Published on: Tuesday, Aug 2, 2022
Posted under: AMT Career Starters

How to Create Resumes for Aircraft Mechanics

Did they ignore your resumé?

It has been one of the most common challenges especially for new graduates to make a resume that will stand out from the rest. After all, a resume is a document that shows your work experience. So no prior work means no experience –therefore, a bad resume. Right?

But surprisingly, many of our long-time Aircraft Mechanics are having this same problem too. Why?

After taking a closer look at this issue, we came up with a simple explanation: It is not entirely about the work experience or the lack of it, but also about not having the right know-how in constructing a simple yet effective resume.

With that in mind, we will help you learn how to create a resume using the proper ways of highlighting your strengths and skills. With proven and tested techniques that already landed us hundreds of interviews and job offers, you too are expected to immediately yield better results.

Here are the contents:

1.) Use the Best Resume Format for Aviation
2.) Having a Professional Outline and Fonts
3.) 7-Easy-Steps For a Perfect Starter Resume
4.) A Resume That They Can’t Ignore (Sample)
5.) Quick Tips and Reminders

#1: Use the Best Resume Format for Aviation

Before you start creating your resume, the first thing to do is to pick a format. There are a lot of different formats out there but we’ll show you the most effective format for Aircraft Mechanics.

The Reverse-Chronological Format

As its name suggests, this format works by listing your work history in a reverse order, starting with your most recent experience down to your earliest/first. This resume is preferred by most employers because it provides a quick snapshot of work history, with the most recent positions upfront.

Why choose this?

In our experience with company recruiters and hiring managers in aviation, this format always gets more attention than others.
HR managers and recruiters across all industries are familiar with this layout making it easier for them to be interested in what you can do.
This is the best starting point amongst any formats in this kind of industry where actual experience and applicable training are always the key points.

#2: Having a Professional Outline and Fonts

Now that we have chosen our resume format, let us focus on the basics before we start. For a professional resume, follow these resume formatting steps:

Set one-inch margins on all four sides. Use paper standard size 8.5 x 11in.
Pick an 11pt font size and stick to it.
Divide your resume into legible resume sections**:** Header, Objective, Work History, Education, etc.
Use bullet points to talk about past experiences.
Be consistent with your resume formatting (e.g. stick to same date format: 11–2018, or November 2018.)
Use single or 1.15 line spacing and use Justify as alignment for paragraphs.
Add an extra space before and after each section heading.
Make your resume as brief as possible.

What is the best file format when saving resumes?

PDF is the best format. It makes sure your resume layout stays intact across all devices.
Some companies require resumes sent as MS Word (DOC or DOCX) files. Pay attention to the job ad. If they want you to send a DOC resume, you have to play by their rules.
To stay on the safe side, have your resume available in both PDF and DOC file formats.

What are the best fonts for a resume?

Calibri (Category: Sans-serif)
Cambria (Category: Serif)
Helvetica (Category: Sans-serif)

#3: Seven Easy Steps For a Perfect Starter Resumé

There’s a lot of amazing and free resume-building platforms you can find in the internet. They’re effortless, convenient, and most of all, best for those who wants to save a lot of time. But there’s a problem though – they look generic to the eyes of the recruiters.

If you want your resume to stand out and to attract picky employers, then follow our steps and start building it from the ground up. Your resume is like your own personal branding. Don’t let it become just another piece of paper. Remember, generic stuff are cheap but custom-made are expensive for a reason.

Step 1: Create a complete Resume Header

How to format a resume header?

Format your resume header at the top of the page. Center it or place it in the left margin.
Use a large (22 point font) for your name. Put your contact info in (11 point font) below. The best resume header fonts are clear and simple.

What to include in your header?

Name
Job Title or Course Title
Current Address
Phone Number and Email Address
AMT License Number (recommended)
LinkedIn Profile (recommended)

Other things to remember:

Make your name the biggest item in your resume headers. Then add your title.
Include your most-used phone number and a professional-looking email address. It’s not necessary to add a full street address.
Over 85% of all hiring managers now use LinkedIn to hire applicants. Adding a good LinkedIn profile to your resume header can help the manager learn more about you.

