With the airline industry in turmoil due to the pandemic, you may be rethinking your professional goals. You should consider these steps when embarking on your career transition:
- Consider the alternatives in the air and on the ground. As possible alternative jobs around aviation, airline pilots might fly private jets and planes for corporations and high-net-worth individuals, join the Air Force reserves, or become flight or simulator instructors. You might direct operations for an aviation company, work for regulatory agencies, write standard operating procedures, or fill other corporate or regulatory agency roles.
- Find a career coach. If jobs flying planes or related to planes are not available, or if they involve work on the ground, many airline pilots find the transition difficult. They consider flying more than a job; it is a way of life. If you feel that way, yet need to transition away from a pilot career, you may want to begin your job search by approaching Robin’s Resumes for career coaching. Then, when you are sure of your direction, we can start on your resume.
- Understand your transferrable skills. As a pilot, you have many transferrable skills. You are used to working in a high-pressure, highly technical environment; able to maintain command but also keep the loyalty of your crew; and understand complicated government and industry regulations and rules. You are flexible about travel and generally in good health. If you have also picked up some language skills, understand customer service, and can mentor others, you have additional skills that are valuable to corporations outside the aviation industry.
- Train for the job you want. Once you are clear about your direction, you may find there are gaps in your credentials. For example, maybe you may need to sharpen your presentation or customer service skills or improve your understanding of finance or specific software programs, such as the Microsoft suite. You might want to get certifications, take individual courses, or return to college, depending on your goal.
Robin’s Resumes® is prepared to help you from your first consideration of a new career through the entire process of writing or updating your resume. Robin Schlinger, the primary writer, holds a Single Engine Land Pilot Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Contact us today to find out all that we offer.