So what are the recruiters looking for in a pilot CV?
We know that recruiters are frequently amazed how little effort some candidates appear to have put into creating an effective pilot CV. A simple error like not making it clear if your experience level meets the stated entry requirements could mean that you don’t make it through to the interview stage. Equally, sending over a CV that isn’t designed towards that company that you are applying for may mean that your CV doesn’t stand out from the crowd. Think about how important that could be in a highly competitive pilot recruitment market! So what do you need to know to give yourself the very best chance with every single pilot recruitment opportunity?
Recruitment software and tailoring your CV content.
Recruitment software. Modern recruitment software is pretty high-tech and can automatically scan for social media URLs and highlight them to the recruitment team. If you do decide to include a profile like LinkedIn, make sure it’s up to date and represents the professional pilot that you are.
Compliance. Whether it’s your flight hours, type ratings or other qualifications, the role of a pilot means recruitment companies have to capture multiple “compliance” items. Just as the software does for social media URLs, it will scan your CV for these compliance items and may automatically reject or bypass your application if you’re not compliant.
Tailoring your experience and including key words.
You must meet the entry requirements and just as importantly – make it clear that you do! Recruiters may search their database for upcoming opportunities to see how many potential candidates they have, or to find suitable candidates who haven’t applied for a particular role. In general terms, the more of these key words that appear in your CV, the better. Your CV may also be automatically “ranked” by the software according to how closely you match the key word search or entry criteria the recruiters use. This is even more important if you’re applying to a specific job opportunity. Yes, we know it’s more work, but it’s vitally important that you tailor your CV for each and every application to the entry criteria for that specific role.
“You must meet the entry requirements and just as importantly – make it clear that you do!”
Keep it relevant and concise.
Link your experience, but keep it relevant and concise. Make sure that the content of your CV is concise and relevant. After the recruitment software has done its job, the recruitment team will confirm your experience matches the job entry requirements and look for any other aspects of your professional and personal experience that might make you an asset in that role.
Don’t leave room for confusion. If a recruitment team have to try and figure out where, what and how your experience makes you a great candidate, then it is possible that you won’t progress to the next stage. Make sure that each and every part of your pilot CV is also easy to understand.
Evidence why you are a good fit for that company.
Brand identity and ethos. Some companies spend huge amounts investing in their branding and marketing, helping to differentiate themselves. You need to evidence an awareness of this and help them understand why you’ll fit in. Take the time to research each company carefully, then tailor your CV subtly towards them. Not only will this help you get to an interview, but when you get there, that research will serve you well.
“… you need to evidence an awareness of this branding and help them understand why you will fit in.”
Whatever you do, if you really want to give yourself the best chance of reaching that all-important interview, take the time to create an effective and unique CV for each application. If you’d like a hand, our Academy Application course takes you through exactly how to build a standout pilot CV of your own, along with your covering letter and those tricky application questions. It’s all online and at your own pace, so you can work through it whenever suits and revisit any lesson as often as you need.
