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What to Include

Skip the Objective, Keep the Summary

Instead of beginning your resume for a 9-1-1 dispatcher position with a Career Objective section, you should begin with a Professional Summary. In your summary, you should describe yourself using wording that parallels the title in the job description as closely as possible. In addition, select qualities highlighted in the job description that aligns most closely with your experience. It is likely, especially if you are applying for a position with a large municipality, that your application will be reviewed an automated applicant tracking systems (ATS), so make sure that you match keywords from the job description to your own wording wherever possible.

Certifications and Education

In most municipalities, a college degree is not required for a dispatcher position, but an associate’s degree in fields like criminal justice or emergency management can give applicants an advantage. Additional specialization and certification through organizations like the National Emergency Number Association, Academies of Emergency Dispatch or Association of Public-Safety Communication Officials can also increase your chances of landing an interview.

 Skills

Computer experience and typing speed and accuracy – typically 35 words per minute minimum – are skills you will want to highlight in your resume for a 9-1-1 dispatcher job. Experience with data entry is also a bonus because dispatchers are required to input incident details and response activities into a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system while they are conversing with callers and emergency personnel.

Cover Letter

Always include a cover letter (even when it is not asked for) along with your resume for a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Tailor your letter to reflect the keywords used in the job description. Because some ATS include cover letters in their analysis of your application, including a cover letter tailored to the job description can increase your keyword count and improve the chances that your materials will be seen by human eyes. Once it is, a cover letter is nearly always viewed with approval by hiring managers, even when it is not explicitly required. If you’re unsure of how to write a cover letter, consider using a cover letter builder.

What to Leave Out

Limit Jargon and Acronyms

Most ATS are not programmed to scan for acronyms, so to make sure your resume for a 9-1-1 dispatcher position makes it into human hands, spell out all acronyms. In addition, you should not assume the first person reading your resume for a dispatcher position is an emergency communicator or first responder, so spell out anything you think a person with no background in your field might not understand.

References? Don’t Even Mention Them

Don’t include your references, or even the phrase “references available upon request,” on your resume. If you are a finalist for the position, you can provide your references and their contact information on a separate document.

What to Emphasize

The Recent Graduate

If you don’t have much professional experience, avoid a chronological organizational structure that might emphasize this. Instead, lead with a skills section that highlights relevant skills and knowledge gained in the classroom. In addition to certifications, highlight soft skills that are essential for dispatchers, such as problem-solving, communication, multitasking, and your ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

The Career Shifter

If you are looking to leverage experience from another field, begin your resume for a 9-1-1 dispatcher by crafting a Professional Objective that explains how your existing skills in customer service, for example, will allow you to excel in an emergency communication role. Instead of leading with your work history, highlight parallel competencies in sections like Skills or Core Competencies using bullet lists and keywords directly from the job description.

The Experienced Emergency Communicator

Be disciplined about filtering your experience to avoid large blocks of text.  If you had similar responsibilities in several past jobs, find new aspects of your skill set to emphasize in each role. Otherwise, it may look as if you did not progress from one position to the next.

What to Modify

Replace Paragraphs with Bullet Lists

Avoid lengthy paragraphs or long lists of skills. Instead, separate different aspects of your experience into bullet lists and be as concise as possible.

Craft Your Keywords

Because many employers use ATS that only recognize exact keywords, it’s essential that your resume use the same wording as the job description to clear this first obstacle. Target 6-10 keywords from the job description and find ways to describe your accomplishments, skills and job functions using the same vocabulary.

Proofread!

Because accurate typing and written communication is such an essential component of working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, it is essential that your resume demonstrates your accuracy. Make sure that your resume, as well as your cover letter and other application materials, are free of typos, misspelled words, and grammar errors.