Stephen Covey\u2019s \u201cbegin with the end in mind\u201d rings true here. Begin with a detailed master CV capturing all relevant experience. From this, you can curate tailored versions for specific roles.<\/p>\n
Increasingly, applications involve answering specific competency-based questions, assessed from the employer\u2019s point of view. It is vital to demonstrate:<\/p>\n
- \n
- What <\/strong>you did<\/li>\n
- How <\/strong>you did it<\/li>\n
- The change or impact <\/strong>achieved<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Employers value collaboration and leadership. Use your CV to provide clear, concise examples of both. Ultimately, your CV should tell the full story, not just of what you\u2019ve done, but how you\u2019ve made a difference.<\/p>\n
Principles for a Strong Non-Clinical CV<\/strong><\/p>\n
Here are ten principles I followed while giving my own CV a spring clean:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Craft a clear, concise personal statement<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Open with a concise personal statement: who you are, your interests, and your direction of travel. Crucially, end on a note of aspiration – not where you are, but where you want to go. If your ambition aligns with solving the organisation\u2019s problem, you’re far more likely to be hired.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Identify your USP and embrace story-telling<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Are you a clinician driving digital change? A policy-minded leader who bridges gaps between frontline staff and executives?\u00a0 Shape your CV around a clear narrative – one that shows the problems you solve.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Prioritise skills over technical tasks<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Technical expertise like performing a flawless tooth extraction matters in practice, but in leadership roles, skills like communication, innovation, and systems thinking carry more weight. Highlight how you applied these in context.\u201d<\/p>\n
Examples of transferable skills across healthcare roles<\/strong><\/p>\n
Through discussions with colleagues across the system \u2013 including Owens Iguodala<\/strong> (Dentistry Fellow, NHS England Transformation Directorate), Temi Omorinoye<\/strong> (Pharmacist Fellow, NHS Derby & Derbyshire ICB), and Abid Ali<\/strong> (GP Trainee and clinical fellow at NHSE and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges) \u2013 we identified how traditional CVs often undersell leadership potential<\/p>\n
- \n
- Clinical Role: Transferable Skills and Examples<\/li>\n
- Hospital Medicine: Chairing MDTs, leading rota redesign, managing QI projects<\/li>\n
- General Practice: Collaborating with social care, improving digital access, running population health audits<\/li>\n
- Pharmacy: Critical appraisal for new therapies, managing medicines shortages, cross-sector collaboration<\/li>\n
- Dentistry: Supervising students, conducting audits, leading digital transformation in clinics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Frame your growth: <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
With time, knowledge gives way to skills, and eventually, experience becomes your most valuable asset. Your non-clinical CV should reflect:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Knowledge gained early on,<\/li>\n
- Skills developed through practice,<\/li>\n
- Experience as you assume more senior roles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Use tools like LinkedIn for milestones<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
LinkedIn is more than a digital CV, it\u2019s your live professional brand. Share, comment, and post with intent, reinforcing your expertise and interests. Keep it focused so if someone visits your profile, they should instantly know what you offer.<\/p>\n
- \n
- CV Writing as reflective practice<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Updating your CV helps identify gaps and growth areas. I noticed my own CV lacked projects involving implementation. I now plan to undertake some quality improvement work upon returning to clinical practice, focusing on applying the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) framework – a versatile tool with value in both clinical and non-clinical contexts.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Consider a functional CV format<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you\u2019re moving into non-clinical roles, a functional or combination CV may be more effective than a traditional chronological one. This format foregrounds your skills and achievements rather than listing job roles in sequence. (A good model to consider is the GMC framework used for the general or specialist register.)<\/p>\n
- \n
- Capture the grey areas<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Let\u2019s be honest, ChatGPT can\u2019t write your whole CV for you. Some of your most meaningful achievements won\u2019t appear in a job description or news article. Leading a trainee society or contributing to regional training still signals initiative and leadership so don\u2019t leave them out.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Don\u2019t forget the basics – formatting matters<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Use consistent fonts – User interface designers recommend Arial with size 14 for headers and 11 for the body. Avoid abbreviations as the reviewer may not share your background. Lastly, proofread meticulously as simple errors can undermine credibility.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Final thought: Keep it alive<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Maintain that master CV. Keep it updated. Use it as your springboard. And when you\u2019re applying for roles outside the traditional clinical track, adapt it with intent. In today\u2019s competitive job market, I believe in radical incrementalism where every small improvement counts towards creating the strongest possible version of your CV.\u00a0 Let\u2019s make our CVs reflect who we really are, not just what we were trained to do.<\/p>\n
Author<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmjleader\/files\/2025\/08\/IMG_5159-Copy-150x150.jpg\")
<\/p>\nJarin Noronha <\/strong><\/p>\n
Jarin is a surgical trainee and Clinical Fellow at NICE, and a National Medical Director\u2019s Clinical Fellow at the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management. He is passionate about driving positive change in healthcare through evidence-based practice and collaborative leadership.<\/p>\n
Declaration of interests<\/b><\/p>\n
I have read and understood the BMJ Group policy on declaration of interests and declare the following interests: none<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
During my leadership fellowship with the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management at NICE, I was asked to create my \u2018Non-Medical\u2019 CV. What seemed like a routine task became a valuable opportunity for reflection. As I outlined non-clinical skills, like stakeholder engagement and project management, I realised how these added value beyond my clinical role. […]<\/p>\n
- Final thought: Keep it alive<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Don\u2019t forget the basics – formatting matters<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Capture the grey areas<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Consider a functional CV format<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- CV Writing as reflective practice<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Use tools like LinkedIn for milestones<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Frame your growth: <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Prioritise skills over technical tasks<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Identify your USP and embrace story-telling<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- How <\/strong>you did it<\/li>\n