CV preparation & Interview skills

CV preparation & Interview skills Ahmed Attar MBBS, FRCPC, Epidemiology (Cert.)

Disclosure(s) • None.

Objectives & Outline • Learn how to write your CV. • Gain some interview skills. • Get the position your looking for. • Have the opportunity to chose. • Have Plan B.

What is the CV • A CV or Curriculum Vitae is: • Your Life History • Your Job History • Your Achievements • Your Skills

What is a CV • A CV is a marketing tool. • With your CV you will be able to promote yourself. • Imagine the CV as being a brochure that will list the benefits of a particular service. • The service being your time and skills! • When writing a CV look at it from your employers point of view. • A CV is an essential tool in your job search.

Where to start • Type your CV your self. • Check the spelling. • Have it proofread by a professional • Be prepared to pay some cash for your CV. • Remember, all what’s in your CV is your effort with the expert just organizing it differently.

How to Write a C.V.-Physician version http://www.susancraig.com/physicians/how_to_write.php • The purpose of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) is to introduce yourself and to get your foot in the door.

Academic and Clinical CVs • Academic CVs • Aimed at the decision-makers in university hospital settings. • These are people who are generally heavy into research themselves and want to know about your interests in that area, your publications and your achievements.

Clinical CVs • Aimed at the decision-makers in clinical work settings - hospitals, clinics, ERs and urgent care settings. • Clinicians will want to know about your academics, but more specifically, they want to know what you prefer to do and have done medically, and what your personality is like.

…Clinical CVs • Leadership roles that you may have held, such as Chief of Staff or Chief Resident, Chief of Interns, Leader of your classmates are of interest here. • Keep your Clinical CV to about two or three pages.

General CV Rules • The Format: • It is best to type and save your CV using Microsoft Word. • Make sure that all CVs can be attached and read clearly in an email. • Do not send your CV as an Acrobat Reader file. • The Font • Use a plain, 12-pitch size font (Arial or Helvetica). • You should choose a sans-serif font (which means no curly things on the ends of the letters). • Do not use gray to emphasize headings, as it doesn't transmit when faxed and photocopied.

…General CV Rules • The Layout: • Do not get too creative with your layout. • Leave a lot of white space - thinking space - around the edges. • The Paper: • Do not use colored paper, just use a plain white bond paper. • If you are presenting the CV by hand chose a heavier, laid stock with a nice feel to it.

The Structure 1. Contact Information • Start your CV with your name, address, phone numbers (home, work, cell and pager) and email address. 2. Education • Only include titles for which you acquired letters (e.g. - MD, FRCP(c), MSc, PhD). • Make sure to list the names of the institutions you studied at, along with their locations and the dates you acquired your degrees.

…The Structure 3. Professional Experience • List your work experience in reverse chronological order. 4. Prizes and Awards • This is where you should indicate any prizes or awards you have won. Include prizes and awards that relate all the way back to high school scholarships.

…The Structure 5. Other Education and Training • Include any other relevant education or training. For example: • Course in Psychiatry - Family Practice, Clarke Institute, Toronto, 1998-99 • Some people like to include their ATLS, ACLS, PALS, etc. information here. Indicate the specific dates so the employer knows how recent your training is. Also, indicate if you are an instructor in any of the areas.

…The Structure 6. Personal • This is the spot to put your marital status, number of children (if any) and if you want to, your birth date. It is also a good idea to note any special interests and hobbies you have. 7. Publications and Presentations

References • Do not include your references on your actual CV. • Remember to be sure that your referees are aware before they are contacted so they can be ready to say good things about you.

Top Résumé mistakes • No clear focus • Your CV should show a clear match between your skills and experience and the job’s requirements. • Why are you the best person for this particular position? • Dutifully dull • Your CV should not be a laundry list of your duties but rather an announcement of your major accomplishments. • Poorly organized • Information on a CV should be listed in order of importance to the reader.

…continue • Important skills buried • Important skills that make you a standout • Drab looking • Overly artistic or tiny fonts are a no-no • Too personal • One typo too many • First impression • Inflating the truth • Skips the extras

Cover letters • The goal is to create an easy-to-read letter that stands out from the sea of generic-sounding correspondence and makes the reader want to learn more about you.

A READABLE COVER LETTERS 1) Focus on what the Hospital/University wants or needs. 2) Write to a person. 3) Answer these simple questions: a) what can you do for them? b) what is your current situation? c) why do you want to work for them? d) why are you qualified for this position? 4) Keep it short and sweet. 5) Write it like you say it.

Tips for Successful CV Writing • Don’t skip the small stuff • Use language that sizzles • Use active language and strong, energetic words. • Avoid the use of personal pronouns such as “I” and “me.” • Get to the point • Edit and proofread carefully • Customize

…continue • Be truthful and accurate • Name your motivation • Don’t make an employer guess • Emphasize achievements • Put education in the right place • Include references and portfolio

Styles of CV’s • Chronological CV • Targeted CV • Combination CV • Inventory CV • Functional CV

REMEMBER! • Irrespective of style and design, above all the presentation of your CV needs to be • High quality • Clear • Professional • Up-to-date

Chronological CV • The information moves from the beginning of your career to the present situation. • The CV is easy to read and one can easily go through the career history. • The chronological CV is advised where : • You have a solid career history. • Where there are no major gaps. • Your responsibilities have increased in each career change. • You had high profile job roles.

