Curriculum Vitae
Adapted from: Reile DM and Nickols JL. Survival Strategies for Your New Career. 2006; 23-25.

The primary purpose of a CV is to get an interview for a potential new job or residency program. A CV
is not an autobiography or an entire work history. It is not intended to be the means by which an interviewer decides whether or not to hire you. The CV should provide enough relevant information about you so that someone can decide whether or not you should be interviewed.

Many people think a CV and a resume are the same. Although the two are similar, there are some basic differences. A resume is rarely longer than a page or two and contains very specific information about your education and experiences. A good CV, on the other hand, is a more in-depth account of your education, achievements, and experiences (e.g., student organization participation, internships, and clinical rotations). A CV should depict your education, experience, and potential for success.

It takes time to create an impressive CV. If you don't already have one, you should create one now. If you already have a CV, you should review and update it every six to twelve months regardless of whether you are planning to apply for a residency, advanced graduate training, or a new job.

When preparing your CV, describe your experiences in a way that demonstrates that you are an extremely mature, qualified, and responsible individual. Be sure that all information is presented clearly and honestly. Do not fabricate information on your CV. Pharmacy is a small world, and employers can easily find out what is untrue---it may take only one phone call.

Be certain that your CV is free from errors, including grammar and spelling mistakes. Make sure preceptor and employer names are spelled correctly and that you know all the degrees following their names. A CV with mistakes in it speaks volumes to an interviewer. Once you have put together a rough draft, have someone review it and critique it for you.

When writing about your eduction and experiences, you must be specific and the information must be relevant to the position for which you hope to be interviewed. For example, in describing your academic coursework, using names such as "Phase VI elective" will mean little to people outside your school. Use short phrases to describe types of rotations, such as "(name of institution) clinical pharmacy rotation" or "(name of community) distributional rotation."

You should definitely list month-long rotations, but probably not those that lasted less than two weeks. If you went to ambulatory clinics in a longitudinal fashion (once a week for three months), list these, but be specific about the time invested. Whether you include descriptions of each rotation is up to you. Unless activities during the rotation were unusual (e.g., writing a manuscript, compounding veterinary medications), you may want to leave out detailed descriptions of the rotation. You should provide enough information to be descriptive without overloading the reader. If you received an unusual award, you may want to briefly describe it. This includes merit-based scholarships.

When it comes to any pharmacy-related job experience, detailed information should be included. If you had a job loosely associated with pharmacy (e.g., a business or management-related job in health care), include it if it is pertinent to your skills. If you have publications, make sure they are referenced appropriately. Listing a publication that is in press is fine as long as it is really in press. This means that it has been accepted by a journal and that it will be published. It does not mean that it is sitting on your preceptor's desk awaiting to be submitted.

Also pay attention to basic CV presentation, such as format and printing. Most people list items on their CV in reverse chronological order. The reverse chronological CV is written with education and training, experience, publications, honors, and all other information presented with the current or most recent data first, the next most recent data second, and so on. Generally, it is best not to include information that is older than 10-15 years because this information is too dated and you have probably moved beyond the older level of experience. If you have recently graduated, this is not likely to be an issue.

So which comes first, education and training, or experience? Decide which is more relevant, impressive, and/or more recent. For recent graduates or new practitioners, specialized training and degrees are usually the most significant. However, once you have been working for a while, it may be better to move your experience forward and put your education and training later in the CV.

Use a laser printer to make multiple copies of your CV and list of references on cotton bond paper. This paper can be found at any office supply store. Conservative colors of paper, such as white, cream, and light gray are generally best. Try to avoid folding your CV. Distribute your CV by hand, or mail it in a large envelope (9 x 12) with the other application materials.

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