The nature of the profession imposes that a Medical CV is somewhat lengthier than those required in other professional roles. There is a requirement to list all of your skills, research, audits, training courses, publications and presentations. Medical CV writing is often best handled by a professional writer or professional writing service who can ensure that the information is both effective and concise.

A professionally written CV will vary in length depending on the body of work applicable to the individual. However, it should never, even for highly skilled professionals, exceed 6 – 8 pages. There is a common misconception that the longer the CV the more ‘qualified’ you appear. This is simply not the case. It is quality content, thoroughly and concisely written that is very highly regarded in the medical community, not the number of pages you can fill with needless information.

Formatting

We recommend the following format for Medical CV writing;

Personal Details
Aims/Objectives
Qualifications
Current and Previous Appointments
Management Experience (if applicable)
Teaching Experience (if applicable)
Training Courses
Meetings & Conferences
Publications
Presentations
Audits (if applicable)
Research Projects
Applicable Skills
Personal Interests
Other/Miscellaneous
References

6 Tips For Writing An Effective Medical CV

Recruiters and decision makers will pay close attention to the first two pages of your CV. This applies in almost any profession but is particularly applicable in the case of Medical CV’s.  If you do not capture their attention in the very early stages, it is unlikely they will continue through the remainder of your document.

1.  Your personal details should be presented in a letterhead fashion to preserve space in those important early pages for your skills, qualifications and experience.

2.  Where possible, use concise bullet points rather than lengthy detailed descriptions.

3.  Prioritize the information you include in your CV and remain focused professional skills, experience, and knowledge you have acquired.  Needless personal information should be filtered out.  For example, whether or not you have a driving license does not impact on your suitability to the position.

4.  Your personal interests section should show in no more than 6 lines that you as a balanced person. For example, if you list only individual pursuits, this could lead an employer to think you are not a good team player.

5.  Do not force the potential employer to make decisions in terms of references.  Too many references will lead the potential employer to ‘choose’ which ones to contact.  Unless otherwise directed, two or three good reference sources will suffice.

6.  Ensure your CV is completely free of errors.  If you prefer to write your CV yourself rather than to employ the services of a professional writer, ensure you meticulously check for spelling, typing and grammatical errors.  These are absolutely unacceptable so if possible have your Medical CV proofread by a third party.

In the UK, Professional Writing Services will typically charge between £150 ($ 230) and £250 ($ 350) to produce a comprehensive Medical CV.  However, if you are determined to created your Medical CV yourself, some professional writers also offer a proofreading and editing service which can work out significantly cheaper.