Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your aviation experience and technical skills is a daunting challenge for many pilots seeking competitive roles. By following our guide, you'll gain insights on how to highlight your unique qualifications and flight hours, ensuring your CV stands out to potential employers.
Learn how to create your next pilot CV by:
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
Resume examples for pilot
Explore additional pilot cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Chief Pilot
- Clear and structured content presentation - The CV is presented with clarity and a logical structure, making it easy to navigate. The use of headings for sections like experience, education, and skills ensures that readers can quickly locate pertinent information. Each position listed in the experience section includes concise bullet points that highlight key responsibilities and achievements, strengthening its readability and effectiveness.
- Impressive career trajectory with a focus on growth - Isaac Scott's career path demonstrates a clear upward trajectory, starting from a Geospatial Data Analyst to a Senior UAV Pilot and eventually a Chief UAV Pilot. The progression of roles showcases a consistent track record of promotions and increased responsibilities, reflecting a successful career in the geospatial and UAV industry.
- Unique industry-specific technical depth - The CV showcases Isaac's proficiency with specialized tools and methodologies relevant to UAV operations and geospatial data processing. Mention of advanced photogrammetry, LiDAR, CAA regulations compliance, and mission planning illustrates his comprehensive technical knowledge that is crucial for roles in UAV operations and geospatial analysis.
Senior Pilot
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is adeptly structured, offering a concise yet comprehensive overview of Ava Phillips' professional journey. Each section is well-organized, ensuring clarity and ease of navigation for potential employers. By aligning the layout with concise bullet points, it effectively highlights key responsibilities and accomplishments, facilitating quick understanding.
- Dynamic Career Progression - Ava's career trajectory demonstrates solid professional growth, starting from a technician role at Fugro and advancing to senior pilot positions at Subsea 7. This upward movement in the same industry underscores her dedication and expertise, illustrating continuous development and an increase in responsibilities over time, ideal for leadership in offshore operations.
- Expertise in Industry-Specific Technologies - The CV showcases innovative usage of industry-relevant tools and methodologies, such as advanced sonar technology and subsea tooling. Her proficiency in these areas indicates a deep technical understanding and a proactive approach to staying ahead of technological advancements, crucial for effective ROV piloting and electronic system management.
First Officer Pilot
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is effectively organized with distinct sections that maintain clarity and conciseness. Each section begins with a clear header, followed by bullet points that succinctly convey accomplishments, responsibilities, and skills. This format ensures easy readability and allows recruiters to quickly identify key information relevant to the HEMS First Officer role.
- Impressive Career Growth and Specialization - The candidate showcases a strong career trajectory, illustrating a continuous progression from a Co-Pilot to a First Officer role. This path highlights their dedication and capability to take on more responsibilities over time. Additionally, the move from offshore helicopter services to a specialized HEMS position underscores their targeted growth in emergency services, aligning with their passion for the field.
- Achievements with Significant Impact - Highlighting achievements such as improving flight operation efficiency by 20% and reducing flight incidents by 15% demonstrates a clear impact on business operations and safety. These successes not only quantify the candidate’s contributions but also underscore their ability to drive substantial changes that promote efficiency and safety, crucial for their role in HEMS operations.
Co-Pilot
- A nuanced blend of career progression - The CV illustrates a well-marked trajectory from roles focused on guest services coordination to specialized marine guide and instructor roles, demonstrating the candidate's growth and shift into more specialized and impactful positions within the marine and tourism industries.
- Highlighting impactful results and achievements - The document emphasizes outcomes that transcend mere numerical accomplishments; for instance, the 30% rise in guest satisfaction and 20% drop in incidents showcase the candidate's profound influence on enhancing service quality and ensuring safety, underscoring their capability to drive meaningful change.
- Industry-specific expertise in marine narration - The CV showcases unique skills such as SCUBA diving, boat handling, and marine communication equipment usage, all crucial for marine narration roles. This technical depth not only highlights the candidate’s qualifications in this niche field but also sets them apart in delivering engaging and educational guest experiences.
Pilot Instructor
- Effective Hierarchical Structuring - The CV presents content with a clean and logical flow, delineating the candidate's roles and achievements clearly. Each section is methodically arranged, starting from the current position and moving backward, making it easy for the reader to follow the career progression logically.
