As a PR specialist, the business hiring you needs to know they can trust you when things get tough. You need to clearly demonstrate that you’re independent, work well under pressure, creative in solving problems, and much more. But clearly showing all of that on a resume is far from easy.

That said, if you wanted an easy job then you wouldn’t be in PR. Fortunately, we’ve compiled our best tricks, advice, and examples to show you precisely what you need to do to land your next PR role. So before you start sending off that dull resume you’ve used for years, give this guide a read-through and see what you can do to beat out the competition.

What you’ll learn in this guide:

• How to use PR resume examples for inspiration
• The formatting rules for the best PR resume
• How to get past ATS
• What recruiters look for in a PR specialist resume
• How to make your achievements stand out
• The best job qualifications to include
• What makes PR skills more effective on a resume
• The power of targeting your resume for specific roles
• How to prepare for the interview process
• And more!

PR resume template examples to get you started

When learning the basics of PR, one of the main ways you learn is through case studies. Whether you want to know what to do or what not to do, seeing PR in action is probably the best way to learn. It’s not that different with resumes. We recommend starting by having a look at some high quality PR specialist resume examples to get a feel for what the end goal of your resume process should be.

Be sure to make a list of the elements you like and don’t like about these resumes. There’s no one perfect PR resume, so you should be taking the best of what you find to incorporate into yours.

[Examples]

How to write a public relations (PR) specialist resume that will get you the job

There’s a fundamental question you’re always asking yourself in PR: who is the audience. Everything you do to represent a client has a specific audience in mind, otherwise it’s nearly impossible to come up with the right strategy. Fortunately, that same strategy will serve you well with your resume.

Before you start writing, you need to carefully consider the two main audiences your resume has. Everything you do from this point onwards should be done with them in mind. Let’s discuss them both in detail.

How to ensure you get past ATS

Despite what the vast majority of job seekers think, the first place your resume usually goes when submitted is not to a recruiter or HR professional but to an algorithm. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are AI-driven programs designed to sort through resumes and decide which should be immediately rejected. They are used by most large companies but can still often reject qualified resumes because of errors or misunderstandings.

That’s why it’s so critical to avoid those errors through early preparation. The good news is that you can do this by following three simple steps.

1. Be sure the resume you submit is the right file type. Nearly all ATS are designed to read .doc, .docx, and .pdf files. Submitting anything else will likely mean your resume is automatically rejected.
2. Use a resume builder to ensure your file is ATS-optimized. Some files are easier for ATS to read than others because of the way the data is structured within the file. Images, columns, charts, and other formatting can confuse ATS and lead to rejections. The best solution is to create your resume with a builder specifically designed to generate ATS-friendly files.
3. Get smart about how you use keywords. The basic way ATS function is by being given a set of skills and other requirements that resumes should meet. The problems come when ATS struggle to understand what’s written on the resume. To avoid this, list your skills, experience, etc. as closely to how they’re written in the job description as possible. This maximizes the chance that ATS correctly identify that your experience and skills meet their requirements.

How to give recruiters what they’re looking for

Once your resume sails past ATS it lands on the screen of a recruiter, the second audience you need to prepare for. But what is that recruiter looking for in your resume? This can be broken down into a few key things.

The first is the same thing the ATS was looking for. The recruiter will have a set of minimum requirements your resume needs to meet. Your mission is to make it as easy as possible for them to see that you meet the requirements. Lucky for you, this has already been taken care of when you prepared for ATS.

Otherwise, think about other ways to make that recruiter’s job easier. Using modern design can make your resume more aesthetically pleasing, carefully reviewing the text can help ensure it’s easy to read and understand, and minimizing its length can lessen their workload. In other words, at every step of your resume creation process, consider that recruiter and how you can make it as easy as possible for them to say “yes” to you.

How to format your resume

Many of the best ways to optimize your resume for recruiters come down to formatting. This is all about how you structure the information on your resume. You wouldn’t bury the lede in a press release, so don’t hide your most impressive achievements somewhere on the middle of your resume’s third page.

This is why the main formatting rule you need to follow is to put the most important information towards the top. This means using a resume objective or summary to give the main points right from the start and listing your experience in reverse chronological order (meaning your most recent work at the top).

Again, the thing to do is imagine you’re the recruiter and go through each section of your resume imagining the questions you might have. Controlling the order of information helps control the narrative you’re conveying, making the information in your resume more impactful.

The best length for a PR resume

Recruiters are always busy, so you need to consider their time constraints. That’s why you want your resume to be as short as possible while still providing the critical information it needs to. Generally you want to aim for 1-2 pages, leaning towards the shorter end if you’re less experienced.

But instead of taking a prescriptive rule like “your resume should always be one page,” the best rule to follow is this: only include information that makes your resume better. Look at each section and sentence and ask yourself “is this adding value to my resume?” If the answer is no, then get rid of it. That rule should make it easier to get your resume down to a reasonable 1-2 pages.

Top sections to include

While the sections you use should be tailored to your experience, these are the top ones we recommend for a PR specialist resume:

• Resume objective or summary
• Work experience
• PR achievements
• Education
• Certifications
• Hard skills
• Soft Skills

How to make your achievements stand out

As a PR specialist you know that achievements don’t amount to much if you can’t sell them. What recruiters look for is specific, concrete examples of what has resulted from your work as well as a focus on value provided to clients. Let’s examine some examples to show what this looks like in practice.

Coordinated many PR-focused events.

A bad impression is worse than no impression at all and this “achievement” illustrates that well. Instead of sounding impressive, it reads as vague. This means a recruiter seeing it would likely take away a negative impression of this candidate. If they’re going to work in PR, they need to at least be able to sell their own achievements after all. Let’s compare that to an improved version.

Coordinated and ran monthly press conferences to announce new products and field questions from journalists, resulting in an average of 8.5 articles in major publications.

This example makes it clear what role this person played and what the result was. But beyond that, the wording gives the impression that they are competent, detail oriented, and in control. In other words, it makes them sound like a top-notch PR expert, exactly the kind of impression you need to create.

How to make your skills more effective

The same techniques you used to make your achievements stand out should also be applied to your skills. Simply listing your skills is easy, but it doesn’t do anything to create a strong feeling in a recruiter that you actually possess those skills. What will do that is listing specific examples of when you’ve demonstrated them, or backing them up with training or a certification. Let’s look at some examples to better understand how to do this properly.

Excellent at building and maintaining media relationships

This is a critical PR skill, but getting specific will give it a far greater impact on the recruiter reading it.

Excellent at building and maintaining media relationships

-Actively worked with journalists from Forbes, Huffpost, and NYT through 3 PR positions and over 10 years.

By getting more specific you can give a recruiter a far better idea of what that skill means in practice. While the first version is the kind of thing you can easily read and immediately forget, the second one makes you consider just how good this candidate is at maintaining media relationships and what that could do for your own business.

The best PR hard skills to include

• Writing press releases
• Planning and running press conferences
• Writing speeches
• Media outreach
• CMS platforms
• Social media marketing (listing specific platforms)
• SEO
• Brand management
• Research

The best PR soft skills to include

• Building and maintaining media relationships
• Written and oral communication
• Crisis management
• Attention to detail
• Negotiation and persuasion
• Confidence
• Creative problem solving
• Charisma
• Team management
• Networking

How to list your education

Most people list their education on their resume as a given, but as a PR relations specialist, should you? It depends on a few things. The more recent and relevant to PR your education is, the more likely you should include it. Use that same rule we mentioned earlier, ask yourself if listing your education and details about it adds value for the recruiter.

If you do decide to list your education, here are two examples to illustrate how to do it.

BA in English

Brown University

1999-2003

-Recipient of university writing award

-Ran events for my sorority

To start, this degree is really too old to be included. Even if it were an actual degree in PR, after nearly two decades of professional experience, that work should be what gets you the job, not a degree from another era of PR. The other details would be worth mentioning if this person were a recent graduate because they connect with PR. But ultimately, this example is too old to be worth mentioning.

