Blogging with The Doctor Job

If you are a job-seeking physician with a J-1 or H-1B Visa, it is essential that your resume be as polished as possible. Many foreign physicians wrongly assume that if they are not finding work it is because of their visa status. While having to find sponsorship does make it a bit more challenging to find a job, the biggest hindrance to visa-holders in their job search is an unorganized, unappealing CV.

Follow these important tips to ensure you don’t make this mistake:

1) Don’t draw attention to the fact that you are not a U.S. Citizen.

I’m not saying you should hide this fact, but you also don’t need to make it the first thing on your CV. When I look at a CV and the very first thing I see is: Citizenship: Taiwan, the very first thing I think about this person is “Needs visa sponsorship.” The beginning of your resume should focus on your best attributes, not your citizenship. Therefore, I recommend that you include citizenship/visa information at the very end of your resume.

2) Ensure that grammar/spelling are perfect.

Whether you’ve spoken English fluently for 20 years, or you’re still in the learning stages, there is no excuse for a resume that isn’t written in perfect English. A potential medical employer reading a poorly written resume will think “If he/she can’t write English well in a professional document, how will he/she communicate with patients?” If you struggle with grammar, have a native English speaker proofread your resume and cover letter carefully before you send it out.

3) Make sure your resume is in reverse chronological order.

One of the biggest mistakes I see on resumes is that candidates do not list their most recent activities/training first. If you are a resident, your residency should be the very first thing on your CV. When you put the oldest information first, you are again drawing attention to the fact that you did your schooling outside of the U.S.

4) Cut out irrelevant or old activities/achievements and make sure you explain anything that might not be understood.

One of the biggest complaints I hear about CVs from foreign physicians is that they are filled with activities that are either outdated (such as high school extracurriculars) or confusing. A lot of academic honors and activities that exist in other countries don’t exist in the U.S. If you list something on your resume, make sure you either include an explanation or the U.S. equivalent.