HOW TO SUBMIT
A WINNING JOB APPLICATION
What to include in your CV
Tegan Piscicelli
Project Officer Medical Workforce
Fiona Stanley Hospital
Delivering a Healthy WA
Does your CV
say
“PICK ME!”
Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae
Resume
Brief & concise. 1-2 pages.
Summary of skills, experience & education.
Curriculum vitae
Detailed synopsis. 2+ pages.
Summary of educational & academic backgrounds.
Includes teaching & research experience, publications,
presentations, awards, honours, affiliations, etc.
CV – what do I put where?
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Personal details
Qualifications
Bridging Programs / Qualifying Examinations
Work / Practice History
Educational Experiences
Practical Skills
Volunteer Work
Research and Professionalism
Extra-curricular Activities
Referees
Preferred CV Layout & Content
Personal details
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Full name
Home and mobile phone numbers
Email address
Optional: date of birth, gender, marital status
Qualifications
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Primary medical degree (MBBS) - include university, city & country where obtained
List other degrees/qualifications, e.g. Master of Public Health
High school certificate/qualification is not relevant.
Bridging Programs / Qualifying Examinations
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AMC MCQ Exam, Clinical Exam, bridging programs – include dates, facility, state and
results
IELTS or OET exams – include date and results
Work / Practice History
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List current & previous positions in reverse chronological order!
(i.e. list your current/most recent job FIRST). Include:
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Internship & Observership
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Dates / Position title / Facility (including name, address and location – City, State, Country) /
Responsibilities (including whether position was full-time/part-time and if part-time include
hours of work/week)
Provide in reverse chronology
List internship rotations
Identify any periods of observership
Gaps in Service
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Provide an explanation of any period since obtaining professional qualifications where you
have not practiced (e.g. undertaking study, travel, family commitment)
Educational Experience
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Include courses, conferences or seminars which enhance your ability to work.
Practical Skills
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List procedures which you are familiar with, and those you are fully competent to do
unsupervised
IT competancies (Microsoft Office Package, Internet, iSoft, TMS, etc.)
Volunteer Work
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Include clinical volunteer work, such as disaster relief, work in underdeveloped areas,
or work with disadvantaged groups.
Research and Professionalism
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Published work.
Research/Audits
Formal teaching roles
Speaking at conferences
Memberships of relevant bodies
Extra-curricular Activities (optional)
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Everyone enjoys reading, long walks on the beach, and travelling the world – what
are some key activities to promote you.
Only list things which will enhance your clinical ability or humanitarianism
Additional languages are useful.
Referees
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List three (3) referees including: full name, role (GP, Medical Director), relation to you
(supervisor during ED RMO rotation), address, email address, two contact phone
numbers.
At least two (2) referees should be consultants/clinicians and the more Australians
the better.
Provide professional references no longer than 24 months of working with them
(within 12 months preferred).
Never provide the names of referees without contacting/checking with them first.
Don’t provide relatives names.
The Job Description Form
Use the Job Description Form (JDF) to your advantage!
• Tailor the CV to the job
• Read the JDF, highlight the areas you know in one colour, and those
you are unsure of in another.
• Ask trusted colleagues about the areas you are unsure of – it could
be a jargon/terminology issue.
• The “duties” page highlights the role requirements. Many key words
are here.
• If you are asked to address the criteria, do so separate to your CV.
What to avoid:
Negative Words Paint a picture and
leave negative feelings
in the readers mind
Different font types
You may be great at Word
but Windings and comic
sans are for invites not
CV’s
Don’t ask someone who is
applying for the same role to
review your CV
Jargon and Abbreviations
Don’t write - “it will be a
pleasure to work with
you” or the like. This isn’t
professional and can be
thought presumptuous.
More than 2 colours
(1 is preferred)
“Auto” should be the
choice
Don’t expect to be known,
or expect the panel to
make assumptions
Don’t make the panel work
hard to find info.
Label, use tables, dot points.
What to include:
Use Spell Check!
Finalise your CV before you
click “Apply Now” – panels
can tell a rush job
Dot points are preferred
2 recent referees
Writing “referees available
on request” equals more
work for the panel
Qualifications and courses
that highlight time
management and
communication skills
Use a table if listing
IT/Computer systems or
course information
Appropriate terminology
for the role – write the CV
at the correct level
Page numbers and footers
are great for keeping things
in order
Don’t leave gaps in
experience – fill them with a
brief explanation
Cover Letter
When you attach a cover letter, keep it brief, sell the points
you aren’t addressing in your CV or the Selection Criteria.
If there is a page limit outlined, consider the directions and
stick to it.
When asked to address specific points in your Cover
Letter, do so. The points are being asked for a relevant
reason.
Use proper letter formatting.
What to take away………
• The market is competitive, so every application is in the race. What
you write can win or lose you the role.
• If you don’t sell yourself, you can’t expect to win the role. Think of
yourself as a product and your CV as a brochure.
• Tailor your CV and Cover Letter to the role – generics don’t cut it
these days.
• Quickly demonstrate your experience, and delete old irrelevant
information.
• Use the same or similar words to the JDF
• Ask someone to review your CV
Good luck!