Whether you are looking for a Pilot job, Flight Attendant position, or an Engineer job, the same rule applies when it comes to getting a new job: Be Professional!
After working with directly with over 300 employers, AirPloyment.com has given you a few pointers to help you gain that little edge:
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Basics – The basics are essential. Resumes are very important, and often times not done professionally and correctly. Remember, putting together a resume with multiple pages will leave the employer busy trying to search through your resume trying to find the important information. Keep your resume concise, yet short. No employer likes to look through pages of information. Make sure you cover the essentials: Objective, Experience (Hours if you are a pilot), Work Experience, Education, Achievements, and References. If you need help with your resume, visit: http://www.bestaviation.net/art_pilot_sample_resume.asp
- Contact Information – It is best to leave the phone numbers in which you are most likely reachable at. This seems basic enough. However, make sure you have a professional caller tune and voicemail message. A standard, “Hi, this is Joe Pilot and I am unavailable at the moment. Please leave a message, and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Thank You.” is just fine for friends and future employers. Also, employers don’t like to guess which number to try you on. If you aren’t available on one number, they may move on to the next applicant.
- Pictures - Often time’s people put pictures of themselves in non-professional settings. Employers want to see what you look like and how you present yourself when you are on the job. How you look riding a bicycle, driving a car, or in the bar have no relevance to them. In fact, it is better to have no picture then one of these unprofessional pictures. So, if these are the only pictures you have, it is advisable that you put together your uniform or professional attire, and have some professional photographs taken. At the very least, you can have a friend or family member take some pictures of you in professional poses (I.E. in the cockpit, near an airplane, carrying your briefcase etc). Action shots show that you have experience. Remember, a picture is worth 1,000 words!
- Networking - Of course, AirPloyment.com is a prime example of networking. Remember, maybe you won’t get a particular job. However, keeping the lines of communication open between you and various employers is essentially the best form of networking. Also, keep in touch with ex co-workers of yours – whether they were senior or junior to you in the company. If you are a Flight Attendant, often times Pilots and Engineers can help you with your next job. It is essential to maintain professional relationships with as many people as you can, especially while you are hunting for a job.
- In Between Jobs – Make sure you are always working. Employers like to see that you have been productive and supporting yourself and/or your family while you were away from your true career. Try to make sure that they are related to your career field if possible.
- The Application Process – So you found the perfect job! Don’t just copy and paste a generic cover letter and change the objective in your resume to read the new companies name. Make sure you do your research about the company first. Find out where they are based, and who is in charge. If you can specify the name of the person in charge of hiring, it will be more likely to get where it is needed to go. If nothing is provided, always address it formally and with respect, such as “Dear Sir/Ma’am”, or “Dear Chief Pilot”. When you compose your cover letter, put yourself in the position of an employer. Even if you have been without a job for over a year, don’t make it seem like you are extremely desperate, despite the fact that you may actually indeed be! Make sure you have a professional signature on your cover letter. A good example is:
Sincerely,
Mary Jackson
ATPL Pilot – CFI/II
Airbus 321/320/319/318, CL-601, EMB-135/145
(555) – 555 – 0321
Mary@email.com
7. The Interview – So you finally got called for an interview! Congratulations! The key to an interview is making the employer want you to work there. Make sure you do your homework, and that you are knowledgeable about the companies background, policies, and history. Having some basic knowledge will definitely go along way. Also, make sure you are confident about your skills and abilities. You may need to study and prepare yourself before your interview. Also, keep all of your documents neatly organized and accessible. Make a Xerox of all of your essential documents, and have the ready to give to your employer. Being prepared can maybe give you that extra edge, over overshadow some flaws in your employment or work history. Be positive, and show that you are a team player. Above all, be yourself. Don’t ask too many questions, but make sure that you come across as interested and eager to join. Always follow up with a phone call. Don’t be scared and send an email. An employer can forget to respond to your email, or simply ignore you. If you can catch them on the phone, they are more inclined to respond to you. However, make sure you respect the instructions. If advertisements say “No Calls”, or the employers says not to call them, then you should respect that. If an employer says “We’ll be in touch”, it often times means they are considering other candidates. In this case, you should definitely give a professional call within a few days after your interview.
There is no sure way to get a job, but hopefully the above tips help you with getting your next job!
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