How to Improve Your Pilot Resume
The average Pilot resume scores just 55% on ATS. The pass threshold is typically 72%. That gap is almost entirely caused by fixable, structural mistakes — not lack of experience. This guide shows you exactly what they are and how to fix each one.
Average score
55%
You need to close a 17-point gap
The 6 mistakes below are responsible for most of this gap in Pilot resumes. Fixing them is straightforward — no extra experience needed.
Target score
72%+
6 Most Common Pilot Resume Mistakes
Each mistake below is drawn from analysis of thousands of Pilot resumes. For each, you'll see what the mistake looks like and exactly how to fix it.
Total flight hours missing from summary — hour count is the single most filtered metric in aviation ATS
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like ATP and Commercial Pilot License appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
No type rating listed — "B737-NG," "A320," or "CRJ-900" are aircraft-specific binary filters
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like Commercial Pilot License and CPL appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
License type vague — ATP, CPL, ATPL must be explicitly named with issuing authority (FAA, EASA, DGCA)
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like CPL and type rating appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
CRM and safety training absent — Crew Resource Management is mandatory ATS keyword for all airline roles
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like type rating and PIC hours appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
No instrument rating detail — IFR proficiency, approaches logged, and night hours are separate filters
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like PIC hours and SIC hours appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
Recency not shown — airlines filter for "hours in last 12 months" and "last 90-day recency"
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like SIC hours and IFR appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
Step-by-Step Pilot Resume Improvement Checklist
Work through these steps in order. Each step typically adds 3–8 points to your ATS score.
Check your current ATS score
Upload your resume to GetShortlisted and run a baseline score check against a target job description.
Fix formatting issues
Remove tables, text boxes, headers/footers, and graphics. Save as a clean .docx or .pdf without embedded objects.
Standardise section headings
Rename non-standard headings: e.g., "Where I've Worked" → "Work Experience", "What I Know" → "Skills".
Tailor keywords to the JD
Mirror the job description's exact wording. Add missing high-priority keywords (ATP, Commercial Pilot License, CPL) into your bullets.
Rewrite weak bullet points
Add action verbs, specific outcomes, and numbers. Use the examples on our Resume Examples page as reference.
Optimise your professional summary
Include your job title, years of experience, 2 core keywords, and one quantified achievement in the first 3 lines.
Re-run your ATS score check
Verify your score has crossed the pass threshold. Repeat targeted keyword additions until you hit your target.
How ATS Evaluates Pilot Resumes
Airline ATS systems (Workday at major carriers, Taleo at legacy airlines) are uniquely metric-driven — total flight hours, PIC hours, type ratings, and certificate numbers are all separately filtered fields. Many airline applications have structured forms for hour categories (multi-engine, turbine, night, IFR). The resume itself must mirror these exact categories for keyword matching. CRM certification, medical class (First Class or equivalent), and recency requirements are binary pass/fail filters.
Common ATS systems used for Pilot roles in Aviation & Aerospace: Workday, Taleo, iCIMS, SuccessFactors, ADP.
Score Improvement Roadmap
Here's what typical scores mean for your job search as a Pilot:
Excellent
78–100: ATP/CPL named, type ratings listed, hours quantified by category, CRM and safety keywords present
Good
60–77: License and hours clear, missing type rating or specific safety programme detail
Average
42–59: General aviation background without hour breakdown or certification specificity
Needs Work
Below 42: Will not pass initial ATS screening at any commercial airline
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Pilot resume failing ATS?▾
The most common reasons Pilot resumes fail ATS are: missing critical keywords that appear in the job description, non-standard section headings that ATS cannot parse, tables or graphics that obscure plain text, and experience bullets without measurable results. The average Pilot resume scores 55% — well below the 72% threshold most ATS systems use to filter candidates.
What ATS score do I need as a Pilot?▾
For Pilot roles, you need an ATS score of at least 72% to reliably pass initial screening filters. The average Pilot resume only scores 55%, meaning most candidates are filtered out before any human sees their application. Scores above 72% give you the best chance of interview invitations.
How long does it take to improve a Pilot resume for ATS?▾
Most Pilot resume improvements can be made in 20–40 minutes with the right tool. The highest-impact changes — tailoring keywords to the specific job description and rewriting weak bullet points — take the most time but deliver the biggest score jump. Using an AI-powered tool can compress this to under 10 minutes.
More Tools for Pilots
Fix Your Pilot Resume Now
Get your ATS score, see every keyword gap, and receive an AI-rewritten version — in under 2 minutes.
Check My Resume Free →Free · No signup · Instant