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The idea of having to play around with the underline, bold, and italics functions as you're drafting your CV may seem elementary and outside the realm of what you should be troubled with on a given day. However, you would be surprised how making a few adjustments to how your CV is styled can make all the difference in its attractiveness and readability. After all, when you're beginning your physician job search and you're about to send out a stack of cover letters to potential employers, the last thing you want is your CV to be stuck at the bottom of the "no" pile only because it looked boring or was too hard to read.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "I'm a doctor. My potential employers are sophisticated enough to not discount my CV just because it looked boring." Don't fool yourself. At the end of the day, all potential employers are only human. Just the same as anyone else, they are likely to respond to a CV that is more visually pleasing, and formatted in a way that makes it easier to read.
Consider a few simple ways to increase the appeal of your CV:
- Set the headings apart by using a font that is different from the rest of the content; also, try using all capital letters in your headings.
- For each component of each item (such as your degrees), find a way to style each line of text differently so that they all stand out and are easily separated in the reader's mind. For example, use bold letters for the name of your school; italicize the degree that was earned; and use a similar, but slightly different font when listing achievements and awards under the particular degree- repeat with the next educational degree.
- Use a thin line at the top of your CV to separate your contact information from the body of your CV.
Don't overlook these small details. The physician job market can be incredibly competitive, and it never hurts to set yourself apart from the crowd, even if in a seemingly small way.
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