3 powerful resume tips for new physicians
Physicians have a distinct advantage over many other professionals when it comes to searching for jobs: their residency. During your final year of medical training, you have the unique opportunity to forge connections with mentors and other professionals who may be able to aid your future job search.
But that doesn't mean you can neglect your resume. Every physician needs a powerful document that can speak for itself. Here are some tips to keep in mind when developing your resume and entering the job market:
1. Make your resume results-oriented
Your physician resume should clearly define the results of your work using facts and figures. Dr. Francine R. Gaillour, the director of Physician Coaching Institute, explained that your resume should feature accomplishments from your residency and beyond. A few examples include: Times you reduced unnecessary readmissions, saved your organization money, improved compliance rates and similar concrete examples.
New physicians may struggle to identify these kinds of achievements, but you can use examples from your coursework that demonstrate parallel skills. Hiring managers want to see that you understand how they identify valuable job candidates. A responsible, motivated medical student is likely to become a high-achieving physician.
2. Check your formatting
Even if the information in your physician resume is stellar, poor formatting will completely spoil the effect. In fact, many hiring managers won't even bother to read a physician resume that's difficult to follow.
The American College of Radiology suggested formatting your educational experience and memberships in a timeline with the titles and positions first and the dates last. In a first draft, you might organize your resume with the dates first because it helps your own recollection - but this is the least interesting information. Hiring managers are much more interested in seeing what you've done, not when you did it. Keep this lesson in mind as you put together your resume. Always put the most interesting information first.
3. Prowl specialty job boards
There is no shortage of online job boards. However, it's best to avoid run-of-the-mill sites that deal with every job under the sun. Instead, spend your time on quality, medical-centric job boards such as myHealthTalent.com. Experienced recruiters trust specialty sites to help them find talented professionals. Prowl these boards and read through job descriptions to get a better idea of what organizations are looking for.
If you're looking for your next physician job, polish your resume and head over to myHealthTalent.com for exciting opportunities.
Sources:
www.physicianleadership.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/psc/PowerfulResume.pdf
www.acr.org/career-center/~/media/F9113E34F5264737AB5C9E27763495D2.pdf