Well-composed and easy-to-read resumes easily convey the value that you would add to the organization and catch an employer's attention. Given that employers generally review resumes for less than 30 seconds to decide whether to interview you, you’ll want to put your best effort into its preparation.

Types of resumes

The best resumes aren't chronological lists of every job you’ve ever had, but are crafted to outline the specific skills or competencies that you can bring to the new position you are seeking. There are different types:

Competency-based resume

This format takes the focus off your job titles and puts it on your skills, abilities, and accomplishments that are more universally understood. Forget the "responsibilities included" and "duties" statements. Go for numbers, amounts, percentages. If you improved a process at your company, take it to the next step and describe the impact. Did it improve sales by a certain percent? Reduce costs? Earn money? If so, include those amounts. This sample competency-based resume illustrates the concept and can help you develop your own.

Skills-based resume

This resume style focuses on specific skills you have and particular aspects of your experience, rather than a chronological resume that emphasizes your work history. Highlight experiences and skills from all parts of life, and provide a more comprehensive view of your abilities for the position you are targeting. In a skills-based resume, you still include your employment—but you’ll stick it at the bottom of the page.

Business card resume

Regardless which type of resume you use, craft an additional one in the form of a business card – and use it in place of a traditional business card. It's a mini-resume that gives colleagues and potential employers both your contact details and critical information about the skills and qualities you can bring.

Main structure of a resume

Name and contact information

• Your name should be at the top of your resume, along with the best phone number and email address in which to reach you. 
• No need to include your physical address or designate whether your phone number is a cell or work line. 
• You may also include a link to your LinkedIn profile if it is up to date. 

Education

• This section should include only post high school education and institutions from which you received degrees. 
• The information should be presented in reverse chronological order (starting with the most current) and should include names of institutions, locations, degrees awarded, dates of graduation.
• If you are a veterinary student or very recent graduate (1-2 years), this section should appear at the top of your resume, as it is the most pertinent.
• If you a veterinarian with a few years of experience, this section can appear towards the end of the resume, since your experience will be section you first want to showcase. 

Work experience

• In reverse chronological order, be sure to list your most pertinent experience to the position to which you are applying in this section. (For instance, if you are applying to an Associate Veterinarian position, be sure to list your experiences that most directly relate to that role first.) Other work experiences outside of veterinary medicine can appear later in the document, if you find they are applicable in some way to the position.
• Descriptions should begin with active verbs and be sure to use keywords from the position description within your resume.
• Be concise and truthful, highlighting achievements and outcomes when possible.
• Be sure to include dates of employment.

Optional parts of a resume

You may want to include additional sections in your resume. Consider the following:

Professional profile

• This section is typically recommended for experienced individuals and is located at the top of your resume.
• It is comprised of 2-3 phrases, or 2-3 bullet points, that explain your strengths and how your previous career skills translate to the position you are seeking. Think “elevator pitch.”

Additional qualification sections

• Consider adding sections for licenses and certifications, community outreach, activities and involvement, and leadership experience.
• These sections provide an opportunity to showcase certifications, skills, attributes, and involvement beyond work experiences.

Interests

• Think about including serious, ongoing hobbies or interests that provide insight into what you like to do outside of work.

Competency-based resume example

What to leave off your resume

• Objective statements—There is no need to include an objective statement, unless you are posting your resume on a general job search website.
• References—You should not list references in your resume unless specifically requested by the employer. Include them in a separate document. It is also not necessary to state, “References available upon request.”

Formatting your resume

Appearance is the key to a good resume. If it appears wordy, cluttered, and hard to read, chances are it will not be read. To enhance readability:

• Select a resume type that highlights important content, and use a layout that makes the resume easy to read.
• Avoid using a resume template as they can be difficult to edit, and the design may hinder a professional appearance.
• Limit to one page if possible, two pages if necessary. If you must go to a third page to cover pertinent information, be sure that you can justify each entry.
• Consistent formatting throughout all sections of the document is key—this pertains to margins, fonts, heading styles, etc. 
• Use italics, boldface, capitalization, and underlining for emphasis, but do so sparingly and consistently.  
• Use bulleted phrases instead of sentences to separate job tasks and responsibilities. When describing responsibilities, be specific and detailed, yet concise.
• For achievements and accomplishments earned, use sentence fragments with no subjects. Maintain the correct tense: present tense for current jobs and past tense for prior jobs.

More resume tips

• Check your spelling, and have someone proofread your resume to catch mistakes that spellcheck does not pick up.
• Resumes should be tailored for different purposes. You might have one version for clinical practice and another version for a position within industry. Each should highlight skills and experiences important to those different roles.
• Update your resume on a regular basis to keep track of employment and accomplishments. As the years pass, when you acquire an additional responsibility, award, or achievement, take a moment or two to add it to your resume so all the details are accessible when the time comes to send out your resume for a new stage of your career.

Resume vs. CV

It is important to know when to use a resume or a curriculum vitae (CV). The primary differences are the length, the purpose, and the layout. A resume is a one- or two-page summary of your skills, experience, and education. It is brief and concise—no more than a page or two. A CV is longer (at least two pages) and includes more details.