- Dynamic Career Progression in Aviation - Thomas Walker's career shows substantial growth within the aviation industry, starting as an Instructional Pilot and ascending to a Lead Instructor Pilot role. This demonstrates not only an increasing responsibility but also a deepening of expertise in the field, particularly with high-profile aircraft like the F-35.
- Integration of Advanced Aviation Technologies - The CV distinctly highlights unique industry-specific competencies, such as implementing emergent technologies in the Simulator Programme. This underlines the candidate's commitment to cutting-edge training methodologies and technical depth in enhancing training efficacy.
Airline Transport Pilot
- Impressive Career Progression - Isabella Watson’s career trajectory showcases a strong growth pattern, moving from a co-pilot at Flybe to a captain at British Airways, highlighting her expertise and adaptability within the aviation industry. This progression underscores her leadership and technical competence, which are critical for higher responsibilities in aviation.
- Use of Industry-Specific Tools - The CV demonstrates Isabella's proficiency with industry-specific tools like TakeFlite Reservation Software and her involvement in implementing operational efficiencies, reflecting her technical depth. These skills are essential for handling complex aviation operations and enhancing efficiency.
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is well-organized with distinct sections for work experience, education, skills, courses, achievements, languages, and passions. This structure makes her qualifications easily accessible and balanced, which is crucial for quick assessment by recruiters.
Private Pilot
- Concise and Clearly Structured Presentation - This CV is meticulously structured with a clear and logical flow. It effectively uses sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements to present Lily Cooper's qualifications succinctly. The use of bullet points allows for easy readability, facilitating a quick understanding of core competencies and career highlights, particularly beneficial for potential employers in the aviation industry.
- Progressive Career Growth in Aviation - Lily Cooper's career trajectory illustrates a clear path of growth and advancement within the aviation industry. Progressing from a Flight Officer at EasyJet to a Lead Pilot at British Airways, each role signifies increased responsibility and expertise. The promotions denote her evolving skills and leadership qualities, emphasizing her readiness for advanced leadership positions and projects.
- Specialized Expertise in Aviation Innovations - The CV highlights industry-specific elements that set Lily apart, such as advanced cockpit software implementation and contributions to fuel management strategies. These methodologies showcase her technical depth and commitment to improving aviation efficiency, reflecting an ability to integrate cutting-edge technologies for operational enhancements—a key attribute for a pilot focused on innovation and efficiency.
Commercial Pilot
- Structured and Comprehensive Presentation - The CV's content is presented in a well-organized manner, with clearly defined sections that aid the reader's understanding of the candidate's qualifications. The use of bullet points under the experience sections effectively conveys accomplishments concisely, allowing key achievements and responsibilities to stand out without overwhelming the reader.
- Demonstrates Impressive Career Growth - Sienna West’s trajectory in the aviation field shows a clear and consistent pattern of progression, starting from a Commercial Pilot position at Ryanair to a leadership role as Pilot in Command at British Airways. This progression not only signifies the acquisition of advanced skills and responsibilities but also highlights her ability to adapt and excel across different aviation environments.
- Highlights Industry-Specific Expertise - The CV spotlights Sienna's technical proficiencies with aviation-specific software like Jeppesen Direct, Garmin Pilot, and ForeFlight. These skills indicate a strong capability in navigation and data management, essential for modern flight operations, further complemented by courses listed that emphasize her commitment to ongoing professional development within the industry.
By Role
Helicopter Pilot
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV showcases a clean and organized format, making it easy for readers to follow the candidate's career history and achievements. Each section is distinctly separated with clear headings and bullet points that concisely outline responsibilities and accomplishments, allowing for quick identification of key attributes and experiences.
- Adaptability Through Cross-functional Roles - Daisy Shaw demonstrates significant adaptability by seamlessly transitioning between roles while collaborating with diverse teams. Her experiences at Airbus and BAE Systems illustrate her ability to work effectively in cross-functional environments, and her collaborations with various departments, such as technology integration, highlight her versatility in addressing complex aerospace challenges.
- Technical Depth with Industry-specific Expertise - The candidate exhibits substantial technical proficiency and industry-specific knowledge, as evidenced by her experience with flight simulation models, aircraft performance analysis, and collaborations with the UK Ministry of Defence. Her expertise in developing advanced simulation platforms and enhancing aircraft design efficiencies speaks to her deep understanding of aerospace technologies.
Fighter Pilot
- Clear Progression and Strategic Growth - The CV showcases a well-defined career trajectory from Squadron Commander to Tactical Fighter Pilot, indicating deliberate progression and development within the aviation sector. Each role displays an increase in responsibility, leadership, and expertise, underscoring a solid track record of success across every position.
