Aviation Resume Examples

The numbers are good! Aviation offers an above-average salary across the board.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers can earn an annual salary of about $147,200. Simultaneously, air traffic controllers can make $122,990 or more, depending on where they work and the complexity of the flight paths.

Meanwhile, flight attendants have a median annual wage of $56,640 and many perks, like discounted airfare and free standby seats through their airline.

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The specific duties and responsibilities will vary by job.

Some aviation industry professionals will be in charge of piloting an aircraft, while others, such as flight attendants, will work directly with clients during a flight to ensure their comfort and safety.

There are also aircraft engineers, whose main job is to create the aircraft and propulsion systems, and aircraft assemblers, who put together the aircraft.

Aviation is a large field where some people work behind the scenes while others are on stage, but every single role is important.

While there are entry-level positions, the Federal Aviation Administration requires candidates to possess specific certifications and licenses to work in aviation.

For example, flight attendants typically only need a high school diploma, but they must complete the three to six-week training provided by the airline to be certified. They must also pass a background check, have a valid passport and at least 20/40 vision.

Likewise, candidates who want to become air traffic controllers need an associate or bachelor’s degree from an AT-CTI program and complete several exams provided by the FAA.

The requirements to become a pilot are more rigorous, though.

While a commercial pilot usually only needs a high school diploma, an airline pilot needs to have a bachelor’s degree. All pilots must be licensed by the FAA.

Pilots train for six to eight weeks in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations and receive their licenses and ratings in the following order:

• Student pilot certificate
• Private pilot license
• Instrument rating
• Commercial pilot license
• Multi-engine rating
• Airline transport pilot certificate

To gain each certification and rating, pilots must pass a written exam and a practical flying exam. In addition to passing these, candidates must have completed different hours of flight time.

As you read above, candidates spend a lot of time training and passing exams to get the certifications and licenses required. It takes a lot of dedication to work in this field.

Different roles come with their own set of challenges, especially when the unexpected happens. A pilot must know how to handle an emergency to get everyone to safety, a flight attendant must be patient and help the passengers remain calm, and an air traffic controller must know how to work as a guide from the ground.

It can be mentally and physically exhausting to work in aviation, but the professionals who have made it their career are incredibly passionate about it. They love the skies, love getting people to their destinations, and find comfort among the clouds.

Definitely!

Even if the job posting doesn’t say anything about a cover letter, do it anyway. It will help you look more professional and thorough to the hiring manager.

We always advise job seekers to submit one alongside the resume because a cover letter gives you the chance to talk more about yourself. You can further discuss your skills, work experience and highlight achievements, like how you helped a passenger during a flight because they were anxious, or a time where you made a successful emergency landing.

Think of the cover letter as the wings that will help your resume fly higher and at JobHero, we know precisely how to help you build it.

Start by checking our great selection of aviation cover letter examples to get inspired.