your volunteering experience could bring more value than irrelevant work experience;
- Balance your technical background with your personality traits across various sections of your resume to hint at how much time employers would have to invest in training you and if your profile would be a good cultural fit to the organization;
- Include your academic background (in the form of your relevant higher education degrees and certifications) to show recruiters that you have the technical basics of the industry covered.