- Emphasis on Tactical Innovation and Safety Measures - The candidate's background reflects a comprehensive understanding of industry-specific tools and methodologies, such as adversary engagement tactics and advanced jet training. The CV highlights significant contributions like developing new safety protocols and optimizing mission planning, demonstrating a commitment to innovation and operational excellence.
- Impactful Achievements and Operational Contributions - Quantifiable achievements displayed throughout the CV emphasize the candidate's ability to deliver strategic impact on operations. Examples include enhancing operational readiness by 15%, decreasing mission-related incidents by 25%, and streamlining mission preparation times, showcasing a clear alignment with organizational goals and improved mission efficacy.
Test Pilot
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is well-organized, starting with a concise summary that encapsulates Daniel Baker's qualifications and experience. It logically segments different aspects of his career, such as experience, education, skills, and achievements, allowing for easy navigation and understanding of his professional journey at a glance.
- Strategic Career Progression - Daniel's career trajectory showcases significant growth, from Test Pilot roles at BAE Systems to leadership positions at Airbus and Rolls-Royce. Each step reflects a deepening of responsibility and expertise, particularly in electric aviation, highlighting a clear upward progression in a fast-evolving sector.
- Industry-Specific Technical Depth - The CV effectively communicates Daniel's specialized technical expertise in electric aircraft and hybrid propulsion systems. His experience with flight test planning, regulatory compliance, and advanced aircraft technologies underlines a depth of knowledge that is critical to his role and the industry.
Drone Pilot
- Structured and Concise Content Presentation - The CV is organized with a clear, logical flow, beginning with contact information and a succinct summary. It efficiently presents the candidate’s history, skills, and achievements in easily digestible sections, ensuring clarity and brevity that facilitate quick comprehension by hiring managers.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Samuel Campbell’s career path showcases a steady advancement from Assistant Drone Operator to a Drone Pilot and Survey Analyst, reflecting dedication and upward mobility in the field. Each role builds upon the previous one, with increasing responsibilities and leadership roles, highlighting a trajectory marked by growth and professional development.
- Technical Depth in Industry-Specific Tools - The CV demonstrates technical expertise in areas like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), drone operations, aerophotogrammetry, and data integration, indicating a deep understanding of industry-specific methodologies. This technical proficiency is further supported by training programs and certifications, enhancing the candidate’s credibility in utilizing cutting-edge tools effectively within construction settings.
Corporate Jet Pilot
- Clarity and Organized Presentation - Arthur Davies' CV is well-structured and easy to navigate, with clearly defined sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements. Each section is concise, ensuring that the most relevant information stands out, which makes it reader-friendly and effective for quick scanning by potential employers.
- Strong Career Trajectory and Industry Recognition - Arthur's career shows a clear progression from a Commercial Pilot at Ryanair to a Senior Pilot at British Airways, highlighting growth in responsibilities and leadership roles. This upward movement within reputable companies demonstrates his capacity for taking on more significant challenges and reinforces his commitment to advancing within the aviation industry.
- Notable Impact Through Achievements - The achievements listed in the CV highlight Arthur's tangible impact on business operations, such as reducing fuel expenditures by 15% and enhancing safety protocols, which decreased incidents by 20%. These accomplishments not only reflect his technical proficiency but also emphasize his contributions to the operational efficiency and safety standards of the airlines he has worked for.
Agricultural Pilot
- Well-Structured and Concise Content - The CV is organized with a professional layout that quickly conveys key information. Each section is clear and distinct, allowing for easy navigation and readability. The conciseness ensures that each piece of content adds value, keeping unnecessary details at a minimum, which sharpens its effectiveness.
- Diverse Career Progression - Ruby Gibson's career trajectory showcases steady growth with increasing responsibility, moving from a Rural Development Coordinator to her current role as a Land Access Manager. Her shifts within related companies, from Openreach to Gigaclear, reflect a strategic focus on rural broadband initiatives, which not only augment her expertise but also underline her commitment to this specialization.
- Advanced GIS and Negotiation Strategies - Within an industry reliant on technology and land access, Ruby demonstrates unique industry-specific proficiency with GIS and advanced negotiation tactics. This includes leveraging GIS for optimal network route planning and consistently achieving a high success rate in land access agreements, both critical to expanding service areas and improving customer satisfaction.