BA in Public Relations

New York University

2014-2018

-Worked on the university PR team to organize events as an on-campus job

-Volunteered as a media liaison for the NYU chapter of Greenpeace

This example is absolutely worth including because the degree is both recent and directly related to PR. The other details are also PR related, though the candidate should also consider what the specific employer they’d like to work with would think about their campus volunteering. The Sierra Club or WWF would love that experience while a company like Chevron likely would not. Always consider company culture and values when deciding which details to include or emphasize anywhere on your resume.

If you don’t have a degree in PR or are looking to brush up your skills, obtaining a certification is an easy choice. This is particularly true if you’re a recent graduate, looking to change careers, or otherwise don’t have very much professional experience.

Certifications to consider adding

• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Accredited in Public Relations (APR) Certification
• PRSA Certificate in Principles of Public Relations
• Udemy PR courses
• Coursera PR courses

What are ideal PR specialist job qualifications and how to list them correctly

The specific qualifications you’ll be expected to have will vary based on the specific PR role. This is another reason to always target a custom resume for each job you’re applying to. That said, the core qualifications you’ll generally want to emphasize will be:

• Experience dealing with media through press conferences, releases, relationship building, etc.
• Getting ahead of and handling PR problems.
• Putting together and executing PR strategies.
• Measuring the results of your work.

These are the 4 core areas your resume should emphasize throughout.

The best way to start a PR resume

Once you’ve got a clear idea of which skills, qualifications, and achievements you want to emphasize on your resume, you should use an opening objective or summary to mention them. This is the best way to get ahead of questions that might arise as a recruiter reads your resume and to form a strong first impression.

How to write a resume objective

A resume objective will generally be only about one sentence and should concisely explain who you are and what you aim to achieve with your PR resume. The good news is that you should already be experienced writing this kind of copy in press releases. The bad news is that this means expectations will be high.

I’m a certified PR expert with the skills to handle any crisis your company might encounter.

This resume objective has a lot going on and none of it is good. Beyond the basic mistake of not writing it in the third person, it’s vague and makes a promise this person cannot possibly keep. A skeptical recruiter will read this as you starting off your resume by lying to them, which is not how you want to start off that relationship. Let’s see an improved version.

APR certified PR specialist with 8 years experience building startup brands like Alterion and Microstars looking to bring this experience to build Ace Solutions into the most recognized brand in marketing automation.

This objective clearly states the candidates basic qualifications and how they'd like to apply those qualifications in this new role. It also communicates right away that you took the time to create a custom resume just for this position. Overall, this is the kind of strong first impression you need to make with a resume objective.

How to write a resume summary

If you have more you need to communicate from the start, a resume summary is a better way to go. This is ideal if you’re changing careers, want to explain more of your qualifications from the start, or want to get ahead of a question you know will arise in the rest of your resume like a gap in your work history. 

Talented and ambitious recent graduate with a BA in Public Relations from the University of Minnesota hoping to take all of the skills learned there and apply them towards working at your company. Free to answer any questions or discuss specifics at a convenient time.

This resume summary gives the impression of a candidate who’s full of hot air and not much else. It wastes time giving details like where they just graduated (important, but not the first thing a recruiter needs to know) and noting that they are available to discuss details. Overall, this example is generic and light on relevant details. Let’s see what a better version would look like.

Recent Public Relations graduate with experience building the website development brand SiteMaster looking to apply brand development expertise to getting the WebSmart CRM off the ground by targeting small personal online businesses like SiteMaster.

This resume summary mentions that the candidate is a recent grad but spends its time focusing on what experience they have and exactly how they want to use that experience in this role. It makes them sound like they have a plan and the experience to carry it out instead of someone looking to learn on the job.

How to target your resume for each application

As mentioned a few times in this guide, creating a custom resume for each PR position you’d like to apply for is one of the most effective ways to improve your chances of getting hired. It allows you to make your resume more ATS-optimized and targeted in addition to communicating to the recruiters that you took the time to do the job well instead of going the easy route.

Try researching the company where you’re applying to better understand their company culture and the specific PR challenges they’re likely facing. If you can craft your resume as an answer to these challenges while also demonstrating you’ll fit well within their existing culture, you’ll have a better shot at getting hired.

How to prepare for a job interview as a public relations specialist

Expectations for a PR interview will be high. Part of your role as a public relations specialist will generally be to field media questions, so you’ll be expected to be sharp and quick with your answers (though less so if it’s a purely digital role). The key to nailing that is to work out likely questions ahead of time and practice them extensively.

The exact questions will always vary based on the nature of the role, so be sure to brainstorm likely questions for yourself. Then, try practicing them with a friend so you’re comfortable and prepared when they come.

Which questions are likely to be asked during the interview process?

These are a few likely questions you’ll encounter and should be prepared for.

• How will your work impact the business?
• Why did you decide to work in PR?
• What is your greatest weakness as a PR specialist?
• What would be your approach if X happened?
• How would you go about building our brand?
• What is your approach to building and developing media relationships?
• Why should we hire you over another candidate?
• How do you see social media playing into your work?

How to make your resume stand out?

This guide has been full of tips, examples, and ideas for how you can nail all of the vital details of your PR specialist resume. However, one element we haven’t mentioned is design. This is the first thing a recruiter will notice about your resume and a sure way to make it stand out from the dull competition. Your resume should have a clean and modern design which enhances the content instead of distracting from it. The best way to get that design is to use a great resume builder.

Why using a resume builder gives you an edge

You’ll always be in charge of the content on your resume, but things like the design and the ATS-friendliness of the data on your resume’s file are harder to control. The right resume builder, however, allows you to feel confident that you’ll get these elements just right. 

From letting you choose from a variety of standout designs to making it easier for you to create multiple targeted resumes on one platform, Resumebuild.com offers the powerful features you need. Try it for yourself and see why resume builders are fast becoming the new standard for how people like you get great jobs.

Traveling for a living is many people’s idea of a dream job. It’s no wonder that many people glamorize the work of flight attendants. Not only do they get the chance to visit new cities and countries on the company dollar, but they also get to meet passengers from all around the world.

There’s no doubt numerous perks that this career offers. However, any flight attendant will tell you that there are constant challenges to deal with too - all of which must be done with a smile on your face. Rude passengers, turbulence, and delays are just some of the trickier parts of this occupation. And let’s not forget that you’re at every passenger’s beck and call for the duration of the flight.

In addition to all of the challenges flight attendants face in the air, they face one of their most formidable ones back down on earth: getting their dream job. If you’re a flight attendant who’s looking for a promotion within your current airline or you’re looking to switch to a new airline company altogether, you’ll know how competitive the entire hiring process is.

In order to catch a recruiter’s attention, you will need to apply with an eye-catching flight attendant resume that puts your best foot forward.

If you’re unsure about how to piece one together, this guide has you covered. We’ve shared all of our best expert tips to ensure recruiters won’t be able to say no to you. You’ll learn about a range of helpful pointers including:

• How to correctly format your resume
• Which sections are mandatory to include and how to write them effectively
• How to give your skills and achievements the attention they deserve
• Expert tips for writing your very first flight attendant resume
• An insider secret for efficiently creating a stunning resume

1. Multiple Template Examples

2. How to Write a Flight Attendant Resume That Will Get You Noticed

How should you format your resume?

When a recruiter is reading your resume, they’ll want to see your most recent professional experiences first and foremost, followed by the ones that preceded it. That’s why it makes sense to adopt a reverse-chronological resume format, which does exactly this. The primary advantage of using this resume format is that it emphasizes your upwards career progression.

There are also several resume layout standards that you should stick to. Here are the most crucial ones to be mindful of when you’re piecing together your resume:

• • Number of Pages: A single page only. 
  • Fonts to Use: Fonts that can be easily read at first glance, such as Avenir Next and Garamond.
  • Fonts to Avoid: Any fonts that a recruiter would need to strain their eyes to read, such as Money Penny and Honest Script.
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides.

