By: Tonya Hamlin
Date: June 18, 2025
Is it time to revisit your physician CV? Whether preparing it to apply for your first physician job or updating it in the hopes of making a change, your physician CV remains the centerpiece of your job search, serving as a calling card that tells recruiters and potential employers about your training and experience. Of course, other components matter — Doximity profiles, a presence on LinkedIn, updated contact info in alumni directories — but nothing takes the place of a polished and accurate physician CV that tells the story of where you’ve been and where you’d like to go.
As Regional Vice President of Recruitment for Jackson Physician Search, I review hundreds of physician CVs each week. I rely on these documents to quickly tell me what I need to know about a physician candidate. At a minimum, I should be able to immediately identify the physician’s specialty and the extent of their experience. It all seems relatively straightforward, yet the number of mistakes I see regularly might surprise you. I understand physicians are people too, and of course, everyone makes mistakes, so I certainly won’t write off a candidate for a typo. That said, some mistakes on your CV can be detrimental, not just because they make you seem careless, but because they make it difficult for recruiters to understand your professional story. Having the basic components of the physician CV is a must, but it’s also important to avoid these five common physician CV mistakes.
1. Omitting Critical Dates
Medical education and training adhere to a uniform timeline, so it can raise red flags when dates are missing. Failing to include precise dates for education, residency, fellowships, certifications, or positions held can leave the reader confused and skeptical. It suggests either a lack of attention to detail or, worse, an attempt to obscure employment gaps or career interruptions.
Ensure that you list the start and end dates (including month and year) for all your professional training and experiences. Format these consistently to help the reader quickly grasp your career trajectory. Even brief experiences, such as short-term locum assignments, need clear date references. Remember, transparency builds trust.
If there are gaps on your CV, be sure to document what you were doing during that time. Whether you were dealing with medical problems, family needs, or other issues, be sure to document the time spent on these matters, at least at a high level, on your CV.
2. Missing Key Details: Specialty and Contact Information
You would be surprised at how many physician CVs fail to clearly state the physician’s specialty or subspecialty. This tends to happen when a resident lists the name of their residency program but not the focus area. I can usually do some digging to figure it out, but many recruiters and hiring managers won’t take the time to investigate. Make it easy for them by ensuring your CV prominently lists your specialty or subspecialty near your name at the top of your document.
Similarly, your contact information should be readily available and accurate. Double-check phone numbers, email addresses, and professional profiles, such as LinkedIn or Doximity. In some cases, this may be intentional. Physicians may fear being overwhelmed with job listings and requests from recruiters, which can make it difficult for them to reach out. However, if you make it too complicated, your ideal opportunity may not find its way to you. Even with the high demand for physicians, most recruiters will move on to the next candidate if they can’t easily find a way to reach you.
3. Not Proofreading for Mistakes
It might sound basic, but many physicians overlook proofreading their CVs, or they have someone too close to the situation do the proofreading. Have someone outside your specialty review the CV to check for typos, grammatical errors, or formatting inconsistencies that undermine your credibility and convey a lack of professionalism or care. Medicine demands precision, and mistakes in your CV might lead readers to question your competence or thoroughness in clinical settings.
Take the time to proofread your CV thoroughly. Even better, have a trusted colleague, mentor, or professional editor review it. Another set of eyes is likely to catch any mistakes you missed. Once you have a clean, final version, I recommend saving it as a PDF before submitting.
4. Skipping the Summary Statement
Your CV should start with a brief summary statement or professional profile. Many physicians make the mistake of jumping directly into their education and experience, neglecting the crucial opportunity to frame their career story and highlight key strengths and objectives.
A strong summary statement provides an instant snapshot of who you are, your area of expertise, your experience level, and your professional aspirations. It sets the stage and guides readers through your CV, immediately communicating your value and focus. Tailor this statement to specific positions when possible to increase its impact.
5. Obvious Use of AI Assistance
AI-driven tools have become increasingly common for CV and resume development, offering templates, phrasing suggestions, and proofreading services. However, obvious reliance on AI-generated content can severely backfire. Generic phrases, unnatural language, or overly elaborate statements that don’t sound authentic to you can stand out negatively.
Employers and recruiters want authenticity. While leveraging technology to assist your writing and structure is fine, your CV should sound professional, not robotic. Edit thoroughly to ensure your CV remains personalized, specific, and reflective of your voice, experiences, and genuine strengths.
Ensure Your Physician CV Reflects the Story You Want to Tell
Your physician CV is more than just a document — it’s your professional ambassador, opening doors to new opportunities and career advancement. Ensure your CV clearly presents your professional story, offering accurate dates, critical details, and clear contact information. Include a summary statement that quickly conveys your short-term professional goals. While it all seems simple, it’s easy to make mistakes when crafting this important document, so be sure to proofread it yourself and ask others to review it as well. Artificial intelligence can be helpful in this part of the process, but don’t rely too heavily on AI, as it can threaten the authenticity of your CV.
By presenting a strong, mistake-free physician CV, you’ll position yourself as a strong candidate for any relevant job. Ultimately, a carefully crafted CV not only helps you land interviews but also signals to employers that you are precise, thoughtful, and committed to excellence — traits every healthcare organization values.
Once you’ve perfected your physician CV, head to the Career Resource Center for more physician job search tips. Here, you will find a checklist of job search documents, physician interview etiquette, physician compensation considerations, and more. Most importantly, reach out to a Jackson Physician Search recruitment team member. We look forward to learning more about you and guiding you through your physician job search.