Every year its the same thing (Resumes)

[just curious]

I say a silent prayer of thanks for everyone that writes a bad resume. Our current winner had a 17 page cloud paper resume and with the best efforts of five of us, we couldn't tell how many hours the kid had.
Three most improved student awards from 3 different colleges, but no mention of a diploma. Every leadership role from cubs, scouts and hockey teams, and a sepia toned pic wearing an avcollege jacket (that didn't appear on a resume) in front of a Lear 25. As best we could tell, he had a commercial, a single IFR, and a multi rating!

[Lost Lake]

After 20+ years of not being able to keep one job in aviation, I have a one page intro, that describes what I am doing, why I want to join xyz co., and some related exeriences related to the job., i.e. Got caught with the bosses wife and was asked to leave, fathered 5 children in YXL, never got thrown out of the snake pit in Red Lake, The reason I would be a good fit in your company is because I am familiar with the hotels and bars in your location, etc,

The next page lists my related skills and licenses and endorsements, ie, able to fly drunk or hungover, can build a 2 story log cabin with a leatherman, have a license, no known TC violations (do cautions count?), Then, 6 or so boxes with total times on type, i.e., C150 long tail, ultrlight, C172B floats, C172 skis, and a total time.

I then list chronologically the employer, Position,i.e. Gigilo, fighter pilot, then type of AC, i.e. Space shuttle (Sim), F18, C182 wide body, and finally date(s)

I put my 3 best flying references at the bottom, i.e., my parole officer(it was a low level drug flying offfense) etc.

The employer can see immediately if my first page reasons and experiences are relative, and on the second page, he can quickly see my total times, employers and types flown. It's simple and has worked well for me.

Hopefully they won't call my references.

If I can do it it 2 pages, a new guy doesn't need anymore. And show up with dark carharts or slacks, high top hikers and a neat casual shirt and or windbreaker.

[just curious]

And
We hired him. The bouncer at the Snake Pit doesn't give out references easily!

[Lost Lake]

Thanks JC. I've still got a snakepit T shirt.I think I might frame it. How could such an historic establishment shut down??

[ahramin]

I then list chronologically the employer, Position,i.e. Gigilo, fighter pilot, then type of AC, i.e. Space shuttle (Sim), F18, C182 wide body, and finally date(s)

For smeg's sake! Spelling people, spelling! G I G O L O.

On a serious note, in my experience the same pilots incapable of paying enough attention to detail to spell correctly in an AvCanada post also lack the same attention to detail when writing resumes, reading aircraft manuals or SOPs, and representing their company. How many job ads have you seen here lately that lead to web pages with no proofreading whatsoever?

[Lost Lake]

Don't blame the writers, blame spill czech

[126.7_STFU]

Have you guys ever had someone submit a resume with their photo attached?

[toelessjoe]

Have you guys ever had someone submit a resume with their photo attached?

Yes. Yes indeed. Wearing a sweater, 4 bars, and standing in front of some sort of flying contraption that had chicken wire covering the air intake. He then went on to strike another pose in front of said flying barnyard equipment. The sunglasses sort of defeated the purpose of sending the photo however, since they covered 2/3 of his face. Maybe I was supposed to focus on the fact that he was a captain on a lawn tractor?

- Toeless

[atpl_accshiftmanager]

Have you guys ever had someone submit a resume with their photo attached?

If you're native and applying to Wasaya then go for it

[126.7_STFU]

Have you guys ever had someone submit a resume with their photo attached?

If you're native and applying to Wasaya then go for it

People either just a) soiled themselves, b) raised a glass, or c) going nucking futs!

[square]

I have to agree though, resumes that are poorly put together; lack conciseness; or contain incorrect spelling and grammar do not make it into the interview pile.

These are the only mistakes that make me crazy lol, you can't use semicolons to split up words like this. What you're looking for here is a comma, but wanted to be snooty about it. Same thing with people using whom for the subject of a sentence... whom is done in this language! You don't need to use it. But if you want to be snooty and use it, at least find out how to do it properly first please.

[Lost Lake]

I love how fastly threds go of topic on AvCanada!!

[Krimson]

Just had an idea as I'm looking to re-write my cover letter to make it simpler.

You guys all seem to remember the most ludicrous cover letter you have received. How about taking advantage of this by writing some sort of fictional story that would cause the CP to keep reading just to get a good laugh out of it. At the end, you could include something like "all kidding aside, I would make a good fit for your company because of my 182 wide body experience".

I realize that each CP will differ, but would this be a good way to stick out, or is it better to just stick to the usual, professional attitude, team player, safe pilot, etc dribble that I'm sure they read all day. Wouldn't want to waste my chance at a good first impression at the job I really want because they don't think I am taking it seriously enough.

EDIT: Separate question: when heading the cover letter, who do you address it to? The website states that the career@... will go to XXX, but when I follow up, I will be following up with the CP. Should I address it to the CP anyway, or will that offend XXX, and cause it to go to the bin? But then if I address it to XXX, when I call the CP, he won't have anything addressed to him. How would you deal with this situation?