• Line Spacing: 1 or 1.15.

• Header size: 14-16 point size.
• Text size: 11-12 point size.

What are the most important sections to include in your resume?

In order to make a flight attendant resume that will lead to your dream job, you’ll need to be strategic about what type of information is presented to the recruiter. After all, you only have one page to work within.

So you can forget what you’ve heard about including hobbies and references - unless the recruiter explicitly asked for them! Here are the most important sections your resume should include:

• Contact information: State your contact details, including your name, address, email address, phone number, and LinkedIn profile URL.

• Resume objective or resume summary: Provide an overview of why you’re the perfect candidate for the job, based on your career aspirations and/or relevant achievements.

• Education: Provide key details about your educational background.

• Professional experience: Provide details (in bullet points) about your work history, highlighting your achievements in each role.

• Certifications: List key details about any relevant certifications that a recruiter would be interested in.

• Skills: List 6 to 8 of your relevant skills that an ideal candidate should possess.

• Languages: List any foreign languages you speak and your proficiency level in each.

• Awards: If you have any, list any awards you’ve received as a flight attendant.

How to list additional training and certifications as a flight attendant

Showing that you have the proper training to work as a flight attendant is crucial. As you’ll be well aware, it is a federal law requirement for all flight attendants to hold a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

While it is a ‘given’ that you hold this certificate if you’re currently employed as a flight attendant, you should make this fact crystal clear on your resume. The best way to do this is to create a “Training and Certifications” section in your resume.

You can then list this certification, followed by any additional relevant ones you have to your name, using the format below:

• [Name of certification], [Issuing organization], [Year obtained]

Here’s an example of how this should look on your resume. We’ve also included some examples of other relevant certifications you may wish to include if you also have them:

• Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency, FAA, 2020
• First Aid Certificate, Red Cross, 2019
• CPR/AED Certificate, Red Cross, 2019
• Spanish Diploma Level C2 (Mastery), DELE, 2018

Pro tip: For more information about applying for a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency, read this FAA document.

Where to list languages on a resume and how to do it correctly

Being bilingual or multilingual is an attribute not all flight attendants can boast. While it’s not necessary to list your foreign language abilities in most other resumes, it’s an absolute must to include on your flight attendant resume.

Needless to say, being able to communicate in another language is very useful in your line of work. For starters, in order to qualify for flying certain flight paths, you’ll need to offer specific language abilities. Some airlines even require or give strong preference to those who are able to speak that airline’s native language. For example, Japan Airlines (JAL) looks favorably on candidates who can speak fluent Japanese.

Even if an application does not require foreign language abilities, listing them in your resume will help you catch a recruiter’s eye. Remember, recruiters want to find flight attendants who go up and beyond for their passengers, and being able to speak to passengers in their native language is one of the most powerful customer service experiences you provide.

You should list any foreign languages you speak in a dedicated “Languages” section. State the name of each language you speak along with your proficiency level. That is:

Languages

• [Language name] - [Proficiency level]

Be sure to put the most relevant language you speak first, even if it’s not your strongest one. Then, you can list any others you speak in order from most fluet to least fluent. 

For example, if you’re applying for a position at Delta Air Lines that will predominantly fly from the US to Spain and you speak a bit of Spanish, are conversational in French, have an intermediate level of Japanese, and native level Italian fluency, your languages section should look like this:

Languages

• Spanish - Beginner
• Italian - Native 
• Japanese - Intermediate
• French - Conversational

Pro tip: Don’t inflate your language abilities in order to sound impressive. If you only have basic conversational abilities in French, don’t state that you’re at an intermediate level. The recruiter may test your abilities, and you’ll be in big trouble if they discover you’ve exaggerated them.

How to highlight your most important achievements

One of the most wonderful things about being a flight attendant is that it’s so rewarding. It’s therefore easy to quickly accumulate achievements to your name. If you’re trying to figure out which ones are worth highlighting on your resume and also how to do so effectively, keep the following straightforward steps front of mind:

First of all, you need to work out which achievements will pique the recruiter’s interest. All you need to do is go through the job ad with a fine tooth comb, until you find all of the keywords the recruiter has used to indicate what they’re looking for.

Keywords are crucial to include in your resume as they directly address what the recruiter is after in their dream candidate. Including them also helps your resume get the tick of approval from any Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) the recruiter is using. ATS is a type of HR software that filters candidates based on a number of factors - including whether their resume features keywords from the job ad. If your resume doesn’t include them, you’ll get a big fat “Fail” from the ATS.

Once you’ve identified which keywords to target, you can then write about your achievements in a way that allows you to incorporate them. Keep in mind that you will need to add the keywords in a natural way and only use the ones that are relevant to your experiences.

Using keywords unnaturally - a practice called keyword stuffing - is a surefire way for your resume to end up in the reject pile. So make sure not to keyword stuff like this candidate did:

• Always stick to strict grooming standards in recognition that strict grooming standards are essential.

As you can see, they engaged in keyword stuffing by unnecessarily using the keyword “strict grooming standards” more than once. A recruiter would definitely wouldn’t be impressed by the candidate’s attempt to manipulate the ATS. Moreover, they would not pass the candidate anyway if their achievements all sound equally bland and repetitive.

To correctly use keywords in your achievements - simply incorporate them naturally, like this candidate did:

• Adhere to strict grooming standards in recognition of company policy - a key factor that has contributed to my 100% customer satisfaction rating. 

This achievement would be bound to catch a recruiter’s eye thanks to the fact that the candidate smoothly incorporated the keyword into it. The recruiter would also appreciate that the candidate quantified the positive impact that their work had by highlighting their customer satisfaction rating. To learn more about quantifying your work experiences, read the “How to make your resume stand out” section below.

Which skills should you mention on your resume?

You’re in luck - you can apply the same method we explained directly above, to work out which skills to mention on your resume. To give you a recap, you should carefully look at a job ad to identify the keywords a recruiter has included.

In this instance, you should look for skills-focused keywords. There are two types of skills you will encounter when you apply this method:

• Soft skills: Emotion-based or other intangible skills.
• Hard skills: Practical skills that usually require technical ability of some kind.

Below are some examples of keywords taken from real-life flight attendant job ads. Try to identify which ones are soft skills and which ones are hard skills:

1. Strict grooming standards
2. Building relationships
3. Inflight hygiene
4. Ability to work under pressure 
5. Coordinating multiple time-sensitive demands
6. Customer service abilities
7. Administering first aid
8. Ability to swim
9. Handling passenger complaints
10. Managing passenger safety

The first five skills are soft skills, while the latter five are hard skills. Did you manage to get them right?

Once you have a list of the skills stated in a given job ad, mark the ones you personally possess. You should then look for opportunities to add them to your resume. We recommend creating a “Skills” section that you can use to put a spotlight on your most relevant and attractive skills. Aim to list 6 to 8 of them.

You should also weave these skills throughout your job experiences section, as appropriate. You’ll get bonus points if you can sneak one or two into your resume objective or summary. But be sure to keep in mind that your inclusions should always sound natural!

How to write a resume objective or summary

Including a resume objective or summary is a fantastic way to immediately capture a recruiter’s attention. Both should be 2 to 4 sentences long and be positioned immediately under your contact information. However, you will only need to include one. Read on to discover which one is most appropriate for your situation:

Resume objective 

A resume objective is a clear statement about your career aspirations and suitability as an up and coming flight attendant. It is suitable only for candidates with little or no experience. When writing one, it’s therefore imperative to highlight the most attractive and relevant qualities you offer a recruiter.

Let’s now analyze the differences between a bad and good flight attendant resume objective.