A cover letter accompanies a resume when submitting your application for a particular position and serves as an introduction. It is intended to highlight your experience, training, and specific skills that you may have as it relates to the position to which you are applying. Thoughtful, well-written and succinct documents tailored specifically to the particular job and/or employer will catch an employer's attention and place you above the rest of the applicants.

We’ve all written cover letters before. But it’s important not to take this piece of your job application for granted. This is often your prospective employer’s first introduction to you. Follow these guidelines to make a good first impression:

• Make your cover letter specific to the job you’re applying for. Don’t send the same letter to all employers, switching out only the name of the position and employer. Look through the specific job description and tailor your cover letter to show how exactly you would be the best candidate for that particular position.
• Focus on specific transferable skills important to the job. Include any type of technology, problem solving, organization, project management, or finance skills and experience that would be pertinent to the job you’re seeking. Show how you bring a unique value. Be brief but to the point.
• Help the employer envision how you can apply your experience and skills to deliver results for the business.
• Be short, brief and specific!

Structure of a Cover Letter

Every cover letter should be customized to the employer and contain the following:

• Heading
• Opening salutation (e.g., Dear Dr. Pierce)
• Introduction
• Body
• Closing paragraph
• Closing salutation (e.g., Sincerely, Respectfully, Best Regards)

Introduction

State the position for which you are applying and why it specifically interests you. Indicate your knowledge about the employer by including what interested you about the employer’s practice.

You can also acknowledge any previous contact with the employer, with one of their colleagues, or why a mentor or colleague encouraged you to contact to the employer. If you are applying for a position outside of your current residence, the opening paragraph is a great place to connect yourself to the employer geographically.

Body

Your cover letter’s middle paragraph(s) are the opportunity to really distinguish yourself from other applicants. You should demonstrate that you have the skills the employer is seeking, using language from the job posting. Think about the value you bring to the table beyond your clinical and medical training. The body can sell your strengths by emphasizing your educational credentials, experience, skills, and abilities using concrete examples. For example, instead of simply indicating that you meet a particular ability, provide an example from work or school that demonstrates that ability in action. Every sentence counts.

Closing

Sum up by reiterating your interest in the position by mentioning something unique to that practice and your unique qualifications for the position. Thank the reader for their consideration of your application and indicate that you look forward to hearing from them regarding next steps. This should not be a long paragraph.

More cover letter tips

• Make your cover letter specific to the job you’re applying for. Don’t send the same letter to all employers, switching out only the name of the position and employer. Look through the specific job description and tailor your cover letter to show how exactly you would be the best candidate for that particular position.
• Focus on specific transferable skills important to the job. Include any type of technology, problem solving, organization, project management, or finance skills and experience that would be pertinent to the job you’re seeking. Show how you bring a unique value. Be brief but to the point.
• Help the employer envision how you can apply your experience and skills to deliver results for the business.
• Be short, brief, and specific.
• Make sure to always have someone review your cover letter before you send.

Once finished, put your cover letter to use and apply to positions using the AVMA’s Veterinary Career Center.

Everything you've read or heard about the job interview is true. They can be scary. You will be nervous. You won't have an answer on the tip of your tongue to every question asked. You will think of the best answers a half hour after you've left the building.

There are ways to help the interview go well. Preparation is the key to success. Here are some tips on what to do and what not to do during an interview.

Before the interview

• Know yourself by rereading your vision statement, resume, and cover letter to remind you of your goals, qualities, and skills.
• Remember that your passion for your profession got you to the interview. Make sure the interviewer knows that you are enthusiastic about what you do and will make a great employee for them. Use examples of your skills when you are talking.
• Research the company. Review their website thoroughly. Various internet search engines such as Google, as well as your local library, are also good sources of information.
• Write down a list of questions you would like to ask during the interview.
• Practice succinct answers to interview questions, such as telling something about yourself, why you want to work for a particular business, what your strengths are, what you want to improve, and where you want to be in 3-5 years. Practice will make you less nervous about what you want to say so you can concentrate on making a connection with the interviewer.

When the interview arrives

• Dress professionally and neatly.
• Be on time for your interview. Arrive early, test driving the route before the interview if possible, as online map programs can often be inaccurate.
• From the moment you enter the building, smile and be positive, confident, and enthusiastic.
• Turn off your cell phone during the interview.
• Get the interviewer's business card and use their name.
• Answer questions honestly. Avoid negative comments about your last employer or job.
• Listen after speaking. You may have said enough or the interviewer may ask you to add more details.
• Ask detailed questions about the organization, the duties of the position, performance expectations, and the culture of the organization. Show that you have done your homework.
• While you want to be sure to get information on the salary and benefits offered for the position, that should not be the first and only thing you ask about. Ideally, wait for the interviewer to bring up those topics for discussion. Employers want to hire candidates who are interested in the position and the organization, not only a paycheck.
• Ask the interviewer some questions about working there—what they like about the organization, what the typical work day is like, and what the business's long term plans are. Listen to the answers and wait until they are finished speaking before asking another question.
• Make sure your body language is relaxed and friendly. Breathe deeply and talk slowly to help calm down and think about what you want to say. Make good eye contact throughout the interview.

After the interview

• Thank the interviewer, express interest in the position, and succinctly restate why you have the skills for it.
• Send the interviewer a thank you note or e-mail for the time they spent talking to you. Use their name and spell it correctly on any correspondence.