Your medical resume is your first introduction to potential healthcare employers. At a basic level, a great resume must have a clean look, be free of spelling and grammatical errors, and present all of the information pertinent to your skillset, according to U.S. News & World Report.
However, it is also important to tailor your resume and curriculum vitae (CV) to not only the healthcare industry, but also to the specific position to which you are applying, as Carrington College notes in its infographic below. In many cases, these one or two pages of writing are the only thing standing between you and a promising career caring for others.
Why do you need a medical resume?
Human resources directors or others involved in the hiring process typically decide to reject or pursue a candidate within five minutes of reading his or her resume. In fact, 87 percent of surveyed healthcare companies conveyed that resumes should be customized for specific positions.
Tailoring a resume is a relatively simple process that involves the use of chronological organization, bulleted formatting and industry-specific keywords.
CV vs. resume
Some medical positions require you to submit a curriculum vitae, or CV. A CV is typically required for physician positions, nursing education jobs, academic careers and research positions. A medical resume is most often used for positions in clinical settings, management, administration and offices.
CVs typically include the following information:
- Professional licensing and certifications
- Identification of relevant course work
- Information about scientific and academic research
- Summary of your thesis
- Listing of books or publications you wrote
- Explanations of your travel and cultural experiences
- Professional associations and memberships
- Letters of recommendation and personal references
For more information about common resume and CV requirements, as well as tips to help propel either document into the hands of interviewers, see the infographic.
Tailor your resume to take advantage of job growth
By most accounts, the healthcare industry has been experiencing the fastest expansion of any sector, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics stating that 4 million jobs will be added between 2012 and 2022. The agency predicts healthcare will continue to outpace other fields in terms of growth, making it a better time than ever to pursue a medical career.
Whether you've just completed your training and are entering the field for the first time, or you're simply looking for a new company to work for, these resume and CV tips can help you land the interview for your ideal position.