Here’s an example of a bad one that shows some common mistakes in action:

• Aspiring flight attendant who wants to fulfil their childhood dream of becoming a flight attendant. Currently attending university and am waiting to graduate so I can finally work for Opal Airlines. At Opal Airline, I plan to learn as much as possible so I can become an award-winning flight attendant.

When a recruiter reads this, all they will see is “I,” “I,” “I.” The candidate has made the mistake of focusing their resume objective all on their needs. In fact, it is so self-serving that they have failed to communicate what attributes they can contribute to Opal Airlines. 

Another mistake that they’ve made is that their writing is too vague. This is a common mistake aspiring flight attendants make, because they’re unsure of what to write or they feel under-confident about their worthiness as a candidate.

So what does a mistake-free resume objective look like? See for yourself:

• Aspiring flight attendant who wishes to bring their enthusiasm, excellent customer service skills, and strong communication skills to a role in an international airline. Currently completing a BA in Modern Languages and Cultures from Pace University, where I am honing my intermediate French skills in accordance with Opal Airlines’ requirements. Two-time winner of Customer Service Agent of the Year at my current company.

There are so many things this candidate has done correctly that you should aim to do too. 

Firstly, they’ve made their resume objective about what they can do for Opal Airlines (rather than the other way around!). Secondly, they’ve highlighted their strongest skills - including ones that Opal Airlines particularly values, such as French skills. Thirdly, the candidate has customized their resume objective for Opal Airlines. They did this by including relevant and specific details about both themselves and the airline. Finally, to really seal the deal they highlighted their award to drive home how strong their customer service skills are.

Resume summary

A resume summary should provide a recruiter with an overview of your most relevant and noteworthy attributes and accomplishments. These can include your education, skills, work achievements, awards, and language abilities. You can even include your career motivations if you can fit them in!

Let’s explore the differences between a bad and good flight attendant resume summary. 

Here’s an example of what to avoid:

• Flight attendant with 7 years of experience. I love my job and am highly skilled in it, but I’m looking to work for a better airline like yours. 

Oh dear, this candidate definitely shouldn’t expect a call back! Why? They haven’t given the recruiter a single reason to hire them. First off, the way they’ve described their skills, experiences, and motivations is incredibly vague.

The candidate also fails to provide the recruiter with any concrete evidence about their competency as a flight attendant. Finally, the candidate hasn’t bothered to communicate why they’re an ideal candidate, and instead wasted time explaining why they want the job.

Compare this example to a resume summary that would immediately captivate a recruiter:

• FAA-certified flight attendant with 7 years of experience, who has undertaken both internal and external training in first aid and CPR/AED. I wish to bring my organizational skills, exceptional customer service, and fluency in Mandarin to Blossom Air. Voted Flight Attendant of the Month by my current airline.

What a difference tweaking your resume summary makes! 

There are many reasons this candidate ticks numerous boxes. Firstly, they’ve clearly stated the fact they’re FAA-certified, which is highly-advisable to do. They also highlighted a selection of other relevant certifications they’ve obtained, as well as their relevant skills that are based on the keywords the recruiter included in the job ad.

Moreover, the candidate mentioned the airline by name, which is a smart way to let the recruiter know that they wrote a custom resume summary just for them. The cherry on top is that they additionally highlighted an eye-catching award that has direct relevance to the job.  

How to write a flight attendant resume when you have little or no experience?

Have you always dreamed of being a flight attendant, but don’t have the faintest clue about how to write a career-launching resume? It can be confusing to know what to include, especially when you have little or no experience as a flight attendant.

We’ve shared our top expert tips below for how entry-level candidates can easily make a strong impression from the get-go.

1. 1. Use a functional resume format: This type of format is ideal for aspiring flight attendants as it puts a spotlight on your skills over your work history. To learn more, take a read of our handy guide about different resume formats.

• Emphasize why you’re worth taking a chance on: There’s no getting around the fact that you don’t yet have experience working in the air. That means the best thing you can do is to give the recruiter numerous reasons to choose you over all of the other candidates that are competing for the same position.
  
  You can do this by highlighting any educational background, skills, attributes, and professional experiences you can offer that are relevant to this career. You can even include information about clubs you’re part of and volunteering experiences you’ve partaken in. Just make sure to always write about each of them in a way that highlights their direct relevance to what the recruiter is after.

• Start developing the skills flight attendants rely on: The more skills you have at your disposal, the more competitive you’ll be as an aspiring flight attendant. The good news about the skills recruiters are looking for is that you can start working on many of them right now.

For example, if your communication skills are lacking, consider getting a part-time job where you can develop them. Likewise, if you want to work for an airline based in a certain country or aspire to fly a certain flight path, take up an appropriate language course.

• Emphasize your customer service experiences: If you’ve ever worked in a role, where you had to deal with customers on any level, be sure to feature it in your resume. That means your stint bussing tables in a restaurant or cafe, working as a part-time receptionist, responding to calls at a call center, or tutoring students during your vacation - all count.

How to make your resume stand out

If you want to ensure your resume goes the distance, there are some additional things you can do to transform it into a truly remarkable one. Take heed of our top tips below for making your resume stand out:

• Make your achievements measurable: A recruiter for flight attendants is fully aware of the general duties you are responsible for in your line of work. While it is vital to clearly list any relevant ones in your resume, don’t be complacent about how you list them. You should always be thinking, “How can I make this achievement measureable and eye-catching?”

The key is to quantify your achievements using numbers, percentages, and real-life examples. This will help the recruiter understand the positive impact your work had. For example, if your achievement is, “Safely and efficiently boarded passengers every time” you can add to the end of it “...which contributed to 99.4% of the flights I worked on taking off without delays.”

• Highlight any awards you have won: Have you been recognized by your airline as a flight attendant, who provides exceptional service? If you’ve received an award for your second-to-none service in the air, list it in a dedicated “Awards” section. If you don’t have enough space to do so, you can always mention it in your resume objective or summary instead.

• Make it clear if you currently work for an award-winning airline: If you’re currently a flight attendant for an airline that has received industry recognition for boasting one of the best cabin crews in the world, be sure to point this out in your resume objective or summary.
  
  While you didn’t personally receive the award, remember that you played a part in helping the company achieve it. You can write something to the tune of, “Current flight attendant for Cathay Pacific Airlines, which was voted as having one of the "World's Best Cabin Crews” in Skytrax's 2019 World Airline Awards.  

3. How Resumebuild.com’s Resume Builder Tool Can Help You Create a Stunning Resume

Now that you’ve finished reading this guide, you’ll probably have one of two reactions. 

You may have a renewed sense of motivation to get working on your flight attendant resume after learning about how important it is to create a high-quality one. That’s fantastic news! But unfortunately, motivation alone is’t going to cut it. You’ll also need plenty of time to work on perfecting your resume’s format and wording. Moreover, you will need a way with words to really make an impact.

Or maybe you had the complete opposite reaction and you’re now disheartened about how much work and expertise is required to make a stunning resume. Rest assured that this is a common reaction to have, as making a resume is indeed a very involved process.

We’re not saying all of this to dissuade you from working on your resume. Instead, we want to be upfront about the realities of making a strong flight attendant resume all by yourself. 

Fortunately, we have an insider secret to share with you that will solve all of the problems you’re experiencing: make your resume using Resumebuild.com’s simple-to-use resume builder. Simply put, our resume builder is your ticket to your next flight attendant job. 

Instead of wasting your precious time fiddling around with margins, spacing, fonts, and all that jazz, just use one of our practical and stylish resume templates. With over 15 to choose from, you’re sure to find one you connect with.   

Once you do, our resume builder will expertly guide you to fill out each essential section of your resume. It will indicate precisely what information you need to provide and offer you expert tips along the way. In the end, you’ll be the proud owner of a resume that convinces recruiters you’re their perfect candidate. Head to ResumeBuild.com to learn more or to get started.

From the outside, the life of a pilot appears to be incredibly glamorous. You constantly get to travel to new parts of the world, earn an excellent salary, and enjoy the prestige, which comes with the job title.

