Hi, my name is Siddharth and I am a TrewLink Community Ambassador. I am also a final year medical student at Charles University, Czech Republic and aspire to work as a doctor for the NHS upon graduation.
Medicine is a very extensive and competitive field and as a result, certain positions and jobs would be more difficult to land than the others due to high demand. In this situation, having a good curriculum vitae (CV) is very crucial. CV is basically a summary of all your professional achievements throughout your career and is very important for job applications after medical school.
The most important element in building a strong CV is having a set purpose and working towards it particularly and gradually filling the gaps. The set purpose can be the specialty you want to pursue in the future, a certain type of position/job you want to work in etc.
In this article, I am going to mention and elaborate on a few tips on how to improve and strengthen your CV which can help you stand out during job applications.
Primary Medical Qualification
The most important thing your CV should have is a medical qualification from your university. Without this, everything else in your CV is futile. Always prioritize finishing your medical school finals and examinations first as underestimating them amidst extracurricular activities can be detrimental.
Research work
Research work is very significant and can benefit job applications. The best and the easiest way to get involved in a research project would be to email the respective department of your medical university’s hospital you are interested to work with. Cold emails are very underappreciated and can do wonders. Try and apply for research projects in departments you have a genuine interest in so that you enjoy while doing it at the same time. This is also a good opportunity to expand your horizon and gain a better understanding of how the department of your choice operates.
Publishing your research work
If you want to get the best out of your research work, try to publish them in a journal. Finding a good journal with a high impact factor can be difficult. Discuss with the respective departments about publishing the study in a specific journal. Certain medical institutions run their own journals too. There are different types of articles you can publish depending on your study. For example, original research articles, review articles, case studies etc.
Presenting your research work
Another way to make the best out of your research work is to present your research work at a conference. Many medical universities have their own conferences wherein you can apply to present your research work. Another option can be to present them online as there is a multitude of online conferences available.
The most important element in building a strong CV is having a set purpose and working towards it particularly and gradually filling the gaps. The set purpose can be the specialty you want to pursue in the future, a certain type of position/job you want to work in etc.
Shadowing a doctor
Doing an internship or shadowing a consultant of your choice of specialty can help a lot. It will give you a hands-on experience, and you can also observe and learn how the system exactly operates. Getting involved in procedures and assisting can also be useful, such as lumbar puncture, suturing, venipuncture etc. Being persistent and tenacious is of great importance when it comes to learning and experiencing. Electives in the NHS are very good opportunities in this case.
Volunteering
Volunteering for relief programmes and other organizations is important when it comes to honing essential soft skills such as empathy. All doctors should possess these soft skills. A simple internet search can give way to ample opportunities for volunteering near you.
Teaching
Being able to teach someone the knowledge you possess in a concise and clear manner is a skill. These skills are considered during job applications. As a medical student, teaching opportunities could be organizing seminars and classes for junior medical students, demonstrating certain medical procedures or even taking up online tutoring organized by certain organizations. Another teaching experience you can gain is by teaching a language if you are fluent in any. For example in Europe, fluent English speakers are always in demand in order to teach English to the local people.
Leadership and Management
Leadership and Management are traits which are looked upon too during job applications as it reinforces you to take responsibility. These opportunities should be essentially given by the universities. Getting involved in certain committees and leading certain teams can be of help. Running for the senate is also an option. Getting involved with the BMA or other associations and organizations can also be helpful as they are always in need of student ambassadors from certain universities.
Starting societies
Starting societies or getting involved with them is a great addition to your CV too. Societies make people of the same ideologies come together and it signifies unity and also caters to the like-mindedness of people. Societies can be based around certain cultures, activities etc and calling discussions, meetings and organizing activities should be the main goal in order to optimize the interaction between the people.
Learning a language
Knowing more languages can signify good cognitive thinking ability. Certain areas of the world prefer doctors with specific language requirements and if you know the required language, the likelihood of getting the job increases and hence is a great addition to your CV, so try and take the effort to learn an extra language. Duolingo is of great help in this case.
In conclusion, be true to yourself and make efficient choices. Having a good CV is important but being aware of basic medical knowledge and how to approach basic medical situations is more important, especially for a junior doctor as there cannot be a lapse in judgement in that. Hence, don’t completely take your focus off of what you actually need to know in pursuit of a good CV. Prioritizing is the key.
References
If you have any questions about CV building tips through med school, I would be happy to answer them at trewlink.com.
All the best,
Siddharth
Written by Siddharth
Edited by Julia
Comments