In this article would like to dig a little deeper and give you 3 more ways to help you stand out among your peers. After reviewing thousands of CVs, here are three more ways to help you create an effective CV:
#1 The older it is, the less important it is.
This is true of both practice experience and education. Where you attended undergraduate school matters less to a potential employer than where you are receiving your current training. List both education and practice experience in reverse chronological order.
#2 The most important thing about you is not your address.
The most important news story of the day is always placed in the upper right-hand corner of the front page of the newspaper. Radio and TV reporters refer to the most important news story of the day as the "top" story of the day. The top of the first page of your CV is prime real estate, don't waste it. After your name, the most important information is not where you live, but how you can be contacted. If you do not want to be contacted at work, do not include that phone number. If you want to be called on your cell phone, list that just below your name.
#3 Formatting matters.
As the American Academy of Family Physicians states in their post How to write a Curriculum Vitae (CV), "Because your CV is typically your first and only chance to make a good impression, it's important to ensure that it is error-free and uncluttered". They go on to give some helpful tips:
- Use a simple, professional font such as Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica
- Include a name header and page number on all pages
- Place job title, organization name, and duties on the left side and dates on the right
- Choose a format and stick to it. Layout, spacing, and structure should be consistent