For many aspiring pilots, completing flight training is only one step towards securing an airline position. Before you can demonstrate your abilities in an assessment or interview, you first need to convince a recruiter to take a closer look at your application.
Your CV is often the first impression an airline has of you. A well-presented CV allows recruiters to quickly identify your qualifications, experience and suitability for the role. A poorly written CV can have the opposite effect.
The aim is not to document every aspect of your life. Instead, focus on presenting the information most relevant to an airline recruiter in a clear, concise and professional manner.
Personal details
This section should be straightforward and easy to read.
Include:
- Full name
- Professional email address
- Telephone number, including the international dialling code
- Nationality
- Relevant pilot licences, ratings and type ratings
Avoid informal or humorous email addresses. An address such as [email protected] is unlikely to create the professional impression you are aiming for.
When listing your contact number, include the country code. For example:
+44 (0)1234 567890
If you are a non-EU national but have the right to live and work within the EU, state this clearly. For example:
Nationality: Australian (with the right to live and work in the EU)
Recruiters often review applications from multiple countries. Providing this information upfront can avoid unnecessary questions later in the process.
Education
Keep this section focused on secondary education and any higher or further education qualifications.
There is generally no value in including details of primary education. Recruiters are interested in your recent academic achievements and professional training.
Present qualifications clearly and in reverse chronological order.
Qualifications
Only include qualifications that add value to your application.
For airline pilot positions, the primary qualification of interest will usually be your Commercial Pilot Licence and associated ratings. Additional qualifications may be worth including if they demonstrate relevant knowledge, skills or achievements.
If you have no additional qualifications that strengthen your application, consider removing the section altogether.
Work experience
Many applicants underestimate the value of previous employment outside aviation.
Airlines recruit people, not just pilots. Evidence of teamwork, communication, leadership and customer service can be just as important as technical qualifications.
When describing your experience:
- Use action words such as developed, planned, organised and coordinated
- Focus on achievements rather than routine tasks
- Highlight transferable skills
- Relate your experience to airline pilot competencies where possible
For example, if you worked in retail, hospitality or customer service, avoid focusing on routine duties. Instead, emphasise the skills you developed through working with customers and colleagues.
A stronger example would be:
“Worked within a team-based environment to deliver high standards of customer service, contribute towards daily sales targets and maintain effective communication between staff members.”
Even entry-level roles can provide valuable evidence of teamwork, professionalism and the ability to perform under pressure.
Explaining employment gaps
Recruiters will usually notice gaps in employment history.
If you have taken time away from work for a valid reason, explain it clearly and honestly.
For example:
October 2014 to January 2017
Break in employment during flight training.
A simple explanation is often all that is required.
Managing multiple short-term jobs
Many trainee pilots undertake several part-time jobs whilst funding their flight training.
Rather than listing numerous short-term positions separately, consider grouping them together.
For example:
October 2014 to January 2017
Various retail and hospitality roles
Undertook a number of part-time retail and hospitality positions whilst completing flight training.
This approach keeps your CV concise whilst still accounting for your employment history.
Where dates overlap, make this clear by stating that a role was undertaken on a part-time basis.
Interests and achievements
The interests and achievements section should be brief but purposeful.
As your career progresses, your professional experience becomes increasingly important and this section typically becomes shorter.
Use this section to demonstrate:
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Commitment
- Personal development
- Interesting experiences outside work
Avoid generic statements such as “socialising with friends”. They provide little insight into your character or abilities.
Where possible, include examples that demonstrate relevant competencies.
For example:
“As captain of the school cricket team, I was responsible for motivating players, setting a positive example and making tactical decisions during competitive matches.”
Activities such as gliding, skydiving, mountaineering and sailing can also help demonstrate resilience, self-reliance and a willingness to challenge yourself.
It is also worth showing a range of interests. If all your activities focus on a single area, recruiters may struggle to build a broader picture of you as a person.
Keep it concise
Aim to keep your CV to one page wherever possible and no more than two pages.
Avoid reducing font sizes or overcrowding the layout simply to include additional information.
If you are struggling to fit your CV into two pages, ask yourself whether every item genuinely strengthens your application.
A concise, well-structured CV is far more effective than a lengthy document filled with unnecessary detail.
Final thoughts
Your CV should present a professional snapshot of your qualifications, experience and potential as an airline pilot.
Focus on relevance, clarity and accuracy. Highlight the skills and behaviours that airlines value, explain any gaps in your employment history and ensure every section serves a purpose.
Remember that the objective of a CV is not to secure the job itself. Its purpose is to secure the interview.
Make every line count.
