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CV & Resume Guidance

Curriculum Vitae(CV) means a brief description of all of your qualifications and achievements.
Whenever you ask someone to give you a sponsor for elective or research, CV will be the first thing asked to you by that person.
Some institutes like Henry Ford Hospital ask for your CV while submitting the application for electives.
Here are few tips:
1) Don’t try to copy the pattern of CV from other people’s CV. Make your own pattern and way of description as according to your mind. Similar pattern CVs can pose problems for you in the future.
2) Don’t try to make wrong statements or mention achievements which are non-existent. You should have a documented proof of everything that you have mentioned in your CV, otherwise when you will be asked for the proof and you don’t have it, you will be in deep trouble.
3) Make your own personal statement, its very important in their eye. Again, don’t try to copy.
4) You will have to give at least two references for your CV along with contact information i.e. email addresses and phone numbers of the faculty.
One more basic issue is the structuring and format which none of us know while in medical school. Always mention percentile and position in class as a representative of your marks rather than divisions or marks! One more thing CV is generally used in UK while in USA Resume seems to rule!

The difference between the two is... CV is more like... writing what you have been doing your whole life.... mentioning everything...relevant or irrelevant...obviously much more lengthy than resume but resume is more like focused towards the aim, not more than 2 pages, very short, effective, mentioning everything related to the job position you are applying to. You can have two different resume while applying for two different job positions but only one CV.
Following are some CV and Resume samples. I consider CV to be a little outdated and would advise using the Resume samples.

Visitor (not verified)

Sun, 08/02/2009 - 20:09

Umar bhai u had 4 sample CV's in ur older website.Haven't u displayed those in this new website.I really wanted 2 hav a look at it again to know the format
 

hi, they were outdated, if u want I can display them again but they are no more in fashion. I am looking for a new good CV sample and would upload it asa I find it. If you want, I can upload the previous ones again!

Guest (not verified)

Mon, 08/24/2009 - 15:22

is it necessary to send documented proof of each&every thing mentioned on the CV..evry1 hasadvised against it..

1.if working on a research project?how to get proof for that?lor of the faculty?

2.extracurricular:certificates of winning some sport or debate?

won the application package become really nulky with all documented proofs of things on the CV?

 no...u always send it on request...

1. well lor, certificate, anything.........

2. certificate...

plz preview ur comment and check spellings before posting... it does not matter how much bulky ur CV as long as it is good but try to keep it short without adding unnecessary details and send proof only on request...tc

Swapnil (not verified)

Sat, 10/10/2009 - 01:58

Hello Umar Bhai,

I am preparing my CV but Im bit confused. I have achieved 4th postition in my class overall but Im the highest scorer amongst boys. I have certificate for the 4th position but not for the latter. Should I mention on my CV about being the highest amongst boys eventhough I dont have a documented proof? I have also attended many workshops and conferences for which no certificates were awarded.. In that case, should they be listed on my CV or not?

Thanks in advance bhai!

Hassaan Yasin (not verified)

Mon, 11/02/2009 - 14:27

 Hello Umar Bhai,
 

I was looking at some of the CV samples you’ve uploaded...and all the samples had details regarding clinical clerkships…Are these details important? The thing is I intend on doing electives at Mount Sinai and one of the things they ask for is CV(not resume like u said there’s a diff) …now I want to make sure that I get the format absolutely right…I prepared my CV a few days back…Now I would like to mail you my CV so tht you can tell me wt changes to make…can I have ur email id pls?...looking forward to a quick response


 

Dear Hassan.

In my CV i didnt use clerkship details. and it was accepted by NIH. so its not that important. Only MSKCC (that memorial slaon kettering cancer center) needs details of clerkships.

Basically CV n Resume are similar in most respects, its just differeneent places use different names. Try to make it in 2-3 pages maximum. The short the better.

Rest is for umar bhai to respond

 Bhai but mentioning the clerkship details will further lengthen my c.v which is already 2 pages. kindly suggest.

