1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) Writing Medicine Erin Lowery VCU University Career Center Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Virginia Commonwealth University

2. Agenda CVs CVs –Purpose –CVs vs. Resumes –Content –Organization and Appearance

3. Purpose of a CV What is your purpose in writing a CV? What is your purpose in writing a CV? –To obtain an interview –To supplement an application –To prepare to complete applications –To prepare a recommender/reference –To apply for a scholarship/award/grant/fellowship –To provide a bio Dont just list information Dont just list information Who is your audience/reader? Who is your audience/reader? Be strategic Be strategic

4. CVs vs. Resumes A Curriculum Vitae is typically used for academic, teaching, research, higher education and medical positions A Curriculum Vitae is typically used for academic, teaching, research, higher education and medical positions A CV tends to be more comprehensive and longer than a resume A CV tends to be more comprehensive and longer than a resume A CV always starts with Education A CV always starts with Education A CV includes categories not commonly seen on resumes, including presentations, publications, research experience and interests, academic appointments, committees, conferences, fellowships, grants A CV includes categories not commonly seen on resumes, including presentations, publications, research experience and interests, academic appointments, committees, conferences, fellowships, grants

5. CV Content *Use the categories that fit your experience Core Content Areas: Name and Contact Information Name and Contact Information Education Education Postdoctoral Training Postdoctoral Training Certification/Licensure Certification/Licensure Honors Honors Experience Experience Research Experience Research Experience Publications Publications Presentations Presentations Professional Development Professional Development Additional Categories: Objective or Professional Interest Statement Objective or Professional Interest Statement Computer/Technical Skills Computer/Technical Skills Leadership Leadership Additional Experience Additional Experience Committees Committees Academic Appointments Academic Appointments Professional Development – training, professional organizations, workshops, conferences Professional Development – training, professional organizations, workshops, conferences Community Service/Volunteer Community Service/Volunteer Foreign Languages Foreign Languages Interests/Hobbies Interests/Hobbies

6. Name and Contact Information Do not write Curriculum Vitae on your CV Do not write Curriculum Vitae on your CV On top of page: On top of page: –Name – slightly larger font size (14 or 16) –Contact information – legible font size (11 or 12) –Address –Phone number(s) (cell – screen calls, professional voicemail) –Email address (remove hyperlink, professional)

7. Name & Contact Information ~Examples~ Jamie T. Student, M.D. 907 Floyd Avenue Richmond, VA 23284 804.123.4567 studentj@vcu.edu _______________________________________________________________ JAMIE T. STUDENT, M.D. 907 Floyd Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23284 (804) 123-4567 studentjt@vcu.edu_______________________________________________________________ Jamie T. Student, M.D. Current Address: studentjt@vcu.edu Permanent Address: Current Address: studentjt@vcu.edu Permanent Address: 907 Floyd Ave. 804.123.4567 123 Lovely Ln. 907 Floyd Ave. 804.123.4567 123 Lovely Ln. Richmond, VA 23284 Fairfax, VA 32145 Richmond, VA 23284 Fairfax, VA 32145

8. Education List all degrees in reverse chronological order List all degrees in reverse chronological order Abbreviating degrees is appropriate; writing them out is my preference Abbreviating degrees is appropriate; writing them out is my preference GPA optional for graduate or professional school GPA optional for graduate or professional school Indicate graduation with honors Indicate graduation with honors Do not include high school graduation Do not include high school graduation

9. Education ~Examples~ EDUCATION M.D., May 2007 Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA (in the tradition of the Medical College of Virginia) B.S. in Biology, magna cum laude, May 2002 The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA EDUCATION Virginia Commonwealth University School of MedicineRichmond, VA Doctor of Medicine05/2007 The College of William and MaryWilliamsburg, VA Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude05/2002 Major: Biology, Minor: Psychology GPA: 3.88

10. Postdoctoral Training Include internships, residency, and fellowships or any postdoctoral training Include internships, residency, and fellowships or any postdoctoral training Locations Locations Dates, including months Dates, including months Cities and states Cities and states Can include committees here or in another section such as professional development, activities, or leadership Can include committees here or in another section such as professional development, activities, or leadership

