If you plan to launch a job search for a new position as a doctor in the global healthcare market, there are three documents you need to draft and organise before you start registering with recruitment agencies, medical job boards or making job applications. As with everything, preparation is key. Our article 10 Job Search Tips for Doctors provided an overview of the job search process, and in this article, we shall focus on tip #8, the three key job search documents.

Don’t waste any more time pursing job applications until you have the following three things completed, polished, and ready to submit as needed. 

1. An Impressive and Productive Medical Curriculum Vitae (CV)

It is often said that the CV is the most important document a candidate for a medical job can write. It is usually the first point of contact with potential employers or partners in practice, and therefore crucial for making a favourable impression and securing a job interview.

The CV provides prospective employers with more information than just your qualifications and experience. It is an indicator of presentation skills, organisational ability, communication clarity and attention to detail. Accordingly, it requires close attention.

Our article The Productive CV - Writing a CV To Get Shortlisted gives and overview of the process of drafting a CV for the digital age when relevant key words and sound formatting are vital for high rankings in the CV searches recruiters run on job board and healthcare organisation data bases to review submitted applications.

With those considerations in mind, the CV is best drafted as a template document on Microsoft word or Google Docs, saved in the cloud or other site where it can be easily retrieved and then edited for each job application and updated with new information as required. Many doctors send a standard (and often outdated CV) to multiple job applications. This inevitably meets with an unfavorable response and should be avoided.

In your template document, beneath your name and contact information (address, phone, and email), list the following headings followed by the relevant details: 

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
Start with the most recent institution (provide the full name and location) and work backwards. Include the years of study, degree earned, areas of focus, special qualifications, and distinctions. 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Again, start with the most recent and work backwards listing places of employment, locations, and dates. Use bullets to briefly describe your accomplishments in the role, noting procedure and patient volumes, administrative duties, leadership roles, or committee memberships. Offer a concise explanation for any gaps in employment. 

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSURE
List jurisdictions where you are currently licensed and the category and status of all registrations. Include board certifications.

HONOURS & AFFILIATIONS
If applicable, list any awards, honours, or professional affiliations. 

PUBLICATIONS AND ACADEMIC WORK
If applicable, list publications and presentations.

Your CV is your first chance to impress a recruiter, so it should accurately (and concisely) reflect your professional accomplishments. It should also include personal details relevant to your job search, such as citizenship and/or visa requirements. Proofread your CV for typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors. Some recruiters may assume that sloppiness on the CV could mean sloppiness on the job. 

2. A Targeted Cover Letter

When applying for jobs online, a cover letter may not seem necessary, but avoid the temptation to skip this important step. The cover letter is your chance to provide context for your CV and show the recruiter who you are and why you are interested in the job. 

The objective of the cover letter is to outline what you are looking for, or explain why you are a good fit for a particular job. As with the CV, the cover letter is best drafted as a template and saved ready for editing with each job application.

While each cover letter must be specific to the opportunity, there are a generic few standards to apply in every scenario: 

• Express enthusiasm for the opportunity and note why it is appealing to you
• Highlight any qualifications, skills or experiences that are especially relevant to the job for which you are applying
• If necessary, request confidentiality
• Be concise
• Follow business etiquette, but do not be overly formal
• Proofread for typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors

The cover letter template must be edited and drafted in response to each job application and should express the reasons for your interest in that particular job.

3. A List of Professional Referees

Professional references are required for all applications for medical jobs and professional registration with medical regulatory authorities. Before starting a job search, attention should be devoted to the drafting of a document template listing appropriate referees who may be called upon for each job application.

Some employers request sight of professional references prior to shortlisting candidates for interview whilst others wait until the job offer stage. Regardless of the recruitment process deployed by the employer, it is useful to compile a list of referees at the outset of the job search. This saves time and keeps the application process moving forward without delay, benefiting both you and your potential employer.

Some candidates list referees on the CV, a practice best avoided, as employers may proceed to contact them without your permission. We recommend drafting a template document to be saved and edited for each job application. You may wish to vary your referees depending upon the type or location of the job for which you are applying.

So first things first, who should you ask to be a referee? You want to provide referees who work at the same level within the same speciality for all consultant and specialist jobs. For resident medical officer (junior doctor positions) you should use consultants with whom you have worked recently, not necessarily within the same speciality as the current job application. Most employers require referees with whom you have worked within the last 2-3 years and some stipulate that the reference should be no older than six months.

Select a target list of potential referees and contact each one to ask their permission to act as a referee for you and to share their contact information with potential employers who may contact them to clarify the authenticity of the reference or ask further questions. Confirm that they are willing to respond to these inquiries. You may also want to tell them a little about your job search; why you are looking and the type of employment you are seeking. If you know you will be working to overcome objections such as job hopping or gaps in employment, you may want to share your explanation for those issues so they can reinforce your messaging. Referees should be prepared to take calls from unknown numbers and respond to email requests. promptly.

Once you have these three documents drafted, polished and ready to submit, you are ready to set up job alerts, scroll physician job boards, and reach out to a physician recruiter. Of course, if you need further guidance with any of these steps, a recruiter at Odyssey Recruitment would be happy to help. Contact us today and register your CV with us. You can sign up for job alerts and receive emails about newly posted positions in your desired specialties and locations.