What most people fail to appreciate, however, is how demanding your job is. They also don’t realize the blood, sweat, and tears it took to become a pilot in the first place. Let alone that you had to study and undertake your pilot’s training for what seemed like years on end, you also had to log a certain amount of hours in the air and pass several exams to finally call yourself a pilot.

Now, as a fully-fledged pilot, you’re responsible for the safety of thousands of passengers a year - or a few bigwig clients if you’re flying private! Or perhaps you’re flying cargo, which carries a whole other set of responsibilities with it. One thing that’s for sure is that while there’s nothing in the world as thrilling as flying, it’s no walk in the park.

One aspect of your profession that’s especially challenging is trying to secure a new job. After all, there are only so many positions available, so competition is fierce. The Bureau of Statistics projects that overall employment of airline and commercial pilots will grow by 6 percent from 2018 to 2028. While this doesn’t sound too bad, keep in mind that this is only 1% more than the average for all occupations.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, once you know how to properly leverage the key to impressing recruiters, you’ll have more job offers than you can handle! What, then, is the key? Your pilot resume. It has the potential to open doors to all kinds of professional opportunities - including flying with your dream airline or plane.

You just need to know how to make a pilot resume recruiters will scramble to read. If you’re ready to transform your resume, read our guide below. It covers each aspect of your creating the perfect resume including:

• Which skills you need to highlight and how to do it correctly
• The best way to list your flight times and ratings
• Tips for writing your resume objective or summary
• Expert advice for targeting your resume to each application
• How to distinguish your resume from the competition

1. Multiple Template Examples

2. How to write a pilot resume that will get you the job?

How to format it

As a pilot, you need to project professionalism in every facet of your being. Given that your resume is a written representation of your achievements as a pilot, it is vital that it appears to be just as professional as you are.

For this reason, we strongly advise that you make use of a reverse-chronological resume format. This format is the industry standard for pilots as it lets your work history take center stage, by featuring your work history prominently on your resume and arranging it from your most to least recent job.

In order for your resume to be well-received by recruiters, you will also need to ensure you have followed the standard layout rules we have outlined below:

• • Number of Pages: 1 page only. 
  • Fonts to Use: Any font that looks authoritative, such as Cambria and Garamond.
  • Fonts to Avoid: Any font that makes the recruiter question your professionalism, such as Bradel Hand ITC and Vivaldi.
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides.

• Line Spacing: 1 or 1.15.

• Header size: 14-16 point size.
• Text size: 11-12 point size

What recruiters will look for

While recruiters for most jobs will settle with a candidate who meets most of their criteria, recruiters for pilots must adhere to much stricter criteria. Each recruiter will be responsible for finding a candidate that meets all of their criteria in terms of training, flight time, skills, work history, licensure, and flight ratings.

Given that lives are at stake, recruiters need to be 100% certain that you tick all of the boxes they are looking for from their ideal candidate. That’s why a recruiter, who is responsible for finding a pilot with at least 3,000 hours of flight time, will not be looking to hire a pilot with 2,800 hours.

In addition, recruiters are only interested in pilots with a proven track record for safely transporting passengers or cargo from point A to B. Only pilots who have demonstrated unwavering compliance with aviation standards and codes of conduct will be seriously considered.

In order to ensure a recruiter selects you as their ideal candidate, you need to convince them that you meet all of their criteria - and then some. Your resume, thus, needs to be neatly presented and well-written, so that they can easily comprehend that you tick all the boxes they’re looking for.

If you’re unsure of how to do this, keep reading. You’ll learn all about how to create a pilot resume that addresses recruiters’ precise criteria.

Pro tip: As is the standard process with pilot job applications, in addition to sending a recruiter your resume, you’ll also need to ensure that you address the mandatory requirements listed in the job ad (such as flight hours) and provide all necessary supporting documentation with your application. Most applications also require you to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and background check.

How to get your resume past ATS (applicant tracking system)

In addition to addressing recruiters’ expectations, there’s another vital consideration you need to keep front of mind: how to get your resume past ATS. These three letters stand for ‘applicant tracking system’ or ‘applicant tracking software’ and describe a type of software designed to assist recruiters to filter candidates more efficiently.

Before the advent of ATS, recruiters were all on their own in sorting through resumes. With hundreds or even thousands to get through for each job, this process usually took weeks to complete. Thanks to ATS, recruiters can now feed any resumes they receive through the ATS, which will instantly present them with a list of candidates it ‘passed’ and ‘failed’.

In order to guarantee that your resume receives a pass, the most important thing you can do is add keywords from the job ad into your resume. All job ads for pilots contain a number of keywords that indicate what skills, level of training, and types of professional experiences the recruiter values.  

However, don’t just mindlessly add keywords to your resume. While you should try your best to include the keywords as they appear in the job ad, you must be mindful to make the keywords appear natural. It’s also important to be aware of the fact that ATS is a very black and white technology, so it can’t understand nuances in language. Consequently, if the keyword the ATS is searching for is “flight training” and you have only written “training”, the ATS won’t count it.
 

Pro tip: Only include keywords that are applicable to your professional profile. Remember that even if your resume makes it past ATS, it still needs to be reviewed by a recruiter. Their sharp eyes will quickly understand if you’re just trying to game the system by keyword stuffing or fibbing.

What skills to mention and how to do it correctly

Choosing the right skills to highlight can quickly take your resume from mediocre to eye-catching. When you’re selecting skills, be mindful that you need to feature those that will entice the recruiter - not the ones you personally think are impressive.

Remember how we just talked about adding keywords? You need to select skills, based on the skills-focused keywords the recruiter has featured in a job ad. After identifying what these skills are, you can then focus your resume on those that you possess.

It’s important to note that skills come in two types: soft and hard skills. Soft skills relate to your interpersonal and communication abilities, while hard skills relate to your technical abilities. You will need to include a balance of both to meet recruiter’s expectations.

To make the whole process of selecting and adding skills to your resume clear, let’s walk through it using an extract of a real-life job description for a captain.

Read the job description below and pretend that you are interested in applying to it. Try your best to identify the skills the recruiter is looking for, as well as the type of skill each is:

This is a Part 91/135 position which requires the successful candidate to work as a team member in a crew environment. The successful candidate will be safety oriented, possess strong leadership skills, and embody exceptional customer service. Demonstrated flight department management and float plane flying experience are also essential.

You should have identified the following six skills:

• Work as a team member
• Safety oriented
• Leadership skills
• Customer service
• Flight department management  
• Float plane flying

As you may have already figured out, the first four are soft skills, while the last two are hard skills.

The next step in the process is to work out which of the skills you personally possess. Then, you can list 6 to 8 of them in a dedicated “Skills” section on your resume. This section allows you to draw attention to the most relevant skills you offer a recruiter.

You should additionally incorporate the relevant skills you possess throughout your professional experience section. The skills you incorporate can be the same ones you listed in your skills section, but try to also feature a few other ones as well.

The reason it is important to add relevant skills to your professional experience section is because doing so will strengthen how impressive your achievements sound. For example, compare the following examples of work achievements:

• Safely flew two types of planes without any accidents.

• Never received any customer complaints about my flying.

• Ensured safety standards were continually upheld flying the Airbus A310-300 Airbus and A330-800neo, resulting in a 100% safety record on both.

• Continually demonstrated superior customer service, as evidenced by winning the revered “Pillot of the Month” award.

Needless to say, the achievements highlighted in green sound far more impressive than those highlighted in red. It’s all thanks to the fact that the candidate included relevant hard and soft skills to provide evidence of their competency as a pilot.

Pro tip: Including one or two particularly standout skills in your resume objective or resume summary is an easy way to capture a recruiter’s attention as soon as they look at your resume.