11. Postdoctoral Training ~Example~ POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING Hematopathology Fellowship, 08/2008-present Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC Resident in Pathology, 08/2004-08/2008 Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, Chief Resident, 2006-present Chief Resident, 2006-present

12. Licensure & Certification State and license number State and license number Dates Dates National boards and parts National boards and parts

13. Licensure & Certification ~Examples~ Licensure Board Certification: American Board of Radiology06/2009 Board Certification: American Board of Radiology06/2009 State of Virginia: License #332292007 State of Virginia: License #332292007 USMLE: Step I: 06/2004, Step II: 08/2005, Step III: 11/2007 USMLE: Step I: 06/2004, Step II: 08/2005, Step III: 11/2007 BOARD CERTIFICATION Board Certification: American Board of Radiology, June 2009 USMLE: Step I: 06/2004, Step II: 08/2005, Step III: 11/2007 MEDICAL LICENSURE State of Virginia: License #33229, 2007

14. Honors Honor Societies Honor Societies Scholarships awarded Scholarships awarded Other significant awards Other significant awards May separate into undergraduate and medical school if you have many items May separate into undergraduate and medical school if you have many items Reverse chronological order Reverse chronological order Include graduation with honors in Education section (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) Include graduation with honors in Education section (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude)

15. Honors ~Example~ HONORS Medical School: Deans Merit Scholarship (2006-2007) Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (inducted 2006) MCV Alumni Association of VCU Scholarship (2004-2006) Undergraduate: Samuel L. Wurtzel Scholarship (2000-2004) William and Mary Athletics Scholarship (2000-2003) Phi Beta Kappa (inducted 2003) Order of Omega Honor Society (inducted 2003) Golden Key International Honour Society (inducted 2002) Deans List (all semesters)

16. Experience Focus on relevant experience Focus on relevant experience Only include experience obtained before medical school if it is relevant and significant Only include experience obtained before medical school if it is relevant and significant Include volunteer/community service completed during medical school Include volunteer/community service completed during medical school Do not include experience that is part of the Medical School curriculum Do not include experience that is part of the Medical School curriculum Include work experience that explains time gaps or a career change Include work experience that explains time gaps or a career change

17. Experience May divide into additional categories: Relevant Experience Relevant Experience Additional Experience Additional Experience Research Experience Research Experience Teaching Experience Teaching Experience International Experience International Experience Health Care Experience Health Care Experience Volunteer Experience or Community Service Volunteer Experience or Community Service

18. Experience Descriptions Elaborate on your relevant experience Elaborate on your relevant experience Use bullets, avoid paragraphs Use bullets, avoid paragraphs Begin descriptions with strong, descriptive action verbs Begin descriptions with strong, descriptive action verbs Include complete but succinct descriptions Include complete but succinct descriptions Avoid the use of personal pronouns Avoid the use of personal pronouns Focus on skills and accomplishments rather than including a comprehensive list of job duties Focus on skills and accomplishments rather than including a comprehensive list of job duties For less relevant experience, focus on transferable skills For less relevant experience, focus on transferable skills

19. Action Verbs Use strong, descriptive action verbs to describe your experience Use strong, descriptive action verbs to describe your experience If it is a current experience, use the present tense If it is a current experience, use the present tense If it is a previous experience, use the past tense If it is a previous experience, use the past tense Avoid gerunds (-ing) Avoid gerunds (-ing) Vary your action verbs (refer to action verb list in CV guide) Vary your action verbs (refer to action verb list in CV guide) Avoid duties include or responsible for Avoid duties include or responsible for Refrain from using handled or dealt with when referring to people Refrain from using handled or dealt with when referring to people

20. Medical Action Verbs Examine Examine Perform Perform Interpret Interpret Prescribe Prescribe Administer Administer Diagnose Diagnose Counsel Counsel Evaluate Evaluate Treat Treat Confer Confer Monitor Monitor Assess Assess Refer Refer Specialize Specialize Repair Repair Consult Consult Communicate Communicate Document Document Teach Teach Implement Implement Supervise Supervise Manage Manage Collaborate Collaborate Plan Plan

