A doctor, also known as a general physician, is a medical practitioner involved in diagnosing and treating illnesses through their practice. They restore patient health by conducting clinical assessments and prescribing appropriate medicines. Suppose you are a recent medical graduate looking for a job or a licensed practitioner seeking career enhancement. In that case, we will guide you in preparing an ideal resume that can impress recruiters.
First, let’s take a look at the three different types of resume format:
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Job Duties of a Doctor
Doctors have to perform multiple tasks as part of their daily practice. They include:
Gathering information from patients regarding their medical histories, such as diabetes, hypertension, or thyroid defects, and inquiring about present health complications or injuries.
Checking the patient’s vitals such as blood pressure, body temperature, pulse rate, and body weight.
Ordering laboratory tests to aid the diagnosis process.
Diagnosing diseases based on test results and interpreting possible complications.
Formulate treatment plans, prescribing medications, and dress wounded areas.
Scheduling follow-up appointments for further monitoring or treatment.
Referring patients to specialists like gynecologists, neurologists, cardiologists, or orthopedics if specific treatment is required.
Collaborating with nurses, assistants, specialists, or surgeons.
Counseling patients on healthy and hygienic lifestyle habits and preventive care.
Associating with pharmaceutical representatives to evaluate new medicines.
Educating assistants or resident doctors in diagnosis and treatment.
Providing immunization to children and adults.
Keeping up with the latest advancement in medications or treatment methods through continuous learning.
Doctor Median Salaries
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a physician is $208,000 per annum as of May 2020. The compensation may be higher or lower than this average value based on the expertise and experience of the doctor.
Top Skills for Doctors
The medical sector has faced massive development with advancements in technology, and more effective treatments have surfaced. This increases the need for proficient doctors that have the following skills:
- Specialized treatments: The superior skill that measures a doctor’s competency is making accurate diagnoses and providing specialized treatments. They must have the capability to promptly detect chronic health complications like diseases in the heart, liver, lungs, or kidney. Each patient is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Doctors should be skilled enough to design treatments tailored to specific health issues.
- Pharmaceutical knowledge: The most significant part of the treatment is administering effective medicines that can restore the patient’s health. The doctor must have excellent knowledge of the appropriate medication or combination of drugs to cure the patient’s illness and the correct dosage. Also, doctors are expected to stay updated on the upcoming trends in the pharmaceutical industry. With more formulations of drugs and vaccines being discovered, they must continue to upgrade their prescription techniques.
- Patient advocacy: Patients often face difficulties accessing health care. Claims sent to health care companies get denied and medication dispensing errors happen. Doctors always have to prioritize the patient’s needs and advocate for them. They have to solve problems by calling health care companies to explain why the procedure or medication is necessary to guarantee coverage. Likewise, they may have to talk with pharmacy technicians to take care of prescription-related issues.
- Leadership: Doctors never work alone. Behind every treatment they design, other health professionals are involved: nurses, pharmacists, specialists, etc. It’s the doctor’s responsibility to act as a leader when carrying out treatments, especially in hospital settings. Hospitals have teams of medical workers that work together to treat patients, and the doctor spearheads each treatment plan by giving the staff instructions.
- Articulate and detail-oriented both in writing and in person: Doctors should consider even the most minor details because it could change the patient’s treatment and health problems. Diagnosing, treatment design and medication prescription mistakes happen when physicians lack attention to detail. You must demonstrate proficiency in detail orientation to effectively treat complex conditions in a wide variety of patients.
- Culturally sensitive: Patients are diverse. They are from different races, ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds. It’s considered a plus if doctors have cultural sensitivity to understand patients more. A patient from a specific environment may come from a culture with a different opinion about particular medications. Others may have religious beliefs that limit their diets. Similarly, their lifestyles can affect the way treatments are carried out. Doctors must be able to work around these cultural differences and understand them.
- Surgical skills: Doctors are expected to perform minor surgical procedures sometimes. Primary operations are to be done by surgeons. Still, it’s required to gain at least basic surgical skills to know when the patient needs surgery to refer them to the right surgeon and carry out simple ambulatory procedures. Make sure to become an expert in suturing, anastomosis, surgical equipment, abscess drainage, and other aspects.
Educational Requirements for Doctors
Degree
Having a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, health sciences, or pre-medical course is the initial pathway for your medical education. Universities such as Georgetown University, Drury University, and Lawrence University offer pre-medical studies that can prepare you for the next step: the Doctor of Medicine degree. It is required to become a medical professional. Here, students learn about anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, and other topics.
Several universities like the University of California San Francisco, Perelman School of Medicine-University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard Medical School offer MD programs. The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program is found in colleges like Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine-Midwestern university.
Completing a residency program after obtaining the Doctor of Medicine is essential to become an established physician. You can choose a specialization during your residency program offered by Stanford Medicine, University of Michigan, and Duke University School of Medicine.License
All medical practitioners must possess their corresponding state’s license for medical practice by taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). This exam involves three steps to assess the basic science concepts, clinical knowledge, and clinical skills and their application. Lastly, you have to receive a state license. Contact your state’s board to find out more regarding requirements.Certifications
To enhance the competency of physicians and to upgrade their knowledge, several certifications are offered by member associations like the American Board of Medical Specialities (ABMS) and nonprofit organizations like the American Board of Physician Specialities (ABPS) and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). These certifications are extremely valuable for proving your proficiency in medical advancements.
You can acquire an Emergency Medicine Certification from the American Board of Emergency Medicine to highlight your expertise.
Doctor Resume-Writing Tips
The employment opportunities for physicians and surgeons are expected to surge in the coming years, as per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. So it is the right time to prove your excellence as a doctor by composing a creative resume with these tips:
- Spotlight your multitasking abilities. Doctors are expected to monitor several patients as well as assist nurses simultaneously. Include situations where you have effectively handled more than one task.
- Feature your communication skills. Recruiters require doctors to explain medication side effects, treatment options, possible outcomes, and at-home care guides. Mention how you interacted with patients and succeeded as a result of efficient communication.
- Write an impressive summary. Include meaningful information like years of experience, job role, expertise in specific areas, and career goals.
- Avoid redundant information. If you are writing about your work experience in different places, make sure you provide unique information about accomplishments in each location.
- Pay attention to the format. Avoid long paragraphs, bright colors, and unprofessional fonts. Use lists and bullet points to mention skills, work history, and educational qualifications. Also, stick to basic fonts like Times New Roman and Arial. This makes your resume look more organized and easy to read.
- Include specialized knowledge. Medicine is a broad field. Doctors stand out from other applicants by knowing a specific area that is sought after, such as oncology and emergency medicine.
FAQ
What are the keywords in a doctor’s resume?
To improve the quality of your resume, ensure you have mentioned relevant keywords based on the job description. Some are “diagnosis,” “treatment” and “immunizations.”
In what order should we mention experience and education?
The work experience section goes before the education section. Start with your recent job role and continue in reverse chronological order. Similarly, start with your latest or highest degree.