Tips for making your CV stand out from the crowd
Tips for making your CV stand out from the crowd
In certain areas of the country, the job that you are applying for will have lots of other applicants as well as yourself and the employer will be reading a lot of similar CVs. So how do you make yours stand out?
1. Think about the layout
It sounds boring, but a good layout will really catch an employer’s attention. I started my CV with a really punchy first line to engage the reader and placed a photograph at the top of the page. A clean, easy to follow layout will help it to look professional. Make it an easy read for them!
2. Sell yourself
For jobs after graduation you should detail recent clinical courses you have been to and what skills you have picked up from them. This shows your interest in certain areas of dentistry and your commitment to continued development. If you are applying for an associate job at a practice that advertises more advanced dental work, showing you have undertaken CPD in these areas looks really good.
3. Show your passion
If there are particular areas you enjoy in dentistry then let them know! They will be looking for someone who is enthusiastic so try to convey this in your CV.
4. Demonstrate your knowledge of clinical governance
Whatever position you are applying for, an understanding of clinical governance is mandatory. Detail any clinical audits that you have undertaken, any risk management projects you have completed or any research you may have been part of.
5. What makes you different?
Don't just reel off a list of adjectives in your personal profile. Link what you enjoy in your outside life into dentistry. They want to know there's more to you than being a dentist!
6. What else looks good on a CV?
Any awards or prizes that you have won. This will show outside recognition you have had for your clinical or academic work. Most societies will run competitions, and it's really worth applying for a few of these with some of you best cases, as the recognition gained looks really good on a CV. To help with this, start documenting your best clinical work as soon as possible and build a portfolio of your work.
Try and get published in a dental magazine. Whether it is a short article giving hints and tips, or an article documenting a challenging clinical case. It's a great learning experience it shows your commitment to continued learning and helping others.
Any other achievements or qualifications that you have undertaken. Whatever post you are applying for, try and develop your CV as early as possible. It will help you gain invaluable experience and hopefully bag you your dream job!”
7. Upload your CV
Finally, you should upload your CV to BDJ Jobs and complete a candidate profile, and allow employers to view your profile in order to be discovered: https://www.bdjjobs.com/article/upload-your-cv/
