Anybody have examples of translating a pilot resume/work experience in the airlines into a non-aviation resume. I have an Aviation Science degree( big mistake) but I would somehow like to make my experience as a flight instructor and then as an airline pilot stand out to somebody who might not know everything involved in the job.

How about using the 7 tenets of Crew Resource Management to frame your flying experience into things that every employer wants to see.
I think of Decision Making, Communciation, Assertiveness, and Leadership as a few that I think any future employer would highly value.

USMCFLYR

I have known and met too many pilots and people in other industries that had no trouble getting hired into jobs after 50 y/o age. The only thing I can add is to network, practice, practice, practice and more practice on selling yourself. I am more concerned with seeing a old dog perform new tricks than saying I have tried all the tricks and nothings working. Good luck!

How about leaving off the pilot stuff completely?

Or if you do, focus on the numbers and customer service side:
"Prepared operational weight & balance for part 121 [insert name of aircraft here]"
"Balanced budget of sub-poverty level pay with exceptionally high cost of living city locations"
"Performed multivariate 3D trigonometric, geometric, and arithmetic calculations in life or death, time-critical, high-pressure environment constantly on daily basis."
"Manged finite resources on small team to ensure safety and security of passenger and multi-billion dollar assets"
"Negotiated exceptionally sensitive multi-national resource allotment, timing, security intelligence, and placement of high value assets and customers, from all levels of management and employees including Fortune 10 CEOs, bus drivers, and janitors."
"On daily basis, worked as team with multiple government agencies including Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, FBI, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure national security and safety of multi-billion dollar assets and VIPs."
"Provided awesome customer service in times of natural disasters, security threats, and cold coffee."
"On a daily basis, instructed others through critical stress events, where improper actions could result in loss of life or assets."

Have some fun with it.

Very interesting posts. I myself was flying for 10 years 4700TT, ATP, CFI's, CE500 typed etc etc. I was laid off Feb 09, and have been applying to many jobs over the past year plus. I have given up and are back in school for graphic design and video production while still on unemployment.

At first, during non-aviation interviews I was questioned, "You're a pilot?" Wow! "I can't believe you are here looking for a job" and stuff like that. So, I turned my resume around to reflect more "management" aspects of being a pilot, after all you are the PIC and that is the boss of the flight and holds the respected responsibility. Many of the people interviewing who could be your boss, but yet these people of authority at these non-aviation jobs probably never had the responsibility on your shoulders you had as a pilot.

It is a serious adjustment on the ground world working again. After now over a year on the ground myself wings clipped, I feel adjusted.....sorta

It still hurts when I drive by the airport and see a Citation on the ramp starting up, knowing I used to PIC that stuff part 135, and now I am out of currency, out of BFR/IPC, and my medical has lapsed to a 3rd class...

Oh joy,

Good luck my fellow aviator..

GB

ATP, CFI CFII MEI, Rustbucket wings clipped pilot LOL
CE500

I've made the jump from flying to non-flying and back again. I'll be the first to admit it wasn't easy, but it can be done with some strategy and perseverance.

I moved from making zero dollars as an air charter owner/operator, to being a senior financial analyst for a large tech company. It took roughly 4 to 6 months to get into that position, and jobs were plentiful then. I couldn't begin to guess what the time line would look like now.

Some of the things that worked on my resume were:

1. Writing a functional resume, or a functional / chronological resume. Chronological with long descriptions does not suit a career changer.

As another poster mentioned, find out what keywords are important for your industry, find experience in your history with those keywords and highlight it.

Don't use ANY aviation jargon: Part 121, performance, weight & balance, PIC, SIC, etc. in your job descriptions -- they won't have the slightest idea what you're talking about.

2. Downplay the "pilot" title. For instance, you can format your resume to just list the airline/aviation company name, location and dates of employment. Pilot job descriptions are irrelevant if you are going for an accounting job.

3. Pilot experience that is valuable to the majority of employers (and can be discussed when you are asked during the interview):

The fact that you are:
>detail oriented
>responsible (I especially liked to use something to the effect that if A company can entrust their multi-million dollar aircraft and senior management to me as a pilot, then it seems reasonable that you can trust me to do your job too)
>professional
>trainable
>able to multi-task
>etc.

4. Keep the resume emphasis squarely on the job you seek, not piloting. This will get you further along that most anything else.

5. Freshen your accounting experience on your resume. Volunteer, join some association, etc. to show your re-commitment to accounting.

5. At the interviews, downplay the pilot jobs, minimize the pilot discussion, and re-direct the conversation back to accounting. If you spend the interview time discussing flying, it will have been an interesting discussion likely, but probably won't get you a callback.

Keep at it. If you've learned nothing else as a pilot, you've learned to persevere.

Good Luck!