[square]

Address it to them all. Dear Mr. Chief Pilot, Mr. Ops Man and the the lady in HR, here's my little resume. And a joke cover letter would be silly, make jokes on the phone or in the interview. At the expense of TC, lol they all hate TC.

[Lost Lake]

Ditto. Blind resume will probably go to the round file. Try to do a little research on the company, make minor adjustments to the cover letter to make it sound like this is the only company you want to work for. Worked with me and JC. It helped that he knew the bouncer as well.

[trey kule]

Rats...JC...I was hoping if Jazz had not picked up the guy, you might have sent the resume to us..sounds perfect.

You guys all seem to remember the most ludicrous cover letter you have received. How about taking advantage of this by writing some sort of fictional story that would cause the CP to keep reading just to get a good laugh out of it. At the end, you could include something like "all kidding aside, I would make a good fit for your company because of my 182 wide body experience".

I cannot speak for anyone other that myself, but I do not like joking in a resume..You are looking for a job to represent our company, be responsable for peoples lives, and look after our equipment. Joking makes me think you will find it ok to take a little five minute detour in the company plane to sightsee, not take checklists, training, procedures serious.
Or think that it is a great piece of fiction to log 1.0 hr when you only flew for .5
You are right though, the ludicrous letters are memorable...but then so are serial killers and axe murders, but we would only hire them if they had a diploma from one of the better aviation colleges.

[Diadem]

You are right though, the ludicrous letters are memorable...but then so are serial killers and axe murders, but we would only hire them if they had a diploma from one of the better aviation colleges.

Does the Ontario government fund any of these serial-killing or axe-murdering college programs, or do I have to pay for it out of my own pocket?

[ScudRunner]

Have you guys ever had someone submit a resume with their photo attached?

Yup a guy leaning against a beaver at a dock, however no float endorsement on resume. His resume also included his height weight and may have included how much he could bench. However that may have been added after it hung in the pilot lounge where it received some critique. He did offer to work for free up to six months so he clearly had a sense of self worth.

It spent some time on the dart board, then it disappeared. I heard a rumor that someone took it out back of the hanger and shot it with the 12 gauge. I never could confirm this I really think it was just put in the round file that or he was put in charge of SMS.

[Krimson]

I cannot speak for anyone other that myself, but I do not like joking in a resume..You are looking for a job to represent our company, be responsable for peoples lives, and look after our equipment. Joking makes me think you will find it ok to take a little five minute detour in the company plane to sightsee, not take checklists, training, procedures serious.

Very true, hmm just need something to stand out from the rest. How about an envelope that sings your personal jingle when you open it
Ka-stan-za
(for those of you who watch Seinfeld; those that don't, I'm joking )

[trey kule]

I decided to give this thread a bit more thought, and again, I am not sure how relevant this is in a general sense, but here are a few thoughts I got chatting with our HR Guru.
You dont really want to stand out...what you say? She tells me we are not interested in cowpersons, or those that are trend setters. We are apparently looking for pilots (partiuclarily if they are young) that do not rush, follow procedures, and take the job seriously. .. here are a few thoughts..

1. "I am hard working" ... wasted words...Until we see resumes that include cover letters with things like...."I want to work as a pilot because I am to lazy to get a real job and to cowardly to become a criminal" we assume that people are hard working, or smart enough not to mention they are not.
2. Initail PPC's less than 8 months old.indicates you are a career streamer...round bin. We understand some pilots are on their way to the "big show", but we would like to recapture the training costs and have them stick around for a few years first...With a nice new PPC, they obviously think a bit differently.
3. "I understand I need experience and look forward to the opportunity to learn".....preceded by "I have extensive cross country experience including trans oceanic flights....." and total time of 205.316 hours
4. Indicating specific experience that does not make sense with the overall flight experience...for example...."I have time on a citation when you dont have an instrument rating...or on a navajo when you dont have a PPC or have worked for a company that does not need them....as an aside...if you do have some unique experience...explain it clearly.
5. addressed something like...to who it may concern...followed by an extensive list of why you are a perfect fit for the company.
6. There are a few different schools of thought regarding applying for jobs for which you are specifically not qualified.
Our company takes the postion that you either dont respect us enough, and simply ignore the minimums requested, or you are to stupid to understand the qualifications...Same goes when it says no phone calls please. Others seem to feel it is bread on the water...if you piss off the company...big deal...and like a lotto, you just might win it...
7. No pictures, cloud paper, or silly bugger gimmicks..As I mentioned before..most companies are looking for maturity and responsability, and none of this portrays that.

The resumes dont get you hired, but they do get you round binned. My advice is to understand what the company you are applying to wants, and include the relevant information as simply and clearly as possible...And under no circumsatnces exaggerate your experience or skills...you are not going to fool people often. Most hiring people have a pretty good idea of how you should fly at a certain level of experience. And, once you meet the minimum flight experience, they are going to be looking for other characteristics.

To put it simply..dont try to stand out..Try to fit in.

Lastly...put as much effort into doing a good job when you get hired as you did trying to get hired. This does not mean washing the customer's cars.. It means understanding the aircraft you are flying. Not trying to use the company plane as a personal recreational vehicle, and little things like being punctual...It will get you farther in the long run.