| Appearance: First impressions matter - even when it | | | | Content: Once the structure is defined, the |
| comes to physician resumes. Therefore, the resume | | | | corresponding content needs to be carefully and |
| should be perfect in appearance. The design, font, and | | | | chronologically placed into your resume. It's important to |
| text weight should flow and be easy on the eyes. | | | | recognize that every single detail of your professional |
| Carefully consider the alignment, symmetry, and the | | | | career does not have to be placed into the resume. In |
| use of bullets, bold characters etc. Do not attempt to | | | | fact, the content should be tailored to meet the |
| put so much into your resume that you have to make | | | | individualized opportunity. For example, if you are |
| the font size so small it becomes difficult to read. The | | | | applying for a concierge medicine job versus a prison |
| physician resume should look welcoming, and not | | | | health, cruise ship medicine, team physician, or assistant |
| visually offensive. Try to contain the physician's | | | | surgical professor position, the résumé |
| resume to one page as most recruiters, employers, | | | | should be appropriately tailored. You want to convince |
| chairmen, department heads, or senior partners don't | | | | the employer that your are the most logical and |
| have the time to look much beyond the first page. All | | | | smooth transition candidate to fill that job. The reader |
| of these factors directly affect the appearance and | | | | should not be left with the unanswered question of |
| readability of your resume, as first impressions matter, | | | | "why does he / she want this job?" |
| and may separate you from another equally qualified | | | | Grammar: Use action verbs and command language in |
| candidate. | | | | your physician job resume. Words such as |
| Structure: Several key components are necessary in | | | | 'accomplished', 'attained', 'achieved', 'performed', are |
| the competitive physician resume. Be sure to include 1) | | | | good competitive words. Avoid passive descriptors |
| experience - detailing your work history; 2) appointed | | | | such as 'responsible' and 'practiced'. And under no |
| or elected positions - if applicable; 3) skills / interests - | | | | circumstance should there be any typographical errors, |
| to showcase your special talents or aspirations that | | | | misspellings, in a professional resume whatsoever. One |
| make you unique; 4) education - undergraduate to | | | | embarrassing typo can cause question and doubt into |
| fellowship; license & certification - board | | | | the entire resume and candidate - no matter how |
| certification, fellow status, etc.; and lastly 5) awards | | | | accomplished or impressive. It raises concern about |
| & distinction - as needed. These 5 categories are | | | | preparedness, attention to detail, and commitment of |
| essential to the successful resume. Mention of | | | | the physician job seeker. Consider the candidate apply |
| research, society memberships, volunteer work, | | | | for microvascular hand surgery opportunity . . . whose |
| lectures, CME, professional references, are not | | | | resume has a spelling typo - not good. Given today's |
| necessary on the resume (unless needed to tailor the | | | | grammar and spellchecking software in everything |
| resume for the particular job opportunity), but can be | | | | from emails to word documents, don't loose your |
| used to add structure if needed to the aforementioned | | | | competitive edge by being lackadaisical with grammar |
| key components. | | | | or spelling. |