CV writing and job interview advice for doctors

The first step for a doctor to get a new job is to write a strong CV. A doctors CV will often have less than a minute to convince a recruiter of their suitability for a role in a competitive specialty. A doctors CV must be concise, well designed and easy to skim read in search of important information. Application forms Increasingly electronic application forms are requested for NHS job applications. These do not replace the well written CV and it is standard pratice for doctors applying for a role to send a CV in advance, or bring a CV with them when visiting the hospital prior to interview. Standardised application forms include all the usual sub-headings of a CV but will also include interview-type questions on leadership, management, personal strengths and weaknesses. Medical CV structure 1. Title page: name and qualifications only. 2. Personal identity (full name, date of birth, nationality, sex). 3. Professional memberships (GMC, royal medical college, NTN, CCT date, indemnity number). 4. Contact details (postal address, telephone, email). 5. Qualifications (dates, institution, location). 6. Education (dates, institution, course, prizes, other achievements). 7. Prizes and presentations. 8. Current position. 9. Work history (date, position, employer, supervising consultant, duties and achievements all in reverse chronology). 10. Summary of skills and achievements. 11. Courses and conferences attended. 12. Research. 13. Publications (original papers, reviews, chapters and abstracts in that order). 14. Teaching (training and experience). 15. Audit (training and experience). 16. Management (training and experience). 17. Leisure interests and activities. 18. Career intentions. 19. Referees names and contact details of three people. Common mistakes made by doctors in their CVs At the top of the list of CV mistakes is poor spelling, grammar and typos. Doctors must spell check their CVs. They should also ask a friend, colleague or mentor to proof read the completed CV. Doctors should also be careful not to make the CV too duty-oriented, at the expense of outlining the i ndividuals experience and achievements. Applicants should avoid long paragraphs and use concise bullet points instead.

Other problems include inaccurate or missing contact information, poor formatting, long-winded paragraphs and inappropriate personal information. The doctor should ensure the CV is written in active language and competently printed on white paper. It is unnecessary to have the CV professionally printed on thick paper the candidate is going to be judged on the words and how theyre presented. A doctors covering letter The doctors covering letter should be tailored to the role. It should convey the doctors interes t in and suitability for the job. It must be both informed and enthusiastic about the role, team and employing organisation. The recruiter must be left in no doubt on what the applicant would bring to the role and how that separates them from others. It should be no longer than one side of A4 paper. Job interview preparation for doctors Medical interviews should not be taken lightly. They are demanding at all levels, seeking to assess a doctors character, attitudes and flexibility of thought as well as their medical expertise. The panel format (typically eight to 12 people) can also be intimidating for some. Many good doctors have failed to secure the role they wanted because of poor preparation and interview technique. Planning and preparation can sign ificantly improve a doctors chances. Interviewers objectives in a medical interview They are seeking to appoint the right doctor for the role, and a colleague they can envisage working with. To do this they will examine a doctors motivations, career aspirations and potential, technical competence, team working abilities and professionalism. For a consultant interview, the panel will also be looking for a doctors ability to work independently, work with managers, lead a team and move the service forward. Getting prepared for the interview The formal interview is not the chance to find out more about the job the doctor should already have done this. Clarity is needed on the following issues: 1. Yourself: a doctor should be clear on their ambitions, priorities, and clinical and outside interests. 2. The role: review the person specification in depth and detail all of the key competencies, personality skills and clinical skills required. 3. The organisation: find out about the department, hospital and trust. Doctors should visit its website and read the annual report or executive summary. They should visit the team in person and ask lots of questions about the role and service, and talk to any contacts who have worked there. Doctors should understand the teams and organisations history, activities, strengths and weaknesses and future direction. 4. The interview panel: the interviewee should find out, if possible, who will sit on the panel. For a consultant interview there will be at least seven members potentially including the trust chair, chief executive, medical director, lead clinician from the team, college representative, academic representative, patient representative and a member of the HR team. It is worth exploring the clinical interests of the medical members. Candidates for consultant roles should ensure that they meet the chief executive, medical director, clinical director, as well as the current consultants in the relevant team in their visits to the trust. They may also wish to meet allied health professionals as well.

Commonly panel interviews take a structured approach, with each interviewer taking it in turn to ask questions. 5. Specialty issues: read relevant medical journals closely for three to six months preceding the interview, and are aware of any recent NICE or MHRA guidance. 6. Wider NHS issues: read non-clinical magazines, such as HospitalDr.co.uk and BMA News, to understand the current professional debates. Doctors should understand the current change agenda including the modernisation of services, Lord Darzis review, revalidation, changes to training and Foundation Trusts. Practicalities of getting to the medical interview Its commonsense to check the employers location and travel details well in advance. Also find out where the interview is being held within the building beforehand. On the day of the interview travel early, or even consider the night before, and ensure that you dont have to cram up on information you should already have read. Doctors presentations at interview Doctors may be asked, in advance, to give a formal presentation as part of the interview process. Check what equipment will be available on the day and prepare appropriately. Make sure it is professional and formally delivered, but with pace and enthusiasm. Answering questions at interview There will be several candidates for the job. The applicant who is successful will be the one who is distinctive, enthusiastic, has something interesting to say and shows potential. Doctors should not simply answer the question. They should also sell themselves. Doctors should populate their answers with real examples from their working life. They should also remember to demonstrate their understanding of the role, team and organisation in their answers. Be positive wherever you can. Panels like positive people. So when a doctor is asked about changes in the NHS, they should start their answer by stressing why change can be good before being more critical. Rehearse strong answers on your skills, strengths and weaknesses (finding a positive way to frame your answer), experience and motivations. Draw up a list of other potential questions and think through answers but dont sound too pre-rehearsed. First impressions Initial impact is important. Doctors should dress smartly and be well groomed they will never regret buying a plain suit. They should take a deep breath and calm themselves before entering the interview room. Candidates need to be confident. Close the door behind them. Smile. Respond to offered handshakes firmly and sit quietly but alertly for the opening question. Positive body language is also important. The doctor should be responsive, leaning slightly forward, open arms, nodding. They should listen attentively and keep eye contact. Style of response The interviewee should look at the person questioning them and direct answers to them. They should glance around to engage the whole panel. Speaking slightly slower than normal is a good technique, and their voice should show their enthusiasm for medicine and the role. If they ask you whether you have any questions at the end, either ask a good one or dont bother. Dont ask one for the sake of it and avoid ones about terms and conditions. In a consultant interview, you should from your previous

visits know the service ambitions of the chief executive or senior clinical representative and you could consider asking a more strategic question about those issues. At the end thank the panel for their time and leave in a smooth manner. Practice makes perfect Take time to practice. Try your stock answers out in the mirror first and then on a colleague or mentor preferably one involved in recruitment. If youve been asked to do a prese ntation, also run it past a friend or colleague as well. Its the only way to still be able present yourself to the best of your abilities when you may be suffering from nerves. Type of questions asked in a doctors interview A search of the web will reveal lists of questions that typically get asked in medical interviews. Accepting failure and learning from it If the doctor doesnt get the job they should ask for feedback. However disappointed a doctor feels they need to learn from the experience and then try again.