Resume & Curriculum Vitae
Development Resources
Resume/CV Development Resources
Whether you are a new or seasoned pharmacy technician seeking tips to refine your current resume or CV, or you are a pharmacy technician student beginning to develop your resume or CV, the following tools can help you through the process. Your resume or CV should showcase your experience, education, skills, knowledge, accomplishments, and professional engagement. It is important to update your resume or CV on a regular basis.
Transform Your Resume into a CV
A CV is a more detailed document than a resume. In addition to showcasing your work experience and educational background, a CV also can highlight your awards, research efforts, and professional engagement.
Preparing a CV
A resume/CV is an organized listing of one‘s achievements and experiences in the areas of education, professional experience, organizational membership, presentations and publications, honors and awards, and community service.
The Latin words “curriculum vitae” literally mean “the course or outline of [your] life.” A CV, sometimes called a “long resume,” is longer and more detailed than resumes prepared for most job interviews.
A well-composed resume/CV is easy to read and contains information about your strongest attributes and experiences. Remember that a resume/CV is a living document and that dates are very important. Start with the most recent information and work backward. The following sections should be included:
- Education, Training, and Certifications;
- Work experience;
- Clerkship rotations (if a current student);
- Presentations and publications;
- Honors and awards;
- Membership in organizations (include offices held);
- Professional and community service;
- Other special experiences or skills
Cover Letter
When applying for a position, it is typical to add a brief cover letter to your resume/CV. This letter should be specific to the position or program for which you are applying and should include both why this particular position or program appeals to you and the special interests or skills that make you a strong candidate.
Resume/CV Dos
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Do focus on professional information. Pharmacy-related information should precede all other topics (such as hobbies and community service activities). |
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Do include everything positive about your achievements that you can honestly state. |
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Do describe offices held or professional/community service activities. Go beyond naming the office or service and briefly describe the scope of responsibility and/or impact (e.g., how many people in the organization/committee, how many attended the event, size of the budget, funds raised, etc.). |
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Do prepare your resume/CV on a computer. |
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Do update your resume/CV regularly to reflect work experience, publications, and presentations. |
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Do check your resume/CV carefully for spelling and grammatical errors. |
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Do use resume or business paper, conservative paper color, and simple fonts. |
| ✓ | Do identify your preceptors, work supervisors, and/or references by title (PharmD, PhD, RPh, etc.). |
Resume/CV Don’ts
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Don’t include personal, demographic information such as age, height, or weight. |
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Don’t include a photograph. |
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Don’t include information that predates pharmacy technician school or work experience except for education (e.g., previous degrees) or unique achievements (e.g., National Merit Scholar). |
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