Special Cases – Professions where the rules are different
Medical CVs
Most recruitment for medical posts will be done through application forms, but CVs may still be essential for some positions.
As a medical professional, you will possess extensive qualifications as a result of your many years of training, and possibly your many years of experience. Your prospective employer is going to want to know all about this, so a medical CV will, therefore, be more complex and thus longer than the average CV.
When it comes to the Career history you should state not only years, but the precise months.
In addition to the ‘standard’ CV sections I have covered in my previous blogs, there some additional sections you may want to consider for a medical CV:
- Clinical skills
- Audits
- Research
- Presentations
- Publications
- Teaching
It would also be wise to demonstrate CPD. This is a profession where you are expected to be continually learning, and much value is placed on this by employers.
Whilst you shouldn’t generally include names of referees on a CV, medical CVs are an exception.
You will also be expected to provide details of your professional registration, including the reference numbers. This information can be provided under Other details.
Academic and Scientific CVs
These have many similarities to the medical CV.
There will be a lot of information that you will need to communicate to a prospective employer. However, don’t over complicate it by going into too much detail about projects and excessive technical detail. Just summarise and stick to the main points. If required, you can always elaborate on this in your interview.
It may be necessary to implement additional sections detailing any publications, etc. However, the general recommendation for academic and scientific CVs is that they should not exceed two pages – three at an absolute maximum.
Teaching CVs
As with most CVs, the way you approach writing a teaching CV will depend on the level you’ve reached in your career. Newly qualified teachers will focus on their qualifications, whereas most senior teachers will focus on their practical experience.
Teaching CVs do have a tendency to be longer than the average CV, but you should aim for it to be written in two pages if possible. You can usually provide a lengthy cover letter to go with it.
You should certainly have a section on CPD, keeping this section separate from the rest, because CPD is important in teaching to show you have kept up to date with your learning.
It is also important to highlight your IT skills, because these are always changing and you can show that you are familiar with interactive learning.
Extracurricular activities are also of particular interest within teaching. Recruiters will be looking for evidence that you really want to get involved with all aspects of school life, contribute to the community and build relationships with your students both in and out of the classroom.
Legal CVs
Legal CVs don’t differ greatly from ‘standard’ CVs. You still need to keep to a two page maximum, but there are a couple of differences to be aware of.
The sheer competitiveness of this sector means that recruiters may want to look at your academic background in great detail. As such, a legal CV should be very comprehensive in this respect, including full details of institutions attended, grades achieved, etc, at all levels of study.
You should also be very precise when detailing your Career history, citing cases of particular importance, significant court results, etc. However, stick to the key points and don’t go into too much detail.
IT CVs
IT CVs can be very complex, and whilst there’s a lot of information you need to communicate, it’s vital to focus on communicating that information clearly and concisely – being especially careful in your use of jargon.
You may have worked on a wide range of different projects and contracts and consequently find that the functional CV is most appropriate.
Highlight your specific technical skills in a separate section of your CV, broken down by category, for example:
- Hardware
- Software
- Programming languages
- Network protocols
You should also flag up any relevant affiliations such as memberships of the British Computer Society or accreditation with Microsoft. Cisco, etc.
It is possible that your CV may run into three pages, but this should be the absolute maximum.
Engineering CVs
The rules for engineering CVs are very similar to those for IT CVs.
- The functional type of CV may be the most appropriate
- You can break down your skills under separate section headings
- Affiliations, memberships and accreditation should be highlighted
- It’s acceptable for your CV to run into three pages if necessary
Architecture and design CVs
If you work within a highly creative and artistic field then a lot of the standard rules of CV design can be thrown out of the window!
Prospective employers will be on the lookout for original thinkers, and this will impact on the way you design your CV. They’ll be looking for you to demonstrate a bit of flair.
The content of your CV won’t be drastically different from the average CV, but the way it is presented could be drastically different.
Performing Arts CVs
As a performer, you’ll probably be well aware that the CV you need bears little resemblance to a traditional CV.
Issues such as your age, height, hair colour, eye colour, ethnicity and frame/build, which would never normally appear on a CV, suddenly take centre stage.
You should also focus the spotlight on that all-important Equity Number.
Subsequent sections of your CV could cover your TV, film, theatre, voice-over, etc. Credits, as well as special skills such as singing, playing the guitar, scuba diving skiing, languages spoken, accents mastered, etc. You may even want to include your agent’s contact details. However, try and keep your finished CV down to one single page.
You will also need to arrange for a winning headshot.
You’ve chosen to work in a very challenging sector and, as with an other sector, a powerful CV can really help you to upstage the competition.
Break a leg!
Military/Civilian transition CVs
A career in the armed forces is clearly unlike any other. However, for most service personnel a time will come when they wish to return to Civvy Street.
This is a very big change. However, you have so much to offer a prospective employer. You have discipline, courage, motivation, leadership and coaching skills. Whilst you may not have much in the way directly relevant experience, you possess a plethora of highly valued transferable skills – skills which many employers are actively searching for.
The key to successfully writing a military/civilian transition CV is to take off your military cap and start thinking from the point of view of your prospective employers. There’s much you will have to say about your military career, but try to communicate in terms that a civilian will understand. Many of the armed services personnel that I meet talk in a military code, which is only understand by the military.
It’s an excellent idea to include details of awards, honours, volunteer activities, etc, but don’t go overboard.
A functional CV, firmly focusing on your skills and abilities, is undoubtedly the way to go.
Next week we’ll be looking at CVs for looking for work abroad.
