Creating a Dental CV or Resume
Your CV or resume is often the first impression a prospective employer will have of you, so make sure it clearly communicates your strengths and skills. Make every word count!
The information you choose and how you present it should build a compelling case for why a dentist should consider you as a prospective associate or independent contractor. Be precise, but also toot your own horn (in moderation).
Your CV or resume should:
- Describe your education and professional experience
- Indicate career goals and objectives
- Establish credibility and professional qualifications
- Establish you as an outstanding candidate
- Demonstrate and sell your capabilities
In healthcare, a CV is preferred while private industry employers are familiar with traditional resume formats. So as a general rule, when applying for a dental associate or independent contractor position, use the CV format.
"Curriculum vitae" is Latin for "the course of one's life" so it's appropriate that a CV would display your academic credentials and accomplishments in greater detail than a resume.
Although a CV should list all credentials, the content should have a tone of understated modesty about achievements. The content and length of a CV depends on the candidate's objective and level of experience. A new grad might have a one page CV while someone with a longer career might require a dozen pages.
Typical headings might include:
- Contact information
- Objective or summary statement
- Education/degrees
- Licensure and certifications
- Professional experience, including internships
- Recognitions: awards, honors, publications, speaking engagements
- Special skills/training: conferences, computer skills, languages
- Professional affiliations
- Community and extracurricular activities
- Additional information
Include details such as dates, locations, responsibilities in positions held, and the skills you gained or used through these experiences. By gathering this information in a rough form, you now have a basic outline to begin writing your CV.
There is no right or wrong way to put together a CV, but you'll need to determine the right combination and order of topics based on your experience, education and goals. A self-assessment can be the foundation of how you sell yourself and will help differentiate your CV from those of other individuals.