911 Dispatcher Resume Example
Starting a career as a 911 dispatcher gives you the chance to gain experience in answering emergency calls and providing CPR instructions. If you want to stand out with your 911 dispatcher applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll showcase resume tips and examples that can help you create a professional 911 dispatcher resume that catches the eye of hiring managers.
After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a resume that really stands out from other 911 dispatcher applicants. You'll find useful insights on constructing a resume that makes the most of your unique skills, experience and strengths. You'll also learn how to tailor your resume according to the job description, and depending on your experience levels. Read on to learn the tips Jobseeker careers experts recommend as the best for your 911 dispatcher resume.
What to include in a 911 dispatcher resume
A successful 911 dispatcher resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections. A resume for candidates with little or no work experience may focus less on the work experience section, and bring sections to the fore that emphasize their skills, such as hobbies and interests, volunteer work, education, projects and skills lists.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Resume Header and Personal Information
The resume header is the place to add your name and contact details, along with your LinkedIn URL if you have a profile, so employers can find more information about your career journey and skills. You don't typically need to add a photo, or any other personal information to this section. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
Alexander Williams
alexander.williams@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA
linkedin․com/in/alexander–williams123
Resume Summary
Following your resume header, write a resume summary to introduce yourself and showcase some of your key skills and achievements. Alternative names for this section are 'resume objective' and 'personal profile'. While a resume summary focuses on your career experience, a resume objective covers your ambitions and career plans. In addition, your objective should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for 911 dispatcher roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description.
Alternatively, use this section to emphasize your career objectives and explain how and why this role is a suitable step for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary is short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description, with evidence to back it up. It will also help the reader to form their first impressions of you by providing an insight into your personality and unique qualities. Take a look at some strong examples of how to approach a 911 dispatcher resume summary in the graphic below.
Highly skilled 911 Dispatcher with extensive experience as an Emergency Communications Operator, adept at managing high-stress situations, prioritizing emergency calls, and coordinating with law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel to ensure rapid and accurate response. Proven ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, maintain composure under pressure, and utilize advanced communication systems and protocols effectively. Dedicated to public safety and committed to providing exceptional service in emergency situations
Worked in emergency communication, handling calls and talking to different emergency teams. Used various systems to manage tasks and stay calm in busy situations. Focused on helping people and making sure the right help gets to where it's needed
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your 911 dispatcher resume summary.
Hard and Soft Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to 911 dispatcher positions. Consider adding CPR certification, active listening or any other necessary skills for the job. Once more, review the job description and pick out any key 911 dispatcher skills listed that match yours. Focus on these skills and any other key transferable skills that make you a strong candidate for the job.
Showcasing hard skills on your 911 dispatcher resume
Hard skills are specific skills related to the job you're applying for. They include particular abilities, technical skills and industry knowledge that relate directly to jobs as a 911 dispatcher. Furthermore, these skills are essential for a 911 dispatcher resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for a 911 dispatcher resume, see below.
- Emergency call handling
- Radio communication proficiency
- CPR certification
Soft skills on your 911 dispatcher resume
In your list of soft skills, add any personal strengths, qualities or transferable skills that make you a good fit for the job. Soft skills are often less specific to different industries, but that doesn't make them any less important. Indeed, as the nature of work changes, soft skills are growing in importance, so make sure you include them in your resume. It's best to aim for four or five soft skills that match the job description and reflect your strongest personal qualities.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a 911 dispatcher resume.
- Active listening
- Quick decision-making
- Emotional resilience
Educational Achievements
In your education section, include details of your most relevant 911 dispatcher qualifications and educational achievements.
It's not usually necessary to have a degree for jobs as a 911 dispatcher. Nevertheless, it's still crucial to list your highest or most relevant educational achievements. These might include CPR Certification, and other certifications or courses that highlight your CPR certification or multi-line phone systems.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. Include bullet points to show any specialist modules you studied, awards or exceptional grades and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates. These will all contribute to creating a positive impression on employers.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Management or Public Safety, 2017 - 2020
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Relevant Certifications and Licenses
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as a 911 dispatcher. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as a 911 dispatcher. Therefore, include the details of any licenses and professional certifications required for 911 dispatcher roles, along with completion dates so employers can see you're up-to-date.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for a 911 dispatcher resume:
- EMD Certification, 2022
- CPR Certification, 2022
- APCO Certification, 2022
Work Experience
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a 911 dispatcher. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
In addition, include a few bullet points under each job, highlighting your key achievements so the hiring manager can see how they led to successful outcomes. Back up each point with evidence to show how you meet the job description.
An effective resume work experience section is one that constantly echoes the skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you used your skills to positive effect in each job. Each bullet point should be carefully crafted to showcase a particular skill or achievement relevant to 911 dispatcher jobs, with evidence to show the value you added. Review some strong examples of resume work experience sections in the graphic below.
Emergency Communications Operator, January 2022 - Present
Rapid Response Communications Inc, Spokane
- Successfully coordinated emergency response efforts during a natural disaster, ensuring timely dispatch of resources and saving over 200 lives
- Implemented a new call triage system, reducing average response time by 30% and improving overall operational efficiency
- Trained and mentored a team of 15 new operators, enhancing team performance and maintaining a 95% accuracy rate in emergency call handling
Emergency Communications Operator, January 2022 - Present
Rapid Response Communications Inc, Spokane
- Coordinated various tasks to improve team efficiency and response times
- Played a key role in emergency management and resource allocation
- Contributed to team training and development initiatives
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. Poor examples of resume work experience sections tend to be vague and fail to quantify your achievements and the impact you've made in your career to date. They may also focus on responsibilities above relevant skills and how you've used them.
