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Air traffic controller resume examples from 2025

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Updated March 26, 2025
6 min read
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How to write an air traffic controller resume

Craft a resume summary statement

Your resume summary sums up your experience and skills, making it easy for hiring managers to understand your qualifications at a glance. Here are some tips to writing the most important 2-4 sentences of your resume:

Step 1: Mention your current job title or the role you're pursuing.

Step 2: Include your years of experience in air traffic controller-related roles. Consider adding relevant company and industry experience as relevant to the job listing.

Step 3: Highlight your greatest accomplishments. Here is your chance to make sure your biggest wins aren't buried in your resume.

Step 4: Again, keep it short. Your goal is to summarize your experience and highlight your accomplishments, not write a paragraph.

These four steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some air traffic controller interviews.

Please upload your resume so Zippia’s job hunt AI can draft a summary statement for you.

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List the right project manager skills

Your Skills section is an easy way to let recruiters know you have the skills to do the job. Just as importantly, it can help your resume not get filtered out by hiring software. Here is how to make the most of your skills section and make sure you have the right keywords:

  1. Start with the job listing. Frequently, the keywords looked for by recruiters will be listed. Be careful to include all skills in the job listing you have experience with.
  2. Consider all the software and tools you use on a daily basis. When in doubt, list them!
  3. Make sure you use accurate and up to date terms for all the skills listed.
These five steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some air traffic controller interviews.

Here are example skills to include in your “Area of Expertise” on an air traffic controller resume:

  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Air Traffic Control
  • NAS
  • Maximize Safety
  • CTO
  • Emergency Situations
  • IFR
  • On-The-Job Training
  • DOD
  • Expeditious Flow
  • Flight Data
  • Terminal Air Traffic
  • Radar Approach
  • Flight Operations
  • Aircraft Movement
  • Computer Equipment
  • Military Aircraft
  • Expeditious Movement
  • Adjacent Facilities
  • USAF
  • Orderly Flow
  • Icao
  • NOTAMs
  • Aircraft Operations
  • Instrument Flight
  • Local Control
  • Navigational Aids
  • Stressful Situations
  • Clearance Delivery
  • Air Station

Zippia’s AI can customize your resume for you.

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How to structure your work experience

Your work experience should be structured:

  1. With your most recent roles first, followed by earlier roles in reverse chronological order.
  2. Job title, along with company name and location on the left.
  3. Put the corresponding dates of employment on the left side.
  4. Keep only relevant jobs on your work experience.

How to write air traffic controller experience bullet points

Your resume is not a list of responsibilities or a job description. Instead, it is your chance to show your accomplishments and show why you're good at what you do.

  • Use the What, How, and Why format. Answering these questions turns a bland job description into an effective showcase of your abilities.
  • What were your responsibilities or goals?
  • How did you accomplish them?
  • Why were your results important? (How did it impact your company? Can you quantify the results in numbers? )

Here are great bullet points from air traffic controller resumes:

Work history example #1

Air Traffic Controller

AWP

  • Complied with all AWP policies, procedures and safety requirements as well OSHA requirements, policies and safety procedures.
  • Certified in CPR and First Aid training meeting or exceeding requirements by Federal OSHA.
  • Gained various forms of training including CPR, first aide, A.E.D.
  • Acquired a CPR and First Aid certification.
  • Registered traffic controller, certified in CPR and first aid.

Work history example #2

Air Traffic Controller

Baton Rouge River Ctr

  • Controlled aircraft transitioning Denver Enroute Center Certified OJTI.
  • Managed day to day work zone setup, maintenance and tear down, meeting or exceeding, state and company expectations.
  • Overhauled the standard operating procedures for the training and operations department resulting in more accurate records keeping and improved productivity.
  • Trained supervisors in local and adjacent facility procedures.
  • Reviewed facility publications and procedures to ensure compliance with current Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

Work history example #3

Cashier

McDonald's

  • Maintained a friendly, positive demeanor when communicating with disgruntled or impatient customers.
  • Facilitated inter-departmental communication to effectively provide customer support.
  • Greeted customers in the restaurant or drive-thru, took and rang up orders, handled payment and thanked customers.
  • Practiced customer service with quick and clear communication.
  • Trained new employees for the position at drive-thru, front counter and cook.

Work history example #4

Air Traffic Controller

ECM Energy Services

  • Worked with all Levels of Law enforcement and DOT to help with traffic accidents.
  • Deployed under multiple contingency operations in Iraq.
  • Created realistic computer based training for the conduct of radar approaches.
  • Implemented facility training policies and procedures for upgrade and certification of apprentice controllers.
  • Stratified in top 3 of 70 officers during annual reviews by two executive directors, recommended for command.

Zippia’s AI can customize your resume for you.

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Add an education section to your resume

Here is the best way to format your education section:

  • Display your highest degree first.
  • If you graduated over 5 years ago, put this section at the bottom of your resume. If you lack relevant work experience, the education section should go to the top.
  • If you have a bachelor's or master's degree, do not list your high school education.
  • If your graduation year is more than 15-20 years ago, it's better not to include dates in this section.

Here are some examples of good education entries from air traffic controller resumes:

High School Diploma

2001 - 2001

Some College Courses in nursing

Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

2003 - 2003

Highlight your air traffic controller certifications on your resume

If you have any additional certifications or education-like achievements, add them to the education section.

To list, use the full name of the certification and the organization that issued it, along with the date of achievement.

If you have any of these certifications, be sure to include them on your air traffic controller resume:

  1. Air Traffic Control Tower Operator (CTO)
  2. Traffic Control Design Specialist (TCDS)
  3. Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)
  4. Tower Crane Operator
  5. OSHA Safety Certificate
  6. Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)
  7. First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor

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