There are a few simple tips that will really make a difference in the impact your CV can have on a potential employer, locum tenens agency, or locum tenens client.
Be thorough. As a general rule, list your most current activity first. Include month/day/year for all dates. Be aware that any gap in time must be explained. If you backpacked through Europe for three months, spell it out in your CV. Otherwise, it will generate a red flag in the mind of the reviewer and you will have to provide an explanation. It can slow things down or potentially hurt your chances for a position. Also, be sure to give your full name and make sure you can be reached at the address, telephone number and e-mail address that you include. Check this each time you send your CV out. Finally, there are a few items best left out of your CV. These include social security numbers, licensure numbers and examination scores. You will have the opportunity to supply them at a later date in a more secure way.
Use title headings and a consistent flow. Break the information into sections with clear title headings. People who review lots of CVs—including organizations that are regular users of locum tenens physicians—are used to seeing the information in the following order. We recommend that you follow it.
Click here to download a pre-formatted Microsoft® Word template that will help you get started.
- Personal information (Full name, address, phone numbers, email address)
- Professional work
- Practice specifics
- Hospital affiliations
- Military service
- Academic history
- Graduate training
- Internship
- Medical School
- Undergraduate training
- Licensure
- Certifications
- Professional associations
- Honors
- Volunteer work, community service, additional accomplishments
- Publications, presentations, research
Use an all-purpose font. Use a traditional font that is easy to read and holds up when faxed. Ariel and Helvetica are good choices. Non-standard fonts may not be loaded on all computers, so a person who has received an electronic copy of your CV may not be able to read it. At the very least, the computer will substitute another font and mess up your formatting. Avoid the use of all capital letters and excessive bold, italic, or underlining. Use 12-point type if possible, never smaller than 10.
Update and customize for each opportunity. It is usually very easy to update your CV and add a few details that make it obvious that you are interested in a specific job. This is critical if you are applying for a permanent position. If you choose to work as a locum tenens with VISTA, we can help you create a CV specific to locum tenens that won't require constant changes. We'll also help you keep it up to date as you gain experiences, new licenses, new certifications, etc.
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