A well-written medical resume is a good way to stand out from other candidates and make a positive impression on a potential employer.
Though medical resumes often contain the same content as other resumes, there are a few key differences to consider when crafting your own. In this article, we provide steps specifically catered to the UAE market and culture, for writing a medical resume and a template and example to help you write your own.
What is a medical resume?
A medical resume highlights your education, skills, and experience in the medical field. It includes licenses and publications and is often specialised in your industry and role.
The sections you include in your medical resume depend on your career. For example, if you’re a physician, you would list your certifications and licenses, but if you’re a medical receptionist, you likely won’t need a certification section. Since a medical resume usually has more sections than a typical resume, it may require two full pages or more.
Add a Professional Photo
In the UAE employers love to see the person on paper before meeting them and generally ask for a picture when being presented CVs by recruiters. This is also a requirement in certain professions such as Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic GP, and Cosmetic Dentists. Although this is not custom in many countries, it is preferred in the UAE and will get you better results. Make sure it’s a professional and recent photo and not one with any informal or non-professional background.
Add your Contact Information & Personal Information
At the top of your resume, include your name, address (or just city and state), phone number, and email address. Also adding your DOB and Marital Status is a common requirement in the UAE which can be frowned upon in other countries. However, in UAE it’s normal practice. Putting this information at the top makes it easy for hiring managers to quickly find your contact details when they want to reach you. You can make your name in a slightly larger font or italic or bold it, so it stands out.
Mention whether you have a DHA, DOH, or/and a MOH License
Always state at the top of the CV, whether you have permission to work in the UAE, and specify which Emirate. By not mentioning this, employers will assume you do not have the license and would be more inclined to decline your Resume. If you do not have the license and wish to find out more details, email our license team at licensing@drexpat.com
Keep the Font Consistent
Many resumes which we come across have many different fonts which look unprofessional and unorganized. Be sure to use the same font size for each type of information across your resume and make sure the relative sizes are logical. For example, if you’re using Times New Roman, we would recommend 11 for the body of the email, and size 12 or 14 for company names, dates, past job titles, and headers.
Use One Colour
Avoid using flowery borders or any fancy colours. You need to be mindful that this is a professional resume mostly as a doctor, and not a Party Invitation. Just keep it Black and White
Include an Objective
Share what you want to accomplish and why you’ve decided to apply for a new position. Include key character traits, skills, and experience. Your objective should be two or three sentences and should be listed below your contact information.
List your work experience
Start with your most recent experience. Include internships, residencies, and fellowships in your experience section. If you have teaching experience, include it here. Add your job title, company, years worked, and location. Follow this information with a bullet list of four to six of your biggest responsibilities and achievements. Try to provide numbers to describe your responsibilities so hiring managers can accurately gauge your experience. For example, a registered nurse might include this responsibility: “Supervised four LPNs in the 25-bed pediatric unit.”
Add your Education
Your education section should start with your highest degree. List the degree(s) obtained, school(s) attended and graduation date(s). If you’re currently in a program, list the anticipated graduation date so employers know your availability. Also, if you have any notable achievements or participated in applicable school clubs or memberships, add them here in a bulleted list. It’s also acceptable to list your residency and fellowship information in your education section depending on the length of your experience section.
Include your Skills
Make a bulleted list of your most relevant hard and soft skills. List them in order of importance for the job. For example, if a pharmacist job posting asks for knowledge of IV drugs, add this skill to the top of your list if you have it. Keep your list to 10 of your most relevant skills.
Add Optional Sections
You may need to add several other sections depending on the position. If your career requires certifications and licenses, create a separate section for those. List the certification, issuing body, certification or license number, and the dates that it’s active. You can also add another section for relevant publications and presentations
Tips for writing a medical resume
Here are some tips to follow when you’re writing your resume:
- Customise your resume for each position. For each position, you apply to reread the job description to tailor your resume to the employer’s requirements. Make each resume specific to one job.
- Proofread thoroughly. Before you send in your resume, review it multiple times. It’s helpful to review it a day or two after you write it for a fresh perspective. You can also ask a friend or colleague to read it and offer advice.
- Research and review resume samples. If you’re new to writing a resume or you want to refresh yours, research different templates to find one that works best for your education and experience. Find templates and examples that are specific to your profession to know what to include and how to format it.
Medical Resume Template
Dr. Expat has created a simple template that you can use:
First and last name, Title (optional)
City, Country
Phone number
Email address
Personal Profile, here you can write about yourself, your hobbies, interests, personal attributes, etc.
Experience
Job title, Company name, Dates worked
Location
- List four to six responsibilities
Education
Degree obtained, School name, Year Obtained
- List achievements or memberships
Skills
- List of around 10 hard and soft skills
Certifications
- Certification title, Issuing body, Dates Active
Publications
- Last name, first initial. Middle initial. (Year of publication). Article title. Journal title
Start Now
Use our guide to help write the perfect Resume and be sure to check out the latest job posts on our website, www.drexpat.com
Alternatively, let Dr. Expat write the perfect CV for you and get you noticed by the rest of the applicants
If you find a position that is best suited to your skills and you meet the criteria, send us your resume at info@drexpat.com
Good Luck!
For more information please visit our website – https://drexpat.com/
Written by Farzana Patel
3rd September 2022