Air Traffic Controller Resume Example
Pursuing a career as an air traffic controller provides opportunities for career progression and responsibilities involving ensuring FAA compliance and monitoring aircraft movements. If you want to stand out with your air traffic controller applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your air traffic controller applications.
The aim of this article is to equip you with all the knowledge required to create a resume that keeps you on the radar for your air traffic controller applications. 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 how to write a perfect air traffic controller resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in an air traffic controller resume
It's essential to include a few core sections in your air traffic controller resume, while there are also a few optional sections. If you're an entry-level candidate without much work experience, that section may be less prominent in your resume. You ay focus instead on sections that showcase your skill set, such as education, projects, hobbies and hard and soft skills lists.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Resume Header
A air traffic controller resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Alan Cruz
alan.cruz@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
13 Elm Street, Springwood, OH
linkedin․com/in/alan–cruz123
Resume Objective
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. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for air traffic controller roles.
Alternatively, write a paragraph that concentrates on your career objectives and how this role fits with your wider ambitions and progression.
The best resume summaries reflect the job description and focus on qualities that are relevant to working as an air traffic controller, while highlighting elements of your personality that make you an ideal candidate. They also quantify the information provided with evidence. Take a look at some strong examples of how to approach a air traffic controller resume summary in the graphic below.
Dedicated and detail-oriented Air Traffic Control Specialist with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management. Proven expertise in coordinating and managing the safe and efficient movement of air traffic within assigned airspace. Strong analytical skills and adept at using advanced radar and communication technology to ensure compliance with aviation regulations and standards. Excellent problem-solving abilities and a commitment to maintaining high safety standards in high-pressure environments
Worked in air traffic control with some background in aviation management. Involved in moving planes around safely in the sky. Used technology to follow rules and keep things running smoothly. Good at solving problems and staying calm when things get busy. Focused on keeping everything safe
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your air traffic controller resume summary.
Hard and Soft Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to air traffic controller positions. Consider adding communication systems expertise, effective communication skills or any other necessary skills for the job. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for air traffic controller positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
Highlighting your hard skills
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in air traffic controller roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. 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.
For an effective resume hard skills section, focus on the technical skills that are most essential in the job description, and that match your specific expertise. Some examples of the best hard skills for an air traffic controller resume are listed below.
- Radar operation proficiency
- ATC regulations knowledge
- Communication systems expertise
Adding soft skills to your air traffic controller 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. In fact, you can develop soft skills throughout your career, and they tend to be suitable for various roles and professions. Think of your best soft skills and add up to five that match the requirements of the job description.
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 an air traffic controller resume.
- Effective communication skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Situational awareness proficiency
Education
In your education section, include details of your most relevant air traffic controller qualifications and educational achievements.
It's not usually necessary to have a degree for jobs as an air traffic controller. Nevertheless, it's still crucial to list your highest or most relevant educational achievements. These might include Control Tower Operator, and other certifications or courses that highlight your communication systems expertise or emergency procedure management.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. You could also add one or two bullet points to draw attention to your grades if they were particularly good, as well as any specialist subjects you studied. This will help the hiring manager understand your knowledge and special skills better.
If you were a member of any clubs or societies, or volunteered for any causes while studying, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management, 2017 - 2020
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Certifications
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for an air traffic controller resume:
- FAA ATC Certification, 2022
- Control Tower Operator, 2022
- En Route Radar, 2022
Work Experience
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as an air traffic controller. For each entry, list the job title, the name of the employer, its location and the dates you worked there. Add each job in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role.
For each job listed in this section, add some bullet points so the employer can understand the skills you developed, and your achievements. Focus on showcasing the impact you made on the organization, and show evidence of how you made a difference.
A good resume work experience section includes your most relevant previous jobs and highlights your key achievements in each role. To make the best possible impression on hiring managers, make sure each entry in your work experience section references skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you added value to each role with quantifiable evidence and outcomes. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Air Traffic Control Specialist, January 2022 - Present
SkyGuard Traffic Solutions, Kansas City
- Successfully coordinated over 1,200 aircraft movements per month, maintaining a 99.9% on-time performance rate
- Implemented advanced radar tracking systems, reducing average aircraft separation errors by 30%
- Trained and certified 50+ new air traffic controllers, enhancing operational efficiency and safety standards
Air Traffic Control Specialist, January 2022 - Present
SkyGuard Traffic Solutions, Kansas City
- Managed daily operations to ensure smooth workflow and effective communication among team members
- Improved team performance through strategic planning and execution of tasks
- Enhanced operational processes to boost overall efficiency and safety
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. A bad resume work experience section might fail to address skills and achievements that relate directly to the job description. Falling back on clichés, vague descriptions and basic responsibilities, rather than showing the impact you made, is likely to disengage the reader.
