The Curriculum Vitae: Your Entrance into the Job Market
by Kelly Rodenburg, Director of Physician Recruitment at Fauquier Hospital
You’re completing your professional training and it’s time to throw your hat into the job-seeking ring. How do you begin? While there is undoubtedly a physician shortage, you still need an impressive CV to reflect who you are and what you bring to any organization. Your CV is your first impression, so it should be clean, clear and professional. Below are some common mistakes to avoid:
Mistake 1: Tpyo-s
If you do one thing while developing your CV, it should be this: spell-check, spell-check, and spell-check. Remember, however, that sometimes words are not misspelled, just used inappropriately, so be certain to reread your draft. Run it by a mentor to get a second opinion and be open to the advice that you receive. Although nothing turns off a prospective employer more than a CV that is full of errors, even one mistake can give the impression that you are sloppy and inattentive to details.
Mistake 2: Confusing Work and Education History
Design a CV that flows logically. List your training and experience in chronological order, from most recent to least recent. Use clear subheadings and ensure that each item on your CV is listed in the appropriate category.
Mistake 3: Unexplained Gaps and “Job-Hopping”
If you have gaps or multiple jobs in your work history, you would be wise to account for them in the CV itself or in a cover letter. Both raise red flags and might lead a potential employer to disregard your candidacy.
Mistake 4: Too Much Information
While potential employers do need to learn about you, a CV is not the place to give your life story. Don’t provide unnecessary or irrelevant personal information. List only the jobs that are relevant to the employment at hand, unless the jobs occurred during the course of your training, causing a gap.
It’s probably not important for an employer to know that you sold beer at Shea Stadium during college. Likewise, it isn’t necessary to weigh your CV down with every seminar you’ve presented or every article you’ve co-authored; choose only the most relevant. Most employers will have lots of CVs to sift through, so keep yours short and to the point.
When thoughtfully prepared, your CV will make a good first impression and give you the opportunity to meet with an employer face-to-face and really show them what you’ve got to offer.