Expert Tip:
If you have limited formal experience, highlight other achievements, like completing training programs, certifications, or successful personal projects. (1) Present this information in a clear and concise format with easy-to-read sections and plenty of white space. (2)
Optional Sections
There are several additional sections you could add to a 911 dispatcher resume, to improve your chances of success. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Personal Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world 911 dispatcher experience. Think about adding hobbies and interests to your resume if they add some insight into your personality that you can't express elsewhere in your application.
Volunteer Experience
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your 911 dispatcher resume. Include the title of your volunteer role, who you volunteered for, as well as the dates you carried out the work. Provide brief details of your responsibilities and the impact you made.
References
References aren't a standard 911 dispatcher resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
References are available upon request.
Best words to use in a 911 dispatcher resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Choose from the list of words below to increase the impact of your work experience section.
- Coordinate
- Prioritize
- Respond
- Communicate
- Document
- Monitor
- Assess
- Relay
- Direct
- Assist
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Sample resume for 911 dispatcher positions
Using each of the sections above, we've created this example 911 dispatcher resume, to help guide you when creating your own:
1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA
•
alexander.williams@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/alexander–williams123
Experienced 911 Dispatcher with a strong background as an Emergency Communications Specialist. Proven ability to manage high-stress situations, provide critical support to emergency responders, and effectively coordinate communication during crises. Skilled in multitasking, problem-solving, and maintaining composure under pressure to ensure public safety and efficient emergency response.
Emergency Communications Specialist
2020
-2022
RapidResponse Communications (El Paso)
- Implemented advanced dispatch protocols, reducing emergency response times by 25%
- Trained 50+ new hires on cutting-edge communication systems, enhancing team efficiency
- Coordinated multi-agency responses during natural disasters, ensuring seamless information flow and safety for affected communities
Emergency call handling
Radio communication proficiency
CPR certification
Active listening
Quick decision-making
Emotional resilience
EMD Certification
CPR Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for a 911 dispatcher resume
- Adapt your resume for every job application for maximum impact. Review the job description to understand the specific requirements for the role.
- Quantify your successes by providing figures and other evidence that shows how your skills have made a difference to your employer.
- Use strong verbs to help show the actions you've taken in different 911 dispatcher roles (e.g. direct, assist, coordinate).
- Aim for a brief, concise 911 dispatcher resume. One page is ideal for junior roles, while two pages are more suitable for senior positions.
- Proofread your resume to ensure it's free from spelling and grammar errors. Even minor errors can make a difference to your chances.
- Don't use passive language because it's less engaging for the reader. Change phrases like 'the target was exceeded' to 'I helped the team exceed the target'.
- Don't use complex and elaborate formatting that can make your 911 dispatcher resume less readable and more difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't list work experience that has no relation to the role you're applying for. It wastes space and is unlikely to impress hiring managers.
- Don't fill up your 911 dispatcher resume with unnecessary information that contributes nothing to your chances of success.
- Don't lie or exaggerate any information on your 911 dispatcher resume, as this can cause you problems further down the line.
Guide to making your resume ATS-friendly
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to streamline their hiring process. They can store and process data, including applications and applicant data, quickly and efficiently. One of the jobs ATS applications are increasingly responsible for is initial candidate screening. The systems can quickly scan and rank resumes based on how closely they match the job description. If you follow a few simple tips when writing your 911 dispatcher resume, you'll give yourself a better chance of ranking highly in the ATS screening and progressing to the next stage.
Here are a few quick tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume:
- Choose a resume structure that matches the traditional, reverse-chronological layout or alternatively, the functional resume structure. This should make your resume more readable for ATS applications.
- Use of job description keywords throughout your resume will help it rank higher in the ATS scanning stage, as it will more closely match the requirements laid out in the job description.
- Include clear headings that make it easy to identify each section of your resume. This will help any ATS software navigate your resume during the scanning process.
- Adopt a clean, unfussy design that gives your content enough white space to breathe. Use professional, readable fonts and subtle use of color and other design elements.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions about a 911 dispatcher resume
As well as writing a professional 911 dispatcher resume, you'll need a cover letter to introduce yourself and emphasize your credentials.
In some situations, a full, professional cover letter may not be necessary. Check the job advert and decide whether to write a formal cover letter, or if a brief email is more suitable.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the 911 dispatcher role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
For an experienced 911 dispatcher, the resume is an account of your achievements and the skills you've gained through your career. Your 911 dispatcher resume is likely to have a longer work experience section than resumes for less experienced candidates, any you may wish to go back further than the standard 10 to 15 years of employment history, depending on your experience levels. Include any optional sections that help to show your credentials and reputation in your industry. These could include awards, achievements and successful projects you've been involved in.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your 911 dispatcher application, a resume headline can help. Resume headlines can also help you pass the ATS stage of the selection process, by highlighting the job title and one or two key details. Take the time to draft a concise, eye-catching headline which includes the job title, one or two key skills and reference to either your experience level or track record.
Here's an example of a strong resume headline:
- Emergency Response Communications Specialist
- Emergency Response Communication Specialist
- Experienced Senior 911 Dispatcher Specialist
The top resume format for your applications will vary according to a couple of factors. First, how much professional experience you have. Second, what type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. For applicants without much relevant work experience, a functional resume format tends to be best. This places the emphasis on your key skills and relevant qualifications. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Key points for your 911 dispatcher resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Using the professional resume templates and resources of Jobseeker can help you create a great-looking resume that stands out from other applicants. Sign up today and follow the simple steps to get started. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
