Essential Tips for Writing and Revising Your Residency CV
Your CV is a key part of your residency application—it showcases your education, clinical experiences, and achievements in a clear, professional format. Here are some essential tips to refine your CV before submitting it.
1. Shape Your Story
Your CV isn’t just a list of accomplishments—it’s a structured way to tell your professional story. Highlight the experiences that have shaped you and align with your chosen specialty. Since each residency program has its own focus (e.g., research-heavy vs. clinically oriented), consider how you can best present your background to fit their priorities.
2. Choose the Right Font
Stick to serif fonts (like Times New Roman, Garamond, or Palatino) rather than sans serif fonts (such as Arial or Calibri). Serif fonts are easier to read in long documents. Also, use only one font throughout to maintain a polished look.
3. Make It Visually Clear
A well-organized CV is easier to read and leaves a stronger impression. Use:
- Bold or italics for emphasis (but don’t overuse them).
- Headings and indentations to clearly separate sections.
- Bullet points for descriptions instead of dense paragraphs.
Where and how you present information affects how it's perceived, so make sure your layout is clean and professional.
4. Keep Formatting Consistent
Consistency makes your CV easier to scan. If you bold section headings, do so throughout. If you list job titles in italics, apply the same style everywhere. A predictable format helps guide the reader smoothly through your CV.
5. Prioritize Content Over Dates
List experiences in the following order:
- Position or Degree
- Organization/Institution
- Location
- Dates (last)
Your role is more important than when it happened, so lead with what matters most.
6. Keep It Concise
Your CV should be a maximum of two pages—unless you have truly exceptional experiences that require more space. Program directors review many applications, so a concise and well-organized CV will be more impactful than a long, unfocused one.
By following these tips, you’ll create a CV that is polished, easy to read, and tailored to residency programs. Review it carefully, seek feedback, and make revisions to ensure it effectively represents you as a strong candidate.