Preparing your Resume/CVand Personal Statement

Philip C. Aftoora

Director of Student Services

Case Western Reserve University

School of Dental Medicine

April 2009

Y our R e sum e /C urricu lum Vitae

The resume is a br ief and flexible document carefu llydesigned to demonstrate your qualifica tions for a particularposition. P reparing a resume helps you to h ighlight and c lar ifyyour specia l qualifications so tha t you can present yourse lfc lear ly and logica lly to the reader.P re paring a resume requires tha t you take a personalinventory of the experience s a nd skills tha t have influencedyour development as a person a nd as a hea lth careprofe ssional.

Categories to consider are listed below in no particularorder of importance . The proper order for your resume w illbe determined by your experiences, interests and theprograms to w hich you apply.

Contact Information. G e n e ra lly th e firs t th in g in y o u re s um e . In c lu de s y o u r N a m e , A d d re ss(e s ) a n d te le p h o n e /fa x n u m b e rs. If y o u h a v e ,a n d u s e E -m a il lis t th a t a ls o . M a k e s u re th a t y o u c a n a lw a y s b e re a c h e d o rth a t s o m e o n e m o n ito rs y o u r a n s w e rin g m a c h ine . D o n o t m is s o u t o n ap o s itio n b e c au s e y o u c o u ld n o t b e re a c h ed . G e t a n a n s w e rin g m a c h in e a n du s e it e ffe c tiv e ly . A v o id c u te o r c le v e r o r o v e rly lo n g s a lu ta tion s . Y o u a re ap ro fe s s io n a l a n d n e e d to c o m e a c ro ss a s s u c h .

Education. L is t in re v e rs e c h ro n olo g ic a l o rd e r a ll o f th eu n d e rg ra d ua te , g ra d u a te a n d p ro fe s s io n a l s c h oo ls a tte n de d . D e g ree s e a rn e da n d w h e n , d a te s a tte n de d , th e in s titu tio n a n d its lo c a tio n a n d m a jo r/m in o ra re a s o f s tu d y s h o u ld b e in c lu d ed . A ls o in c lu d e a n y fe llo w s hip s , e x te rn sh ip so r o th e r s p e c ia l p ro g ra m s o f n o te .

Honors and Awards. L is t a ll h o n o rs , a w ard s o r s p e c ia l re c og n itio ny o u h a v e re c e iv e d fro m s c ho o ls o r o th e r o rga n iza tio ns . D e sc rib e th eh o n o r/aw a rd if th e title d o e s n o t m a k e its s ig n ifica n c e o b v io u s . S h o w th eo rg a n iz a tio n g iv in g th e a w a rd a n d th e d a te re c e iv ed .

Extracurricular Activities. D e sc rib e e x tra c u rricu la ra c tiv itie s to w h ic h y o u h a v e d e v o te d s ig n ific a n t a m o u n ts o f tim e . In c lu d e m e m b e rs h ip in c lu b s , o rg a n iz a tion s , s e rv ic e g rou p s ,c o m m itte es . In c lu d e d a te s, p o s itio n h e ld . D e sc rib e th e p u rp o s e o fth e a c tiv ity if n o t a p p a re n t fro m th e n a m e .

Research Experience. D e s c rib e a ll re s e a rc h p ro je c ts in w h ic h y o uh a v e b e e n in v o lv e d . R e c o rd y o u r e x p e rien c e s e v e n if n o p u b lica tio n o rp re s e n ta tio n re s u lted . D e s c rib e th e e x p e rien c e a n d y o u r s p e c ific d u tie s . Ify o u w e re fu n d e d lis t th e a m o u n t, d a te s a n d s o u rc e .

Publications and Presentations. L is t th e title , jo u rn a l, p u b lic a tio nd a ta a n d a u th o rs fo r e a c h a rtic le . If m u ltip le a u th o rs b o ld o r u n d e rlin e y o u rn a m e.

Clinical Interests. If y o u h a v e h a d a n y s p ec ia l tra in in g , e x p erie n c eo r in te re s t in a c lin ic a l a re a o r h a v e a re s ea rc h b a ck g ro u n d in a s p e c ific a re a ,lis t it. B e s p e c ific , i.e . T h e In c id en c e o f R o o t C a rie s In S c h n au z e rs ra th e rth a n D o g g ie D e ntis try .

Volunteer Activities. D e sc rib e y o u r v o lu n te e r a c tiv itie s in c lu d in go rg a n iz atio n s/g ro u p s, lo c a tion , y o u r title if y o u h a d o n e , a n d d a te s o f s e rvic e . D e s c rib e th e p u rpo s e o f th e o rg a n iz a tio n if it is n o t o b v io u s . A ls o lis t y o u rm a jo r d u tie s .

Teaching Experience. L is t a n y te a c h in g o r tu to rin g e x p e rie nc e a n din c lu d e y o u r s u b jec t(s ) th e a u d ien c e s e rve d , in s titu tio n , d a te s o f s e rvic e . S h o w lo c a tio n if re le v a n t.

