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          Audrey Becker 
          2341 Seven Pines Suite 5
          St. Louis, MO 63146

Phone: 314.878.6888
Toll-free: 877.583.3255
Fax: 314.878.1827
Audrey@ObOnly.com

C.V. SUGGESTIONS

There are many sources for suggestions about your C.V. - books, the Internet, program directors. Not everyone agrees what should and shouldn't be included in the document. These ideas are mine, based on years of reading C.V.'s. Your choices will, and should, reflect you.

General

• Choose a clear, business-like font, nothing smaller that size 12.
• Use the best quality printer you can access.
• Do not use colored paper or any stationary with a pattern; these do not fax well.
• Don't spend money on heavy linen paper; recruiters and administrators communicate by fax or email.
• Make your C.V. as long as it needs to be. It is not necessary to cram everything on one page. Two pages are fine. Three pages are acceptable. (Number the pages.) Do not feel you must include every subject you have researched, article you have written, textbook to which you have contributed. Be judicious. A C.V. is seldom impressive simply by virtue of length.

Heading

• Put your name front and center, where it grabs attention. Use a larger font or bold print.
• Include your degree after your name, M.D. or D.O.
• List you specialty immediately beneath your name. Administrators of hospitals and multi-specialty groups may have several opportunities open. Don't make them search through the document to determine whether you are an Ob/Gyn, a family practitioner, or a radiologist.
• Skip a line; then list your complete home address and home phone number. List your work number and pager only if you do not mind receiving calls at work. Include your email address only if you regularly check for mail.
• Do not state "objective" unless you are pursuing an obscure or unusual area in your specialty. Your objective is obvious: you want a job.

Personal Data

• This can be at the beginning or the end. My preference is the beginning.
• State your date and place of birth. Some sources suggest you omit this; if you do, whoever is reading your C.V. will use other dates to estimate your age.
• If you were not born in the United States, list your citizenship status. Specify languages in which you are proficient.
• If you have a fiancé or a spouse, list full name (especially important if the last name is different from yours) and, if appropriate, occupation.
• List names and birth years of children ("Jean, born 1995"). If you list ages, you will be continually updating the C.V. as your children celebrate birthdays.
• Do not include your Social Security Number, your state license number, or your DEA number. These can be supplied later.

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