As with many students around the Midwest and East-Coast, I
was granted a snow day today! It's funny how something that made me so
excited as a little kid, still tends to make me feel the same way.
However, after sleeping in today, I took it upon myself to catch up
on a few things: email, laundry, and updating my CV. I've been trying to
keep my CV up to date recently to apply for appointments and
scholarships, but I feel like there's always little things I forget
about. For example: I recently helped a professor make a new
documentation form to be utilized in our Drug Information Center. It was
my idea and she let me run with it. I think it would make for a great
piece of conversation for a potential employer or residency director, so
I need to find a way to utilize this information in my CV.
Ironically, a younger student recently asked to see my CV for ideas
and I was happy to share it with her. It really made me think about when
I was a P3 (P1 for you 4 year schools) and needed to make my first CV
to apply for the Johns Hopkins Pharmacy Internship. I really didn't know
where to start. Without seeking the advice of my mentors, I think it
would have been a mess. I also used the Pharmacy Professional's Guide to Resumes, CVs & Interviewing
by Thomas P. Reinders, which was available from a professor and in our
library. Both resources let me understand that my CV needs to be
tailored to my needs and that no two CVs will be the same.
Overall, I think the most important lesson I've learned with my CV is
to keep it neat. Earlier this year I found myself needing a new
category for some of the things I was becoming involved in. So, I made
one. I also took that opportunity to re-check everything from grammar
and spelling to removing outdated information. After that, I had my
peers and professors look it over to make sure everything made sense.
It's always helpful to have a fresh set of eyes look over your work.
If you have any questions about creating or updating your CV, always
seek help from your mentors. After that, check out the resident
information on the ASHP website or even a webinar
presentation from CV experts at past Midyear presentation. Finally,
make sure your CV is something you really can be proud of... it
represents you and really should make that awesome first impression
you're hoping for!