How to list your flight times and ratings

Let’s be crystal clear: listing your flight times and ratings on your resume is not just a ‘nice-to-have’ - it’s absolutely mandatory. This vital information allows a recruiter to determine whether you at least have the minimum level of flying experience to qualify for the position.

If you don’t list either of them on your resume, the fact of the matter is that a recruiter isn’t going to waste their time with your application. Why would they, when other qualified applicants have included specific details about their flight times and ratings on their resume? 

To ensure you list your flight times and ratings correctly, follow the simple format we’ve provided below:

Flight Times and Ratings

Total Flight Time: [List the total sum of your hours]

[Name of Position / Aircraft / Type of Flight #1]: [Total hours flown]

[Name of Position / Aircraft / Type of Flight #2]: [Total hours flown]

[Ratings]

And so forth.

Here’s how this may look like in action:

Flight Times and Ratings

Total Flight Time: 4700 hours

Pilot in Command: 1500 hours

Turbo Prop: 1200 hours

Cross Country: 200+ hours

Multi Engine: 100+ hours

Ratings: JAR-FCL ATPL

Pro tip: Don’t fudge any numbers on your resume! The recruiter will eventually verify whether the numbers you’ve stated on your resume reflect those recorded in your log books. Word travels fast about questionable pilots, so keep your reputation intact by being as accurate as possible on your resume.

How to list your education

As long as you follow the guidelines we’ve provided below, you’ll find that listing your education is a straightforward process.

Similar to what we recommended you do for your professional experiences, you should also structure your education using a reverse-chronological format. That is, your most recent (and therefore, most advanced) educational achievement should appear first, followed by the ones preceding it.

The only exception to this rule is that your pilot flight school training should always be positioned before your college degree.

When writing your education section, ensure that you include the following details about each of your educational achievements:

• Name of the program or college major
• Flight school name or college name
• Graduation year
• Coursework - only include if relevant

(N.B. The order they appear will depend on the particular resume template you use)

Here is an example of how your education section should look like:

• Professional Pilot Program, Sky High Flight School, 2020

• Bachelor of Aerospace/Aviation Sciences (BSAS), Southern Utah University, 2018
  Relevant coursework: Elementary Physics, Aircraft Systems, Flight Management Systems, Aviation Safety and Security, Aviation Meteorology, Human Factors and Safety, Aviation Law 

Pro tip: Remember to include information about any relevant licenses you have to your name inside of your resume!

How to write a resume objective (right and wrong examples included)

A resume objective is an opportunity for entry-level pilots to establish themselves as the right pilot for a given job. It should be written in a way that emphasizes how you are a highly suitable candidate, despite your relatively short time working as a pilot. You can do this by pointing out a handful of notable achievements you have to your name. As a resume objective should only be 2 to 4 sentences, you will need to be concise.

In order to write an excellent one, make sure not to give the recruiter a reason to doubt that you’re ready to take on the role, like this candidate did:

• I only just finished my studies at pilot school, so I will be able to absorb everything Sunshine Airlines teaches me if I get the chance to work there. I still need to develop my skills further, but I know that I’ll quickly learn everything I need to know to be a great pilot with some proper work experience. 

If you don’t think this candidate did too badly, keep in mind that they’ve completely put the onus on Sunshine Airlines to transform them into a great pilot. This is clear from the fact that instead of highlighting the proactive measures they’ve taken to develop their skills, they expect Sunshine Airlines to do most of the hard work for them.

What’s more, the way their resume objective is written makes the candidate sound like they’ll be hard work to train. No recruiter wants to hire a candidate who will be needy and is unwilling to show proactiveness. The candidate has also failed to provide any specific details about their training, skills, and career aspirations, which would make a recruiter question whether they really want the job.

Let’s now look at a well-written pilot resume objective:

• Recent graduate from Cloud 9 Pilot School is seeking an opportunity to apply their strong passion for aviation, burgeoning flying abilities, and superior teamwork skills in a position at Sunshine Airlines. Being a pilot with a reputable airline like Sunshine Airlines has been a lifelong goal of mine, which is why I studied hard to graduate with a 3.5 GPA from my Bachelor of Science in Aviation (with a concentration in Professional Flight) from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

This resume objective is ten-fold better than the previous one for a number of reasons. The candidate has similarly pointed out they’re a recent graduate, but has also highlighted the hard and soft skills that they wish to offer Sunshine Airlines. The recruiter would immediately tag this candidate as one to watch as they show a willingness to learn and strong potential.

The candidate achieves this by demonstrating that they take becoming a fully-fledged pilot seriously, by highlighting their relevant bachelor degree and high GPA. They also express their strong motivation to work at Sunshine Airlines, which the recruiter would, no doubt, welcome.

How to write a resume summary (right and wrong examples included)

A resume summary is an opportunity for experienced pilots to drive home the fact that their professional profile perfectly matches the recruiter’s criteria. It should act as a 2 to 4 sentence overview of the most relevant and eye-catching components of your resume you think the recruiter should pay extra attention to.

If you are wondering what faux pas to avoid when writing your pilot resume summary, this example showcases the most common mistakes candidates make:

• Pilot with 5+ years of experience is looking to switch from my current employer to one that values all of the amazing skills I offer as a pilot. I hope that AXL Airlines will give me a chance as once they see my impressive training and experience, they won’t regret hiring me. 

Where do we begin with all the mistakes this candidate has made? For starters, the tone they have used is both condescending and pompous. They complain about their current employer - a huge no-no in the recruitment process. Moreover, they talk up what an excellent pilot they are, without offering a single piece of evidence that they are one. In short, a recruiter would think this candidate is all talk and would reject them in a heartbeat.

Let’s now take a look at pilot resume summary example which represents everything you should aim to do when creating your own:

• ATP-certified pilot specializing in long-haul flights, with 5+ years of experience is seeking an opportunity to showcase their adherence to safety standards and strong interpersonal skills at AXL Airlines. With 4000 flight hours (1000 of which have been cross-country), I have the experience, endurance, and motivation to become a hardworking member of your strong team.

This candidate has ticked all the boxes a recruiter would be seeking. Not only have they highlighted the fact that they have undertaken appropriate pilot training and have several years of experience. They have also clearly listed their flight hours and have included specific details about their most relevant experience (cross-country flights).

Moreover, they have put their most relevant and attractive hard and soft skill front and center in their resume summary. It is also smart that they made it clear to the recruiter that they genuinely would appreciate the opportunity to work at AXL Airlines. Given their sincere tone, the recruiter would be pleased to discover that the candidate is so passionate about both their career as a pilot and the prospect of working for AXL Airlines.

How to target your resume for each application 

In such a competitive industry as aviation, you can’t afford to make any small or big mistakes on your resume. That’s why you must, at all costs, avoid making one of the biggest ones of all: failing to target your resume for each application.

Many pilots have one resume they submit to all recruiters - irrespective of what they’re specifically looking for. Recruiters don’t appreciate generic resumes, which is why most instantly reject them.

Don’t let this happen to you! Instead, use the keywords found in each job ad to customize your resume for each application. In turn, you’ll be able communicate a number of important things to the recruiter. You will show them that you have respected their time by properly reading through the job ad and delivering exactly what they’re looking for. You will also highlight that you have the specific skills, training, flight hours, and experience necessary for that specific job.

For example, imagine that a recruiter is specifically looking for a pilot who has experience flying a Boeing A380. If you have experience flying one, don’t focus your resume on describing your experience with other aircrafts. Instead, focus on branding yourself as a pro at flying Boeing A380s.

Another effective way to target your resume for each application is to take note of whether a recruiter has stated that they will give preference to candidates who have experience working for their particular airline company.

Airlines will often ask recruiters to track down pilots that have experience flying with their company, as they highly value loyalty. So if you’re applying to be a full-time pilot at Southwest Airlines and you worked part-time for them years ago, put a spotlight on this fact, by mentioning it several times throughout your resume. For example, you could mention it not only in your professional experiences section, but also in your flight times section and resume objective or resume summary.