Flight Instructor Pilot
- Comprehensive Career Progression in Aviation - Daisy Shaw's CV effectively highlights her career progression within the aviation industry, moving from First Officer to Chief Pilot and then to a Senior Flight Instructor. This reflects not only her dedication to the field but also her ability to embrace increasing responsibilities, demonstrating her growth and leadership capabilities over time.
- Emphasis on Developing Future Aviation Leaders - The CV places a strong emphasis on Daisy's mentoring efforts, where she successfully increased trainee success rates and improved instructional consistency. This focus on teaching and mentorship showcases her soft skills in leadership, crucial in her roles as a Flight Instructor and Aviation Trainer, and her commitment to fostering the next generation of aviation professionals.
- Integration of Advanced Technology in Training - The inclusion of details about her work with advanced simulators and simulation software illustrates Daisy's technical proficiency and innovative approach to flight training. By increasing simulation fidelity and pass rates for complex scenarios, she underscores her ability to leverage technology to enhance pilot training and safety, a vital element in the aviation sector.
Air Taxi or Charter Pilot
- Clear and Logical Structure - The CV is organized with a focus on clarity and ease of navigation, with distinct sections such as Summary, Skills, Experience, Education, Courses, Achievements, and Passions. This structure allows for quick comprehension and highlights essential qualifications and experiences effectively.
- Impressive Career Progression - Over a decade in the aviation industry, Matilda Hunter's career trajectory from Flight Operations Coordinator to Pilot-in-Command exemplifies growth and development. This progression indicates a strong commitment to professional advancement and a consistent record of taking on more complex responsibilities and leadership roles.
- Emphasis on Safety and Efficiency - Unique elements such as advanced avionics implementation and knowledge of G1000 Avionics highlight industry-specific expertise. These technical proficiencies, coupled with achievements in safety protocol advancements, emphasize the candidate's ability to leverage cutting-edge tools and methodologies to optimize flight safety and efficiency.
Ferry Pilot
- Effective Content Presentation - The CV is structured with clear sections, providing a concise yet comprehensive overview of the candidate's skills and experiences. Each section is clearly marked, making it easy for potential employers to quickly find relevant information, such as experience, education, and achievements.
- Impressive Career Trajectory - The candidate's career shows a strong growth trajectory, moving from an Aviation Curriculum Developer to a Flight Training Developer. This progression highlights their ability to take on increased responsibilities and their continued growth in the aviation training industry.
- Industry-Specific Expertise - Evie Perry’s CV showcases her proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud and her role in developing the SR-series curriculum, demonstrating technical depth and specific skills relevant to aviation education. Her ability to implement innovative learning solutions clearly distinguishes her as a leader in her field.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilot
- Exceptional Clarity and Structure - The CV stands out with its well-organized and concise presentation. Key sections such as experience, education, and skills are clearly delineated, allowing for an effortless review. The use of bullet points in the experience section ensures that achievements and responsibilities are easily digestible, enhancing the overall clarity and effectiveness of the CV.
- Significant Career Growth and Industry Prowess - Charlotte Powell's career trajectory demonstrates steady progression in aviation, highlighted by her ascension from Second Officer at EasyJet to Pilot in Command at NetJets. This advancement signifies not only personal growth and increased responsibilities but also a deepening expertise in HA-420 operations, showcasing industry-specific commitment and proficiency.
- Impactful Achievements with Real-World Outcomes - The CV excellently highlights achievements that have direct business relevance, such as a 30% increase in customer satisfaction and a 15% reduction in fleet maintenance costs. These accomplishments are presented with specific metrics, emphasizing not just the candidate's effectiveness in enhancing operations but also her focus on delivering measurable improvements to the organizations she has worked for.
Experimental Aircraft Pilot
- Structured Career Growth - Daniel Baker's CV showcases a clear career progression from an Assistant Simulator Technician to a Senior Simulator Technician, reflecting years of dedicated work and professional development within the simulation engineering industry. This growth is indicative of his increasing responsibilities and expertise.
- Technical Depth and Industry-Specific Skills - The CV highlights specialized skills in simulator diagnostics, preventive maintenance, and hardware modifications, crucial for a simulation engineer role. The mention of FAA Approval Test evaluations and collaboration on major projects further affiliates his expertise with industry standards and innovative practices.
