Why your CV will open doors: eight steps to start your out-standing Curriculum Vitae.

Your CV.  Do you update your CV regularly after any new professional accomplishments, new committee assignments, or new publications? Or, like most of us, do you wait for a new job search to update your CV but put off doing it because it seems some undoable task?

Your CV is something that you need to keep updated at regular intervals.  Most clinical departments will keep it on file for you to send anywhere you need.  Its often required every year or two when you have to resubmit for your hospital credentials.  If you work at an academic institution, you will likely need it when you renew your academic appointment every one to two years.  A CV is required when applying for grants, giving grand rounds, and, at times, for manuscript submissions.

Most of us, however, only sit down to update our CV when we are planning to apply for a new job. The most critical time to sit down, work on it, and make it stand out from the rest.  The CV is the initial snapshot that a future employer will get of you.  They will likely print it out and take notes on it. It is shared with everyone in the organization that will have to work with you, or at least with the ones involved in the hiring process. But what makes a CV stand out? What makes it the document that everyone needs and wants?  We will review the top 10 things to focus on when starting on your next CV revision.

Name and accurate contact information

Wrong contact information results in no interviews. You will miss that important phone call offering you the job. Having incorrect info on a CV leaves a terrible impression, highlighting a lack of attention to detail.  When you typing your information on the CV, put it on the top of the first page.

Use a larger type font for your name, then your address, email, and phone number in the same size as the remainder of the document (ie 11pt) .  Your name is important and must stand out from the rest.  You need to have it seen easliy at a quick glance of of the CV. Your NAME in large font enables interviewers to double-check your name quickly, feeling confident. Thats right,  interviewers need to feel confident too; they are selling themselves to you.  The small actions you take help them feel good, and in turn feel good about you too.   

From time to time, I see fax numbers on CVs, but this is not necessary anymore.  Unless you are an avid facsimile fanatic, it should be left off.  Most people question using faxes today as they can not be authenticated, and email is more accessible. You do not want to have any eyebrows raised over something so small.

No frills

As physicians, we likely have never gone to school for graphic design.  So do not try to become a graphic designer overnight. Your CV is a place to highlight your physician skills, and trying to make it visually stunning is a sure way to have it overlooked.  Physicians also do not like all the graphic design. Simple, plain and readable.

There are many subtle visual tricks that direct the reader’s eye to scan and find info to synthesize your background quickly.  But creating this style is hard and difficult unless you are following a specific format, designed with this concept in mind or get the help of a professional.  Using shapes, colors, unique fonts, etc., are not ways to make the CV stand out.  When you are handing in a hard copy of your CV, which I suggest doing during an interview day, to anyone who has not gotten your CV, make sure it is on high-quality paper, not the typical copy paper we all use for everything. 

Using high-quality paper sends a sense of professionalism and attention to detail.  Use an easily readable font, like Arial or Helvetica.  No colors, or lines, summary statements, or images on the paper (a photo of yourself is an exception, but that is another post altogether)

Follow standard formatting. 

There are so many places you can look up standard formatting for CVs.  You can look at a basic one here to download (link pending) to start from.  In our E-book, we have a format designed to draw the readers eye to content that is important about you, make it easily scannable to ensure your interviewer gets the gist when they are looking at it quickly, tailored to the job you are applying to,  have a simple chronological order and readability to show you have no gaps, and describe the work you’ve done succinctly, accurately, and powerfully to make your CV stand out.  

Whichever format you choose, make sure it has dates on the side (all on the same side) in the same form.  I suggest using 01/2001 instead of words.  It will shorten the margin for more space, and make the words span the page, and not squish them into smaller columns.  Additionally, you want to highlight all the areas needed in a CV.  Again review the example we have here, but make sure yours inclludes:

Write and re-write descriptions for previous roles and jobs

Interviewers use your past history to predict future success.  While this is not always the case, it often holds that if you worked hard and achieved a lot, you will continue to do the same. It would help if you took time to write your description of the work you did, the projects you accomplished, the programs you initiated, or the research you conducted.  Show how much you have done to help them predict that you will do the same for them in the future.  