Employment Experience. D e s c rib e y o u r e m p lo ym e n t a c tiv ities ,w h o y o u w o rk e d fo r, lo c a tio n a n d d a te s o f s e rv ic e . Y o u r jo b title s h o u ld a ls ob e in c lu d e d . M a k e n o te o f y o u r s u p e rv is o r fo r p o s sib le u s e .

Licenses and Certifications. If y o u h o ld a n y p ro fe s s io n a l lic e n s e o rc e rtific a tio n it s h o u ld b e lis te d . S h o w lic e n se , s ta te o f is s ue , e x p ira tio n d a tea n d n u m b e r. A n e x am p le m ig h t b e C a lifo rn ia c e rtific a tio n a s a d e n ta lra d io lo g is t o r a n O h io lic e ns e a s a p h le b o tom is t.

Leadership Positions. D e s c rib e p o s itio n s y o u h a v e h e ld th a t c a lle d o nto u r le a de rs h ip s k ills . Y o u s h o u ld s h o w w h e n y o u h e ld th e p o s itio n , title a n d ,if a p p ro p ria te, a v e ry b rie f d e s c rip tio n o f y o u r re s po n sib ilitie s.

Professional Organizations and Memberships. L is t a ll th ep ro fe ss io n a l o rg a n iz atio n s to w h ic h y o u c u rre n tly b e lo n g . A S D A , A G D ,E n d o c lu b a n d in c lu d e a n y le a de rs h ip p o s itio n s y o u h a v e h e ld . R em e m b e rth a t m o s t p ro g ra m d ire c to rs a re in v o lv e d in o rg a n iz e d d e n tis try a n d e x p e c t th es a m e fro m th e ir re s id en ts .

Personal Interests. L is t y o u r in te re s ts a n d h o b b ies . W h a t d o y o u d oto re la x . S h o w th a t y o u h a v e in te re sts in s o m e th in g b e s ide s d e n tis try . If y o uh a v e p a rtic u la r e x p e rtis e - e m p h as iz e it.

What else makes you interesting?

T h is lis t is n o t c o m p reh e ns iv e. If th e re a re a rea s th a t a re im p o rta n t o rre le v a n t to y o u th e y s h o u ld b e in c lu d e d in y o u r re s um e .

Your Personal Statement

Y o u r p e rso n a l s ta te m e n t d e s c ribe s y o u r m a rk e ta b le a ttrib u te s a n d h e lp s th ere a d e r k n o w y o u a s a p e rso n . Y o u m u s t s tre s s y o u r a ttrib u te s in p o s itiv ete rm s th a t w ill a llo w th e re a d e r to s e e y o u a s a n a s s e t to th e ir p ro g ra m - as o lu tio n to th e ir p ro b le m s .

Id e n tify y o u r s tre n g th s th a t re la te to th e p ro g ram s n e e d s a n d e m p h a siz eth e m in y o u r p e rs o n a l s ta te m e n t. T h es e m a y in c lu d e :

L e a de rs h ip S k ills , T e a m b u ild in g s k ills , L a n g ua g e s k illsE m p a th y ,O rg a n iz atio n a l S k illsT e a ch in g S k illsA b ility to w o rk u n d e r s tre s sL o n g te rm in te re s t in d e n tis tryW illin g n e ss to d o m o re th a t ju s t w h a t is re q u ire d o f y o u .P e rs o n a l d is c ip lin e

E mphasize w hat you learned from bad or difficult situa tions. The death of my fa ther had a definite effec t on my gra de s. Still, Ipassed a ll of my courses and the e xperience gave me insight on howa patient's illness and death may affec t the ir spouse and children.

K ee p in mind tha t w hat you consider to be personal stre ngthmay be perce ived as a weakness by some programs. Y ou are ac linica l w izard a nd a pe ople person, but you are applying toprograms that focus on researc h and publishing. This is a mismatchand w ill most like ly re sult in an unsucce ssful professionalre la t ionship. Use your strengths to identify the programs to w hichyou w ill apply.

Writing Your Personal Statement

1. Prepare a list of topics that you want to include in your essay.

2. Develop a theme sentence for each topic.

3. Order the theme sentences into an outline.

4. Edit

5. Expand the sentence into a short paragraph with a definiteintroduction, discussion and conclusion.

6. Edit again

7. Tie all of the paragraphs together into a wonderfully cohesiveand snappy essay that will drive the reader to include you in theirwills.

• 8. Edit yet again.

• 9. Let me see it so that I can edit it for you. Do not blindly accept my suggestions. My suggestions are recommendations. You must present, defend and elaborate on your essay at the interview and you must be comfortable with what you say.

• 10. Check the final copy for grammatical and spelling errors. Do not rely totally on spell checks. There is two many ways a error can be maid.

• 11. Print on a laser or ink jet printer on the same weight and quality paper as your resume. Some authors recommend not folding the statement, rather mail it in a large envelope because people tend to open large envelopes first.

