Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Resume: Templates, Examples, & Essential Skills

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As an Air Traffic Controller, you’re used to guiding pilots around pilots to ensure their safety. But, does your resume end up crash-landing too often? Our professional resume templates can help your career take off.

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An air traffic controller (ATC) carries a lot of importance on their shoulders. They’re responsible for guiding flights and planes on the right path while ensuring everyone stays safe in the air.

As a result, it’s paramount that air traffic controllers have the right skill set and are competent at their jobs. To land the right job, however, you need the right resume.

Just the way air traffic controllers guide planes, we’ll guide you on the right path to the perfect resume!

In this guide, we’ll go through everything you need to know about writing a great air traffic controller resume, including:

• Making a resume that is appropriate for the particular air traffic control center you want to work at
• Highlighting your most valuable personality attributes for the position
• Emphasizing your academic qualifications
• Relating your prior employment to the position you’re currently seeking
• Utilizing an air controller sample resume as a reference
• What defines various examples of resumes for air traffic controllers in their respective private or public firm settings, and which choices are the most appropriate for you

And for other relevant information and inspiration for your resume, check out our similar flight attendant resume.

Take a look at our sample air traffic controller resume to understand what a robust air traffic controller resume looks like: 

Resume Example

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Karley Aimes
[Air Traffic Controller]

314 Archer St., Woodville, IL 81756 | 126-601-0361 | aimes.karley@gmail.com

>> Summary <<

Detail-oriented air traffic controller capable of planning, supervising, and carrying out both planned and unplanned aircraft maintenance. Extremely punctual and has a high level of adaptability and multicultural understanding while working. Thorough understanding of the materials and hardware used in common industries and a constant desire to learn more.

>> Experience <<

Air Traffic Controller 

JetBlue Airways | Rockford, IL

2015 – 2021

• Ensured clear runways and parking patterns for aircraft landings.
• Created new traffic patterns to increase empty parking space areas by 22%.
• Supervised traffic control centers for both departing and arriving aircraft.
• Coordinated with baggage control to ensure a smooth and seamless baggage pickup system post-landing for passengers.
• Approved conditions for weather and altitude before providing flying clearance for pilots.
• Conducted workshops on flight tracking, weather, routing, safety, and other training information for entry and mid-level employees.

Ground Controller 

Spirit Airlines | Rockford, IL

2012 – 2015

• Coordinated with and directed pilots to land in turbulent ground conditions.
• Compiled flight-related information, including passengers, resources, air time, fuel, baggage, and more.
• Maintained transcripts of flight messages to and from the air traffic control center.
• Inspected all runway lights and control center radio and tracking equipment during pre-flight briefings.

>> Education <<

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science 

Brententown University | Peabody, MA 

2008 – 2012

• Graduated magna cum laude  3.8 GPA
• Relevant Credit Courses: Advanced Mathematics, Computer Science, Basics of Aerodynamics, Advanced Physics, Electronics, and Communication. 

>> Skills <<

• Soft skills: Time Management, Communication, Patience, Listening
• Hard skills: Fluency in Air Traffic Control Software, Ground Traffic Control, National Security Regulations 

>> Certifications <<

• TCDS Certification, 2016
• CAM Certification, 2014

Don’t be afraid to use the above-mentioned template as a guide; examples of air traffic controller resumes, such as this one, make it much simpler to understand how to list and organize the information you’ll need.

Your ATC resume should have a format that outlines each section on your resume in a clear and concise manner. Make sure you include:

• Your personal contact information
• A resume summary or a resume objective (depending on your level of experience)
• Your past work experience
• Your qualifications
• Your skill set, including hard and soft skills
• Any qualifications or skills you feel are relevant to the position

According to several experts, it is sensible to arrange each of these components in a systematic and clear manner using a reverse-chronological framework.

Your most recent work experience is mentioned at the beginning of each section in a reverse chronological fashion, followed by your second most recent, third most recent, and so forth.

Additional considerations to bear in mind when writing your own resume for an air traffic controller are listed below:

• Fonts: 
  • Pick a font size and style that is readable, professional, and neat. Fonts offer you the opportunity to add some flair and personalization, but they shouldn’t be overpowering or noisy. Be direct in your approach. Recruiters might not go through your resume if the font makes it hard to read.

