Packet Questions

[CHQ Pilot]

I was looking to find out how people put their packets together for Guard and Reserve units. I've done quite a few searches and have found tons of good information, but I had some questions to see what some people did. Some of these questions may seem a little picky, but I wanted to get my packet put together right from a presentation standpoint.

1. What kind of paper did you use for your packets? Did you use resume paper for your cover letter and resume and then plain copies for the rest (copies of letters of rec., any scores, pilot licenses, etc), or the same type of paper through the whole packet?

2. What have most people done for their packets as far as "binding"? I know some units wanted "paper clipped", but I was looking for a good standard so I could make up a bunch of packets. Did most just go to an office supply place and check out the portfolios for presentations?

3. I know generally it is okay to put copies of letter of rec. in the packet. I thought about getting some good copies at Kinkos, possibly color to make it as close to the original as I could, but I thought that might be over the top. Any ideas?

I'm trying not to make my packet seem like everyone else's, but I'm trying to avoid being the one that is the total oddball. Thanks for any insight anyone might be able to add.

 

[airgator]

CHQ:
Here's the folder I used. It was perfect, and I had excellent feedback from most units on its presentation:

http://www.officedepot.com/shop/cat...K&SID=42S45VC8LAX48KQ9AP6BQWULVNGJE3F4&PP=301

It has 6 clips to attach papers to, I did it 1)cover letter 2)resume 3)lor's 4)afoqt/bat printouts 5) college transcripts 6) I copied onto one page on a color copier my faa license, driver license, passport size photo, and copy of my faa class 1. On the page behind I had a copy of the last page of my logbook. If the unit had its own application or information sheet, (some units have them to download from on their unit website), I would put that first (typed of course) then the other 2 behind it.
One chief pilot called me back after I told him I'd be sending my packet and told me how great everything looked, and made a note to tell me how he doesn't understand how people send him packets paper clipped in a manilla envelope or even a stack of loose papers. As he told me: "Your packet is a representation of yourself". He said he litterally had an entire cabinet full of packets, and I'm betting he didn't call the majority of people to tell them that he had received their packets. I put my resume and cover letter on the best quality paper I could find, plain white, and all the copies of lors, scores, etc were on good quality watermarked paper. I also made color photos of my transcipts b/c they were on colored security type paper from my college. If you can do originals do it, but if your sending out 25 packets like I did color photos are cool. I'd go ahead and color copy your lor's as well, and put on good paper you can't even tell its a copy.
The reason I like this style folder so much is because it's the same type the military uses, it just looks like you know what's going on. I've bought them at office depot & staples. Also on the tab I printed out labels that had my full name and ss # on it. Good luck, any more ? feel free.

 

[lobohopeful]

right on

Airgator hit it right on the head. That is exactly what I was told to do by several officers. I'd personally go with the brown(they call it red) folder though. I used resume paper for everything I put in there. Label the tabs. You will have tough competition and that package may just make the difference. Pull out all the stops, man! Be that oddball, as long as it's because you're busting your ass to get the slot. Make them remember you because you went the extra mile or ten.

 

[stlpilot]

That sounds all good and well just one word of warning, some units specifically tell you in their UPT info document "dont use fancy presentation material, your packet bound by a paper clip and manila folder is fine" and they may say something about "don't spend alot of money making it look too fancy".

Im not saying dont use good resume paper you should, but some of the units want it very simple. Just make sure you read thier UPT info document. My two cents.

 

[lobohopeful]

stlpilot is right. The best thing you can do is contact the unit, ask them what they want in the package. Never use colored or scented paper. Just use plain, quality stuff. There's always bad in extremes, but keep it quality.

 

[CHQ Pilot]

Thanks for the responses

Thanks for all the tips!

I can't thank everyone enough for all the information. I've been paying extra attention to the information that units specifically want. I come to find that 90% of the units want the same basic information, but a few want things such as certified college transcripts (which I included anyway) to date or birth on the cover letter.

Thanks for everything!