Tips for writing a top-notch CV

Anthea Pisani is a gastroenterologist at Mater Dei Hospital in Malta. Roos Pouw is a gastroenterologist at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers, with a focus on early detection and endoscopic management of esophageal neoplasia.

The curriculum vitae (CV) has been around for a long time. The first official CV has been attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci who in 1482 wrote a letter to the Duke of Milan listing his talents and strengths, to convince the Duke to appoint him as his weapons artificer. Nowadays, a CV has become a necessity when applying for a position and thus has become an important tool in any professional’s armamentarium. A CV allows you to introduce yourself to its reader, by summarizing your education, skills, and experience. It is the first impression of yourself that you will give to those reading it and it might have profound effects on your career. It is, therefore, vital that your CV be top-notch.

Writing a top-notch CV, however, can be a difficult task. It may be helpful to realize that the main task of a CV is actually not to get the job, but to get an interview. Without meeting you in person, your potential employer will get an impression of you based on your CV. Sometimes they will only have a couple of minutes to look at your CV and decide if they want to see you for an interview. Therefore, you want your CV to stand out and to give its reader the right impression of yourself. Interestingly, the impression you make through your CV is not only based on its contents, but also on the way the contents are presented. Therefore, it is worth wile to put some time into building your CV and to truly make your CV a document that represents yourself and of which you can be proud. With a little extra attention, your CV can stand out and with these tips, we are sure you can prepare a top-notch CV:

• Presentation is key: Your CV is a projection of yourself, so be certain that it is structured and tidy. Make sure you choose a clear font type and size and use headings that stick out. Avoid bulky paragraphs and insert bullet points when possible. Consider using tools available on the internet to make your CV look more professional.
   
• Read any specific instructions: Some positions give specific instructions on how to structure your CV and these must be strictly adhered to, otherwise your application might be rejected outright. Not every position requires the same type of CV.
   
• Tailor the CV to the role: Adjust your CV to highlight qualities and training that are most important for a specific position. Scrutinize the entire position advert well and make sure the key requirements can be clearly seen in your CV.
   
• Introduce yourself: Where appropriate, start off your CV with a short introduction on who you are and what you are looking for. Where applicable, write an interesting research focus pitch.
   
• Most important and recent information first: Anyone reading your CV will most likely start off with the first page and might lose interest if there is nothing that makes you better than the other applicants, so make sure you include your top achievements, roles, or skills first. When placing everything in order, put the most recent first and then proceed chronologically.
   
• Keep it simple: Cut down on irrelevant details that are unlikely to add any extra points as these might make your CV too long. Try to keep your CV to 1 or 2 pages. It is not always necessary to include all your publications, so consider either summarizing them, inserting your top 5 relevant and recent publications, or giving your ORCID ID
   
• Keep your CV up to date: Our advice would be to update your CV regularly, not only when applying for a position. Have you recently published a paper? Write it down. Attended a conference? Put it in there as well. You might forget to include them when preparing your CV for submission, especially if the deadline is short. It also helps to keep all your certificates organized.
   
• Don’t take my word for it: Considering adding referees who can vouch for you. Always ask in advance whether a person would accept to being contacted before supplying their details.
   
• No spelling mistakes: Check your CV again and again and again for grammatical errors to avoid your application being overlooked for such a remediable reason.
   
• Ask a colleague to check it out: This will not only help pick out any mistakes, but can also give you valuable insight into how any reviewers might see your CV. UEG offers invaluable sessions at UEG week where an experienced mentor can give you tips on your CV.
   
• To end with some controverse: Should you include a photograph in your CV? Interestingly, this is a subject of discussion and the norm differs between countries. In some countries, including a photograph in your CV is very much appreciated, whereas it is a definite no go in other countries. Therefore, always check with a local if you plan to apply abroad.
   

What happens if your CV is not accepted? This has happened to the best of us. Do not be disheartened and keep working on your CV. A CV is a dynamic tool that needs constant input. In between applications, go over your CV to look for any lacunae and try to work on ways to add more strength and value to your CV.

Good luck!