- Achievements with Business Impact - Daniel has not only achieved impressive reductions in downtime and error rates but also framed these achievements in the context of their broader business impact, such as increased operational efficiency and cost savings. This approach emphasizes his contributions to the bottom line and aligns his technical skills with business objectives.
How to ensure your profile stands out with your pilot CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your pilot CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your pilot CV:
- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your pilot CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
PRO TIP
Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a pilot CV
- Flight Hours Detailing Experience to show the extensive flying experience and types of aircraft handled.
- Licenses and Certifications to present the mandatory qualifications for piloting.
- Aviation Education to highlight formal training and relevant educational background.
- Work History in Aviation to outline past roles and responsibilities as a pilot.
- Medical Certificate Status to reassure the recruiter of the pilot's health for duty.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Include your flight hours and types of aircraft you are experienced with at the top of your CV, as these are key qualifications for a pilot's role.
- Detail your aviation certifications, such as Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), or instrument rating, as they are crucial credentials.
- List all pertinent training and recency, such as simulator sessions, emergency procedures, and any other type-specific training to demonstrate current competence.
- Highlight any experience with international regulations and airspace, as well as language proficiency, which is valuable for communication and navigation in different countries.
- Emphasise leadership and teamwork skills through examples of crew coordination, mentoring, or incident management to show you are well-suited for the responsibilities of a pilot.
Recommended reads:
What information should you include in your pilot CV header?
The CV header is potentially the section that recruiters would refer to the most, as it should include your:
- Contact details - your professional (non-work) email address and phone number;
- Professional photograph - if you're applying hinting at the value you bring as a professional.
Many professionals often struggle with writing their pilot CV headline. That's why in the next section of this guide, we've curated examples of how you can optimise this space to pass any form of assessment.
Examples of good CV headlines for pilot:
- Captain | Wide-body Aircraft Specialist | ATPL Holder | Aviation Safety Advocate | 12+ Years' Experience
- Senior First Officer | Narrow-body Fleet Expert | Type Rated: A320 Family | Crew Leadership Skills | 8 Years' Flight Time
- Chief Pilot | Flight Training Design | Compliance & Regulations Expert | TRI/TRE | 15+ Years in Aviation
- Commercial Pilot | Regional Jet Experience | Advanced Navigation Techniques | Multi-Engine IFR Rated | 5+ Years Flying
- Helicopter Pilot | SAR Operations Lead | Offshore & HEMS Proficient | Night Vision Goggle Qualified | 10 Years' Service
- First Officer | Turboprop Specialist | Flight Operations Management | Cross-Cultural Communication | 6 Years' Airline Experience
Opting between a pilot CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your pilot CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a pilot job:
Narrating the details of your pilot CV experience section
Perhaps you've heard it time and time again, but, how you present your experience is what matters the most. Your CV experience section - that details your work history alongside your accomplishments - is the space to spotlight your unqiue expertise and talents. So, avoid solely listing your responsibilities, but instead:
- adverts' keywords and integrate those in your experience section;
- Use your CV to detail how you've been promoted in the past by including experience in the reverse chronological order.
Before you start writing your pilot CV experience section, dive into some industry-leading examples on how to structure your bullets.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Detail your total flight hours, making sure to break down your experience by aircraft type and any specific roles, such as Pilot-in-Command or Second-in-Command.
- Highlight your experience with different aviation technologies and instruments, including any modern glass cockpit systems or aviation software you are proficient with.
- Include your certifications and ratings, specifying the level of your pilot's licence, and list any additional qualifications such as instrument or multi-engine ratings.
- Describe any emergency situations you have successfully managed, showcasing your ability to remain calm under pressure and execute protocols efficiently.
- Emphasize your experience in various operational environments, such as international flights, cargo operations, or unique geographic regions that demonstrate adaptability.
- Mention any leadership roles or training responsibilities you've had, including mentoring junior pilots or leading crew briefings, to show management potential.
- Outline your experience with safety audits or compliance checks, stressing your commitment to maintaining high safety standards and adherence to regulations.
- Reference any experience you have had with different aviation sectors, such as commercial, corporate, charter, or military, to provide a holistic view of your background.
- Summarize any notable achievements in your career, such as awards, recognitions, or successful projects that have contributed to operational improvements or cost savings.
Work Experience
Senior Commercial Pilot
British Airways
01/2016-12/2019
- Conducted over 500 international flights with a focus on cross-continental routes, maintaining a stellar on-time departure record of 98%.
