Career and Life Planning Guidebook for Medical Residents

R E A D : The Job Search CV The CV that you use for your job search is markedly different from the one you used during med school and residency in terms of both the content and the nature of your formatting. By the time you make it to the job market, topics such as coursework take a backseat to the clinical experiences with which you’ve been occupied. Some of you reading this book will be applying to large teaching hospitals, while others prefer the environment and atmosphere offered at a small-town family practice. Both come with their rewards and challenges. Expect your CV to speak to the unique demands Remember that the first page is the most important. If you are trying to fit your CV onto one page, or trying to keep it from flowing onto another, you can modify the margins to the “narrow” setting. If your CV extends beyond one page, include your last name and page number at the bottom of each page so that it is easy to keep in order. Use formatting techniques such as bottom borders, to help clearly separate your sections. You can also bold the section headers and use a slightly larger font size. Spacing also plays an important role in formatting. Do not use columns or tables to create your CV as it will make it much more difficult for you to modify in the future. Employers may also upload your CV into a database and formatting of columns and tables may not download correctly. Consider taking copies of your CV with you to interviews, career fairs, and conferences. When you send your CV electronically, attach it as a .PDF file to your cover email as this will allow the recipient to view and save the file as formatted. Some people include a photo, but honestly most people don’t. If you domake sure that it is a professional photo and that you look like a professional! Wear a professional suit or your lab coat. Keep in mind that first impressions are important and a smile makes a great first impression. Quick Tips: Asyou’vegone throughmedical school and residency, you’ve probably learned one indispensable fact – it’s not only what you know, but whom you know. You’ve probably also learned that there are key players within your program and/or community, and these people are often those with whom you should share your CV. It’s never out of line to ask a mentor, advisor, or faculty member to review your CV and offer guidance on content and suggestions on areas which deserve greater attention. Remember to be sensitive to their time - give them a well-polished CV to review. There are important differences in what is expected on a CV depending on how you are using it and to which institution you are making an application. Find someone who is familiar with your goals to review your CV for relevancy. In an ideal world, advisors and program mentors would require residents to submit their CV for an annual review throughout residency. If you are in a program that doesn’t require this, consider doing this as an annual ritual for yourself to establish the practice of updating your CV on a regular basis. SECTION II: T MINUS TWO YEARS CAREER AND LIFE PLANNING GUIDEBOOK FOR MEDICAL RESIDENTS 184