Targeted CV • This kind of CV is a way to focus your career towards a particular objective, within a specific industry or a specific company. • A targeted CV is written in a way that highlights skills, qualifications and experience that match the requirements of the advertised position.

Combination CV • A combination of the chronological and functional formats.

Inventory CV • The Inventory CV is used when sending your CV to: • Various recruiters • When you do not have a specific job objective • This kind of CV is a more general overview of your skills, achievements and qualifications. • General career goals can be: • "a secretary working with a local company" • "a computer programmer" • "a sales person"

Functional CV • The functional CV emphasizes your accomplishments, skills and qualifications at the beginning of your CV. • The timeline is not an issue. • Your career history is positioned at the end of your CV where you could also list small details about your previous jobs. • The functional CV focuses on your skills and accomplishments rather than your life history.

Overqualified! • Be prepared to defend your choice.

How to tackle weaknesses in your CV? • New Graduate. • One job's weakness is another job's strength. A weakness or a perceived weakness by a recruiter can have a huge impact on your chance to be called for an interview. • Be prepared to defend the weak point(s) in your CV.

Remember! • Always keep your CV UPDATED

Concentrate on your performance at your Medical school and your high grades in secondary school. Maturity (grown-up attitudes) and emotional intelligence. Talk about your characters Communications Creativity Responsibility Determination Integrity Compassion Problem-solving Writing CV's with no career history or work experience

I’m a good team-player -not necessarily the leader-

Need a template/services? • http://www.businessballs.com/freematerialsinword/free_cv_sample_template.doc • http://www.susancraig.com/physicians/how_to_write.php • http://staffpointe.employment911.com/?a=3605&b=5000 • http://www.physicianssearch.com/physician/cvarticl.html

CV words and phrases • Results-driven, logical and methodical approach to achieving tasks and objectives • Determined and decisive; uses initiative to develop effective solutions to problems • Reliable and dependable - high personal standards and attention to detail • Methodical and rigorous approach to achieving tasks and objectives

… CV words and phrases • Entrepreneurial and pro-active - strong drive and keen business mind • Identifies and develops opportunities; innovates and makes things happen • Good strategic appreciation and vision; able to build and implement sophisticated plans • Strives for quality and applies process and discipline towards optimizing performance

… CV words and phrases • Extremely reliable and dependable - analytical and questioning, strives for quality • Methodical approach to planning and organizing - good time-manager • Excellent interpersonal skills - good communicator, leadership, high integrity • Strong planning, organizing and monitoring abilities - an efficient time-manager

… CV words and phrases • Self-driven and self-reliant - sets aims and targets and leads by example • Good interpersonal skills - works well with others, motivates and encourages • High integrity, diligent and conscientious - reliable and dependable • Self-aware - always seeking to learn and grow

… CV words and phrases • Seeks new responsibilities irrespective of reward and recognition • Emotionally mature and confident - a calming influence • Detailed and precise; fastidious and thorough • Decisive and results-driven; creative problem-solver • Good starter - enthusiastic in finding openings and opportunities

… CV words and phrases • Creative and entrepreneurial networker - effective project coordinator • Reliable and dependable in meeting objectives - hard-working • Emotionally mature; calming and positive temperament; tolerant and understanding

… CV words and phrases • Seeks and finds solutions to challenges - exceptionally positive attitude • Great team-worker - adaptable and flexible • Well-organized; good planner; good time-manager • Seeks new responsibilities and uses initiative; self-sufficient • Solid approach to achieving tasks and objectives; determined and decisive

… CV words and phrases • Excellent interpersonal skills - good communicator, high integrity • Energetic and physically very fit; quick to respond to opportunities and problems • Active and dynamic approach to work and getting things done • Financially astute - conversant with accounting systems and principles • Tactical, strategic and proactive - anticipates and takes initiative

… CV words and phrases • Systematic and logical - develops and uses effective processes • Good listener - caring and compassionate • Critical thinker - strong analytical skills; accurate and probing • Good researcher - creative and methodical - probing and resourceful • Facilitative project manager; develops and enables group buy-in

… CV words and phrases • Resilient and and thorough - detached and unemotional • Completer-finisher; checks and follows up - immaculate record-keeper • Team-player - loyal and determined • Technically competent/qualified [state discipline or area, to whatever standard or level]

… CV words and phrases • Task-oriented - commercially experienced and aware • Excellent inter-personal and communications skills • Sound planning and organizational capabilities • Results oriented - focused on productive and high-yield activities • Tolerant and understanding - especially good with young children/elderly people/needy people/disadvantaged people, etc

… CV words and phrases • Emotionally mature - calming and positive temperament - compassionate and caring • Sensitive and patient interpersonal and communication skills • High integrity and honesty; ethical and socially aware • Energetic and positive outlook, which often inspires others

… CV words and phrases • Calm, reliable and dependable in meeting objectives - logical and numerate • Seeks and finds good outcomes to challenges • Adaptable and flexible; well-organised planner and scheduler • Seeks new responsibilities and uses initiative; self-sufficient

Examples of non-work experiences • Voluntary work • Fund-raising • Grants and funding applications • Committee membership of societies and clubs • Organizing things - at school, college, university, local community • Campaigning for a cause

CV preparation & Interview skills