When writing a CV the aim should be to present your history of education, job qualifications and emphasise the skills you have, which are specific to the job role. Your CV should be clear, concise and only contain relevant information.
- Length – Keep it brief with good quality information, and try to avoid long sentences.
- Format – Use a common, readable font such as Times New Roman or Arial, ensure spacing and the layout is kept consistent throughout all the pages.
- Conciseness – Avoid blocks of text and use bullet points to make sure your points are clear.
How to structure your CV
Personal details – At the top of your CV include your full name, address, contact details, date of birth, nationality and your GMC registration number (if applicable).
Personal statement – This should be a short paragraph to describe your experience skills and career aspirations.
Education and qualifications – List your university qualifications in reverse chronological order, remember to include the educational institution and year of qualification. If you have passed Royal College or membership exams include these here.
Prizes and awards – Your prestigious awards and prizes should be included on the first page.
Career or employment history – Start with your most recent job first. Include the dates, employer, work location and what grade you were.
Clinical skills and experience – Include any specific procedures or experiences and detail particular aspects, which will be outstanding to a potential employer.
Courses and conferences – List courses you have completed, their duration, provider and completion date. You can also include career fairs or conferences you have attended here.
Research experience – Include the title of your research, duration, funding and a brief summary of your research aims and results.
Clinical audit – Include the audit topic and results, location, your role and the audit standards.
Publications – Don’t forget to list all of your published material. This section is vital to include.
Presentations – This should include all poster and oral presentations you have created
Teaching experience – Being prepared to contribute to teaching and training doctors and students is an important aspect of being a doctor – it is even outlined in the GMC’s Good Medical Practice. Remember to detail teaching programmes you have designed. Always state the teaching methods used and your audience.
Management and leadership skills – Doctors of all levels should have acquired some management and leadership skills that can be discussed here.
Personal interests – Include this section towards the end. It helps show future employers you are well-balanced with interests outside of work.
Referees – Always include at least two recent referees. One should be your most current clinical or educational supervisor and the other should be someone from another recent post. Don’t forget to include their full name, job title and full contact details.
Once you have prepared your CV and proofread it check that your CV aligns with the person specification of the role you’re applying for.
If you have any further questions on how to present your CV, please do contact the team.
