How to write the perfect medical CV

Writing a medical CV (Curriculum Vitae) is different from writing a CV for other types of jobs. As a medical recruitment company with over 18 years of experience in the field, we have reviewed countless CVs and know exactly what hiring managers in hospitals and clinics across Australia and New Zealand are seeking.

We’ve compiled this knowledge and expertise to create a medical CV template.

If you already have a CV, that's great! However, its style, length, and content may be quite different from those that hiring managers in hospitals and clinics across Australia and New Zealand are looking for. In this article, we'll provide tips and guidance on writing a perfect medical CV that effectively showcases your skills, experience, and qualifications for the position you are applying for.

Whether you're a recent medical school graduate or a seasoned healthcare professional with years of experience, tailoring your CV to the specific job description is essential. So, let's explore the key elements that make up a winning medical CV.

Doctor CV must-dos:

When applying for doctor jobs, it’s imperative that you list your qualifications, clinical experience, and research. A good CV should be clear and concise and demonstrate that you have the requisite skills and qualifications for the medical role you’re applying for.

Make sure that you include the following

• Contact details: include your full name, professional email address, and phone number.

• Medical qualifications: list all your medical qualifications, including your degree, specialisation, and any additional certifications.

• Dates of qualifications and employment: Please specify the dates of your qualifications and previous employment, including any work or practice history gaps.

• Any gaps in work or practice history: be upfront about acknowledging and explaining these spaces in your employment history to keep hiring managers from making up their own narrative.

• Clinical experience and research: highlight your clinical experience, including any research projects you have completed or participated in that are relevant to the job.

• Skills sections: create a dedicated section to list your skills and abilities, such as communication skills, technical skills, and any specialised knowledge or experience.

CV length:

Regarding the ideal length for a medical CV, five to six pages is a good rule of thumb. However, if you have a lot of work experience or skills relevant to the job you are applying for, your CV may be longer.

It’s important to ensure that your CV is easy to read and includes information relevant to the position by using bullet points to highlight important details. The person tasked with shortlisting candidates for a doctor's job may spend as little as two minutes reviewing each CV before deciding. You need to make it easy for them to find the information they need to put you on that all-important shortlist. You’ll have the opportunity to elaborate in the interview.

How to make your medical CV standout:

We can all agree that updating your CV can be a pain, but the key thing to remember is that you don’t want to miss out on your ideal job just because you don’t provide the paperwork. In a competitive job market, making your CV stand out and showcasing your skills and qualifications is important.

Download our Doctor CV Template to make the job easier and stand out.

The template is the same one we use to save our candidates’ time and help them secure the best roles and salaries across Australia and New Zealand. It’s free to download and will be sent to your email inbox.

Here are some tips to help you create a standout medical CV:

• Emphasise any research, publications, skills, or courses and include relevant awards or honours.
• Keep your CV organised and easy to read using headings and bullet points.
• Tailor your CV to the position you are applying for by highlighting relevant skills and experience
• Include a personal statement that showcases your career aspirations and what makes you unique
• Include any volunteer work or extracurricular activities that are relevant to the job
• Ensure your CV is error-free and has been proofread by someone else

Follow these tips to create a standout medical CV that helps you secure your dream job. Showcasing your skills and qualifications clearly and concisely will help you achieve this.

How to craft your doctor's CV specifically for the Australian VS New Zealand job market:

When you are applying for jobs in a country you are unfamiliar with and especially if you are applying from overseas you must tailor your application to match the country in which the hospital or practice you are applying to is located.

This shows the hiring party that you understand that country and its systems and will give you a greater chance of landing an interview.

There are a few steps you can take to ensure your CV is tailored to either the Australian or New Zealand job market. If you are applying for roles in both countries, we recommend having a separate CV that caters to each.

1. Research the specific job requirements you are applying for: Look at the job description and requirements to get a sense of what the employer is looking for in a candidate.

2. Use language and terminology specific to the Australian or New Zealand healthcare system: Make sure to use terminology and language commonly used in the Australian or New Zealand healthcare system, as this will help you stand out to potential hospitals or practices.

3. Highlight any relevant experience or training in the relevant healthcare system: If you have any experience or training that is specific to the relevant healthcare system, be sure to highlight this on your CV.

4. Include any relevant licenses or certifications: In Australia, doctors must hold a valid APHRA medical license to practice, and in New Zealand, MCNZ. Be sure to include that you have the required license on your CV.

5. Use the CV format used in the country you are applying for. Do your research and follow either the typical Australian or New Zealand presentation style.

6. Stuck for ideas or pressed for time? Use artificial intelligence to help you create a first draft or optimise your existing CV.

Remember, searching for a job takes resilience. You will often have to apply for multiple roles before you find the right one. By following these tips, you can tailor your doctor's CV and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

At Medrecruit, our specialist team is here to guide you from job search to crafting your CV and mastering your interview. Our service is completely free for doctors, so if you would like some more help applying for your next doctor job, register, and let's have a chat about how we can help you achieve all your career or lifestyle goals.