Anish Majumdar, Certified Professional Resume Writer, specializes in helping physicians create CVs that stand out from the competition. He describes five additional sections physicians can add to their CV to make their personality jump off the page.
Physician recruiters look at untold numbers of CVs every week. Naturally, they want to see CVs that are well-organized and that require little guesswork regarding the physician’s current position. Ideally, though, your CV should show more than just your credentials. Your CV should show who you are and what you’re looking for in your career.
Addressing some of these points within the CV is a powerful way to make a great impression even before you get to the interview. To foster a connection with the reader and offer a glimpse of your life beyond scrubs, consider adding some or all of the following sections to your CV.
Doctor’s Philosophy
Incorporate a “Doctor’s Philosophy” statement at the beginning of your CV that addresses how you approach the job. Consider these examples:
Providing compassionate, quality cancer care and giving patients the knowledge to make the most empowered decisions about their diagnoses.
Or:
My philosophy of care is to treat each patient as I would treat my own family. I grew up watching my father, a surgeon, take as much time as necessary to build relationships with patients and their families to and establish trust. It’s a lesson I carry with me today.
Include Quotes from Patient Surveys
Let your quality of care speak for itself by including excerpts from patient surveys on your CV. Create a section on your CV for snippets from anonymous patient surveys. Consider these examples:
“She takes her time with me, doesn’t rush me, and explains everything very well.”
Or:
“James Wilson is great—the most caring and compassionate surgeon I have ever had! He gave me real hope for a successful outcome, which I so needed!”
Non-Clinical Interests
Consider adding a section to your CV for “Non-Clinical Interests.” This section would detail the aspects of healthcare that interest you and that contribute to your well-roundedness as a health professional.
For example:
Interested in organized medicine and advocacy; public speaking; non-profit organizations; health care delivery, cost-effectiveness and quality; healthcare administration.
Volunteering/Community Involvement
Include a “Volunteering/Community Involvement” section at the end of the resume, and briefly elaborate on major initiatives and projects you took on. For example:
Spearhead our neighborhood’s annual ALS awareness fundraiser 5k run/walk. Participate in the Big Brothers program of Greater Chicago.
“Special Interests”
Include a “Special Interests” section at the end of the CV listing things you like to do outside of work. Example:
Mountain biking, classic movies, hiking, gardening.
As more and more organizations examine the culture of their workplaces in relation to their profitability and consider “culture fit” important criteria for hiring, it’s helpful if your CV shows a bit of your character and personality.
June 1, 2018
Marcia Travelstead