• Margins: 
  • The safest option for your resume as a Air Traffic Controller is a typical 1″ margin. Generally speaking, make sure your resume has enough space around the margins, so the writing doesn’t appear cramped or tight. A resume with a large number of words may seem to be stronger, but it may deter some readers from reading it entirely.

• Line spacing: 
  • The recommended line space for your air controller resume is a regular single or 1.5 lines. Make sure there is some white space to help break up the text, but not too much that it makes your resume appear bare (or so little it feels cluttered).

• Images: 
  • Most industries, including air traffic control centers, frown upon using photos and photographs on a resume. At most, including a modest, professional headshot at the top of your resume is sufficient. Still, it will probably take up space that you could use for other, more relevant information.

• File type: 
  • Submit your resume as a PDF file unless otherwise requested by the company you are applying to. This is the industry standard to ensure uniformity and prevent formatting issues when switching across systems.

We’ve developed a selection of slick, expert air traffic controller resume templates that can be quickly customized to build a compelling air traffic controller resume to make things even simpler.

Use our resume generator if you want to learn more about how to write the ideal air traffic controller resume!

Our resume generator is easy to use, and it allows you to input personalized information so that you can get a wonderful air traffic controller resume even with little or no experience. For more information, check out our blog post on how to write a resume with no experience.

Your air traffic controller resume objective or summary should be distinctive and compelling, no matter which one you decide to write.

Potential employers typically take note of a resume summary or objective first. When perusing resumes, they could also use it as a section for quick references.

For air traffic control agents, for all agents with previous work experience, a resume summary that describes your professional achievements and employment history is crucial.

Applicants typically choose resume summaries instead of resume objectives if they have less experience.

For example, an air controller resume objective for someone with no experience might sound like this:

On the other hand, a more experienced person might write an air traffic controller resume summary instead with something like:

Air Traffic Controller Resume Summary Example

An effective resume summary concentrates on the key points that a company seeking your services needs to know about you and your qualifications.

It’s best to give more specific examples and facts. Remain focused on your career’s most significant topics, and refrain from getting overly technical.

To illustrate the distinction between pertinent content and excess data, we’ve prepared examples of both a weak and a useful resume summary below.

How to Write an Entry-Level Air Traffic Controller Resume Objective

No prior experience is necessary, at least not in the field, when creating a resume for an entry-level air traffic controller.

When drafting an entry-level air traffic controller resume, attempt to concentrate on the abilities you do have rather than those you lack.

Entry-level candidates should use resume objectives because they don’t rely on accomplishments or prior employment to assess a candidate’s value.

A resume for an air traffic controller should closely follow the job description for the role.

As an example, if the job description calls for someone with substantial experience negotiating discounts, highlighting the fact that you have such talents may make you stand out as a potential candidate.

Another great way to gain “an in” with the company is by researching them heavily and playing to the important cornerstones of their company and mission. If an airline is publicly dedicated to communication in the workplace, then highlight your ability to collaborate with your coworkers. 

For air traffic controllers specifically, it will be valuable to highlight skills like dependability and punctuality. Many airports have dealt with unfortunate scenarios in which planes have had to turn around because someone slept in. If you can show that you are always early and always prepared, then many airlines will be impressed by your time management skills. 

🌟 Featured Content: When writing a resume objective for an air traffic controller resume, look into the company and what’s important to them. Air traffic controllers especially benefit from demonstrating dependability and punctuality in their resumes.

Entry-Level Air Traffic Controller Resume Objectives

Here are a couple of examples of entry-level resume objectives. Keep in mind that you should write in an easy-to-read, concise manner.

The work experience section of your resume is one of the most crucial parts since it enables you to emphasize achievements from previous employment, go into more detail about your duties and responsibilities, and highlight the skills you’ve picked up over time.

Each entry in this section has to describe your primary tasks and qualifications as an air traffic controller.

In many situations, writing a strong resume comes down to writing the exact qualities of an air traffic controller a company is looking for, which they’ll usually provide in their job description.

You would be shocked by how many people don’t read the job description closely!

If you can demonstrate that you carefully read the job description and you use keywords from it in your resume, then you’re already ahead of the curve!

