Medical Courses: Essential CV Writing Tips for Beginners

A business CV is usually 2 to 3 pages long, but a medical CV can be much longer due to the detailed list of publications and medical courses. Typically, a medical consultant’s CV is about 10 pages, while a surgical consultant’s CV can be 15 pages or more. Remember, your CV should be a clear and organized communication tool, not just a long list. Key information, including details about your medical courses, publications, and experience, should ideally fit within the first 5 pages.Use a professional-looking font that is easy to read. Recommended fonts include:

Arial, size 10

Calibri, size 11

Times New Roman, size 11

For headings, use the same font but in a larger size, such as Arial, size 14, Calibri, size 15, or Times New Roman, size 15.

General Consultant CV Format

Your CV should include the following sections in this order:

Personal Details

Personal Profile

Qualifications

Prizes and Awards (if relevant)

Current Appointment (if you have worked as a consultant for over a year or are an associate specialist)

• Career Summary
• Clinical Experience
• Audits
• Management Experience
• Teaching Experience
• Research Experience
• Publications
• Presentations
• Personal Interests
• References

The order can be adjusted based on the job you are applying for.
For example, if the job focuses on teaching, place the teaching experience section before management experience.

Cover Page, Contents Page, Personal Details Page

While some people like to include a cover page and contents page, they aren’t necessary and can be seen as a waste of space.

Cover Page:
It can make the document look neat, but it’s not essential.

Contents Page:
Not needed for a CV of 10-15 pages. It can make the CV appear poorly formatted.

Personal Details Page:
Only include essential information such as your name, address, phone number, email, and GMC registration number. This should fit at the top of the first page and should not take up more than a third of the page.

Personal Profile

Your personal profile is crucial. It’s a short summary of your CV on the first page, telling the reader why you are the best candidate. It should be no more than 20 lines and should cover your clinical, teaching, academic, and management skills.

Qualifications

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent degree. Include relevant dates and places of study. Also, mention any qualifications you are currently pursuing.

Prizes and Awards

Include the date, awarding body, and reason for each award. If you won first prize for a presentation, mention how many competitors you had. Avoid trivial prizes.

Current Appointment

If you are currently a consultant, associate specialist, or substantive consultant, highlight this role separately to emphasize your senior experience.

Past Appointments

List all your past jobs in reverse chronological order. For each job, include:

• Dates (month and year)
• Job title and specialty/subspecialty
• Hospital name

Avoid detailed summaries under each job heading. Instead, provide a summary of your skills and experience in a separate section.

Summary of Skills and Experience

Summarize your experience under relevant headings such as:

• General Paediatrics
• Neonatal
• General Adult Psychiatry
• Substance Misuse

Use bullet points and active wording like “Gained thorough experience, Confident in, and Proficient in.

Managerial Experience

Include experience in:

• Designing rotas
• Leading projects
• Implementing teaching programs
• Representing colleagues on committees
• Writing new guidelines
• Quality improvement projects
• Involvement in recruitment

You can include non-medical management experience at the end.

Teaching Experience

Mention all formal and informal teaching, the types of audiences, and key topics taught. Highlight any formal training received and patient education experience.

Audits

List audits in reverse chronological order. For each audit, provide a short summary with the aim, your role, conclusions, and actions taken.

Research

List research projects in reverse chronological order. For each project, provide the title, date, and a short description of your role.

Publications

Present publications in a tabular format in reverse chronological order. List the title, authors, and relevant dates. You can follow the Vancouver convention or list the title first, followed by authors and journal.

Presentations

List presentations in reverse chronological order. Include the title, date, and conference or event where you presented.

Personal Interests

Mention any hobbies or interests that show a well-rounded personality. This section should be brief.

References

Provide the names and contact details of 2-3 referees who can vouch for your professional abilities.

By following this guide, you can create a well-structured and easy-to-read CV that highlights your qualifications and experience, making you a strong candidate for any consultant position in medicine.

Conclusion

At Hive Medical Academy, we offer comprehensive preparation for your medical career, including our specialized PLAB 1 course designed to help you succeed in the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board exam. Additionally, we provide a range of medical skills courses to enhance your practical abilities and knowledge, ensuring you are well-equipped for the challenges of the medical field. Whether you’re preparing for PLAB 1 or looking to refine your medical skills courses Join Hive Medical Academy your gateway to success.