Cover Letter

T h e p u rp o s e o f a c o v e r le tte r is to b rie fly in tro d u c e y o u rs e lf a n d e x p la in w h yy o u a re s e n d in g y o u r re s u m e/e ss a y w h a te v e r to th e re a d e r. It a ls o a llo w s y o uto b rie fly p e rs o n aliz e y o u r a p p lica tio n . Y o u s h o u ld s ta te in 1 0 0 w o rd s o r le s sw h y y o u a re a p p ly in g to th is p ro g ra m : i.e . m y c lin ic a l p re c e p to r is a g ra d u a teo f y o u r G P R a n d h a s e n c o u ra g e d m e to a p p ly . I h a v e re a d s e v e ra l o f y o u ra rtic le s in th e J o u rn a l o f P e d ia tric D e n tis try a n d w e h a v e s im ila r re s ea rc hin te re s ts (b e p re p a re d to p ro v e th is o n e ).

A w e ll p re p a re d c o v e r le tte r b e co m e s p a rt o f y o u r a p p lic a tio n a n ds h o u ld e lim in a te th e n e e d to p e rs o n aliz e a n e ss a y o r C V fo r e v e ry p ro g ra mth a t y o u a p p ly to .

Get Started Right AwayH a v e a ll o f th is d o n e b y th e e n d o f th e S u m m e r s e ssio n . O n c e th e

F a ll s e m es te r b e g in s y o u w ill n o t h a v e th e tim e to d o y o u r b e s t w o rk . T h e a p p lic a tio n p roc es s is h a rd a n d d e m a n d in g a n d ta k e s a g re a t d e a l o ftim e a n d e ffo rt to d o it w e ll.

S im ila rly , fa c u lty h a v e m o re tim e d u rin g th e S u m m e r to p re p a re ag re a t le tte r o f re c o m m e n d atio n . I n e e d tw o to th re e h o u rs to w rite th ek in d o f D e a n 's le tte r th a t y o u d e s e rv e. I c a n d o a le tte r in te n m in u te s ifn e c e ss a ry b u t it w ill n o t b e to y o u r a d v a n tag e .

A w e ll th o u g h t o u t e ffo rt re s u lts in a b e tte r a p p lic a tio n a n d a m o res u c ce s s fu l a p p lic a n t.

W e are d iscussing your future - be in charge - take control.

Selecting your type face (Bodini Bold 24 point)

C G T im e s 6 p o in tCommercial Script 8 pointCourier Bold 10 Point

Courier (10 cpi) 12 PointD utc h 801 R o m an 14 p o intT im es N ew R o m an 14 p o intH elvet ic a 18 p o int

Roman Bold Italic 24 pointSwiss 721 Bold 30 point

Pick a typeface that is easy to read and size it to fit the page and maintainlegibility. Be discriminating in the use of emphasis, bolding, underlining,italics etc .

C G T im e s 6 p o in t

Examples of Personal Statements, CV’s and a

Dean’s Letter

I am w rit ing o n b ehalf o f ------- , a s en io r at C as e W es tern R es erveU niv ers ity S c hoo l o f D ent is try . M s . ------- c ur ren tly ranks 16/60 ac ad em ic a lly and 29/60 c lin ic a lly res ulting in an o vera ll ranking o f 17/60. H er o verall grad ep o int average is 3.1 0/4.00.

O ften w riting letters o f evaluatio n is a d iffic u lt and c hallenging res pons ib ility . W riting fo r ----- ho w ever, is a p leas ant and eas y tas k. B right, c reative and talented ,s he has earned the res pec t o f the fac ulty and her c lassm ates . ------ is a s elf s tarter w ithan unerring talent fo r c hoos ing the c orrec t p ath.

In ad d itio n to her o b vio us ac ad em ic and c linic al exc ellenc e s he p os sesses thep ers o nal q ualit ies that m ark a fine health c are p ro fess io nal. S he is c aring andc om pass io nate w ith a true c onc ern fo r the w elfare o f her p atients . A t o ur rec entaw ard s d inner ------ rec eived aw ard s fro m the A m eric an S oc iety o f D entis try fo rC hild ren, the A m eric an A s s oc iatio n o f P ub lic H ealth , and the R ob ert D ean F ed erA w ard w hic h rec o gnizes exc ep tio nal in teres t in p ub lic health d ent istry .

I c o uld eas ily w rite o n ab o ut ------'s ab ilities , b ut her res um e s tand s o n its o w n. S he is an im po rtant and influ ential m em b er o f o ur s tud ent b od y w ho c learlyund ers tands and w elc om es the res pons ib ility that a p rofess io nal p erso n has toc o m m unity and c ountry. S he ac cepts that res po ns ib ility w ith enthus ias m andint elligenc e. O b vio us ly s he has m y s tro nges t s upp o rt and rec omm end atio n.

S incere ly,

An old advertising adage

–Tell me quick

–And tell me true

–Or else my friend

–To hell (heck) with you