The curriculum vitae is an essential document for medical students and doctors in training seeking employment. Every public and private hospital will require you to submit a CV as part of your application.

While the terms “résumé” and “curriculum vitae” (CV) are often used interchangeably, a résumé technically only contains information directly relevant to the job being applied for whereas a CV contains more information about the applicant. You may see the terms interchangeably and if you are in doubt about what the employer is seeking, then it is useful to clarify.

Some hospitals and organisations will have a required CV template that the applicant has to populate (Queensland Health example is below), and others will ask for the applicant's pre-prepared CV, so it is always useful to have your CV prepared and ready for dissemination if required.

When it comes to how to write a CV, writing a CV and tailoring it for the specific role you are applying for takes time. Allowing yourself ~3 – 5 hours for the first CV you write, and an hour for reviewing and editing your CV, would be a rough estimate.

Having a unique CV that is relevant, succinct, and informative can make an applicant stand out from the crowd, and you should aim to make one that does just this. How to write a CV for a medical role in Australia? We’ve detailed our top CV tips, as well as a medical CV template, below.

Important medical CV tips;

• The aim of your CV or résumé should be to present a summary of your career, including education, professional history, and job qualifications with a strong emphasis on demonstrating that you have the specific skills related to the position you are applying for.
• Be aware employers spend roughly 6 to 8 seconds reviewing each CV/ résumé.
• Generally aim for 2 pages, but check the application guidelines as they may stipulate the length.
• Tailor your CV to the role you are applying for. The best way to do this is provide a Career Summary or Career Goal Statement as the first block of writing.
• Make your name the biggest thing on the front page. That’s what you want them to remember.
• Your CV should be written in plain business English, with correct spelling and grammar.
• Use a professional-looking design with easy-to-read fonts such as Arial or Helvetica.
• Do not include a photograph in your CV unless it is specifically requested.
• Avoid a cluttered layout: white space improves readability.
• Convert your résumé to portable document format (PDF) which is the format best used online (unless the job application specifies otherwise).

What is a career statement and how do I write one?

A career statement or personal statement is a written assertion of your long-term professional goals (or short- medium-term if you are yet to decide on your long-term goals). Career statements give you the ability to prove to your potential employer that you are the right candidate for the position by conveying to them what you have achieved and what your future goals are.

Examples of a career statement;