Visitor (not verified)

Tue, 04/06/2010 - 11:32

dear umar,

               thanx for all the help.U rock man!

if u dont mind answering my qn, i was wondering if lying in your cv that u send in for your clerkship application is a big deal?

i mean would they actually check up, if you make up stuff about heading an organisation, getting an award etc ? Do they uusually check? how would they do that?

its not like you need to show all des certificates for your clerkship. its only for your matchingl


thanx

tc

umar

Tue, 04/06/2010 - 16:01

In reply to by Visitor (not verified)

Thanks for your kind words... It is not advisable to lie about anything for any reason... u might get away with it... but in addition to all other future risks, it is not ethically and morally good...

Arjun Lakshman… (not verified)

Fri, 07/09/2010 - 18:28

Hi Umar


Thanks a ton for all the posts. I have given my Step 1 and i am expecting my results for the same. I am thinking of applying for clerkships. where do u think i ll get clerkships? I am an IMG from India. I have shot many mails to various programs and hardly got any reply.


So, I was wondering if i should go in for Americlerkship or FMG portal? What about externships?


I will be sending a copy of my CV to you if you can give me your mail id and then please review it and let me know..


Regards


Arjun

umar

Sun, 07/18/2010 - 10:56

In reply to by Arjun Lakshman… (not verified)

thanks a lot for your kind words. God bless you!

You can try these places but generally I am not in favour of them... plz visit the list of universities you can apply to... considering you have given step 1, it should not be that difficult for you to be accepted in places that require step 1....

tejaswi (not verified)

Fri, 09/17/2010 - 15:03

one more question... wen we mention the number of weeks in each clinical ward duty , do we include those during our internship year also??

Visitor (not verified)

Thu, 11/25/2010 - 18:49

hi sir

i have appeared for my step 1 exam and i am expecting the result in thhe coming week or so. i am planning to apply for clerkship.will you please let me know the universities where i can apply for the same?

i will be very thankful

looking forward to your reply

Visitor (not verified)

Tue, 04/19/2011 - 09:36


hi yaar, thanks fr d gr8 work...pls tel me is that good to apply for externship through the FMG portal?

Visitor (not verified)

Thu, 04/28/2011 - 09:01

hi 

pls tell me how to write a cv for under graduates .. i dont have tons of research works or professional memberships...pls tell me the points i need to stress on should i include pre medical school achievements also pls help

Visitor (not verified)

Sun, 05/15/2011 - 04:55

Hi

I am an IMG with good scores in usmle steps ( above 250 ) cs passed first attempt.

I am planning to apply for internal medicine . i have 2 observer-ships in IM and one in neurology . i also have 4 month of research in neuro-surgery ( neurooncology ) in a well known institution . 


My question is when i apply for IM should i show my neurology experience as well ? or it will hurt my chances in matching IM ?

Usama Khan (not verified)

Sun, 08/07/2011 - 06:44

AssalamuAlikum,

Dear Umar Bhai,

I had only one confusion regarding the Clinical Clerkships mentioned in the CVs you uploaded for our help. Do the clerkships mean the clinical wards we attend starting from our 3rd year? These clinical ward rotation are a part of our study program and we do not elect our ward of interest. Please reply to my query soon. I know you are busy but will highly appreciate for a quick reply. Allah bless you and your family.

Regards

Usama Khan

Karachi 

Adithya (not verified)

Thu, 03/29/2012 - 15:11

Umar Bhai, 

   At the end of each sample CV's U've uploaded. U've mentioned a  sub- heading called 'referees' or 'references'.. Wat do they exactly mean? Any known contact in US or homeland? or what? 


Thank you dude..

u r doing a fantastic job. 

aastha SINGH (not verified)

Thu, 01/31/2013 - 07:23

 sir,

i am aastha a 2nd year(4th term ) student doing my mbbs from jss medical college mysore india... i want to do a research elective in john hopkins university maryland baltimore... i am a liitle confused about how to make my cv ... plz kindly guide me as all of d above samples contain matter such as usmle score n i have only my first year result till now ...so what other things i should mention.... plz help me .. 

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CV Sample1.rtf (16.13 KB)
CV sample 2.rtf (0 bytes)
CV Sample 3.doc (49.5 KB)
CV Sample 4.rtf (65.05 KB)
CV Sample5.rtf (64.23 KB)
CV Sample 6.doc (78.5 KB)
Resume 1.pdf (43.13 KB)
Resume 2.pdf (46.82 KB)
Resume 3.pdf (55.79 KB)