Tips For Creating An Effective Cv printable pdf download

CADEMIC

ESIDENT

News and Information for Residents Interested in Academic Emergency Medicine

Edited by the SAEM GME Committee

How to Prepare an Effective CV

David S. Howes, MD

Carey D. Chisholm, MD

For the GME Committee

For most senior residents, the curriculum vitae (CV)

Professional Activities**: This includes member-

serves as the official summary of professional accomplish-

ships in medical organizations and anything that you

ments, as well as a personal introduction to prospective

did that gives an appreciation of your level of involve-

employers. Emphasis should be placed on neatness, clarity,

ment in hospital, residency, regional, and national

and organization. Carefully proofread for typographical errors

medical organizations. Examples include member-

and grammar problems. A well-constructed CV will look fine

ship on residency, hospital, or society committees,

on high quality bond paper off a laser printer; the expense of

interview committees for the residency program,

a professional printer is unnecessary. Avoid the frills that will

teaching in the medical school, teaching paramedics

detract from your message. Use an easily readable font of at

and EMT’s, etc. Many also list volunteer work for the

least 10 point size, since your potential employer is often of a

medical school or the community in this part of their

certain age where magnifiers or bifocals have come in to play,

CV. Be careful not to inflate your entries as the

and he or she most likely does not like to be reminded of this

employer often genuinely wants to know what your

when reviewing your CV. Note that if you already have your

level of commitment was.

Most residents are

“dream job” wrapped up, typically the result of being intro-

involved with EMS during their training. List this if

duced to a program alumnus who is directing a desirable

you were assigned to a specific EMS agency and

emergency department in the right location, your CV can per-

participated to a significant extent. Some also list

haps be more brief, containing the essentials such as educa-

grand rounds and other presentations given in this

tional background, licensure, and references.

section though this information is better presented in

a separate section entitled “Lectures and

The following organizational scheme is one of many:

Presentations”.

Personal Information: name, birth date, marital sta-

(Research and) Publications**:

Give a brief,

tus, children (names and ages), birthplace, spouse

straightforward compilation of what you’ve done and

(and occupation), email address, home and profes-

the resultant publications. The alternative is to simply

sional address, and home and work phone numbers.

list your publications- the employer will ask you about

Much of this information is not required by law; how-

the research and your level of participation if that is

ever, you create a better composite for the employer

important to the particular opportunity you are

if you provide this information. Do not list your social

exploring. Abstract presentations should be listed

security number.

here, but be sure that these are listed as abstracts,

e.g. typical citation followed by “(abstract)”. Grants

Education: Start with residency and work back-

may also be included in this section. Include publi-

wards (or vice versa). List dates of attendance and

cations submitted and accepted, but not published

location. It may sound odd, but be sure that you get

yet (in press).

the correct title of your residency program; ask your

program director if you are not sure.

Professional Work Experience**: List title as “res-

ident physician”, who you worked for, dates of work,

Licensure: List the state(s), whether permanent or

and size of the ED (# visits). If your program has you

temporary, and inclusive dates, but do not list license

perform clinical work that may have added market

numbers on your CV.

value, e.g. “flight physician, University Hospital

Aeromedical Network” go ahead and add this infor-

Certifications: As you probably will not be board

mation. Add work experience prior to residency if it

certified in a specialty, you won’t have much to list

may add to your “expertise” or marketability or over-

here. However, you are likely a diplomate of the

all life experiences.

National Board of Medical Examiners (passed all

three parts of USMLE). You also may choose to list

Extracurricular Activities**: These could add to

“merit badges” here (ACLS, ATLS, APLS, etc.).

the possibility that a human interest bond is generat-

Many program directors are not happy with the need

ed, but may work against you as well. For instance,

to list these on a CV as other than “CME,” but many

if you enjoy rebuilding old cars, and your prospective

prospective employers want to see this information,

employer also enjoys this hobby, you instantly attract

so placate them.

extra attention. Conversely, an employer may look

Tips For Creating An Effective Cv

Related Articles

Related forms

Related Categories