COMMENTARY AND PERSPECTIVE

Preparing a Curriculum Vitae for New

Graduates
Muhammad Waseem, MD, MS, FAAP, FACEP1 , and Benjamin H. Schnapp, MD, MEd2

D uring the transition into residency training,

preparing a curriculum vitae (CV) can seem like
a daunting task, especially when each example seems a
little bit different and no definitive guide exists. Never-
theless, the effort to craft a great CV is worth it, and
this guide will endeavor to make the task easier by set-
ting out the essential “dos and don’ts.” A CV serves
as a professional passport, cataloguing accomplish-
ments, opening doors to employment, and creating
opportunities for professional connections.
RESUME VERSUS CV
A curriculum vitae is a comprehensive list of your accom-
plishments, including education credentials, teaching,
and publications and can run for many pages, while a
resume (which you may be familiar with from a previous
career) is a one-page abbreviation of the most relevant
accomplishments you wish to highlight for a particular
application.1 Fortunately, there is a general understand-
ing in medicine that accounting for the full range of
one’s achievements can take up significant space; the
prevailing standard is for potential employers to request
an applicant’s CV. You may still be asked to prepare a
resume for special purposes such as applying for a lead-
ership position or award, which will present only your
most relevant qualifications for the position.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Providing a name, e-mail address, and home and work
telephone number is fairly standard, as these allow
potential future employers to contact the applicant if
needed. Optional information includes home and pro-
fessional addresses, date of birth, and birthplace, but
this information usually is not required by employers.
Do not underestimate the potential benefit of strategic
deployment of this type of biographical information.
For example, if applying for a distant job, employers
may be reassured to learn that the applicant was born
nearby. Beware that this information could backfire,
however, as when an employer unlawfully discrimi-
nates against an applicant based on their age or mari-
tal status. Do not list social security numbers.
EDUCATION
Start with residency training and work backward,
including any graduate school and undergraduate expe-
rience. Include all awarded degrees, dates of atten-
dance, and location. High school should be omitted.
LICENSURE
List the issuing state, whether it is a permanent or a
temporary license, and the active dates. It is not neces-
sary to list specific license numbers on a CV.
CERTIFICATIONS
List all board certifications in chronological order even
if the certification is incomplete or in process. For
example, it is acceptable to list board eligibility having
not sat for both ABEM examinations. Include such

From the 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Lincoln Medical Center, Bronx, NY; and the 2BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine,
University of Wisconsin, Madison, NY.
Received August 24, 2019; revision received November 14, 2019; accepted November 20, 2019.
The authors have no relevant financial information or potential conflicts to disclose.
Supervising Editor: Jaime Jordan, MD.
Address for correspondence and reprints: Benjamin H. Schnapp, MD, MEd; e-mail: bschnapp@medicine.wisc.edu.
AEM EDUCATION AND TRAINING 2020;4:S143–S146.

