Terri Blevins, MA Career Development Specialist Office of Clinical Education Developing your Curriculum Vitae

PURPOSE Medical School is preparation for a job; the residency of your choice Need them for Residency Directors Need them when asking for Letters of Reference from your preceptors

Resumes A resume is brief document Well defined structure Relevant only to the position Limited with traditional categories Used in industry and the private sector

Curriculum Vitae A comprehensive summary of your qualifications and work experience A CV is not brief and can be up to 3-5 pages at graduation Multiple pages in its maturity Primarily used in medical, education and research institutions The categories of a CV are not as limited as a resume Each category is more complete and detailed about the applicant

Before you begin… This is your introduction to residency directors You want to make yourself stand out through content Think in terms of what a residency director wants in a resident Think of your CV as a “work in progress” Often, it is a combination of resume and CV at the beginning

Format There is no single “correct” format Look at sample CVs, decide what you want to include Content will vary, depending on your own personal experiences and education Show of your best side; include the things that make you “shine”

Format Use a typeface that is clean and easy to read Use 12 point font (no smaller than 10 pt.) Stick with one kind of font; use boldface or italics to highlight important information Use bullets sparingly Recommended margin, one inch top, bottom and sides

Format No longer than 2 pages for scholarships, residency applications Be consistent in the way that you present examples Don’t include irrelevant information – social security number, personal information, high school activities and accomplishments, references Style should be organized, easy to read Avoid the use of ALL CAPS, or excessive use of italics and underlining

Content Contact Information: Your name Address Phone Number Fax Number address

Content Education: List the most recent degree first including the name of the institution (city and state) and the date it was conferred ( or expected) Include titles of thesis and dissertations Below your medical education, list your undergraduate degree(s), date(s), and institution(s). Do not list High School education

Postgraduate Training: Fellowships, residencies, internships Provide site, area of concentration, date of completion or expected completion

Certificate/Licensure List any certificates/licenses that you hold List license number, state(s), expiration dates Certifications would include ACLS, BLS, etc.

Professional Experience Dates and titles don’t tell residency directors what you have done Think about what you did and what skills you can bring to a residency program Begin with your most recent experience Use action verbs to describe what you did, if it is relevant No more than 2-3 bullet pts.

Additional Categories Research Publications Research interests Professional Organizations Honors and Awards Community Service Hobbies

Questions and answers