How to make your resume stand out

If you’re really wanting to impress, pay attention to our top tips we’ve shared below for making your resume stand out:

• Stick to one page: With all of your travels as a pilot, you could probably write a novel about your experiences. However, when it comes to writing your resume, it is essential that you only submit one page. This is considered to be the industry standard so it is vital you stick to it. There are only two exceptions to this: if it’s stated otherwise on the application or if you’re going for a management position (in which case, you can include 2 pages max).

• Be selective with the information you highlight: Use the fact that your resume can only be one page to be ultra selective about the professional achievements you feature. Your resume is basically a ‘highlights reel’ of your pilot career, so only include details about your most impressive and relevant accomplishments.

• Include any volunteer work you have completed as a pilot: If you have offered your services to the community as a pilot, be sure to note it in your resume. While a recruiter won’t care to learn about your time spent volunteering in an orphanage, their interest will definitely be piqued by reading about any charitable flights you have flown. If a recruiter is choosing between you and another candidate, your charitable act may be just the thing that pushes you ahead! Just make sure to only include key details about your experience.

3. How You Can Use Resumebuild.com’s Resume Builder to Quickly Make a Professional Resume

Let’s face it: only a select number of people have the skills, smarts, and perseverance to achieve a career as a pilot. Making it in this profession requires you to constantly prove yourself - even after years in the sky.

As we’ve explored above, in order to secure your future as a pilot and to keep getting the jobs you want, you will need to provide recruiters with a solid pilot resume. And don’t forget - you won’t be able to apply with the same resume each time either - you’ll need to customize it to each job application!

If you’re thinking, “Who on earth has the time to create a custom resume each and every time they apply for a job?” listen up.

Resumebuild.com’s all-in-one resume builder has proven to be an absolute lifesaver for pilots for this very reason. It allows you to quickly create a pilot resume that is designed to wow recruiters. The reason it’s so effective in helping pilots like yourself to perfect their resume is because it simplifies even the most complex parts of making a resume.

For example, many pilots get stumped on how to fill out their professional experience section. Our resume builder has no shortage of pre-written examples you can either refer to, use, or edit to suit your unique experiences.

Another advantage of using our resume builder is that it helps you create a resume that is in line with all of the resume guidelines and rules we mentioned in our guide above. You only need to take a look at the HR-friendly resume templates that are included to see that you’re in safe hands. 

If you’re ready for your application to start getting accepted by both recruiters and ATS, be sure to create your resume using our DIY resume maker.

Truck drivers are an integral part of how the global economy functions. Without qualified people to drive huge amounts of cargo long distances, there’d be no way for stores and companies all over the world to meet the needs of their customers. If you love driving and you like spending time on your own, becoming a truck driver could be the perfect career move for you.

Throughout the following article, we’ll be giving you advice on how best to create a truck driver resume that’ll catch the eye of any recruiter and make you seem like a great candidate for the job. If you’ve always wanted to drive a truck professionally but don’t know where to start, this guide is the perfect jumping-off point for you.

Multiple Template Examples

How to Write a Truck Driver Resume That Will Get You the Job 

How to Format It

The best choice of format for a truck driver’s resume is the classic chronological layout. This will help the recruiter see how your career has progressed so far, and even if you don’t have much experience you’ll be able to highlight your education and additional achievements early-on to grab their attention.

If you already have a lot of experience working as a truck driver and you’re simply applying to a new position, however - you might be better off going for the reverse chronological format. By listing your most recent jobs first, you’ll be showing whoever’s reading your resume that you’re not out of practice at all, and that you’ll be able to take on the needs of their job without much of an adjustment period.

What Recruiters Will Look For 

Recruiters who are poring over a pile of truck driver resumes will have their eyes peeled for a few important traits. Because being a truck driver is potentially dangerous on account of the heavy cargo and high degree of skill required to transport it around, certain skills like critical thinking and the ability to stay calm under pressure will be particularly appreciated.

Here are some of the main things recruiters will be looking out for as they go through your truck driver’s resume:

1. The Ability to Deliver on Schedule

The entire job rests on the driver’s ability to get his cargo to where it needs to be, on schedule. Being even an hour late could potentially have serious repercussions for the rest of the operation, so whoever’s hiring for the job will be particularly keen on ensuring that their chosen candidate can stick to a schedule day in, day out.

2. Problem Solving Skills

You’ll have to solve problems continuously throughout the course of your work as a truck driver. In addition to the act of driving itself, which requires solving problems on the go, you’ll also need to coordinate several different elements in order to be effective in the work you do. For example, you’ll need to be able to follow a route, but you should also have the ability to adapt if unforeseen circumstances, like a car crash, force a change in the predetermined plan.

Another way you can use your problem-solving skills as a truck driver is to point out routing errors that could cost your company thousands upon thousands of dollars if they’re not fixed. Your work as a truck driver is going to be full of opportunities to impress your higher-ups, so problem-solving is one of the main things recruiters will be hoping to see on the resumes of prospective candidates.

3. The Ability to Reliably Satisfy Customers

You could be the most technically skilled driver on the planet, but if you’re not able to meet the customer’s needs on a regular basis, your employers won’t be too impressed. It’s all about ensuring that the people you’re delivering for have their needs met. That could be as simple as sticking to or exceeding the prescribed schedule, or it could be a bit more complicated in cases where there’s a discrepancy between what’s in the back of your truck and what the customer was expecting.

You’ll need to resolve any issues that arise with the customers you’re serving effectively, efficiently, and politely. If you’ve been able to maintain stellar customer satisfaction figures throughout your work history, your recruiter’s eyes will light up when they get to your resume, which is exactly the effect you should be aiming for.

Which Skills to Mention and How to Do It Correctly

The skills section is perhaps the single most important aspect of your resume after experience. For truck drivers there are a lot more technical skills to take into account than with most other jobs, but that doesn’t mean you can neglect the soft skills though.

After all, there’s a lot more to being a trucker than simply being able to keep driving for extended periods of time. Generally speaking, the distinction between hard skills and soft skills, which is so prevalent in more standard office-type jobs, holds true for truck driving as well. Here’s a thorough list of the skills to focus on in your resume:

Hard Skills

The hard skills you’ll use as a truck driver usually relate to technical issues that you’ll need to handle throughout the course of your day-to-day work. Here are some of the most important hard skills to include on your resume to impress the recruiter and get yourself a call back:

• OTR Driving
• Load Bar Operation
• Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance
• Excellent technical driving skills, ideally demonstrated by a spotless driving record
• Loading & Unloading Freight
• Truck Tarping
• Load Bar Operation

Soft Skills

In comparison to the hard skills — which focus on selling yourself as a technically able truck operator — your soft skills will be a way to present yourself as a competent person to work with. In addition to being able to handle the demands of the job, it’s a good idea to come across as a self-sufficient individual, capable of operating with minimal guidance from above. See below for the ideal soft skills to mention in addition to the hard skills above:

• Honesty
• The ability to own up to mistakes and take responsibility for them
• Dependability
• Excellent work ethic
• Great critical judgement
• Good level of physical fitness
• Familiarity with effective communication

How to Highlight Your Achievements

You might think that achievements in arenas other than driving trucks won’t play a big part in your candidacy. That would be a mistake, however, since including a few achievements you’ve managed to pull off over the years is actually a great way to round off an application.

It’s not a great idea to be too fussy about which achievements you should include. Similarly, including achievements isn’t purely a numbers game, where the more bullet points on your list, the better you perform. As it happens, it can actually be more impressive to stick to a lower number of achievements, but to ensure you’re writing about them in the right way.

A good rule of thumb to bear in mind as you go about creating this part of your resume is that for every achievement you mention, you should include a few words that highlight why it’s relevant to being a truck driver. For example, if you won an essay-writing award in school, that would be an excellent opportunity to talk about your critical thinking skills. In a similar vein, if you’ve won any kind of sporting or athletic competition, that’s a natural lead-in to talking about your physical fitness.