© 2019 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

doi: 10.1002/aet2.10420 ISSN 2472-5390 S143
S144
accolades as Diplomat of the National Board of Medi-
cal Examiners (passed all three parts of USMLE), but
do not include any scores. Some choose to list “merit
badges” here (e.g., ACLS, ATLS, PALS) as well, as
prospective employers may wish to know an appli-
cant’s status prior to employment.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
These include memberships in medical organizations
and activities that highlight involvement in hospital,
residency, regional, and national medical organiza-
tions. Examples include membership on committees
and involvement within the residency program (e.g.,
committees, interviewing). This is also the place to list
the additional coursework outside of residency. It may
be beneficial to group these activities together to
emphasize common themes (e.g., advocacy, EMS).
RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
Include your involvement with any research projects
here. Prospective employers may ask about specifics of
listed research including level of participation, espe-
cially if the potential position has an academic focus.
List all scholarly products, starting with both peer-re-
viewed and non–peer-reviewed publications. Be sure
to include publications submitted and accepted but
not yet published as "in press." Abstract presentations
are generally listed second; however, be sure that they
are clearly listed as abstracts rather than manuscripts.
Grants, if any, are included in the final section.
LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS
List all significant lectures and presentations. There
may be more than initially apparent—a brief talk at a
residency conference or an invited presentation at a
meeting within your hospital system should be
included. If you have any doubts, add it to your CV
and discuss with a mentor; activities can always be
removed if they are felt to be too trivial.
TEACHING LOG
When applying for an academic position, it is benefi-
cial to create a separate section dedicated to teaching
activities. Highlight the depth, breadth, and quality of
teaching. List courses designed and led, the number
and level of learners (e.g., medical students, residents,
WASEEM et al. • PREPARING A CURRICULUM VITAE
faculty), and the time commitment (e.g., once a year,
biweekly). Include summary evaluation results, if avail-
able. A robust teaching log demonstrating proven
teaching success provides leverage in a competitive aca-
demic job market. Each activity demonstrates subject
matter expertise and public speaking skill, both valu-
able assets to most employers. In addition, the content
may spark interest and opportunity from an employer
intrigued by a lecture or presentation. A chance morn-
ing report on sepsis may create a connection with
someone whose focus is quality improvement. Do not
miss out on these potential opportunities (see Figure 1
for an example teaching log).
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
The value of listing previous employment, including
hospitals worked at during residency, may not be obvi-
ous at first. However, potential employers may not be
familiar with the diverse clinical experiences offered in
each residency program, and experience in multiple
different clinical environments is an asset. Also show-
case nonmedical jobs that may be relevant to the
employer (e.g., scribe experience which may demon-
strate documentation efficiency) or positions held prior
to residency that demonstrate leadership potential, pro-
ject management skills, and organizational skills.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
While hobbies and nonprofessional activities may
have been a focus of residency interviews, they are less
valuable for postgraduate employment. Similar to pro-
fessional experience, focus on activities that de-
monstrate leadership, business skills, or community
engagement. These can be kept to a minimum or, bet-
ter yet, omitted entirely from a CV.
FORMATTING
Curriculum vitae should be written in the third per-
son, concise, mistake free, and well organized.2 Many
universities have a specific CV format that they prefer
or require—check with your own institution to see if
this applies, as they may provide a template.
Proofreading is essential to avoid typographical and
grammatical errors. While it is permissible to change
the font size for different sections of the CV—gener-
ally 18 pt for name, 12 to 14 pt for headings, and 10
to 12 pt for main text—use the same font throughout
AEM EDUCATION AND TRAINING • February 2020, Vol. 4, No. S1 • www.aem-e-t.com
Activity/Topic Level Role
Altered Mental 2nd year Facilitator
Status Simulation Medical
Students
Figure 1. A sample teaching log entry detailing involvement with simulation for early medical students, including the number of learners,
time commitment, and a summary of learner evaluations of the teacher.
the entire document.3 Finally, avoid placing dates in
the left margin which tends to overemphasize the date
as opposed to the activity itself.
COVER LETTER
The cover letter addresses three important matters that
the CV does not:
1. Position sought
2. Most important accomplishments
3. Vision for the new position
While 1 is straightforward, 2 and 3 should be cus-
tomized for each position. A cover letter for a fellow-
ship might emphasize the applicant’s interest in
learning and how additional training will support
future career goals. A cover letter for an academic fac-
ulty position, on the other hand, should highlight
important achievements and accomplishments and
how they relate to the institution’s mission or goals.
Background information about a potential employer
may provide important context within which to frame
a cover letter. There are many great examples available
online. Friends or coworkers who have recently com-
pleted their own job searches may be willing to share
their own examples.
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Professional references should also be listed separately
from the CV. References should be from individuals
who are willing to be contacted to attest to the appli-
cant’s past job performance and future potential.
Employers routinely expect three references, including
one from the residency program director. Not listing
the program director as a reference can be interpreted
by some employers as a red flag, so be prepared to
defend the omission if necessary. For other references,
the applicant should choose people with whom they
have worked closely and who can highlight the candi-
date’s strengths. Other valuable references may include
research principal investigators; section chiefs; fellow-
ship directors; or anyone with intimate knowledge of
S145
No. Hrs/Time Years Evaluations
Learners Taught
10-20 4 hrs/3 2018- Average:
months present 4.7/5
the candidate’s work ethic, communication skills, and
affability. To avoid unpleasant surprises, be certain to
ask permission of anyone listed as a reference.
YOUR CV AND PROFESSIONAL
RECRUITERS
As you progress in your career, recruiters may offer
assistance with job placement. While some recruiters
can be helpful, we urge applicants to resist the tempta-
tion to outsource the leg work of job hunting. Recrui-
ters may charge thousands in fees just for making a
few phone calls and sending a few e-mails. A recruiter
who circulates a CV among several groups may claim
to have made the introduction and lay claim to a
lucrative commission even if the applicant ultimately
does much of the work themselves. Exceptions include
internal recruiters who are agents of specific groups or
health care networks. If it is unclear who you are inter-
acting with, it is okay to ask.
ONLINE RESOURCES
There are several paper and online resources available
to help one guide the creation of a CV. Some of our
favorites can be found here:
• https://www.thebalancecareers.com/medical-curric
ulum-vitae-example-2060325
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC5673141/
• https://www.ama-assn.org/residents-students/career-
planning-resource/creating-standout-cv
• https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.j82
CONCLUSION
The curriculum vitae is an important professional tool,
not just for job hunting but also for obtaining appro-
priate recognition for your work through annual
reviews, promotions, awards, and committee member-
ships. However, it is only as good as the information
it contains. Be thoughtful and be accurate. A great
S146
curriculum vitae takes time and will require ongoing
effort throughout residency. Update achievements, job
histories, and scholarly work regularly, at least every
6 months. Your curriculum vitae is a living document
that will naturally evolve over the course of your
career. Create a system to collect accomplishments in
real time as they occur to ensure all they are accurately
recorded in a timely manner. Many find keeping a
copy on the desktop of their computer helpful to facili-
tate timely updates. Now get out there and create an
amazing curriculum vitae!
The authors thank David Barnes, MD, FACEP, for
his assistance with editing.
WASEEM et al. • PREPARING A CURRICULUM VITAE
References
1. Christenbery TL. The curriculum vitae: gateway to acade-
mia. Nurse Educ 2014;39:267–8.
2. Green M. Preparing the perfect medical CV. BMJ
2011;343:d5289.
3. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Preparing Your Curriculum Vitae. Available at: https://
www.aamc.org/members/gfa/faculty_vitae/150034/preparing_
your_curriculum_vitae. Accessed December 9, 2019.