Air Traffic Controller Resume Examples: Experience

Here are two examples of writing about air traffic controller jobs; one is subpar, and the other is strong.

As you can see, one sample does a better job than the others at providing a hiring manager with rapid, useful information regarding a role rather than simply glancing over job descriptions and prerequisites:

Entry-Level Air Traffic Controller Resume: Experience Section

Writing a compelling resume for an entry-level position as an air traffic controller doesn’t require a lot of experience or expertise.

Emphasize your areas of expertise and specialized skills to make the most of your experience section.

Look at the following examples:

If you work in the air traffic controller sector, your education is important, but more important still is being able to show any certifications and coursework that are required for this position.

Apart from your education, you must include any additional courses or education you have received that you feel might be relevant to your air traffic controller resume.

Air Traffic Controller Education Section for Resume

Here are some examples of a resume’s education section:

As you can see, the first example doesn’t prove much information at all. The second example, however, gives us a clear idea of the individual’s academic and co-curricular record.

When it comes to creating an engaging air traffic controller resume, your skill set is essential.

A strong resume for a Air Traffic Controller should highlight both hard and soft skills. 

While soft skills are more generic abilities that can be used in a range of occupations, hard skills are those that are specific to your industry and can only be gained on the job.

As with any other component of your resume, give your air traffic controller skills and abilities the highest priority.

The last thing you want to convey to a hiring manager is that your resume is cluttered and disorganized if you try to incorporate too many abilities and qualities.

Here are some examples of talents for an air traffic controller resume to assist you in developing your own.

All of the areas listed should be present on a decent air traffic controller resume, but the greatest resumes go above and above to separate out from the competition.

If you have the space and relevant information to include, you can certainly impress your hiring manager with an “Other” section on your air traffic controller resume.

Air Traffic Controller Resume Sample “Other” Sections

The “Other” section is not a “bonus” or “miscellaneous” section. 

Recruiters will respect your work ethic and dedication if they see that you went above and beyond to add that extra touch to your air traffic controller resume. It’s just as significant as the other sections on your resume, and it’s often examined more deeply than you may imagine.

This will provide you a competitive advantage and make you stand out from the crowd.

What kinds of improvements should I make to my resume to stand out? You should be asking yourself this as a prospective air traffic controller.

Here are some ideas, but remember to include anything you think is pertinent, especially if it seems to improve your skill set and overall resume.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to show that you care about people and are eager to help those in need.

But this doesn’t have to happen all the time. You only need one or two volunteer experiences, and they could significantly improve your resume.

Remember, the person who will hire you is likely to be working with you, so they aren’t just hiring someone but also picking a coworker. They want to know that you will be easy to work with, that they can count on you, and that you care about the job. That’s why they like to learn a little more about you as a human in your “Other” section.

Additional Activities

Make a list of all the extracurricular activities you participate in that you believe are applicable to your new position, such as joining a club at school like a sports team or taking a communications course.

You could also mention interests like reading and writing. Something that many successful people have in common is that they read about their area of expertise even in their downtime. If you can quote some relevant thought-leaders in your niche, it’s sure to raise some eyebrows.

Let’s recap! Here’s what we went through on our journey to making a fantastic air traffic control resume:

• A solid resume for an ATC should have an objective or resume summary, job history, a skills section, and additional “Other” sections.
• Make use of strong language and pertinent terminology when writing a compelling Air Traffic Controller resume.
• Use concise, concrete examples to make your case. This makes it quick and simple for a recruiter to add value to your resume.
• Reverse chronological organization enables you to prioritize and highlight the most important and recent work experience.
• Air traffic controllers need to be punctual and responsible because pilots, workers, and travelers alike trust you with their lives. Try to highlight circumstances in which you acted with a cool head, experience that shows you’re able to be punctual and consistent, and any other interests or soft skills that showcase self-discipline.
• By sticking to a tidy, business-like resume structure, you can tie everything together and make it simple for readers to comprehend. It also exhibits your capability as a knowledgeable air traffic controller.

And if you need more help, use our various simple templates and free resume builder if you still need assistance with writing a resume, organizing its material, or producing a design that is as professional as its content.

With this user-friendly, intuitive tool, you can quickly and easily create the perfect resume for your air traffic controller resume!