Not that I'm a job search guru or the "Tony Robbins" of finding a job in this economy but I get a lot of feedback from quite a few different people that are looking for pilots from time to time.
Some common things I've been hearing from a major pilot application service and other people that are looking for good people to fill pilot jobs.
1. Consider the market. There are A LOT of people looking for jobs today and the dynamics that we were able to enjoy a few years ago when "Have license, will fly" was enough to score you an interview do not exist today. Look sharp, be upstanding and in any correspondence with a potential employer, triple check it.
2. Grammar counts. You're not SMS'ing your BFF, responding to a forum post, or "Twittering" (Gosh, I hate even hearing about Twitter because it's doofus and over publicized), you're basically representing yourself in words. Write in complete sentences, use proper grammar and keep in mind that your reader is going to form a "profile" of you by what you say. They don't have time to give you the benefit of the doubt, especially in this economy.
3. Spelling Counts -- even the most basic telephone will spell check your text messages, you'd better be damned sure your resume and cover letter (see below) has proper spelling, punctuation and grammar. There aren't any excuses for this in 2009. Forum postings, well, those are semi-excluded
4. Cover letters, people! Don't just email your resume in an attachment. If the employer wants you to send a CV or resume, attach it to a well-written email, highlighting what job you're interested in, a little about yourself and THEN attach your resume to the email. Do not simply attach a resume to a blank email and hit 'send'.
5. Remember, even though you're "OneOfTheGoodGuysB787PilotWithLoadsOfExperienceAndAGreatAttitude" on the forum, when you apply for a job, you're largely a "John Doe" and the way you present yourself in your cover letter and your resume is very important.
If I was going to walk a resume into the chief pilots office for you, and even though you're a great person, highly recommended, but you can't reflect that by taking the time out to take items 1 thru 4 seriously, you've just wrecked any confidence the chief pilot may have in the applicants I bring to him.
If I WAS the chief pilot, I'd be fit-to-be-tied that my friend didn't take the time and give due diligence to make himself look as professional and worthy of consideration.
Please, take this constructively. Remember to "pay it forward" and godspeed to us all in this economy.
Some common things I've been hearing from a major pilot application service and other people that are looking for good people to fill pilot jobs.
1. Consider the market. There are A LOT of people looking for jobs today and the dynamics that we were able to enjoy a few years ago when "Have license, will fly" was enough to score you an interview do not exist today. Look sharp, be upstanding and in any correspondence with a potential employer, triple check it.
2. Grammar counts. You're not SMS'ing your BFF, responding to a forum post, or "Twittering" (Gosh, I hate even hearing about Twitter because it's doofus and over publicized), you're basically representing yourself in words. Write in complete sentences, use proper grammar and keep in mind that your reader is going to form a "profile" of you by what you say. They don't have time to give you the benefit of the doubt, especially in this economy.
3. Spelling Counts -- even the most basic telephone will spell check your text messages, you'd better be damned sure your resume and cover letter (see below) has proper spelling, punctuation and grammar. There aren't any excuses for this in 2009. Forum postings, well, those are semi-excluded
4. Cover letters, people! Don't just email your resume in an attachment. If the employer wants you to send a CV or resume, attach it to a well-written email, highlighting what job you're interested in, a little about yourself and THEN attach your resume to the email. Do not simply attach a resume to a blank email and hit 'send'.
5. Remember, even though you're "OneOfTheGoodGuysB787PilotWithLoadsOfExperienceAndAGreatAttitude" on the forum, when you apply for a job, you're largely a "John Doe" and the way you present yourself in your cover letter and your resume is very important.
If I was going to walk a resume into the chief pilots office for you, and even though you're a great person, highly recommended, but you can't reflect that by taking the time out to take items 1 thru 4 seriously, you've just wrecked any confidence the chief pilot may have in the applicants I bring to him.
If I WAS the chief pilot, I'd be fit-to-be-tied that my friend didn't take the time and give due diligence to make himself look as professional and worthy of consideration.
Please, take this constructively. Remember to "pay it forward" and godspeed to us all in this economy.
anic:
..........or should I say "ty" lol just kidding
