CV writing - a comprehensive guide for overseas histopathologists

  • March 16, 2022
 

As an international histopathologist, getting your CV right is crucial to securing a great role in the UK. 

For any doctor, regardless of your specialty, qualifications, or previous experience, your CV is the first chance you get to make a good impression to a potential NHS employer. Here we take a look at the NHS CV format for pathologists that are new to the NHS, and are trying to secure their first opportunity in the UK. We will cover the following topics: 

Keeping your Histopathology CV up to date

First things first, remember your CV is the story of your career, so you should regularly update and review your CV, allowing yourself the best opportunity of securing an interview. Have your most recent experience at the top, and descending in chronological order.

Structure and content of your Histopathology CV

CVs come in all shapes and sizes, and there is no agreed approach to how long they should be. However, we are finding that there is a trend towards shorter, more concise versions. So long as they are well structured, then the length doesn’t really matter. Being concise doesn’t mean that you can’t include everything you need, just present it in a more succinct way and remember that quality is better than quantity. Our advice is to keep your CV to around two - four pages of A4, though the British Medical Journal advise anything up to eight pages is ok.  

Remember, your CV is generally the first point of contact you will have with a Histopathology Service Director or Consultant, so the structure of your CV should establish a favourable image of your professionalism and approach to your work in the histopathology. It is important to consider structuring your CV for GMC registration, not only does this mean that you don’t need to create several CV’s, but also means that you will be working to a recognised structure. 

If you would like a GMC template for a CV just mention this to our team at info@imgconnect.co.uk or book your CV building call with Marcus Anderson, Histopathology Specialist, via this Calendly Link.

A Histopathology CV template

The GMC recommend the following template for a medical doctor CV: 

Section

Detail

Personal details

Your name on your CV must match your name on your proof of identity

Registrations

Give your GMC reference number (if applicable) AND any details of any Medical Councils or Regulatory Body you are registered with. Even if your registrations have expired, or not currently active, it is good to include them!

Memberships

List your memberships of professional bodies. This will show the consultants or directors reviewing your CV that your are active in the pathology network, and any affiliations with the UK's Royal College of Pathologists, American Board of Anatomical Pathology etc etc will be relevant. 

Qualifications

List all the qualifications including your Primary Medical Degree and ANY Anatomical Pathology qualifications from your home country are a great indication of your training and development in pathology. Whilst FRCPath is the golden qualification for any histopathologists looking to work in the UK, your MD, DNB, Board Certification, PgDiplomas in Pathology are all valued and make up the pathologist you are. 

Make sure to include any english language qualifications too, including IELTS, OET, PLAB if you have taken them before.

Employment history / work history – posts held

Start with the with the most recent position at the top (chronological order). Please show: 

  • post title (give the title you were employed under)
  • dates you worked in the post, from and to, in the format DD/MM/YYYY
  • if the post is part-time, what percentage of whole time equivalent
  • institution name and location
  • the name of your supervisor (especially required for training posts)
  • number of pathologists and support staff in your team
  • give a brief job description of your duties, including level of supervision. Be concise. Include all relevant details. 

Your IMG Connect recruitment specialist can run through all of this information over a Histopathology CV Building Call. This process can take about 30 mins and will be led by Marcus Anderson our histopathology specialist. 

Book your CV building call with Marcus Anderson, Histopathology Specialist, via this Calendly Link

Reporting Duties

This is the most important of details when representing your CV in the UK. What cases do you report? How many do you sign out per year? Giving your future employer an indication of the workload you get through in your current role is a great way to promote yourself and catch the eye of Clinical Directors and Lead Consultants in Histopathology. 

Your IMG Connect recruitment specialist can run through all of this information over a Histopathology CV Building Call. This process can take about 30 mins and will be led by Marcus Anderson our histopathology specialist. 

Book your CV building call with Marcus Anderson, Histopathology Specialist, via this Calendly Link

Employment history – gaps in employment

Start with the most recent gaps in employment and work backwards. List any gaps that span over 28 days and include a brief explanation.

Awards

List any awards you have received.

Research experience

Give a brief explanation of any research you have undertaken, or have participated in. This shows your development and interest in your specialty. 

Publications

List your publications. This shows great insight and a developed mind in Pathology.

Presentations

Give details of any presentations you have given. You may find it helpful to divide them up into international, national, regional and departmental to show their importance.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

List your CPD activity in the last five years.

Conferences attended

Give details of any conferences you have attended. You may find it helpful to divide them up into international, national, regional and departmental to show their importance.

Any Royal College of Pathology events will be particularly useful to evidence. 

Courses attended

Give details of any courses you have attended. You may find it helpful to divide them up into international, national, regional and departmental to show their importance.

Governance & Audit

List and give a brief description of your audit activities, if you have some experience in this. If you are unsure how your overseas experience ties into this, then don't worry so much. Feel free to discuss this with our histopathology specialist during a CV Building call with Marcus Anderson - Histopathology Specialist. 

Book your CV building call with Marcus Anderson, Histopathology Specialist, via this Calendly Link

Teaching and training experience

List and give a brief description of your teaching and training activities.

Management experience 

List and give a brief description of your management activities.

Any extra professional activities 

List any relevant extra activities.

Style and format

Keeping your CV professional, clear, concise and well-structured is essential for securing you an interview. We recommend using the following simple steps to help:

  • use a consistent professional font (i.e. 12-point Arial, Calibri or Times)
  • use bullet points
  • use professional short and simple sentences, be concise
  • use active wording when referring to skills, and focus on positive aspects (i.e. gained, confident, responsible for…)
  • subdivide experience 
  • avoid personal statements, & don’t exaggerate… just present facts
  • be consistent with organisation and appearance under all categories of your CV
  • do not repeat
  • present chronologically
  • number each page
  • show your surname and initials at the top of each page
  • get your CV proofread by an IMG Consultant

Check out more helpful articles on CV writing and securing the right job in the NHS in our resource library. 


IMG Histopathology Jobs 

Have a look through our live histopathology vacancies here. We are currently working with 80 trusts to recruit histopathologists, and with not all vacancies being posted live on our website at all times - the best thing to do is to reach out to our histopathology specialist, Marcus, here.

We'd also like to invite you to join the IMG Histopathologists online community - as well as support on Royal College exams, our Facebook group of international pathologists and dedicated pathology recruiters offers guidance on other aspects of working in the UK, including finding NHS posts and CESR. 

Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:

            

 

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