Pick a clean, professional template that puts your navigation skills front and center. For a Docking Pilot, use a reverse-chronological layout that lists your ship movements, licenses, and recent assignments first.
Keep length short. One page usually works if you have under 10 years of relevant experience. Use two pages only if you have long service records or command-level roles to show.
Use ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri or Arial. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt. Keep line spacing at 1.0–1.15 and add clear section gaps to aid scanning.
Use standard headings: Contact, Summary, Certifications, Experience, Vessel Types, Key Routes, Training, and Education. Put measurable results next to each job, like successful docking rate or incident-free miles.
Avoid complex columns, graphics, and embedded images. They confuse applicant systems and distract hiring teams. Keep color minimal and use bold or caps for section titles.
Watch common mistakes. Don’t use non-standard fonts or tiny margins. Don’t cram text into small blocks. Don’t bury certifications or license numbers in paragraphs.
Write short bullets under each role. Lead with action verbs and add a metric. For example: "Guided 300+ port calls with zero groundings".