Main picture © Alex Proimos
Dreaming of cruising at 30,000ft, with layovers in exotic locations, and all on a killer salary? How much do you really know about the pilot career? There’s much more to the role of a Commercial Airline Pilot, including the skills required to perform the professional role and sustain the lifestyle
Professionalism: what does it mean? Simply put, professionalism is ‘the competence or skill expected of a professional: the key to safety, quality and efficiency is professionalism.’
Safety, quality and efficiency are three very important words that should be associated with commercial airline piloting and every action or decision made by a pilot should take those into consideration.
When you’re applying for your first, second or even third job, the word you should have in your head throughout the application and assessment process is professionalism. Starting with your CV, be concise with the information you present, highlighting the professional, educational and flying qualifications you can bring to the job you are applying for. The covering letter should demonstrate the core skills you can take to the role and your motivation for applying for the position. Attention to detail is a valuable attribute for any pilot and therefore, the professionalism you can apply to your CV or covering letter is to be honest, truthful and to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
Application forms also require a professional approach when you are completing them. Many application forms are now screened by a computer which will check for word count and key skills that are relevant to the position on offer. With that in mind, if you are asked to complete an application form in less than 300 words, then ensure your answer is 299 words or less! 301 words will most likely result in an automatic rejection of your application. When completing your answers, be professional by reading the question very carefully, understanding what is being asked of you and demonstrating your pilot skills.
If you are fortunate enough to be invited for interview and assessment, then you guessed it… be professional! From the moment you wake up on the assessment day to the time you go to bed, act like a pilot. Presentable smart attire, courteous to everyone you meet and clear and concise language will help you through the day. Think like a professional aviator and consider your options before making a decision or answering a question. During assessments, read the questions and answers carefully and if you have time, check again!
Finally, in a world of social media, your airline assessment team have probably found out about you before you enter the room for interview, so ask yourself, is there anything on your Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages that might create the impression that you aren’t professional?
This article first appeared on www.airlineprep.co.uk
