One of the major steps in applying to an institution for your medical elective is to send them a CV. This can be deeply nerve-racking, as it may be the first time you have had to write a document of this kind, particularly as it will be different to the CV you’d send when applying for a regular job. The great news is that this is the perfect way of practicing for when you qualify in the medical field and need to send similar details to your future employer.
The big thing to say is to try and not stress. You will most likely have the experience you need to stand out to an institution; you just need to work out how to word it. In this handy guide, we will go through the major things to consider when writing an elective CV and you can always contact us at info.elective.net should you have any other queries.
At a basic level, your CV is a record of your accomplishments and experiences. It is your opportunity to show an elective institution why they should pick you over any other applicants. Every CV you write should be tailored towards what a placement is looking for. Whilst you may have a template you use each time, make sure to adapt it for each specific application to ensure it sounds like you genuinely want the space.
The most effective CVs are the ones which show a clear match between the candidate and the opportunity.
Before you begin any typing away at your document, there are a few things you must do to ensure what you are writing is appropriate. Start by analysing the opportunity and what they are looking in terms of skills and experience. This will also help you ensure that you are actually a good fit for the placement as there is nothing worse than spending time on an application that you are not actually qualified for.
Pay close attention to the personal specification and begin matching your qualities with what they are looking for. Most likely, the personal specification will be split into essential and desirable criteria.
You must be able to prove in your CV that you have all of these elements. Make it very clear in your CV as there is nothing worse than having the skills but not being chosen because the recruiter didn’t pick up on all your qualities.
After analysing the specification, take time to comprehensively research the institution. This will also help you fully decide if you are the right fit for the placement. Identify any special qualities that you can align yourself with to really help them understand why you want to take an elective in their facility.
Now it's time to analyse yourself. Make a list of all the qualities and skills you possess which are relevant to the placement. These can come from many aspects of your life including clinical experience, academic study, previous employment, work experience, volunteering, and leisure activities. You want to show a prospective elective that you are a well-rounded person who will be a credit to their institution should you attend.
Every CV you ever write should follow the five Cs:
This is not an exhaustive list of every achievement you’ve ever had, but rather a cherry picking of the best skills and qualities that fit with your elective choice. No two CVs are ever going to be the same, but you should consider putting the following sections in:
Now that you have all the ideas ready to go on the page, you need to consider a few other things whilst constructing your CV:
Remember: a recruiter only spends on average around 20 seconds looking at an application, so you do not want to put them off with a cluttered CV.
Another tip is to check the privacy settings on your social media accounts as recruiters may use LinkedIn or Facebook to research potential candidates.
For example CVs and more information on tailoring your CV to applying for an elective, you may wish to visit these specialist sites for further ideas:
You can also speak with your university careers department who may be able to offer advice and an appointment to go over your CV with you.
For advice on what to include in your elective application cover letter, read on here.
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