Building a Concise Resume When Your Work History Is No Longer Concise

[siucavflight]

Tired while I know what you are saying sometimes a little more information is helpful. If the department you are applying for does a lot of international flying for example, it might be nice to include that you have a lot of international experience with XYZ 135. Things like that can make the difference.

 

[Volasl]

One page used to be the norm. If you have over 10 years of professional experience then two pages is appropriate but no more.

 

[Volasl]

Here is the full link but i provided the basics.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/09/03/cb.exceptions.job.search/index.html





Here are six common job search "rules" and when it might be acceptable to break them:
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Rule No. 1: Keep your résumé to one page
When to make an exception: For entry-level applicants with only a few years of experience under their belt, it makes sense to send a one-page résumé. After all, no one wants to read three pages of irrelevant filler.
But, for job seekers with five or more years of experience, one page simply might not be enough to showcase their accomplishments. In this case, it's acceptable to use an additional page to describe your work history and undertakings.
Rule No. 2: Never try for an interview with a company that isn't hiring
When to make an exception: If your dream is to work for XYZ Company but it isn't hiring at the moment you need a job, there's no harm in setting up an informational interview with someone who can tell you more about the company. You'll build your network and perhaps learn of future opportunities at the organization.
Rule No. 3: Avoid sending a résumé with fancy formatting
When to make an exception: While a cardinal rule of job search is to send a simple, uncluttered résumé to employers -- sometimes that just won't cut it. If you're applying to a creative position, say graphic design, you'll want to send a résumé that will set you apart from the masses. For example, send a résumé using a format inspired by the company Web site.
Rule No. 4: Don't apply to a job for which you have no experience
When to make an exception: It's true that hiring managers want someone with the skills, education and know-how needed to get the job done -- but more than that, employers want the perfect fit for their company.
Forty-six percent of executives said they rely heavily on instinct when making a hiring decision, according to a survey by Robert Half International. If their gut says to hire the candidate with minimum experience but an explosive personality over the aloof applicant with years of experience -- they'll usually take the former.
Employers know they can teach you the hard skills necessary for any position -- it's the soft skills like personality and teamwork that will give you a one-up on a more qualified applicant. Go for it, even if you aren't "technically" experienced enough.
Rule No. 5: Develop a pitch to market yourself to employers
When to make an exception: When an employer says, "Tell me a little bit about yourself," most job seekers deliver the same 30-second spiel to everyone with whom they interview. Not only can your "commercial" sound scripted, you don't want to give the generic version each time.
Instead, think about the person you're interviewing with and the job for which you're vying. Cater your response to the situation and the person. If you're talking with a sales manager, for example, talk about your passion, energy, drive and ability to connect with people. If you're talking with someone from HR, expand on your teamwork capacity.
Rule No. 6: Never say negative things about your previous employer in an interview
When to make an exception: While a general rule of thumb is to keep a positive outlook about your previous employment, there might be some circumstances under which you can break this rule. If your negative comments are factual and they contributed to why you left the position, they might be OK to tell a hiring manager.
For example, if an employer asks why you left your old job after only four months and the truth is because your boss invaded your privacy, it's fine to say something along the lines of, "I got along well with my boss but I found him sitting at my desk going through my things every day. I need to work with a boss whom I can have a trusting relationship."
This way, you're being honest about a negative situation but making it into something positive you need from your new manager.
Rule No. 7: Never have typos in your résumé
When to make an exception: Psych! This is actually the one rule you can't break. While you can break a few other résumé rules, including typos is not one of them. Eighty-four percent of executives said all it takes is one or two typos on a résumé to remove a candidate from consideration for a job opening, according to a survey by Robert Half International; 47 percent said a single typo is all it would take to dismiss someone.
Be cautious but confident when breaking of the above rules -- doing so might be the ticket to your dream

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

If I were you I would have:
1: A one page resume. Cut and cut and cut. I'm in the same boat, and I've already made the margins small and reduced to 10 pt. font. I cut and cut and cut.

2: A two page resume, for when that might be appropriate.

ALSO:
Some places do NOT want a resume attached, faxed, whatever, they want it pasted in the BODY of the email, or it's pasted into an online application text box.

Then, the page thing doesn't matter. I have a special format for that situation that looks like this:

CLIFF...
3.. ....x Ct.
Green Bay, WI ...
Cell: ....
[email protected]

OBJECTIVE: Pilot position with ...

PILOT/AIRCRAFT
QUALIFICATIONS:
FAA Airline Transport Pilot: Airplane Multiengine Land
FAA Type Rating: DC-9, DA-20 (Falcon 20)
FAA Class I Medical: No restrictions 03/16/2009
FAA PC (Simulator) Check: DC-9 03/22/2009
Glass Cockpit: 2-Tube EFIS with RDU (Radio Display Unit), GPS, FMS
Heavy, Oceanic, and International Experience (Middle East, Europe, Africa)

FLIGHT TIME:
TOTAL 4280
PIC 1488
PIC ME Jet 1150
ME Jet 3184
Heavy Jet 357
SIC ME Jet 1880
Actual Instrument 787
Sim Instrument (Hood) 168
Simulator 378
Night 1466
Military 1494

WORK HISTORY:
Feb 2009 - Present
Northeast Wisconsin
Substitute Teacher: K-12, all subjects, for two school districts.

Jul 2002 - Feb 2009
USA Jet Airlines
2068 E. St.
Belleville, MI 48111
Line Pilot: DC-9 Captain for a 121 (supplemental) air carrier. Passenger and freight, private charter flight operations throughout North America. In Dec, 2008, my status changed from full-time employee to contractor status.

