The competition among Philippine healthcare professionals can be fierce, especially the highly sought-after specialties such as surgery and cardiology. In addition, there’s a growing number of medical graduates in surplus each year. Hence, having a thriving Curriculum Vitae is important to kick-start your medical career. Read on as we offer advice and practical guidelines on how to write a strong physician’s CV for job applications, including tips and free CV templates!
Quick Navigation:
- What is the Difference Between a CV and a Résumé?
- The Right Way to Structure Your CV
- Making Your Medical Education and Work History Stand Out
- Finesse Touch on Your Skills and Activities
- The Important Role of a Cover Letter for Your CV
- Template for Your Physician CV
- Conclusion
What is the Difference Between a CV and a Résumé?
Before you write a physician CV, you should understand its difference from a résumé. They are frequently confused due to their similarity in content, so we’ll help sort out the significant differences between them in the context of the medical profession:
| Curriculum Vitae | Résumé |
| Curriculum Vitae (Latin) is loosely translated as “the course of one’s life,” It consists of all education and work history, as well as life achievements, and is commonly used in academic settings and clinical job applications for doctors. | Résumé (French for “summarize”) is a shortened, compact version of a CV that is primarily used in non-academic, non-clinical employment applications (such as emergency room admin). |
| It is usually 2-4 pages long but can grow as your journey progresses. | Only 1-2 pages are allowed. The shorter the sentence, the better. |
| Sections and narratives are comprehensive and detailed, with few bullet points. | There are bullet points and short sentences that highlight the most relevant samples for the role. |
The Right Way to Structure Your CV
An excellent physician CV should be in A4 format, three pages, and act as a compilation of your education and career history in a comprehensive manner. Before you assemble the content, you must devise a good game plan. Find the right balance between brevity and absolute accuracy in a simple format. Choose a simple, professional font style and size for each section, with an exemplary hierarchy of headings, subheadings, and body texts. Also, instead of an editable doc version, use PDF. A physician’s basic CV format must include the following:
Header
- Legal name plus title (for example, Dr. Jose Rizal or Jose Rizal, MD)
- Contact information
Summary
A brief, 1-2 paragraph summary of your professional objective, including key skills and achievements
Certifications and Education
- Use reverse-chronological format (also applies to other sections)
- Include licenses, certificates, and awards earned.
Professional Experience
- Begin with current doctor employment.
- If there are any clinical audits or quality improvement work samples, include them.
- Include any medical publications or research in which you have participated.
- Emphasize skills relevant to the desired doctor role.
Interests and References
- Include your interests and hobbies to give yourself a positive spin.
- Include some good referees for recommendations to help validate your credentials.
Making Your Medical Education and Work History Stand Out
If you already know the primary goal of how to best present your CV, let’s get into the details. Making a list of schools and institutions you’ve attended may be flat and monotonous; every other physician has one. So, how do you stand out in a crowded field? Here’s a tip to spice them up:
- List more than just your titles and institutions. Include examples of bullet points outlining your duties and responsibilities.
- Incorporate numbers and percentages to highlight your achievements.
- Optimize action words in your sentences.
- Use the gapping and parallelism strategy to keep your list short and consistent.
What about first-year general practitioners who have only internship and doctor-shadowing experience? Our advice is to document your shadowing work and include the routines and responsibilities your supervisor has assigned you. The key is to be aware of what you’ve worked hard for, to be transparent and honest, and to avoid being self-proclaimed or exaggerated.
Finesse Touch on Your Skills and Activities
In the Philippines’ competitive medical industry, well-rounded skills are critical for career survival. A doctor must not only have a comprehensive set of medical skills but also demonstrate several soft skills to remain relevant. A good work ethic, attention to detail, time management, communication and teamwork, and compassionate leadership are examples of soft skills that potential employers may look for in a candidate. We recommend including quantitative proofs in your list of interests and activities to demonstrate that you are willing to go above and beyond for the position!
Here is a list of things you can include in the CV’s additional section:
- Certificates & Licenses
- Volunteering and Second Languages
- Publications or conferences
- Medical Organizational Memberships
The Important Role of Cover Letter for Your CV
A cover letter, at the very least, provides an administrative purpose. It includes a summary for the recipient, allowing you to pique their interest and entice them to read your entire CV. Furthermore, a cover letter can explain your primary goal and intention further, as each cover letter should be tailored to the prospective employer and the role you seek. Make it brief but effective.
A cover letter is required when applying through Doctor Jobs Today. A good cover letter should include the following information:
- The hiring manager’s name
- A captivating first sentence
- A brief summary of your advantages
- A strong closing statement to entice an interview
Template for Your Physician CV
Still trying to figure out how to create your CV? You can start by downloading our template to help you begin.
Conclusion
You’ve gone above and beyond in establishing your medical foundation and experience; perfectly documenting them on your CV would be rewarding and beneficial. Here are some key takeaways to keep in mind as you write your CV:
- A CV for a physician is an important tool for your professional and academic record in the healthcare industry.
- Be mindful of how you format your CV: how you choose the appropriate fonts, spacing, and margins, then wrap it in a simple, formal-looking layout.
- Make your writing timely, precise, and effective to effectively communicate your qualities and experience in favor of your future position.
- Give positive nuances through extracurricular activities to demonstrate that you have a well-balanced set of hard and soft skills required of a physician.
- To round out your CV writing journey, include a cover letter that will pique the interest of your future employer.
Are you a doctor looking for a new role in the healthcare industry? Here at Doctor Jobs Today, we provide the most reliable and well-curated vacancies from the best medical institutions in the Philippines. You can also access various recommendations and guidelines to help you stay on track. Get your CV ready and find your future career in Doctor Jobs Today, now!
About Doctor Jobs Today
Doctor Jobs Today is the first job-seeking platform in Southeast Asia dedicated to serving the job-searching needs of healthcare professionals. We have created a space to connect employers and medical job seekers seamlessly. As part of the healthcare community, we aim to cater to medical doctors for their vacancy inquiries better than traditional job portals. With Docquity, you will only get job options that are relevant to you, sourced from the prestigious healthcare institutions in the country, because we are just as picky as you are!
Doctor Jobs Today has all the suitable vacancies you’re dreamed about: a higher general practitioner salary, a better-equipped hospital for your specialization, or even a career shift from patient care.
About Docquity
If your educational and professional experience has not been sufficient to make your CV pop, expanding the network to other healthcare professionals to practice peer-to-peer learning might be the answer. One way to do it is by joining a social platform for healthcare professionals, such as Docquity.
Docquity is an AI-based state-of-the-art private & secure continual learning network of verified doctors, bringing you real-time knowledge from thousands of doctors worldwide. Today, Docquity has over 300,000 doctors spread across six countries in Asia.
Meet experts and trusted peers across Asia where you can safely discuss clinical cases, get up-to-date insights from webinars and research journals, and earn CME/CPD credits through certified courses. All with the ease of a mobile app available on Android & iOS platforms!
