As a medical student, you know the next step on your career path is residency. Before you can join a residency program, you need to create a strong CV, interview, and match with the program. Building a strong CV is important because this can be the determining factor if a program brings you in for an interview. There are some common CV errors that you should be avoiding as you create your CV.
1. Disorganization
As an aspiring physician, you know the importance of staying organized in your professional life. You do not want to send the program coordinator on a wild goose chase to find the necessary information. Each CV section should be easily recognizable by a section header. The information in the section needs to match the header and be listed in reverse chronological order. Putting the information in reverse chronological order makes it easier for the coordinator to read through and see what you have done most recently.
2. Over explaining or using "fluff" in descriptions
It can be tempting to list every tiny detail of past work or volunteer experience, but this can add unnecessary length to your CV. Ensure that any descriptions in your CV are focused on why you are a great addition to their program. If you notice that your descriptions go over three sentences or five bullet points, it's time to summarize! Focus on the details that are most relevant and can help you stand out.
3. Not including dates
Many items on your CV will have a start date and an end date. Having dates on your items also helps you to organize your CV. It will also allow the reviewer to get a better idea of how long you partook. Not including dates can give the impression that you are not detail-oriented.
Looking for more CV tips? Check out PracticeMatch Career Resources.
Hayley Woszczynski - Physician & Program Relations Manager. You can stay connected with me on LinkedIn for all of the latest PracticeMatch articles and upcoming events.