Keep the list of skills above in mind when you’re selecting which achievements to include in your resume, and try to draw connections between the two when possible. This will result in a much more impressive overall package, and should help you to stand out from the crowd when it comes time for the recruiter to decide who to invite for an interview.

Why It’s Important to Include Additional Training and Certifications in a Truck Driver’s Resume

Driving a truck is one of the prime examples of jobs, for which additional training and certifications can be a huge help. Part of this is down to the fact that there’s no end of courses and qualifications you can undertake to further your technical ability, while non-technical training you’ve got under your belt will help elevate your application as a whole.

Taking on training to drive different types of vehicles will enable you to become a more confident driver, and you’ll be able to pick up some transferable skills as well. 

Some other great courses you could consider enrolling in, include radio operation courses and other communication-focused qualifications, in addition to training that teaches you more about the mechanical side of the job, making minor fixes if your truck breaks down.

Not every additional certification you take on has to relate directly to your work as a truck driver, either. By furthering the skillset you already have, you’ll be presenting yourself as a more well-rounded individual, which is always an attractive thing for recruiters to find in applicants.

Including additional training and certifications in your resume is something people often don’t spend a lot of time thinking about. That’s another great reason to really put some time and effort into that section, since it’ll help you to stand out against your competition.

How to Write a Resume Objective and Examples of This

A resume objective should make it clear to the recruiter that you’ve read through the job listing in detail, and should be written in a dry, dispassionate voice. The more precisely you can tailor your statement to the job at hand, the better. Try to pick out a couple specific details and focus on those when writing your objective.

For example, if the job listing mentions that critical thinking is important, it would be a good idea to mention how you’re able to use your own critical thinking skills on the job. Here are a couple examples of well-written truck driver resume objectives:

1. Driven, responsible individual with eight years of experience driving trucks interested in applying to the CDL Driver position at ABC Haulage Inc. Will display exceptional critical thinking and communication skills, as well as a perfectionist’s approach to keeping on schedule and solving problems on the go. 

2. Experienced, resourceful truck driver keen to fill the role of CDL Driver in XYZ Corp. More than six years of experience in providing excellent service with a focus on customer satisfaction and ensuring that any and all problems are resolved effectively and efficiently. 

How to Write a Resume Summary and Examples of This

Your resume summary should make it clear to the recruiter exactly how much value you’ll be able to add to their organization if they decide to hire you. Feel free to be a bit more expressive, in contrast with the impartial tone used in resume objectives. 

Don’t be afraid to talk specifically about how you were able to perform to a high level in your past jobs. Mentioning numbers and statistics is a great way to make an impression on whoever’s reading your resume. Check out two samples of great resume summaries below:

1. Reliable, hard-working truck driver interested in leveraging problem solving skills, critical thinking, and high levels of physical fitness to fill the role of CDL Driver at XYZ Inc. In my most recent professional role as a long-distance truck driver I was able to maintain 97% customer satisfaction driving an average of 3,000 miles a week, and I’m keen on bringing that level of quality and dependability to your organization.

2. Focused, knowledgeable truck driver with five years of experience applying for that role at ABC Corp. I’ve been able to maintain an average figure of 98% on-time deliveries throughout my ten years of experience driving trucks professionally, and I’d welcome the opportunity to bring that attention to detail and work ethic to bear in your company.

How to Include Education on Your Resume

Education is an important thing to take into consideration for any job, and truck drivers are no exception. People often think that because it’s not an office position, education might not be valued as highly, but that’s a mistake. Just because you’ll be driving a truck all day, doesn’t mean what you’ve managed to achieve during your time going for a degree isn’t relevant.

You’ll be able to make a good impression on the recruiter, whether or not you’ve gone to college, so long as you’re able to make one vital point crystal clear: namely, that you’re a reliable, honest, and hard-working individual. Those are the main characteristics trucking companies want from their employees, since they’ll be trusting the drivers to stick to the schedule and deliver the load as requested.

A well thought-out education system is a great way to get information across, directly related to your work ethic and character in general, and it’s bound to impress whoever’s reading your resume. The best way to format your education section is to keep things simple and easy-to-read, focusing on listing the name of the place you went to school, how many years you studied there, and what qualification you ended up walking away with.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a GED, a trade school qualification, or a four-year Bachelor’s degree. What’s important is that by spending time to make your education section look great, you’ll be subtly signalling to the recruiter that you understand how a strong history in the education system can vouch for your character.

How to Mention Additional Experiences on Your Resume

Not every experience you list on your application has to strictly relate to truck driving. As it happens, if you’re able to effectively (and concisely) talk about some of the other things you’ve gotten up to in your life - it could make a great impression on the recruiter, who may well be on his 90th truck driver’s resume of the day and in need of something a little different. 

You need to make every statement you write relate to the way you’ll be able to carry out the work required of a truck driver. Here are some of the best ways to consider mentioning additional experiences you’ve had on your resume:

1. Volunteering

Time spent in a voluntary capacity is an impressive thing for any recruiter to see across the entire spectrum of jobs. For truckers, it’s a great way to demonstrate that you’re able to function in a variety of different roles, while maintaining high standards and an excellent quality of work.

When you’re talking about your time spent volunteering, a good way to tie it into being a truck driver, could be to focus on how you were able to coordinate with other individuals in a larger, team-based setting. As well as reinforcing the fact that you have a strong work ethic and that you’re not afraid of pulling your own weight, it’ll speak volumes about your communication skills as well.

2. Online Courses

These days, there’s no end to the amount of online courses anybody can take, often for free. There are several reasons online qualifications like these are an impressive thing for recruiters to come across in a truck driver’s resume, but perhaps the most important of the lot is that it shows an inner drive to continually learn and expand your skillset.

Moreover, being able to put yourself through an online course and make it right through to the qualification itself demonstrates that you’re able to function without much supervision. That’s an important quality to have for anybody who’s going to be driving trucks over long distances, and it could make all the difference if the ultimate decision on whom to hire.

3. Hobbies & Interests

Don’t shy away from devoting a small section to talking about your hobbies and interests. It may seem like they’re not relevant to the work you’ll be doing, but mentioning what you like to do in your free time helps to make your resume come alive, as it will make the recruiter feel like there’s a real person behind the document. 

Unlike your achievements or past experiences, don’t try too hard to tie your hobbies into truck driving. Assuming your hobbies don’t involve some kind of driving, it might seem like you’re trying too hard to make your point, and it could wind up coming off as a little inauthentic, which is the last thing you want. 

Keep this section short and sweet, and don’t overthink it either - just include a few lines about what you like to do when you’re not on the job and leave it there.

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out

There are a few ways you can make your resume stand out as a truck driver. The first of these is to be as precise as you can in as many areas as possible. You have to think about it from the recruiter’s point of view. They could be reviewing dozens or even hundreds of resumes for one position, which means that by the time they get to yours, they’re probably sick to death of hearing the same generalities about “timely deliveries” and “strong work ethic”. Making your resume stand out doesn’t just help busy executives remember you; it also helps them instinctively like you for giving them a break from the tedium of buzzword after buzzword.

Instead, offer clear value by being specific about the traits you choose to highlight. Use numbers and percentages where possible, since the recruiter’s likely to remember that you kept a customer satisfaction record of 95%, but less likely to remember you at all if you simply “prioritize customer satisfaction”.

Another way to stand out is to focus on any unusual or non-standard traits you can bring to the job. A defensive driving course you’ve taken, for example, will raise at least one or two eyebrows. Don’t be shy about discussing your passions, either. The recruiter isn’t a robot, after all; they’re a person, and they want to hire a person for the job. You could even go so far as to describe what your typical day looks like in one of the additional details sections, which will definitely help you stand out from the crowd.

How Resumebuild can Help You to Write an Outstanding Truck Driver’s Resume

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