Curriculum Vitae: Tips

1. Curriculum Vitae: Tips CDR Dan Brum Pharmacist, USPHS Commissioned Corps PharmPAC Member, Readiness Section Co-Lead

2. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in the following PowerPoint slides are those of the individual presenter and should not be attributed to any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated.

3. Agenda • Who looks at your CV? • Helpful resources • My recommendations • Open discussion

4. Who looks at your CV? • Promotion board members • ROS, PIR, COERs, OS, CV • Hiring officials / interviewers • Others e.g., PACs, working groups, etc.

5. Who else might you ask to look at your CV? • Family or friend • Mentor • (Senior) officer volunteers • Professional resume and CV writing service

6. Multiple Versions? • Depending on the purpose or intended audience, you may need to develop more than one version of your CV (e.g., USAJobs)

7. Resources (1) • Sample CV Template on PAC website • E.g., Pharmacy http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/pharmacy/career/guidance.asp

8. Resources (2) • Category promotion precepts and benchmarks • Precepts: e.g., performance (40%), progression (25%), edu/training (15%), career officership (15%), etc.

9. Your accomplishments should be documented The category promotion benchmarks guidance states repeatedly that accomplishments should be documented in your CV

10. Recommendations (1) • Follow the CV template • Know the precepts • Update CV frequently (living document)

11. Recommendations (2) • Proofread: Be meticulous • Remove outdated & irrelevant items • Shorten it…more • One page cover sheet

12. Recommendations (3) • Make prominent the most important information e.g., • “10 staff report directly to me” • “Directly control & manage a $15M budget” • Emphasize career highlights • Use bold, italics, underline sparingly • E.g., PHS Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)

13. Recommendations (4) • Be truthful • If team effort, don’t take all the credit • Don’t plagiarize • Be consistent (e.g., formatting) • Fax in CV to eOPF regularly • Fax #: (301)480-1407 or (301)480-1436

14. Highlights • Use the template • Know the precepts & benchmarks • Highlight accomplishments that differentiate you (from your peers) • Proofread • Less is often more

15. Less is more (Example 1a) • PHS Outstanding Service Medal (2010) Exemplary performance in the… • PHS Commendation Medal (2009) – Outstanding performance for the… • PHS Unit Commendation (2008) – Yet another long citation • Etc.

16. Less is more (Example 1b) • PHS Outstanding Service Medal (2010) • PHS Commendation Medal (2009) • PHS Unit Commendation (2008) • Etc.

17. USPHS Winds Ensemble, Percussionist (2005-10) OR USPHS Winds Ensemble, Percussionist (2005-10) 30 performances Less is more (Example 2) • USPHS Winds Ensemble • Played at Event A • Played at Event B • Played at Event C • Played at Event D • Played at Event E • Played at Event F • Played at Event G • Etc.

18. PLANT Workgroup, Writer (2005-10) Authored seven (7) mini-biographical sketches Less is more (Example 3) • PLANT Workgroup, Writer (2005-10) • Profile A • Profile B • Profile C • Profile D • Profile E • Profile F • Profile G

19. Less is more: conclusions • Summarize where possible • Emphasize key points (e.g., group leader, major contribution, measureable impact, etc.) • Don’t document the “accomplishment” until you have actually done it

20. Contact Information CDR Dan Brum Food and Drug Administration White Oak 22, Rm 4160 10903 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002 W: 301-796-0578 Dan.brum@fda.hhs.gov

21. Open Discussion