EXAMPLE OF A STANDARD RESUME HEADER:

Tony Stark
Aircraft Maintenance Technician

Address: Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
Phone: +63 927 855 1403
Email: tony.stark@gmail.com
CAAP License No. 122856-AMT
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tonystark

Step 2: Create an informative yet concise Resume Objective

This is a short paragraph summing up your objective and skills. It shows the recruiter how your skills turn you into a perfect fit for the position. Most of the time, it’s recommended for candidates to write resumes for entry-level positions. Here is some advice on how to do it:

Don’t write the word “OBJECTIVE.” This is one of the most common rookie mistakes in creating this part. The recruiters already know that it’s objective and writing it will be just a waste of space.
Address the employers’ specific needs. Even if your resume profile reads great and looks fantastic, it will have zero impact if it’s not targeted at the job offer. Always tailor your resume to the job offer.
Use the job offer as a guide. The job offer you’re replying to is full of keywords you can use throughout your entire resume, including the objective. Putting the right keywords on your resume is crucial for your document to pass the initial software scan being used by recruiters nowadays.

What are the most commonly used keywords in aviation?

Aircraft Maintenance Repair
Aviation Industry/Experience
Airframe/Powerplant
Licensed/Certified
Mechanic/Technician

EXAMPLE OF A WELL-CRAFTED RESUME OBJECTIVE:

Skilled and versatile Aircraft Maintenance Technician, conversant with the aviation industry and its standard practices. Previous aviation experience includes a 6-month internship at Wakanda Airlines. Trained to inspect, identify and repair airframe structural parts at Skilltech ATC. A licensed mechanic with the capability of performing aircraft maintenance repairs reinforced with professionalism and a variety of skills.

**Step 3: Create a creative Experience Section**

Now, it’s time to address the elephant in the room for all new graduates.

“How the heck would you make an experience section without any experience?”

Well, this is the part where you need to be creative. Remember this: no matter what you do, hiring managers will know in just a glance that you are still a new grad. So don’t waste your time trying to hide it. Instead, use the following techniques to gain the upper hand:

Experience is experience. At this early stage, you might still don’t have what it takes to make a very attractive experience section, but do it anyway. Use every experience you have as long as it’s aviation-related. You can pattern and include your qualifications here as well.
Use action verbs to begin each job duty. However, don’t choose the same tired words that everyone else uses (i.e. responsible for). Use power words (i.e. performed) to give it some life.
Use numbers. Percentage and rates are good indications of a working experience. Always include this in this section.

EXAMPLE OF A CREATIVE EXPERIENCE SECTION

A creative way of using OJT experience:

Aircraft Maintenance Technician Intern
Wakanda Airlines
January 2018 - June 2018

Removal and installation of Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) during operations and quick turnarounds.

Regularly performed line maintenance tasks during Daily, Weekly, and Transit Checks, and actively involved in closing items during A-Checks.

Identifying critical safety hazards and FOD’s and keeping a shared awareness with all colleagues resulted in a monthly 98% overall safe working environment.

If without OJT or internship experience, use past training:

Structural Repair Technician Trainee
Skilltech Aviation Training Center
Jan 2021 - Mar 2021

Performing latest basic and advanced sheet metal repair and techniques on aviation grade aluminum alloy skin panels particularly doubler and splice repair methods.

Evaluated and rectified aircraft damages by referring to Structural Repair Manual and other related technical publications using Airbus A320 Family as sample model.

Read and interpreted blueprints to pinpoint the location of non-conformities and identify the aircraft part number and specifications when doing maintenance.

TIP: In choosing the content for your experience section, always consider the most relevant and recent items. Don’t overload it with unnecessary information. The recommendation for bulleted style is to maintain 3-6 items per entry.

Step 4: Create an elaborate Skills Section

The field of aircraft maintenance hinges on this very particular thing: Skill. Usually, people take this part for granted, but not you. This is your highlight reel. So don’t just add a list of random skills and call it a day. Follow these steps and do it right.

