CV Advice for Doctors
How to strengthen your CV for NHS and healthcare roles.
A strong CV is often the difference between being considered and being overlooked. In many cases, improving it is not about rewriting everything. It is about making it clearer, more relevant and easier to assess.
What makes a strong medical CV?
The strongest CVs are not the longest. They are the clearest.
A good medical CV should:
- make your experience easy to follow
- highlight relevant clinical experience early
- show progression over time
- focus on impact and responsibility, not just duties
- reflect the type of role you are applying for
Key Sections
What to include.
A well-structured medical CV should usually include:
- personal details
- a short professional summary
- clinical experience
- education and qualifications
- relevant skills
- CPD, research or publications where applicable
Common CV mistakes recruiters see.
Some of the most common issues include:
- too much detail without clear structure
- responsibilities listed without showing progression
- generic summaries
- inconsistent formatting
- unclear career direction
Often, the issue is not your experience. It is how it is presented.
Tailor your CV to the role.
A strong CV should reflect the expectations of the healthcare role and market you are applying to. For NHS roles especially, clarity, progression and evidence of responsibility matter.
Make it easy to read.
Keep formatting consistent, use clear headings, avoid large text blocks and keep the length appropriate to your experience. A CV that is easy to scan is easier to shortlist.
Final checklist before you send it.
Ask yourself:
- is it clear and easy to read?
- does it highlight my most relevant experience?
- does it show how I have progressed?
- is it aligned to the type of role I want?
Want a second opinion on your CV?
If you want feedback on how your CV comes across, or you are ready to explore opportunities, we are here to help.