Air Traffic Controller Resume Guide

Introduction

Creating a resume for an air traffic controller transitioning into media and journalism requires a strategic approach that highlights transferable skills and relevant experience. In 2025, ATS systems become more sophisticated, making it vital for candidates to craft resumes that are both keyword-rich and easily scannable. This guide will help you structure a resume that demonstrates your expertise while aligning with media and journalism roles.

Who Is This For?

This guide is designed for experienced air traffic controllers—around 5 years of experience—who are shifting into media, journalism, or related communication fields. It applies to professionals in any region seeking to leverage their operational, communication, and crisis management skills in a media environment. If you have a background in aviation but are now aiming to produce content, report, or manage communications, this guide provides practical advice to craft a resume that resonates with hiring managers and ATS alike.

Resume Format for Air Traffic Controller in Media & Journalism (2025)

Use a clean, logical layout with clearly labeled sections: Summary, Skills, Experience, Projects, Education, and Certifications. Prioritize a one- to two-page format depending on your project portfolio and relevant experience. For those with a strong portfolio or media-related projects, include a dedicated Projects section or link to an online portfolio. Avoid complex layouts with tables or graphics that can hinder ATS parsing. Use standard fonts and headings, and keep formatting consistent throughout.

Role-Specific Skills & Keywords

• Crisis communication and problem-solving
• Clear, concise verbal and written communication
• Multitasking under pressure
• Air traffic control procedures and safety protocols
• Risk assessment and decision-making
• Media relations and press communication
• Content creation and editing
• Media tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut, or content management systems
• Social media management and engagement
• News writing and reporting skills
• Regulatory compliance in communications
• Stakeholder management
• Time management and prioritization
• Multilingual communication skills (if applicable)

Ensure these keywords are naturally incorporated into your experience descriptions and skills sections to optimize ATS recognition.

Experience Bullets That Stand Out

• Managed high-stakes communication with pilots and ground staff, ensuring safety and efficiency during peak traffic hours, demonstrating crisis management skills transferable to live news situations.
• Developed and delivered safety briefings and operational reports, honing clear writing skills applicable to media content and press releases.
• Coordinated with multiple teams during emergencies, showcasing leadership and quick decision-making vital for fast-paced journalism environments.
• Led a team of junior controllers, fostering communication and team management skills useful in newsroom or media project coordination.
• Implemented new communication protocols that reduced errors by ~15%, illustrating attention to detail and process optimization relevant to media editing and fact-checking.
• Created detailed incident reports that translated complex information into understandable summaries, a core skill in journalism.
• Collaborated with aviation safety regulators to develop compliance documentation, demonstrating expertise in regulatory writing applicable to media ethics and standards.

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Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

• Vague summaries that don’t specify achievements—use concrete metrics and examples to demonstrate impact.
• Overloading the resume with aviation jargon—translate technical terms into language familiar to media recruiters or include a skills section with keywords.
• Using a non-standard format or excessive graphics—stick to ATS-friendly formats with clear headings and bullet points.
• Omitting relevant transferable skills—highlight communication, crisis management, and content creation explicitly.
• Forgetting to tailor keywords—match your skillset with the media and journalism job descriptions explicitly.

ATS Tips You Shouldn't Skip

• Save your resume as a Word document or ATS-friendly PDF with a clear, professional filename (e.g., “John_Doe_Media_Journalism_Resume_2025”).
• Use standard section labels like Summary, Skills, Experience, Projects, Education, and Certifications.
• Incorporate synonyms and related terms (e.g., “press releases,” “media communications,” “content creation”) to cover various keyword variants.
• Maintain consistent tense—use past tense for previous roles and present tense for current responsibilities.
• Avoid complex formatting elements like tables, text boxes, or columns that ATS systems struggle to parse.
• Ensure sufficient spacing between sections and bullet points for easy scanning.

Following these guidelines will maximize your chances of passing ATS filters and catching the eye of hiring managers in media and journalism, helping you successfully pivot your career from air traffic control to the media industry in 2025.