| Writing a résumé can be one of the | | | | accomplished during your training. Taking other types |
| most daunting parts of any job search. Quite frankly, | | | | of training related to the field can and should be |
| it is one of the most important elements in helping | | | | mentioned as well including: food service, wine |
| you find work. A good résumé can ease | | | | courses, language training, etc. The training section |
| doors open while a poorly written one will certainly | | | | could easily be titled "Education" and include college |
| shut these very same doors. In aviation, there are | | | | degrees and other post high school training as well. |
| certain things that must be included in a | | | | References: Please do not include references on your |
| résumé to help you get noticed and | | | | résumé! If you feel the need to mention |
| getting noticed is, of course, the first step toward | | | | references, please conclude your résumé |
| securing an interview which may lead to employment. | | | | with something like this: References furnished upon |
| There is no "one-size fits all" résumé that | | | | request. That's it. Nothing fancy. If you do mention |
| will guarantee success. In my many years of | | | | that references will be included at a later time please |
| reviewing pilot and, later, flight attendant | | | | make sure that you have at least three, be prepared |
| résumés I have seen submitted | | | | to present them upon request, and make sure your |
| everything from multipage treatises to two | | | | references know that you are using them as |
| paragraph summations. As a private flight attendant, | | | | references. |
| your résumé should fall somewhere in | | | | Hobbies: Hmmm.... I am not sure why some people |
| between: a one page copy is the preferred length in | | | | feel the need to include details on how they spend |
| this industry. | | | | their free time. Perhaps they are trying to tell the |
| The top part of your résumé must | | | | person reading the résumé that they are |
| include the following: | | | | a well rounded person. In my opinion, save those |
| 1. Your name | | | | details for your interview. |
| 2. Your complete address: house or apartment | | | | Other personal information: In most states giving out |
| number, street, city, state, zip and country if applying | | | | one's marital status, age, height and weight is illegal. If |
| internationally. | | | | you are applying for work overseas the company or |
| 3. Your home phone number. | | | | agency may want this information in addition to a full |
| 4. Your cell phone or secondary number such as a | | | | length picture of yourself and a headshot. I have |
| fax machine. | | | | heard objections from some about this particular |
| 5. Your email address. | | | | practice. Remember: the U.S. Bill of Rights stops at |
| This first bit of information should be centered for | | | | our borders. If you want to work internationally, you |
| easy reading and your copy should be on white or | | | | must respect local laws and customs. Your opinion will |
| off white paper. No fancy fonts, no loud colors, | | | | probably not shape what they want if you do not |
| nothing to make it stand out. Why? More than likely | | | | like it then do not apply. |
| it will be trashed if it is not visually appealing. Trust | | | | College and universities are key institutions where |
| me: in business aviation, which is generally a very | | | | many get their first try at crafting a |
| conservative field, the flamboyant self promoter is | | | | résumé. I like what the University at |
| often ignored. | | | | Buffalo School of Management has to say about |
| What follows next is open to debate. Some human | | | | writing a résumé: |
| resources people insist that you need an Objective | | | | Do: |
| on your résumé while others do not. If | | | | * Do try to fit your résumé on one page |
| you do include an Objective, please write a strong | | | | * Do leave an appropriate amount of margin space (1 |
| and positive statement about your career and job | | | | 2 - 1 inch is good, no less than ¼ inch) |
| objective, concentrating on your strengths and how | | | | * Do use positive action verbs to highlight your skills |
| you can add value to a potential employer. When | | | | * Do use the present tense for current activities and |
| creating your objective, use clear and concise | | | | the past tense for previous experiences |
| language. One of the advantages of including an | | | | * Do place important items in the most prominent |
| Objective is that it tends to set the tone for the | | | | areas of your résumé |
| entire résumé. Leaving one out is | | | | * Do proofread your résumé for spelling, |
| sometimes preferable if you are applying for | | | | punctuation, grammatical, and typographical errors |
| different positions. Always state in the Objective | | | | * Do make sure your résumé is neatly |
| what you can contribute to the company and not | | | | typed and letter perfect |
| what you want to get out of the job or the | | | | * Do be honest and accurate in the facts you give |
| company. | | | | on your résumé |
| After you write your Objective, you should follow up | | | | * Do be Positive! |
| with your work history. Instead of centering the | | | | Do Not: |
| remaining information, align your copy to the left of | | | | * Do not write RÉSUMÉ on top of the |
| the page. | | | | page |
| Work History: Please, if you have been working for | | | | * Do not use "I," "Me," or any abbreviations! |
| many years, you might want to consider limiting your | | | | * Do not date the résumé, attach |
| information to the last ten years. A | | | | advertisements, or list salary requirements |
| résumé is not your job history, rather it | | | | * Do not leave out volunteer or other experiences |
| is a summation of who you are and what you bring | | | | where you have demonstrated relevant skills |
| to the table. Save the nitty gritty details for the | | | | * Do not give any false information |
| application form. This is particularly important if you | | | | * Do not include reasons for changing jobs |
| are over 40: do not kid yourself by thinking that age | | | | Have others proofread your copy and do not be |
| discrimination does not occur. You want to get the | | | | offended by their suggestions or comments. Consider |
| interview and then you can work on getting the job | | | | all comments and suggestions for possible changes to |
| during the interview. In some situations you will not | | | | your résumé if you are rigid about your |
| even get the interview if someone finds out that | | | | résumé you may be too rigid for this |
| you are 49. Is this legal? Usually, no. Is it provable? | | | | industry. Remember, there is no "one-size fits all" |
| You probably will never find out. | | | | résumé your copy, however, should |
| Training: After including your work history, you will | | | | accurately reflect what you are all about and what |
| need to list your training. If you completed FACTS, | | | | you can do for the company. |
| Alteon, FlightSafety, Beyond and Above, etc. then | | | | For more information about the wonderful world of |
| spell it out. Include training locations, dates, and a | | | | business aviation, please visit the internet's premier |
| brief synopsis of the training. For example, | | | | independent site for private flight attendants, the |
| "emergency egress training, emergency medical | | | | Corporate Flight Attendant Community. Links to this |
| procedures, food safety and culinary arts, wine | | | | site and others are listed in the resource box which |
| service, etc." Do not write several paragraphs but do | | | | follows. |
| include some information about what was | | | | |