Top 5 mistakes Junior Doctors make with their CVs

Top 5 mistakes Junior Doctors make with their CVs

May 16, 2018 1
onthejobs,onthepods

Summary Writer:  Alexandra Bolger

Script Writer:  James Edwards

Editor:  James Edwards

Interviewee:  James Edwards

Dr James Edwards talks about the common pitfalls Junior Medical Officers make when submitting their CVs and how to avoid them. As the medical field becomes increasingly competitive, this video podcast and summary is useful for junior doctors and medical students alike, with important take home messages about how to do yourself justice on your CV.

Top five mistakes junior doctors make with their CVs

With Dr James Edwards, Acting Director, Senior Staff Specialist, Emergency Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Chair of the NSW Prevocational Training Council, Health Education and Training Institute, Clinical Director, Demand Management Unit, Sydney Local Health District, NSW, Australia

Introduction

The curriculum vitae (CV) is your first impression when seeking a new job. Within the medical field, all jobs from junior to consultant positions are extremely competitive. Therefore, you need to make sure that your CV is put into the reviewers’ “Yes” pile.

  • A recurring theme of poor CVs is that the CV doesn’t reflect the quality of the candidate.
  • Many great doctors provide poor CVs that don’t do them justice.
    • These individuals may still get an interview if the reviewer knows them personally.
    • This might mean immediate rejection if the candidate is not known.
  • Start your CV early and work on it over time.
    • Don’t start it just before applying for a position.
    • Start during medical school when building your strengths and weaknesses.
    • Then as you progress in your career, evolve your CV overtime adding new conferences/courses you have attended and include your developing achievements.
  • Submit your CV early to avoid internet and website crashes when it comes time to apply.
    • There is no difference between your CV the last day before it is due and the day before, so please just submit it early!
  • Spelling errors are pet peeves of reviewers.
  • PLEASE, please spend the time checking for spelling errors as it correlates to a lack of attentional to detail in your job, or at least that is how the person reviewing your CV will perceive it.
  • A great tip is to read through the CV backwards – it makes spelling errors easier to pick out.
  • Use your work email when submitting your CV.
    • Hotmail and other personal emails seem unprofessional.
  • Ensure a consistent font and formatting.
  • The aim is to avoid giving the reviewer a reason to decline your application.
    • It helps if the CV is easy to read – as reviewers must read through many CVs.
    • Simple, consistent and complying with standard CV templates is important.
  • Things like reverse chronological order make your CV easier to read.
  • Include major achievements at the front, to make sure they are recognised.
  • It is helpful to use CV templates – useful if you are not used to writing CVs.
  • No breadth and no depth of a CV is a major downfall.
    • Depth – do you have an area of expertise?
    • Breadth – are you an “all-rounder”?
  • In saying that, do NOT make things up on your CV either.
  • If you are relatively junior without a huge amount of experience, focus on the things that do make you stand out and make sure they are at the “front and centre”.
    • Be confident.
    • Your CV is not a place to be humble.
  • Aim to fill every heading in the CV template to show that you are an “all-rounder”.
  • Inclusion of accomplishments like leadership positions, small projects, etc. will all help.
  • If you have a particular interest or area of expertise try to include all aspects or achievements in that area to provide depth.
  • Your CV ultimately needs to be good enough to get you an interview!
  • As important as the CV is, the interview is worth practising and perfecting in order to get that position.

Tags: #career advice for junior doctors,#curriculum vitae,#CV,#interview skills,#job application,#medical interviews,#medical jobs,#resume,#tipsfornewdocs

If you enjoyed listening to this week’s podcast feel free to let us know what you think by posting your comments or suggestions in the comments box below.

If you want to listen to this episode while not connected to WiFi or the internet, you can download it. To find out more go to Apple support (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201859)

1 Comment

  1. Todd Fraser

    April 26, 2019 at 8:31 am

    It is becoming increasingly important for junior doctors to be able to validate their training and experience – this is reflected in changes to the medical board’s registration requirements, and the COAG Health Council’s recent recommendations that all junior doctors should have a portfolio of their learning.

    Reply

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