A curriculum vitae (CV) is used by professionals in the fields of academia, medicine, teaching and research as an overview of relevant accomplishments. Accordingly, physicians, particularly during residency or fellowship training, should update theirs frequently to reflect their career development.
It’s not the same as a résumé
There are notable differences between a CV and a résumé. Some of the ways they differ in conventional practice include:
- Education is generally listed first on a CV for physicians in early career.
- A CV rarely lists an objective or has a long narrative profile. If you would like to explain why you are an ideal candidate for this position, include this as part of your cover letter.
- Naming specific people is more common in a CV than in a résumé. For example, if you performed research under a certain professor, you would include that person’s name and title in your CV.
- Unlike a résumé, a CV can run for three or more pages; however, the length of a CV alone is not what makes it successful. You should present the most relevant information in a concise, understated manner and avoid being self-congratulatory.
- A CV should be neatly organized with clear headings and distinct conceptual divisions. Experience may be divided by using headings such as “teaching” or “research.” Education may be divided between “degrees” and “advanced training” or similar.
- Bulleted points may be more sparingly used in the typical CV.
Information to include
A good CV emphasizes the points considered most important in your discipline and conforms to standard conventions within that discipline. Learn these conventions by finding recent examples of CVs from people in your field.
For a job candidate directly out of residency, choosing the accomplishments to include depends on the requirements of the jobs you are interested in and your individual strengths. Emphasize the most important items by placing them earlier in the document, after your education.
A physician or medical CV should include the following items, in reverse chronological order:
- The name under which your licensing and credentialling records, publications, research and records appear. This allows prospective employers to verify that the information you provided is accurate.
- Contact information: Provide a current address, phone number and email address where you want to receive mail, calls or messages. Your email address should be professional and incorporate your name, if possible.
- Education: List the name of the institution, degree received and dates.
- Certification and licensure: List and give dates of completion for each. If you are in the board certification process but have not yet taken the final boards, state where you are in the process.
- Post-graduate training: Cite all training that you have completed, such as internship, residency and fellowship, with name of the institution and dates.
- Practice experience: Particularly highlight specialty-specific accomplishments.
- Professional or teaching appointments: Include academic and professional appointments, fellowships and other unique training experiences.
- Research and publications: Cite any presentations or publications that you have written or prepared.
- Committee work, accomplishments, institutional service and professional contributions: Provide results from committees on which you served or projects you managed, or you can highlight your honors and awards, clinical and nonclinical administrative or managerial experience.
- Professional society memberships: List the societies to which you belong, particularly highlighting any leadership positions you hold.
- Personal and professional references: Either state that you will provide upon request or include the names of the individuals who can speak to the quality of your skills or your personality for the past several years. Notify anyone whom you would like to list as a reference.
A CV is not the place to discuss anticipated compensation, reasons for leaving previous positions, health problems, disability status, examination scores or medical license and DEA numbers. Omit references to your race, religion, age, birthplace, citizenship or marital status.
Get more great tips for physician residents on CV writing 101.
How to use AI in CVs
Augmented intelligence (AI)—often called artificial intelligence—can be helpful when drafting or revising your CV, as long as you employ the tools judiciously and check their work.
From AI implementation to digital health adoption and EHR usability, the AMA is fighting to make technology work for physicians, ensuring that it is an asset to doctors. That includes recently launching the AMA Center for Digital Health and AI to give physicians a powerful voice in shaping how AI and other digital tools are harnessed to improve the patient and clinician experience.
Physicians increasingly use AI professionally, and their employment in drafting CVs is likely to be no exception. And more employers are using AI to read, analyze and filter job applications, résumés and CVs, perhaps rendering AI chatbots even more critical as a tool for ensuring a CV includes all the necessary keywords and information.
However, because chatbots may misunderstand or make incorrect assumptions about medical CVs, you should start by writing a draft yourself. Then, solicit suggestions or critiques, requesting highlights of any changes it makes. Make sure to closely review the entire CV afterward, paying close attention to any alterations or additions. AI hallucinations can introduce embarrassing errors.
Ultimately, a CV should reflect the hard work and training you have undertaken throughout your career. It can introduce you, provide background on your accomplishments and serve as the key to unlocking new roles.
And if you are searching for your first physician job after residency, get your cheat sheet from the AMA now.
