Let's Start From the Very Beginning. Part 1: Writing a Resume, a Cover Letter, and a Letter of Intent as a Doctor

 

The healthcare industry has reorganized itself in many ways. One of these is the hiring and recruitment process. The journey of a doctor after graduation and internship is more structured today than ever before. Vacancies, roles, and residency programs go beyond word of mouth and are an interplay of resumes, cover letters, and letters of intent (LOI). ‘Let's Start From the Very Beginning’ is a series dedicated to healthcare professionals by Anastomos to help medical students and professionals in the early stages of their careers navigate job profiles better. 

 

Resume for Doctors

Resumes for doctors are different from those of other professionals. They need to be technically and emotionally impactful to highlight the core of the job—patient care. 

As discussed in the article, ‘Writing Your Medical Odyssey: Are Resumes the New Roadmap?’, the 5 key aspects of writing a resume or a CV for doctors are:

• Create a complete picture of the credentials, certificates, and awards through the SUMMARY and work and education details.

• Internships, observerships, and volunteer ships that add value.

• Concise editing, clear language, and highlighting the top events in the career path.

• Detailing the soft skills and the value you add to the particular organization’s settings

• A chronological order when adding employment experiences to map out your professional journey and build a narrative.

We ran a CONTRIBUTION DRIVE within ANASTOMOS where our recruitment consultants, some of them healthcare professionals, told us more about what a resume for doctors must look like.   

 

In addition to what we know:

 

 

The Reverse Chronological Order

Wait, did we get that right? Yes, the latest CV formats that cut the noise follow ‘the latest first’ concept. Meaning, write the current details first and slowly work up to your history. 

For a doctor’s resume, follow the reverse chronological format to present your experience effectively. Education, detailing the Ph.D., specialization, and postgraduate degrees first. 

 

“Professional experience comes next, starting with your current position

and working backward to include all relevant roles apt for the role.”

 

This applies to licenses and certifications; research experience and skills. The list of publications—authored research papers, articles, or case studies must also be similarly structured from the latest achievements and qualifications backward.

 

 

The Functional Format

This format has all the key aspects of a resume but ditches the chronological order to focus on the key skills and work experiences. 

Pro tip: “This format is particularly useful for those with a career gap in healthcare like maternity leave, sick leave, or career transitions.“

 

 

Objectivity in the Professional Summary

In a professional summary, objectivity refers to applying factual, clear statements about qualifications rather than personal opinions or subjective terms. It concisely outlines important skills, experiences, and accomplishments, with an emphasis on concrete, measurable outcomes. This technique conveys professionalism and makes the summary impactful, believable, and relevant to the role's needs.

 

 

Writing a Cover Letter for Doctors

Though not a standard practice in the Indian healthcare job market, medical doctor cover letters are increasingly becoming the norm in job applications. Cover letters, as the name suggests, complements the resume. They are the prelude to your resume that creates a first impression on the hiring authorities and allures them to research your profile further. 

 

The components of a medical doctor cover letter are:

 

• The cover letter header

Must contain the full name, contact details, a professional email, professional title, and the current organization’s name where he is employed, in a readable format. 

 

• The headline

The headline, which follows the headers, is a brief statement that introduces you and your goal in applying for the role. This single line should be compelling, and persuasive, and encourage the hiring manager to keep reading. It should showcase your value proposition for the position, clearly and professionally.

 

• Personalized greetings

Start the cover letter for doctor role in a way that breaks impersonality yet is formal, reserved, gender-neutral, and professional. Find out the hiring manager’s name if possible.

 

• A compelling and concise introduction

In about 50-70 words, introduce your career, academic background, the purpose of applying for the job, and any mutual contacts if any. The opening statement must pack a punch and draw the hiring bodies reading thousands of applications every day. 

 

• Persuasive conclusion

After a detailed body, the last paragraph must have another compelling closing argument that will persuade the reader to initiate further contact with the applicant. 

 

The recruitment consultants onboard ANASTOMOS add, “Cover letters must adhere to the job description; many applicants keep talking too much about themselves and forget to align the cover letter to the role they are applying for.”

 

 

Letter of Intent for Doctors

Letters of Intent (LOI) for doctors are crucial when applying to residency programs and medical schools in most European countries, Australia, and the USA. It is a written document of your strong interest and hence commitment to taking the course/program. 

Do not confuse it with the Letters of Interest that are typically written when choosing the program. It is submitted to various institutions to initiate an interview invite. LOI comes later when the selected programs need to be convinced that you’re the best fit.

 

Pro tips:

• Direct your letter to specific admissions committee members or the Dean of Admissions.

• Clearly convey your excitement about joining the institution by highlighting unique aspects of the program, faculty, or resources.

• Align your goals with the institution’s mission, values, and teaching style.

• Share recent academic achievements, research contributions, or clinical experiences to showcase your learning curve.

• Reaffirm your enthusiasm to join the community and express appreciation for their consideration in the conclusion. 

 

 

Here’s what Dr Chandrika Kambam, Founder and MD, Anastomos, says: 

“The most crucial aspect of a CV is tailoring it to the specific role you’re applying for. A one-size-fits-all CV won’t stand out. Recruiters rarely have the time to read a CV in full—they’re scanning for key points that directly match the requirements of the position. Make sure those stand out.”

 

 

‘Let's Start From the Very Beginning’ With ANASTOMOS

Anastomos is India’s first healthcare providers’ network that offers 10 services for careers in healthcare, from their time as students to when they are practicing or veterans. A substantial section involves hiring and recruitment, preparing healthcare professionals for permanent, locum, and contractual positions, and aligning them with mentors, courses, and programs. The ‘Let's Start From the Very Beginning’ drive puts together the secret recipes to resumes for doctors, medical doctor cover letters, and letters of intent (LOI) tailored to the healthcare industry—from the experts on the other side of the table—recruiters in healthcare and health tech organizations. 

 

If you wish to learn more or are looking for guidance in applying for jobs as a doctor, feel free to add your BIO to ANASTOMOS for FREE. 

 

If you are a recruiter or interviewer in the healthcare industry, feel free to run your job posts with us, and we help you find the right candidates for the role from a cohort of 1300+ healthcare professionals.