It is hard to write succinct descriptions, especially if you do not know what is essential to all the people reviewing your CV.  You may also have some great things to show, but you write too much or too little or in a sentence format that is difficult to read quickly. Consider having a professional review the CV to help you get the most out of it.  Doctors did not go to school for writing, and learning how to appeal to someone can take a lifetime to master. 

Include committees you are on 

Yeah, we all get assigned committees. It is part of the Job.  You would be surprised how many people do not highlight these in the CV.  Committee activity and responspibilities are easy things for an interviewer, making it easier for your interviewer.   It also shows unique knowledge that you may have aquifer during your job or training. 

Your position a the committee may show the trust others put in you or your willingness to work with others. Being on the quality committee and responsible for the sepsis data may be an unexciting position.  Fortunately, that experience may be the critical deciding factor for your next employer because they need a new sepsis champion.  

When adding committees, be sure to include your role: member, co-chair, chair. Also include any items you were uniquely responsible for, like the sepsis data or handwashing data and analysis.

Take time to write about “hobbies.”

This is often an afterthought by most, where people will write “ hiking, reading, listening to music and cooking.”  Often in a list format and only half true.  It is abysmal to list hiking but not know a single trail name or own a pair of hiking shoes.  I have seen this for running as well.  

A person was interviewing for a residency position in the Department of pediatrics who had running as a hobby, but then during the interview commented they hadn’t owned a pair of sneakers in years because they never had time to go to the gym.   An inconsistency like this can be the flaw that brings everything you said or wrote into questions. Appearing truthful is paramount in the job search. 

Consider writing a nice description about one hobby instead of listing a bunch of hobbies you used to have before medical school. Giving some detail about your hobby can open the door to a pleasant discussion. 

Get it on linked in.

LinkedIn is a great way to say even more about yourself without the constraints of a CV.  You can be as descriptive as you want (for good or bad) and add more than you would otherwise on a paper. When you create your linked-in profile, be sure to edit the link for your page to something simple like your name instead of a complicated combination of letters, numbers, and characters. Do this under the “Edit public profile & URL” link on the upper left of your profile page (on a computer or tablet).  

Use all of the fields in a profile on LinkedIn. Adding more will be an asset.  Be descriptive, as there are no preset limits on this social media account as you have on a CV.  Include your linked-in profile link on your CV, giving a lot more information about yourself that may not be on a traditional CV.

Most physicians you google will show up with their LinkedIn page or Doximity page in the first few hits.  Your future employers will google you. Make sure something professional pops up. 

Get it reviewed.

 Have 10s or 100s of people read it and critique it.  While you may think it is good, you are not selling yourself to …. yourself. You need it to appeal to a wide range of physicians and nurses involved in the hiring process. If you are going to use a CV writing service to review it for red flags, quality, structure,  use one that specializes in physicians CVs.

Being a doctor is unique.  We have a different way of thinking, different expectations, and little time for smoke, mirror, or fluff.  You need it reviewed by those who can anticipate the way a physician needs to be impressed.  These services are not cheap due to the specialization required.  Read our post on companies other than ours for good CV or application review, so you do not waste your time and money. 

Bonus tip

Google yourself.  See what’s out there. Get control over what others see about you on search engines.  Be on linked in and Doximity and gain control of your profiles on other hits like Evitals and US News.  Having a consitnet profile on all of these sites will make you appear more reliable, professional, and real.

Using your CV

You should have your CV ready to go. During the application period for any job have your CV ready to send to any potential letter of recommendation writer. Send it to any one who mentions they would love to help you get a new job. The file you save it as should be clear and simple. ie. Firstname.lastname.cv.pdf.

These nine tips may seem simple and easy.  They are, but they are not followed by so many physician applicants. SO in essence, if you do not follow them, you are saying you don’t want the job.  They are vital to follow and can open the door to your next career path, done wrong, you will be wondering why no one is offering an interview.   Good luck with putting it all together and check out some of out other articles as your progress though your search for the perfect Job, residency or Fellowship.