Stay relevant and to the point
To begin with, CVs must be targeted to the opportunity on offer, rather than simply a list of things you’ve done. We are sure you have a plethora of valuable experiences you bring to the table, so depending on what you are applying for, you should have several different versions of your CV. For all types of clinicians, as with most professionals, your CV is your main selling point. When creating a medical CV, it’s important to make sure that all relevant information is included in a clear and concise format, so that hiring managers are able to easily see your applicable qualifications and experience.
Structure and layout
It is important to remember that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ way of writing a CV and this rule applies to writing a medical CV as well. Usually, a CV at an early stage in your career would be two sides of A4, however this is not set in stone and depends on how much evidence you wish to include.
That said, be mindful that, when dealing with applications, employers may not have much time to review your CV. So try to make it appealing and readable to them – 11-12 font size minimum, not too flashy and as straightforward as possible. A great tool for building CVs which allows you both flexibility in terms of layout, as well as visual appeal away from the Word document style is Canva
Sections to include
- Personal details – stick to the minimum personal details necessary for the job at hand. This should include full name, address, email, telephone number and your professional registration number (for pharmacists this would be the GPhC number). You can also opt for a brief “About me” section at the top, where you highlight the most relevant and strongest aspects of your profile for the current job.
- Employment history – usually, CVs start with your most recent job and work back chronologically. For most locums, this would change quite often. Make sure to highlight the most pertinent experiences. Focus on the relevant ones rather than listing every single placement you have done. It is important to include a couple of descriptive bullet points for each job.
- Education/qualifications – try to avoid listing every single module you have taken, but highlight relevant projects or pieces of work, prizes and other academic achievements. As you progress through your career, A levels and GCSEs (or equivalent) become less relevant and you could take them out of your CV.
- Additional skills and achievements – here you can add prizes, IT skills, languages spoken, etc. Again, try to think in advance why the employer would be interested to know about these elements and highlight the most relevant awards for the position you are applying for.
- Interests – this is not mandatory but also not a bad idea to draw on your experiences outside of your work and show off your personality. You could mention achievements outside of medicine and extracurricular activities, such as involvement in clubs or societies. Include this information with details of your involvement and the skills and qualities you have demonstrated.
- References – you may include contact details of two referees, or you could add them elsewhere – in the CuRisApp you can upload this information separately to your profile.
Attention to detail and being up to date
Correct spelling and grammar are absolutely essential – failing to do so shows a lack of attention to detail and so this can make or break your application.
Finally, creating a CV is an ongoing process. It is essential to review and update your CV regularly. Add locum jobs as you complete them – this will keep your CV current and will speed up the process when it’s time to find your next locum opportunity. But don’t forget – nobody likes generic CVs so try to tailor it to the position you’re applying for as often as possible.
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Head to the CuRisApp mobile application to upload your rockstar CV and start looking for shifts. If you haven’t registered on the mobile app yet, get yourself started on Android or iOS
You can always drop us an email if you need further support at hello@curisapp.com
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Sources:
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/careers/
https://www.locumleaders.com/news/career-tips/how-to-create-medical-curriculum-vitae-cv/
https://www.bmj.com/careers/article/preparing-your-medical-cv/