Expert Tip:
Emphasize hands-on experience and relevant skills, such as customer service, teamwork, or problem-solving, to showcase your readiness for the role. (1) Use bullet points to organize your resume and keep it easy to read, especially for hiring managers scanning for key qualifications. (2)
Optional Resume Sections
To provide further information on your suitability for the role, you could add some optional sections to an air traffic controller resume. Choose any optional sections that showcase essential or desirable skills or experience for air traffic controller jobs.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Add any hobbies and interests that reinforce your credentials for the position. They also help to show a different side of your personality, and can help your resume create a more memorable impression on hiring managers. If you're short on real world work experience, hobbies and interests can be a useful way of providing more information about your qualities. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Voluntary Work
This section can be valuable for an air traffic controller resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
It's relatively unusual to include references in a standard air traffic controller resume, but they are required occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Include a maximum of three professional references, being sure to check with your referees before including them in your resume.
References are available upon request.
Best action words for your air traffic controller resume
Action words can help illustrate to the hiring manager the difference you made in each of your previous jobs. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Coordinate
- Monitor
- Direct
- Communicate
- Authorize
- Evaluate
- Manage
- Supervise
- Control
- Respond
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.
Example of an air traffic controller resume
Using each of the sections above, we've created this example air traffic controller resume, to help guide you when creating your own:
13 Elm Street, Springwood, OH
•
alan.cruz@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/alan–cruz123
Experienced Air Traffic Controller with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management and a proven track record as an Air Traffic Management Specialist. Skilled in coordinating aircraft movements, ensuring safety and efficiency in airspace management, and adept at using advanced radar and communication systems. Strong problem-solving abilities and excellent communication skills, committed to maintaining the highest standards of operational safety and performance.
Air Traffic Management Specialist
2020
-2022
SkyControl Solutions Inc (Austin)
- Successfully managed air traffic operations for over 500,000 flights annually, ensuring zero incidents and maintaining optimal safety standards
- Implemented advanced radar systems, reducing flight delays by 15% and enhancing real-time communication between pilots and ground control
- Led a team of 30 air traffic controllers, improving efficiency by 25% through strategic scheduling and continuous professional development programs
Radar operation proficiency
ATC regulations knowledge
Communication systems expertise
Effective communication skills
Problem-solving abilities
Situational awareness proficiency
FAA ATC Certification
Control Tower Operator
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Best practices for an air traffic controller resume
- Aim for a brief, concise air traffic controller resume. One page is ideal for junior roles, while two pages are more suitable for senior positions.
- Make a strong first impression with a concise, impactful air traffic controller resume summary that showcases your key qualities.
- Quantify your accomplishments by providing evidence that shows the impact you've made in your career.
- Add key skills throughout your resume that match the job description, along with a dedicated 'skills' section.
- Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for by consulting the job description and using keywords throughout your document.
- Don't use an email address that creates an unprofessional impression. Instead, create an email address for job applications based on your name.
- Don't exaggerate, lie or hide details about yourself as these can all undermine your chances of success with air traffic controller applications.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms when you can use simple, straightforward language to say the same thing.
- Don't use complex formatting that makes your air traffic controller resume harder to read or less scannable by software such as applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Don't add hobbies and outside interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. When drafting your air traffic controller resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Here are a few quick tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume layout, such as a reverse-chronological or functional format. This will mean your resume includes all the necessary sections, in the expected order.
- Add keywords throughout your resume that help ATS software match your application to the job description. A higher match means your application is more likely to proceed to be reviewed by human eyes.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Adopt simple, professional language to keep your resume as concise as possible. This tends to make your document more readable, and easier for ATS software to scan.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
Frequently Asked Questions about an air traffic controller resume
Alongside your air traffic controller resume, it's important to produce a professional cover letter that creates a similar positive impact on the reader.
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.
A full, formal cover letter follows a traditional letter-writing structure and format. Add your header, the recipient's address an use professional greetings and sign-offs. In your first paragraph, introduce yourself and confirm the role you're applying for, along with your reasons for applying. Next, outline your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to the air traffic controller job description. Finish by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and adding a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to contact you for further information.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
For an experienced air traffic controller application, the objective of your resume is to showcase the many achievements in your career to date. Your air traffic controller 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. Consider adding any optional sections that show employers the impact you've made in your career to date. These include awards, successful projects or a dedicated achievements section.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your air traffic controller 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. Write a concise headline including the job title, a reference to your experience or track record and one or two key skills.
Below you can see a resume headline example:
- Aspiring Air Traffic Control Specialist
- Skilled Air Traffic Control Specialist
- Experienced Senior Air Traffic Controller
The most suitable resume format for you depends on two crucial factors. Firstly, whether you have a body of relevant work experience. Secondly, the type of job and its seniority level. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. For more senior roles where you have plenty of relevant experience, use a reverse chronological format. This resume structure places work experience at the heart of the document, using it as a showcase for your skills and achievements.
Takeaways for a winning air traffic controller resume
An effective resume is a concise, professional summary of your relevant skills and career achievements, showcased through a chronology of your career history. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Jobseeker has a wealth of resume tools, including resume templates and examples, to help you create a winning job application. Sign up today to get started. A stylish, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job prospects. See Jobseeker's cover letter examples, written by careers experts, to help you craft an eye-catching application.
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/