Sep 2001 - Jun 2002
Northeast Wisconsin
Substitute Teacher: K-12, all subjects, for four school districts.

Jun 2001 - Sep 2001
Trans States Airlines
11495 Natural Bridge Suite #212
Bridgeton, MO 63044
Line Pilot: J-41 First Officer for a 121 air carrier. Passed 85% (sim) checkride on 09/12/2001, then furloughed 09/17/2001.

etc....

U can see I put everything against the left margin. It also doesn't need to be "one page", since there are no pages. Easy.

cliff
GRB
PS-The only hard part is, as far as I know, no matter what format you save it in, various emails (or online apps) have different formatting, so you WILL have to re-format your stuff somewhat after you have pasted it. That's why my flight time numbers aren't EXACTLY in a straight line-no tabs in most email formats.
***If ANYONE knows a way to NOT have to reformat it, or to make my flight hour numbers line up EXACTLY, please let me know!!!***

Thanks a ton, ahead of time, for ANY help on that!

 

[lowtimedriver]

Here is the full link but i provided the basics.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/09/03/cb.exceptions.job.search/index.html

Here are six common job search "rules" and when it might be acceptable to break them:
Don't Miss

• <LI _extended="true">Uh-oh, you said THAT at work? <LI _extended="true">Five ways a big paycheck can backfire <LI _extended="true">15 jobs that pay $70,000 per year
• More CareerBuilder.com stories

Rule No. 1: Keep your résumé to one page
When to make an exception: For entry-level applicants with only a few years of experience under their belt, it makes sense to send a one-page résumé. After all, no one wants to read three pages of irrelevant filler.
But, for job seekers with five or more years of experience, one page simply might not be enough to showcase their accomplishments. In this case, it's acceptable to use an additional page to describe your work history and undertakings.
Rule No. 2: Never try for an interview with a company that isn't hiring
When to make an exception: If your dream is to work for XYZ Company but it isn't hiring at the moment you need a job, there's no harm in setting up an informational interview with someone who can tell you more about the company. You'll build your network and perhaps learn of future opportunities at the organization.
Rule No. 3: Avoid sending a résumé with fancy formatting
When to make an exception: While a cardinal rule of job search is to send a simple, uncluttered résumé to employers -- sometimes that just won't cut it. If you're applying to a creative position, say graphic design, you'll want to send a résumé that will set you apart from the masses. For example, send a résumé using a format inspired by the company Web site.
Rule No. 4: Don't apply to a job for which you have no experience
When to make an exception: It's true that hiring managers want someone with the skills, education and know-how needed to get the job done -- but more than that, employers want the perfect fit for their company.
Forty-six percent of executives said they rely heavily on instinct when making a hiring decision, according to a survey by Robert Half International. If their gut says to hire the candidate with minimum experience but an explosive personality over the aloof applicant with years of experience -- they'll usually take the former.
Employers know they can teach you the hard skills necessary for any position -- it's the soft skills like personality and teamwork that will give you a one-up on a more qualified applicant. Go for it, even if you aren't "technically" experienced enough.
Rule No. 5: Develop a pitch to market yourself to employers
When to make an exception: When an employer says, "Tell me a little bit about yourself," most job seekers deliver the same 30-second spiel to everyone with whom they interview. Not only can your "commercial" sound scripted, you don't want to give the generic version each time.
Instead, think about the person you're interviewing with and the job for which you're vying. Cater your response to the situation and the person. If you're talking with a sales manager, for example, talk about your passion, energy, drive and ability to connect with people. If you're talking with someone from HR, expand on your teamwork capacity.
Rule No. 6: Never say negative things about your previous employer in an interview
When to make an exception: While a general rule of thumb is to keep a positive outlook about your previous employment, there might be some circumstances under which you can break this rule. If your negative comments are factual and they contributed to why you left the position, they might be OK to tell a hiring manager.
For example, if an employer asks why you left your old job after only four months and the truth is because your boss invaded your privacy, it's fine to say something along the lines of, "I got along well with my boss but I found him sitting at my desk going through my things every day. I need to work with a boss whom I can have a trusting relationship."
This way, you're being honest about a negative situation but making it into something positive you need from your new manager.
Rule No. 7: Never have typos in your résumé
When to make an exception: Psych! This is actually the one rule you can't break. While you can break a few other résumé rules, including typos is not one of them. Eighty-four percent of executives said all it takes is one or two typos on a résumé to remove a candidate from consideration for a job opening, according to a survey by Robert Half International; 47 percent said a single typo is all it would take to dismiss someone.
Be cautious but confident when breaking of the above rules -- doing so might be the ticket to your dream

I have been an executive recruiter/headhunter for over twenty years specializing in the aerospace industry. While this article and suggestions are accurate to the most part, the one page resume requirement is urban legend. If you need to have a four-page resume, write it. In over twenty years of executive search experience, I have never had a Director, VP Level hiring authority get pissed because I forwarded them a 3, 4, or 5 page resume. There are several other misnomers in this article as well, but what can you expect from the media?

 

[westwind driver]

Disagree with #4 there. Afterall, how else do you get experience but to hire in to a position to learn. How else do you get into turbine equipment?

Lets see, if I followed this rule, then I should never apply to fly 121 or any other op because I dont have the experience. Doesnt make much sense.

Even the guy who has 30,000+ hours had to start from 0.