Resumes should generally be 2-3 pages in length (longer for academic CVs, with more emphasis on research and publications) and include the following elements, but this should not be considered an exhaustive list.
- Cover letter (or Curriculum Vitae (CV)): separate from the rest of your resume, this page describes the job you're applying for, what role you are applying for, a brief introduction to you and why you are applying for this role.
- Personal Details: your full name and abbreviated qualifications (MD, PhD, etc). Also contains your contact information (professional, not personal).
- Career Statement: a condensed form of the CV, contains your experience and skills most relevant to the position for which you are applying.
- Education and qualifications: Formal education, beginning with your most recent. May also include training courses and symposiums taken outside of formal education tracks.
- Certification and licensure: Provide dates of completion for each. If you are in the board certification process but have not yet taken the final boards, state where you are in the process.
- Career history: Beginning with your current (or most recent) position, this is a brief summary of the job descriptions for positions you have held, along with any relevant information (be sure to include dates). Can include volunteering or charity work.
- Professional or teaching appointments: Academic teaching experience and other training experience.
- Management and leadership: Positions on committees, supervising others, and organizing events. You can also highlight membership and roles taken in any professional societies.
- Professional accomplishments: Describe the results of projects you've worked on or committees on which you've served. Can also include prizes and awards you've earned.
- Research, publications, and presentations: Cite your publications in the same format that it would appear in a journal (include a PubMed ID number, if available). Include any posters or presentations that you have produced.
- References: Include a handful of individuals who can speak to the quality of your skills. You should notify potential references that you would like to use them before using them on your reference list.
For more information, see How to Write a Medical CV and Creating a Standout CV
