Preparing the perfect medical CV : how to succeed in your chosen field PDF
Preview Preparing the perfect medical CV : how to succeed in your chosen field
Contents Cover 1 Front Matter 3 Chapter 1 13 Chapter 2 17 Chapter 3 35 Chapter 4 61 Chapter 5 94 Chapter 6 118 Chapter 7 132 Chapter 8 160 Conclusion 170 Also Available 171 Preparing the Perfect Medical CV: How to succeed in your chosen fi eld By Helen Douglas and Vivek Sivarajan Edited by Matt Green PPeerrffeecctt mmeeddiiccaall pprree..iinndddd ii 1122//88//0099 44::4466::5522 PPMM Published by Developmedica 2009 Castle Court Duke Street New Basford, Nottingham, NG7 7JN 0845 838 0571 www.developmedica.com © 2009 Developmedica Digital Edition converted and published by Andrews UK Limited 2010 www.andrewsuk.com All rights reserved. Purchasers of this book are instructed that they can only use this guide for the purpose of improving their CV preparation and job application skills and are prohibited from redistributing this book or any part thereof. This book cannot be reproduced in full or in part without the express written permission of Developmedica. The views expressed in this book are those of Developmedica and not those of the National Health Service. Developmedica is in no way associated with the National Health Service. The contents of this book are intended as a guide only and although every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this book are correct, Developmedica cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any loss or damage that results from the use of this guide. Readers are advised to seek independent advice regarding their CV preparation and job application skills. Every effort has been made to contact the copyright holders of any material reproduced within this publication. If any have been inadvertently overlooked, the publishers will be pleased to make restitution at the earliest opportunity. A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library About the authors Helen Douglas Helen is a graduate of Sheffi eld Medical School. She completed her PRHO year in General and Paediatric Medicine and Surgery, her F2 year in Anatomy Demonstrating and A&E, and her Specialist Training in Plastic Surgery, completing rotations in Plastics, ENT, Orthopaedics and General Surgery. She is currently Laser Research Fellow at Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, reading for an MD. After her research she will commence a run-through training post at ST3 level in Plastic Surgery in England. Vivek Sivarajan Vivek is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon, one of the youngest of his generation. Vivek has had a fl awless medical career and now participates in trainee recruitment and appraisal. Vivek has a clear understanding of what is required to succeed in every stage of your medical career. About the editor Matt Green Matt is Managing Director of Developmedica, and has been assisting doctors of all grades and specialties to improve their CVs for a number of years. It is with this in mind that he has edited this book to pass on his wisdom in this fi eld. PPeerrffeecctt mmeeddiiccaall pprree..iinndddd vvii 1122//88//0099 44::4466::5533 PPMM About the publisher Developmedica is a specialist provider of books, courses and eLearning solutions tailored to meet your career development needs. Visit our web site at www.developmedica.com and fi nd out more. Our approach is friendly and personal. Please telephone or email any time to discuss your requirements. Tell us what you think Developmedica are committed to publishing high quality books and would love to hear your thoughts on how this book helped you, or your suggestions on any new topics we should be pursuing to support individuals in progressing their careers. Simply email your thoughts to [email protected]. Better still, please submit a testimonial to the website that you purchased this book from, and email us with a link to where you have placed the testimonial, and you will be entered into our monthly prize draw with the chance to win one of a range of prizes. PPeerrffeecctt mmeeddiiccaall pprree..iinndddd vviiii 1122//88//0099 44::4466::5533 PPMM Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge with gratitude the help and support of the following people, without whom the writing of this guide would have been diffi cult if not impossible. Dr John Bache (Retired Consultant in A&E Medicine, Leighton) Mr Christopher West (Specialist Registrar in Plastic Surgery, Edinburgh) Miss Sarah Chadwick (Research Fellow in Plastic Surgery, Manchester) Mr James Tiernan (Specialist Registrar in General Surgery, Sheffi eld) Helen Douglas and Vivek Sivarajan PPeerrffeecctt mmeeddiiccaall pprree..iinndddd vviiiiii 1122//88//0099 44::4466::5533 PPMM Foreword Progressing your medical career is a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience that few other vocations offer. Regardless of the stage you are at, the sooner you take a proactive approach to developing and matching your skills and experience to your intended career path, the better. Whether you are a Medical Student looking to successfully apply to the Foundation Programme or an accomplished Consultant looking to gain acceptance on to a specialist committee, you must always be clear on what those evaluating your application will be looking for. The main aim of this guide is to tell you, the reader, exactly how to present your CV or application form in a manner that will help you to stand out over your rival applicants. It also provides readers with a clear insight into what steps you should take to develop your skills and how to gain involvement in activities that will benefi t you and your career in the long-term. It may be an old adage, but ‘Success comes to those who prepare for it!’ It may be the case that you have purchased this book with simply applying to one post in mind. However, the goal of publishing this book is to support individuals in their job applications at every step of their career. When I fi rst founded Developmedica (formerly Apply 2 Medicine) in 2005 we began by offering CV and application form support to individuals who were unable to gain the support and guidance they needed. The process of applying for a new post is daunting, and something that we have all experienced at one stage or another. Consequently, it has given me great pleasure in distilling the experience I have gained over the years into this guide. PPeerrffeecctt mmeeddiiccaall pprree..iinndddd iixx 1122//88//0099 44::4466::5533 PPMM x Foreword Remember, a poorly structured and presented CV can let down even those with the most illustrious of careers! Please take the time to fully absorb the contents to avoid the common mistakes and pitfalls that many individuals make, and in doing so stand out for the right reasons. On that note, may I wish you the best of luck with your current and future applications! Matt Green PPeerrffeecctt mmeeddiiccaall pprree..iinndddd xx 1122//88//0099 44::4466::5533 PPMM Introduction Whether you are thinking of applying to Medical School, fi nishing your Foundation 1 year, choosing your future specialty or completing your training, the competition to secure your next position is overwhelming at every stage and always has been. However, the current climate of UK Medical Training, particularly in light of the recent problems with the Medical Training and Applications System (MTAS) and the uncertain future regarding MMC, means that the application process is more frequent, more challenging and different every year. The competition for training posts is incredibly steep, as the government workforce planning for medical staff has made no secret of the fact that despite decreasing referral-to-treatment times to eighteen weeks, doctors’ training numbers are being cut. The result? Massive increase in competition for training numbers and rock-bottom morale amongst the medical community. Never has it been so important to be able to present yourself as a suitable candidate for jobs, and it is easy to become despondent when considering the extent of competition. However, it is important to remember that these positions are out there and available, and by presenting yourself in the best possible light you will gain the highest chance of securing the place you want. This guide is not a magic wand. It will not transform your experiences and qualifi cations into those needed for a place at Medical School, or a particular job or fellowship. However, it will help you to identify steps that you can take at various stages before your applications to achieve extra material for your CV and help you to display concisely the evidence you have to those selecting candidates. We make some points, particularly concerning CV construction, in more than one chapter. Because of that, when considering an application you can safely refer to the chapter that specifi cally relates to your PPeerrffeecctt mmeeddiiccaall pprree..iinndddd xxii 1122//88//0099 44::4466::5533 PPMM
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