21. Experience ~Example~ EXPERIENCE Fan-Free ClinicRichmond, VA Medical Clinic AssistantJanuary 2007-Present Assist physicians - take vital signs, obtain patients medical histories and conduct physical exams. Assist physicians - take vital signs, obtain patients medical histories and conduct physical exams. SMILE Program Richmond, VA VolunteerAugust 2005-May 2006 Served as a buddy to children during and following cancer treatments. Served as a buddy to children during and following cancer treatments. American Medical Student AssociationWashington, DC Intern, Health Policy and PoliticsMay-August 2003 Conducted research on medical malpractice. Conducted research on medical malpractice. Scheduled and conducted lobby visits. Scheduled and conducted lobby visits.

22. Community Service/Volunteer ~Example~ COMMUNITY SERVICE Chesterfield Youth Center, Richmond, VA, October 2006-June 2007 Tutored underprivileged children in math and science Tutored underprivileged children in math and science Coordinated a community health fair with a team of volunteers Coordinated a community health fair with a team of volunteers Camp Bruce McCoy, Chesapeake, VA, May-June 2006 Took an interdisciplinary team approach in working with campers with traumatic brain injury Took an interdisciplinary team approach in working with campers with traumatic brain injury Adapted activities for a variety of functional levels Adapted activities for a variety of functional levels Habitat for Humanity, Newport News, VA, July 2005 Collaborated on a team to build affordable homes for low-income families Collaborated on a team to build affordable homes for low-income families

23. Research Experience Institution or organization and department Institution or organization and department Principal investigator, supervisor or advisor Principal investigator, supervisor or advisor Research topic or title Research topic or title Your title/role Your title/role Dates (months and years) Dates (months and years) Short description of project and your role Short description of project and your role

24. Research Action Verbs Analyze Assess ClarifyCollaborate CollectCompare ConductDetermine ConsultDisprove DocumentEvaluate ExamineExtract FormulateGather Identify InventInvestigate Locate Manage MeasureMonitor OrganizePerform ResearchReview SolveSummarize SuperviseSurvey StudyTeach Test

25. Research Experience ~Example~ RESEARCH EXPERIENCE National Institutes of Health – Summer Research Fellowship Program National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer ResearchBethesda, MD Research Assistant05/2005 – 08/2005 Principal Investigator: Frank Balis, MD Principal Investigator: Frank Balis, MD Assisted with a clinical research study of cancer patients Assisted with a clinical research study of cancer patients Conducted interviews of patients and assisted in conducting physical exams Conducted interviews of patients and assisted in conducting physical exams The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Health PhysicsAustin, TX Research Assistant06/2004 – 05/2005 Project Title: The Leaching of Cesium-137 from Cement-Based Matrices Project Title: The Leaching of Cesium-137 from Cement-Based Matrices Supervisor: Dr. Anthony Stark Supervisor: Dr. Anthony Stark Investigated the effect of cement-based matrices on the inhibition of radioactive leaching Investigated the effect of cement-based matrices on the inhibition of radioactive leaching Collected and performed statistical analysis of data Collected and performed statistical analysis of data

26. Publications and Presentations Include published articles Include published articles Publication year or in press if accepted but not yet published Publication year or in press if accepted but not yet published Use correct medical bibliographic citation Use correct medical bibliographic citation Include relevant presentations, including poster presentations at conferences or association meetings Include relevant presentations, including poster presentations at conferences or association meetings Include presentation title, name of conference and association, location, audience, and date Include presentation title, name of conference and association, location, audience, and date

27. Publications and Presentations ~Examples~ PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS Stark, A.E., P.L. Jeffries and J.T. Student. 2005. The leaching of cesium-137 from cement-based matrices. Journal of Health Physics, 142(5): 1492-501. Presented at the Annual Conference of the Health Physics Research Society, Washington, DC, April 23-25, 2005. PRESENTATIONS Fillmore, P.D., P. Gerding and J.T. Student. Effect of an intra-corneal fluid interface following keratotomy on intraocular pressure measurement by applanation. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, April 25, 2006.

