Professional Doctor CV Examples [w/ Job Descriptions & Resume Templates]

Is there any difference between a doctor and a physician?

In fact, there isn’t much of a difference between a doctor and a physician, so we will use these two terms interchangeably in this article to refer to the same job: a medical doctor.

🔖 Chronological resume format

This is the most common resume format, which is also referred to as ‘reverse chronological format’. The employment history and relevant accomplishments are listed from the most recent to the oldest. 

This resume format is popular among most job applicants, which means that it is suitable no matter how far you are in your career. It highlights the progress you’ve made along your journey. However, if you did not have steady progress in your career, perhaps you can consider using the functional resume format.

🔖 Functional resume format

This resume format emphasizes on the skills of the candidate, rather than the employment history. This is a resume format suitable for those who have had rocky starts in their career, or if you don’t have much relevant work experience. 

Freshers, entry-level job seekers, and career changers can use this format to highlight your skills to make up for the lack of relevant work experience.

🔖 Combination resume format

This is a combination of both the chronological and functional resume formats. The hybrid/combination resume format focuses on the job applicant’s qualifications, while also showing the employment history. The qualifications (relevant skills and experience) are listed first, followed by the work experience written in reverse chronological order.

This is a resume format suitable for senior job seekers or career changers who have impressive work experience to share.

➡️ Microsoft Word

1. Open Microsoft Word.

2. Click on the “More templates” option located on the far right.

3. Choose “Resumes and Cover Letters” in the suggested searches.

4. Scroll down to find various templates, and click on the one you prefer.

5. Click “Create” to start editing your preferred template.

➡️ Online Resume Builder

If you want to create a customized doctor CV, instead of using the templates provided in Microsoft Word, you can consider using online resume builders.

CakeResume has an online resume builder that offers a variety of different resume templates for you to choose from. It’ll help you break free from outdated resume formats and you’ll definitely be able to find unique resume templates for doctors as well.

✔️ Tailor the resume and include only relevant information.

As we mentioned before, it’s important to search for the job description of your desired job opening and tailor your resume based on the information provided. Only include relevant information that will highlight you as a suitable candidate for this specific job. 

✔️ Add quantifiable and measurable achievements.

No matter how impressive your employment history is, it’s very important to list your achievements by the numbers. Adding quantifiable and measurable achievements on your physician resume will help your potential recruiter learn more about what goals you’re capable of achieving. 

✔️ Optimize the resume for ATS.

Most resumes are run through an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software before falling into the hands of the human hiring manager. Make sure that you can pass this stage by making your doctor CV ATS-friendly. 

✔️ Choose the right resume format.

As we mentioned earlier, it’s important to choose the most suitable resume format to help you score that interview. For freshers, using a functional resume format can make up for the lack of relevant work experience. If you’re a senior level doctor, using a hybrid/combination resume format can make your profession shine through.

✔️ Use active verbs in the resume.

Notice how the previous examples for doctor resume headlines and doctor resume summaries all included verbs? It’s important to use active verbs as a way to attract the attention of your potential employer. Using active verbs can highlight your profession in a confident tone.

✖ Don't leave typos or grammatical errors.

As we mentioned earlier in the article, it’s important to proofread your entire doctor CV to make sure that there are no typos or grammatical errors. If the hiring manager sees many typos on your doctor CV, they might have a bad impression on you. 

✖ Don’t adopt an old-style resume objective statement.

Instead of writing a doctor resume objective statement simply stating what you “want” in your career, you should provide useful information on what you can “offer” in terms of knowledge and skills.

Listing your qualifications that are relevant to the job is much more useful than an old-style resume objective statement. Tell your potential employer you are capable of handling the job by providing your skills and work experience.

✖ Don’t disclose confidential information about previous employers.

No matter how unsatisfactory you are about your previous job or employer, don’t let it show on your current physician resume. This is unprofessional, and it’ll make you seem untrustworthy as well, which might make you lose your chance at an interview. 

✖ Don’t include unnecessary personal details that might lead to discrimination.

Keep it professional. Providing unnecessary personal details that are irrelevant to the job will make you seem unprofessional, and the hiring manager might decide to skip your resume in preference to reading others. 

✖ Don’t send the resume as a Word document.

Before you send out your application, be sure to convert your medical doctor CV into PDF format. Sending your resume as a Word document is risky, because some versions of Word might not be able to process the file. If the hiring manager happens to have an older version of Word, you’ll be at risk of disqualification.