Don’t use general terms. Using “Technical Skills” instead of mentioning a specific skill like “Interpreting aircraft technical blueprint and aviation publications” is a big mistake. Always elaborate on your skill.
Match your skills to the requirements. Always consider the job-required skills and tailor your skills section to what they are searching for.
Only use it when applicable. If you already have a lot of experience (5+ years experience), then you should consider skipping this part. Your experience section should already cover most of the required skills.

EXAMPLE OF AN ELABORATE SKILLS SECTION

Aircraft Sheet Metal Repair

Drilling and riveting of aircraft sheet metal alloy parts for repair and maintenance.

Bending, rolling, and cutting of metal sheets to match repair requirements.

Application of aviation standard procedures like identification, evaluation of allowable damages, and repair options found in the Structural Repair Manual.

Step 5: Create a jam-packed Training and Certificates Section

Many employers weigh training and certificates more than even your college degree. Always add relevant ones, such as Technical Training Programs and other related certificates and licenses. You can also choose to put this section before the Skills Section if you acquired most of your skills from training.

Step 6: Create the simplest Education Section

Nothing too complicated for this part. Just construct it this way:

You don’t need to list the range of dates. The year you graduated will suffice.
Add the impressive credentials. Add any honors and awards, minors, publications, and especially any coursework relevant to your job field.
Don’t include high school. You’re a university/college graduate so it’s unnecessary.

EXAMPLE OF A SIMPLE EDUCATION SECTION

2020 BS in Aircraft Maintenance Technology
Marvel University, Metro Manila
Honors & Awards: Dean’s List (3RD & 4TH YEAR)

Step 7: Attach or include a Reference Section

Of course, don’t forget to include your references. Make sure it’s properly tagged and follow these notes:

Consider choosing the highest-ranking officer/supervisor in that specific division.
Include their titles if applicable. (i.e. if the person is an engineer, then write Engr. before the name)
Try to keep the limit at 3 persons only.

EXAMPLE OF A REFERENCE SECTION

Steve Rogers
Training Manager | Skilltech ATC
09278661402 | steve.rogers@gmail.com

Bruce Banner
Registrar | Marvel University
0421735977 | bruce.banner@yahoo.com

Thor Odinson
Operations Manager | Wakanda Airlines
0410341006 | thor.odinson@gmail.com

#4: A Resumé That They Can’t Ignore (Sample)

#5: Quick Tips and Reminders

We don’t want you to scroll up and down to find all those important things we’ve mentioned earlier. So here’s a list of some key points and notes you need to remember.

For default, always use the Reverse-Chronological format. It has the most advantages compared to all other formats.
Always follow the required format instructed by the job ad or by the hiring manager. Adjust and double-check if your resume matches all the criteria to attain better results.
For all the sections that include multiple entries (Experience and Skills Sections), avoid overloading it with unnecessary information. Focus more on what the recruiters are searching for.
Including a picture in a resume depends on the location and preferences of the hiring party. For example, in the Philippines, it is okay to include a picture. But countries like Canada, the US, and the UK are completely against this practice due to legal reasons. So always do your research before submission.
If your printed resume has more than 1 page, put it in a folder rather than stapling it. It is a common mistake among job-seekers, and is discouraged by a lot of companies. Only do so when instructed.
Colored or Black & White? Always go for black & white. Some colors may not be recognized by some printers and can be completely wiped out when printing. Only use colors for your picture.
Try to update your resume as frequently as you can. Some of your experiences and achievements are not recorded by any means and are only in your memory. Write it down before you forget them.

Is this effective? Yes, for everyone.

This is a very unique opportunity to learn a new resume building method specifically patterned for the aviation industry. But even better, we at Skilltech combined the following results from these different areas to create the best outline that works for both applicants and employers.

Experienced aircraft mechanics (10+ years experience) who shared their expertise on this matter and have used these proven methods.
New AMT graduates that tested this guide and quickly got outstanding results.
Human Resources (HR) from local aviation companies who find these resumes perfectly suitable for entry-level hiring opportunities.
Recruiters from aviation job agencies for foreign country deployment who find these resumes very appropriate for their requirements.

Want to take a step forward in becoming the next Filipino Aircraft Mechanic?

Start building your resumé, today.