
CV vs Resume: Key Differences to Choose Between the Two
A resume is a CV... except when it isn't. Find out what the difference between a curriculum vitae and a resume is to maximize your chances of landing the job in any industry, not just academia.
Your job is to communicate clearly and effectively. From emergency 911 desks to freight operations, follow this complete guide to dispatch the best resume they’ve ever seen.
You’re a master at listening, prioritizing, and making life-saving decisions.
But that’s not enough to get a job as a dispatcher.
You also need a resume that clearly communicates your skills and background. Otherwise, your job application might never get a response—
And we don’t want this to happen to you, so we’ve made a step-by-step guide to a job-winning dispatcher resume.
This guide will show you:
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume samples here.
Check out other sample resume guides related to dispatcher jobs:
Michael Spencer
911 Emergency Response Dispatcher
michael.spencer@gmail.com
(347) 777-3322
linkedin.com/in/michaelspencer
Effective emergency 911 dispatcher with over 3 years experience with high-demand EMS systems. Prior, 2+ years experience as a trucking and freight dispatch coordinator. NYS DOH BLS-FR certified. Seeking to leverage top communication skills and 1,000+ dispatched calls to become the 911 dispatch lead for the NYPD-North Division.
Emergency 911 Dispatcher
March 2016–June 2019
NYS Emergency Response, Yonkers, NY
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievements
Trucking & Freight Dispatcher
January 2014–March 2016
Emerson Freight & Logistics, Brooklyn, NY
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY
Graduation: 2013
Relevant Coursework: Criminology, Drugs and Crime, Crime Mapping, Pattern Analysis, Criminal Profiling, Measurement and Analysis, Criminal Procedures, Human Trafficking, Cultural Diversity, Police & Community, Emergency Services Response, Professional Communications.
Above was our take on the perfect dispatcher resume sample.
Now, let’s make yours—
Here’s how to write a dispatcher resume:
Dispatchers are communications liaisons responsible for effectively organizing and communicating between a base of operations and road units. Your dispatcher resume should prove you are prevalent in emergency services, transportation companies (taxis), and freight and trucking operations.
Whether you’re aim is to be a 911 dispatcher, security dispatcher, or service dispatcher, communication is key.
Same on a dispatch resume—
You need to communicate your eligibility by choosing the ideal resume format which keeps it all in an easy-to-read layout.
Here’s how to format a dispatcher resume template effectively:
Pro Tip: Send your resume in PDF format unless they ask for one in Microsoft Word within the job ad. A PDF resume can be read on any computer or phone they want to open it on.
Sometimes called a professional profile, a resume objective or summary is your elevator pitch.
As a short opening paragraph, it gives employers an introduction to you, your background, skills, experience, and career goals.
However, like the flashing lights of an ambulance, it’s got to grab their attention from the moment they lay eyes upon it.
A professional summary is ideal if you’ve plenty of dispatch experience. Using a numbered achievement to prove you’re valuable, the summary statement “sums” your previous dispatch experience up for them in a neat little package.
A professional objective is the one to use when you have little or no experience. Instead of summing up your experience, the objective statement talks up your career goals. It still provides them with a quantifiable accomplishment, however.
Pro Tip: Write your dispatcher resume objective or summary statement last, even though it’s the first thing they’ll read. Using this method, you’ll have a better idea of the juiciest morsels of information to sum up in the heading paragraph.
Your security dispatcher or police dispatcher resume work experience section has got to deliver a one-two punch. It builds you up with relevant job duties and seals the deal with a key win.
So—
To create an awesome dispatcher job description resume section:
Pro Tip: Are you writing a no-experience resume for dispatcher jobs? Don’t worry. Most dispatch jobs provide on-the-job training. However, still list the most dispatch-relevant job responsibilities to increase your chances of getting that interview call.
You might not need more than a high school diploma for most dispatcher jobs.
However, it doesn’t mean you can slack with the education on a resume.
So—
Here’s how to win them over on a dispatch resume education section:
Pro Tip: What’s relevant coursework for dispatch jobs? Depends on the type. For emergency services, health and public service coursework is fitting. On the other hand, freight and truck dispatchers would benefit from adding any logistics and supply chain classes taken.
According to the BLS, between 2016 and 2026 in the United States alone:
Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers (public safety telecommunicators) are expected to increase by 8% (8,200 jobs).
All other dispatcher jobs, from trucking to taxis to airlines, will increase by almost 100,000 jobs, combined.
You’ve got truckfuls of competitors.
So—
Beat those other candidates by listing the best skills for dispatcher jobs on your resume:
Hold up a sec, though—
Above is a list of dispatcher resume example skills, but they’re mixed (trucking dispatchers, emergency dispatchers, etc.) to give you an idea only.
Don’t just copy that list into your 911 or AAA dispatcher resume.
Instead, here’s what to do:
Pro Tip: Larger companies use software (an ATS—applicant tracking system) to manage the many resumes they receive. Stick as close to the job ad’s wording as possible in order to score higher when the software parses your resume.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
You now have a dispatcher resume, essentially.
However—
It’s still pretty basic.
To make your resume unique from the other applicants, add some extra resume sections which fit the bill.
Here are a few great examples for a dispatcher resume:
Should you write a cover letter?
Absolutely.
Most employers will overlook a resume which doesn’t come with a covering letter.
With that said—
Here is how to write a cover letter for dispatcher jobs:
To make sure you maximize your application delivery, read up on our cover letter advice, how long a cover letter has to be, and what should be included in a cover letter.
Pro Tip: After a few days, send a follow-up email for a job application. During that time, don’t forget to prepare for the job interview!
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Got any questions on how to write a dispatcher resume? Not sure how to talk about telecommunicator skills, logistics certifications, or dispatch achievements? Get at us in the comments below, and thanks for reading!
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