If you’re applying to an airline or flight school, many times you will need to complete an autobiography section. This section is just as important as the rest of the application form. Often applications are returned to pilots due to the autobiography section not being filled correctly, or in some cases not being filled at all.
The autobiography section is a very important part of the application process. Airlines use this section to get a deeper understanding of your skills, education and experience. Most importantly, they want to determine why you want to leave your current employer and why you previously left other employers, as well as why you want to join their airline and work in a new country. This section allows you to put your best foot forward and make a good first impression.
Below you will find some general guidelines on how to structure the autobiography section.
Your autobiography should be a minimum of ¾ of an A4 page, using Calibri or Arial font in size 12.
Introduce yourself and summarise your early childhood and family situation while you were growing up.
Discuss your education and explain how you initially became interested in aviation and becoming a pilot.
Outline where you did your training and when/where you obtained your PPL, CPL and ATPL.
Explain your career history, detailing why you left all previous employers.
Describe when you changed aircraft and completed new type ratings.
Explain when you transitioned from First Officer to Captain.
Include any experience as Line training Captain, TRI, TRE or SFI.
Detail any experience as a Chief Pilot, Director of Flight Operations, or any management position within aviation.
Explain to the airline why you are a suitable candidate for them. For example, list if you have experience flying in the same region and operating into the same airports as the airline you are applying to.
List all the reasons why you want to work for that company. Typical examples include opportunities to fly a specific aircraft type, wide-body aircraft, roster options, opportunity for stable employment and company culture.
Discuss how you plan to adapt your lifestyle if you were successful. This will include explaining your intentions to either move permanently to your new base or commute to your home country on your off time.
Finally, if you are pursuing a job overseas, explaining what excites you about the culture of the country you may calling home if successful will show the airline that you have taken time to research and learn about their base country.
If you are unsure when writing your autobiography, we recommend speaking to the recruiter you are dealing with. They can review it prior to sending it to the airline.
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