While the aviation industry is still slow, there has been some subtle movement over the last few months. Several companies have been quietly recalling furloughed pilots, in fact, some have even started to do some hiring. Now is the time for you to start preparing your logbooks, your resume, and your game plan.

Logbooks must be up-to-date and neat.  Sloppy, disorganized, inaccurate logbooks will be the cause of a great deal of questioning and concern on the part of the interviewer.  Before you hand-out your resume at job fairs or submit an application please review the following:

1.  Audit your flight times BEFORE you do anything with your resume or application.   Applicants have been escorted out of an interview because their flight times did not match their application.

2. If you find that a mistake has been made, make the necessary changes to correct the error. Do not erase or white-out information. Instead, go to the next available entry space in your logbook and write AUDIT and the date of your corrections. Then write in the corrected times.

3.  Tab your checkrides. This helps the interviewer locate the information quickly and it will also allow you a chance to reflect on your checkride history prior to answering questions on an application or during your interview.

4.  Remove any notes, folded paper or trash from your logbooks. You don’t want the interviewer to open your logbooks only to find your grocery list!

5.  Make sure all your pages are signed.

6.  Be sure to give accurate flight times on all resumes and applications. Potential employers want to know your actual hours, not “approximates” or “guesstimates”.

7.  Be sure to read the application flight time requirements CAREFULLY!  All companies request flight times to be broken out differently. What you have on your resume may not look exactly like what’s on your application. If they ask you to give your PIC without student time, then you break down your PIC without student time. Read, reread, and then read again before placing your flight times on the application.

8.  It is acceptable to use computerized programs to keep track or your flight times, however, you need to have your original logbooks with the original checkride sign offs to present at the time of the interview.

9.  NEVER, NEVER overestimate your flight times for any reason.

10.  If you have lost a logbook, you must strive to recreate your flight time.  Remember, this is a legal document with legal signatures in it.   Contact the FAA for your Complete Airmen’s File which will have your FAA ratings and sign-offs, contact past students/instructors for letters to verify your time, ask former companies for flight log print outs, etc.

Worse case, if an error is discovered during your interview; don’t be afraid to admit that you were wrong.  By taking responsibility for your error, the interviewer will hopefully understand your oversight and make note of your humble approach.

By Angie Marshall & Cheryl Cage

For more information on our pilot career services such as resume development, career/special concerns/furlough consulting, and job fair/interview preparation services please contact us at:

Website: www.cageconsulting.com

Email: info@cageconsulting.com

Phone: 720-222-1432