The pandemic has caused workers across industries to reconsider what they want to do for a living, paving the way for a new career path for thousands. If you’re one of these people, the idea of switching career paths can be intimidating and exciting all at once; you’re moving into what could be a brand new chapter in your life, but with that comes the anxiety of having to learn new information and adapt to unfamiliar working conditions.

Given recent events, the healthcare industry appears to be one of the most stable for workers looking to transition to something new. Yet, it can be a challenging field to enter when considering the years of education required alone, or a sometimes-unstable work-life balance; more minor seeming things like drawing up a curriculum vitae (CV) that meets the standards of most medical professionals are easy to overlook in comparison. Even so, they’re necessary to get right, and while your hand can’t be held through medical school, you can certainly get a few tips for drafting up a professional-looking medical CV.

Whether you’re looking to become an anesthesiologist or urgent care nurse, you’re going to need a proper CV to not only get the job but to be seen as a healthcare professional.

1. Standardize Your Formatting

Much like a resume for any other career, a solid medical CV will attempt to demonstrate that you are the best fit for the position you are applying for, keeping a record of your position-relevant accomplishments. As such, it’s essential to put your best foot forward and make sure that your CV doesn’t look like it would make Grammarly scream in frustration.

For each section of your CV, make sure that the way you format your information remains standard, as well as that the verb tenses you use all align with each other. This will keep your CV from appearing sloppy, serve your ethos as a professional applying for a position, and ensure hiring managers know you’re taking the process seriously. Also make sure to check your spelling and grammar throughout, as these kinds of minor errors can indicate a lack of care on your part.

2. Hit the Ideal Length

Also, like resumes, a professional CV has an ideal maximum and minimum length. Your CV should be about 1-5 pages in length, varying based on your experience and the position you’re applying for. If you’ve just graduated medical school, or you don’t have much experience in the field, don’t be surprised if your CV comes up on the shorter end of that spectrum; that will not disqualify you at all.

As such, it’s important to remember that your CV should be built to scan over quickly. Keep descriptions of the jobs and positions you’ve held to a minimum, listing a few points that are relevant to the post you’re applying to instead of extensive, paragraphs-long descriptions.

3. Don’t Waste Your Space

There are a few extras you may be tempted to include that aren’t necessary on your CV. While this is not an extensive list by any means, here are a few things you should know not to include on your future CV:

• A list of references. It’s superfluous, and most positions will ask for your references separately after they determine you’re a viable candidate.
• A title page. Hiring managers will know your CV is your CV when they receive it; don’t waste your time or theirs with this needless redundancy.
• Your full contact information on every page. A good rule of thumb with a CV would be to avoid redundancy. You should have all of your up-to-date contact information on the first page; don’t waste your time or space putting it everywhere. If they need it, they know where to find it.

If you have any questions about other things that should or should not be present on your CV, feel free to consult this physician’s CV guide.

Know As Much As You Can Now

Chances are, if you’re entering the medical field, you won’t have to worry about designing your CV for a while. Feel free to return to this article after you’ve racked up a little experience and are looking to apply to a position. But regardless of how far you are from entering the medical field, whether you’re a student applying to their first post or a veteran just looking to refine what they’ve already got, it’s essential to be aware of what constitutes a strong CV. Knowing as much as you can now, about what will be expected of you, will help you feel more prepared when you take that first step into a new career.