- Played a pivotal role in implementing an improved fuel management system, which reduced fuel consumption by 5% per annum, achieving significant cost savings.
- Mentored junior pilots, enhancing team skill levels and driving performance standards, leading to a 10% improvement in flight operation efficiency.
Work Experience
Chief Flight Instructor
Ryanair
03/2013-06/2017
- Led the successful certification process for a new aircraft type within the fleet, ensuring compliance with the strict regulatory standards of the Civil Aviation Authority.
- Expertly handled over 300 emergency and abnormal situations in-flight without incident, maintaining the highest safety standards and passenger confidence.
- Developed and executed training modules for autopilot systems, increasing overall pilot proficiency and reducing manual intervention by 15%.
Work Experience
Airline Transport Pilot
easyJet
07/2012-02/2018
- Piloted over 800 domestic flights with an emphasis on maximizing operational efficiency, leading to a 10% increase in on-time arrivals.
- Spearheaded a customer service initiative aimed at enhancing passenger experience, culminating in a 25% boost in customer satisfaction ratings.
- Collaborated with maintenance teams to reduce aircraft turnaround time by 20%, effectively increasing daily flight capacity.
Work Experience
Commercial Airline Captain
Virgin Atlantic Airways
11/2011-Ongoing
- Responsible for the safe transport of over 1.2 million passengers, solidifying the company's reputation for safety and reliability.
- Innovated navigational route planning, resulting in a 7% decrease in average flight times while maintaining adherence to air traffic control guidelines.
- Coordinated multi-disciplinary teams during several critical aircraft retrofit projects, ensuring on-time delivery within budget constraints.
Work Experience
Lead Pilot - International Operations
Lufthansa
05/2014-07/2020
- Played a key role in the company's expansion by successfully inaugurating 15 new international routes, securing a competitive market share.
- Reduced incident rate by 30% through focused leadership and by fostering a culture of continuous safety improvement among the flight crew.
- Leveraged advanced avionics technology to optimize flight paths, saving an estimated 50,000 gallons of jet fuel annually.
Work Experience
Flight Operations Specialist
Emirates
09/2013-11/2022
- Orchestrated the transition to paperless cockpit operations, streamlining information management and resulting in a 20% reduction in administrative workload for pilots.
- Championed a flight data analysis program that improved overall aircraft performance and crew response times during critical flight phases.
- Directed cross-functional teams through a series of technical upgrades across the fleet, ensuring seamless integration of new navigation systems.
Work Experience
Fleet Safety Officer
Qatar Airways
02/2010-05/2015
- Implemented a stringent risk assessment protocol that led to a 70% reduction in flight delays due to technical issues, streamlining operations significantly.
- Cultivated a safety-first culture that surpassed industry standards, achieving a record-setting period of 3 years without an on-board incident.
- Optimized crew scheduling to enhance work-life balance, achieving a 15% improvement in crew satisfaction without compromising service levels.
Work Experience
Executive Jet Pilot
NetJets
06/2009-12/2013
- Initiated and managed a comprehensive environmental program aimed at reducing the airline's carbon footprint, which cut CO2 emissions by 12%.
- Oversaw in-flight testing for new avionic systems, contributing to the advancement of navigational accuracy and communication technology.
- Conducted VIP transport missions with zero security or safety breaches, bolstering the airline's status for high-profile service.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Describe how each job helped you grow or learn something new, showing a continuous development path in your career.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your pilot CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your pilot CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your pilot CV:
HARD SKILLS
Aircraft handling
Navigation
Aerodynamics
Meteorology
Flight planning
Air traffic control communication
Emergency procedures
Technical understanding of aircraft systems
Instrumentation proficiency
Regulatory compliance
SOFT SKILLS
Decision making
Situational awareness
Problem-solving
Leadership
Communication
Teamwork
Stress management
Adaptability
Attention to detail
Self-discipline
PRO TIP
If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your pilot CV
Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your pilot CV. Once more, when discussing your higher education, select only information that is pertinent to the job (e.g. degrees and projects in the same industry, etc.). Ultimately, you should:
- List only your higher education degrees, alongside start and graduation dates, and the university name;
- Include that you obtained a first degree for diplomas that are relevant to the role, and you believe will impress recruiters;
- Showcase relevant coursework, projects, or publications, if you happen to have less experience or will need to fill in gaps in your professional history.
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Recommended reads:
Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional pilot CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