28. Professional Development Focus on relevant organizations, committees, workshops, and conferences Focus on relevant organizations, committees, workshops, and conferences Highlight leadership positions Highlight leadership positions Include memberships in professional organizations and student organizations related to field Include memberships in professional organizations and student organizations related to field Include years of membership Include years of membership Can be combined with Honors or another section Can be combined with Honors or another section List in reverse chronological order List in reverse chronological order

29. Professional Development ~Example~ ORGANIZATIONS & COMMITTEES Institutional Committee for Graduate Medical Education (2007-present) Institutional Committee for Graduate Medical Education (2007-present) –Judicial Hearing Panel, 2008 American Medical Student Association (2005-2007) American Medical Student Association (2005-2007) –President, local chapter (2007) VCU School of Medicine, Honor Council Representative (2005-2007) VCU School of Medicine, Honor Council Representative (2005-2007) Richmond Academy of Medicine (member since 2005) Richmond Academy of Medicine (member since 2005) Medical Society of Virginia (member since 2005) Medical Society of Virginia (member since 2005) American College of Physicians (member since 2004) American College of Physicians (member since 2004)

30. CV Organization and Appearance Consistent organization is critical to an effective CV Consistent organization is critical to an effective CV The appearance and organization of the CV is just as important as the content The appearance and organization of the CV is just as important as the content Skim … Skim … in less than 10 seconds

31. CV Organization Avoid templates Avoid templates Consistent organization Consistent organization Use horizontal space Use horizontal space Balanced page Balanced page Fill the page Fill the page White space between sections and entries White space between sections and entries Use tabs, not space-bar to indent Use tabs, not space-bar to indent Use print preview Use print preview If you use more than one page, include Name, Page # & avoid stragglers on all subsequent pages If you use more than one page, include Name, Page # & avoid stragglers on all subsequent pages Use bold, CAPS, italics and underlining strategically and sparingly Use bold, CAPS, italics and underlining strategically and sparingly Be consistent with heading style and margins Be consistent with heading style and margins Use one font style and size (except for your name and/or headings) Use one font style and size (except for your name and/or headings) Font: Times New Roman or Arial Font: Times New Roman or Arial Font size: at least 11 Font size: at least 11 Margins: at least 1.0 inch Margins: at least 1.0 inch Avoid paragraphs Avoid paragraphs Use bullets, not dashes Use bullets, not dashes Avoid numbering your sections Avoid numbering your sections

32. CV Appearance - Proofread Use all periods or no periods at the end of bullet points Use all periods or no periods at the end of bullet points Dashes used in dates – consistent size, consistent spacing Dashes used in dates – consistent size, consistent spacing Check for spelling and grammatical errors Check for spelling and grammatical errors Spellcheck does not check words in all caps Spellcheck does not check words in all caps Avoid personal pronouns Avoid personal pronouns

33. CV Appearance - Final Copy Avoid graphics, pictures (exception: picture included in residency application), color ink Avoid graphics, pictures (exception: picture included in residency application), color ink Print on laser printer Print on laser printer Use high quality, 100% cotton paper in white or off-white Use high quality, 100% cotton paper in white or off-white Dont staple or fold Dont staple or fold Dont print on both sides of paper Dont print on both sides of paper If mailing, use large envelope If mailing, use large envelope

34. References/Recommenders List 3-5 professional references on a separate document following the CV List 3-5 professional references on a separate document following the CV Copy and paste your contact information at the top of the page Copy and paste your contact information at the top of the page When listing references include name, title, organization/institution and department, business address, phone number, and email When listing references include name, title, organization/institution and department, business address, phone number, and email Dont write References available upon request on your CV Dont write References available upon request on your CV ALWAYS ask permission from person giving you the reference ALWAYS ask permission from person giving you the reference Inform your references of the positions youre applying for so they are prepared Inform your references of the positions youre applying for so they are prepared Offer your references/recommenders a copy of your CV Offer your references/recommenders a copy of your CV

35. References ~Example~ REFERENCES Judy Smith, M.D. VCU School of Medicine Department of Neurology 417 N. 11th St. Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: (804) 828-9350 Fax: 804 828-9355 jsmith@vcu.edu

36. VCU University Career Center Erin Lowery erlowery@vcu.edu University Student Commons Monroe Park Campus www.students.vcu.edu/careers828-1645