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Junior Doctor CV Example

Designed for foundation year and core training doctors building their medical careers. Highlights your clinical rotations, competencies achieved, and commitment to professional development.

Recommended template: MinimalPro

Key Skills to Include

Acute MedicineClinical ExaminationPatient HandoverMedical DocumentationPrescribing SafetyOn-Call ManagementClinical AuditReflective Practice

Quick Tips

  • Organise your rotations chronologically with key competencies and procedures gained in each placement.
  • Include your portfolio achievements, including workplace-based assessments and supervised learning events.
  • Highlight any teaching experience, presentations, or quality improvement projects you have led.
  • Mention specialty interests and steps you have taken to explore them, such as taster weeks or courses.

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How to Write Your Junior Doctor CV

A junior doctor CV is a detailed professional document that maps your training pathway, clinical rotations, and achievements. It differs from commercial CVs in its structure and detail — medical recruiters and training programme selectors expect to see comprehensive evidence of clinical competence, audit activity, teaching, and professional development. Your CV should demonstrate not just where you have worked but what you have learned, achieved, and contributed in each rotation.

CV Structure

Start with your personal details and GMC number, followed by a career summary. List your training posts in reverse chronological order, providing detail on each rotation including clinical scope, procedures performed, and achievements. Include dedicated sections for qualifications, examinations, audit and quality improvement, teaching, courses attended, and presentations or publications. Two to three pages is typical for junior doctors.

CV Format

Use a clean, professional format with clear section headings. Medical CVs should prioritise content over design. Ensure your GMC number and medical school are visible on the first page. Use consistent formatting for dates and post descriptions. Present audit and teaching activities with enough detail to demonstrate engagement and impact.

CV Profile Examples

Foundation Year 2 Doctor

GMC-registered Foundation Year 2 doctor completing rotations in emergency medicine, psychiatry, and general practice at a large teaching hospital. Passed the Prescribing Safety Assessment and achieved satisfactory outcomes in all workplace-based assessments. Active in clinical audit and quality improvement, having led two completed audit cycles during foundation training. Applying for core medical training with a strong interest in acute and general internal medicine.

Core Medical Trainee

Enthusiastic core medical trainee in CT2 year, rotating through cardiology, respiratory medicine, and the acute medical take at a district general hospital. MRCP Part 1 passed with ongoing preparation for clinical examinations. Experienced in managing acutely unwell patients independently on night and weekend on-calls, with particular interest in cardiology and interventional procedures. Portfolio includes three completed audits and regular teaching contributions.

Foundation Year 1 Doctor

Newly qualified FY1 doctor at the beginning of foundation training, currently rotating through general surgery with upcoming placements in geriatric medicine and respiratory. Graduated from the University of Edinburgh Medical School with commendation and completed an intercalated BSc in Medical Sciences. Keen to develop clinical skills, contribute to quality improvement, and build a strong foundation for specialty training applications.

State your current training grade, GMC registration status, and the specialty you are applying for. Mention your key rotations, examination progress, and one or two achievements that differentiate you from other trainees at the same level.

Key Skills for Your Junior Doctor CV

Acute Medicine

Assessing and managing acutely unwell patients, initiating investigations, and delivering time-critical treatments.

Clinical Examination

Performing systematic physical examinations across medical and surgical specialties to inform diagnosis.

Patient Handover

Communicating clinical information clearly and safely during shift handovers using structured frameworks such as SBAR.

Medical Documentation

Writing accurate, timely clinical notes, discharge summaries, and referral letters that meet professional standards.

Prescribing Safety

Prescribing medications safely with awareness of interactions, contraindications, and patient-specific factors.

On-Call Management

Managing clinical workload independently during on-call periods, prioritising tasks and escalating appropriately.

Clinical Audit

Designing and conducting clinical audits that measure practice against standards and identify areas for improvement.

Reflective Practice

Critically reflecting on clinical experiences to support professional development and improve future practice.

Work Experience Examples

Detail each rotation with the hospital, dates, specialty, and your clinical responsibilities. Include specific procedures you have performed, patient populations you have managed, and any additional responsibilities such as teaching or rota coordination. Achievements should include audit outcomes, teaching activities, and positive feedback received.

Foundation Year 2 Doctor

Royal Stoke University Hospital — University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Completed FY2 rotations in Emergency Medicine, General Psychiatry, and General Practice, managing patients across acute and community settings.

Responsibilities

  • Assessed and managed patients in the emergency department, including trauma presentations, acute medical conditions, and mental health emergencies.
  • Performed clinical procedures including suturing, joint aspiration, lumbar puncture, and procedural sedation under supervision.
  • Managed psychiatric inpatients during the on-call period, conducting risk assessments and initiating treatment plans for acute presentations.
  • Delivered primary care consultations in a GP surgery, managing chronic disease reviews, acute presentations, and referral decisions.
  • Completed workplace-based assessments including mini-CEX, DOPS, and CBD, receiving feedback from supervisors across each rotation.

Achievements

  • Led a clinical audit on venous thromboembolism prophylaxis prescribing, achieving 95% compliance following a targeted education programme.
  • Presented a case report on an unusual presentation of myasthenia gravis at the regional medical grand round.
  • Organised and delivered a weekly teaching programme for medical students on clinical examination skills.

Foundation Year 1 Doctor

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham — University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Completed FY1 rotations in General Surgery, Geriatric Medicine, and Respiratory Medicine, developing core clinical competencies across medical and surgical specialties.

Responsibilities

  • Managed a surgical ward caseload including pre-operative assessments, post-operative care, and discharge planning.
  • Conducted comprehensive geriatric assessments for frail elderly patients, coordinating with the MDT on care and placement decisions.
  • Managed patients with acute and chronic respiratory conditions including COPD exacerbations, pneumonia, and pneumothorax.
  • Documented patient encounters, prepared discharge summaries, and communicated clinical information during structured handovers.

Achievements

  • Achieved a satisfactory outcome in all fifteen foundation competencies documented in the e-portfolio.
  • Completed a quality improvement project that reduced time to first antibiotic in sepsis patients from 82 minutes to 48 minutes.

Education & Qualifications

List your medical degree with medical school and graduation year. Include any intercalated degree, prizes, or distinctions. Present examination progress (PSA, MRCP, MRCGP) with dates and results. List courses attended such as ALS, ATLS, or specialty-specific training.

MBBS / MBChB

Primary medical qualification from a UK medical school enabling provisional and subsequent full GMC registration.

PSA (Prescribing Safety Assessment)

National assessment of prescribing competence required for completion of foundation training.

MRCP Part 1

First component of the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians examination for medical trainees.

ALS (Advanced Life Support)

Resuscitation Council UK course covering advanced cardiac life support algorithms and team leadership.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should a junior doctor structure their CV?
Follow a medical CV format with GMC number, career history in reverse chronological order, qualifications, audit, research, teaching, and courses. Detail each rotation including clinical scope and achievements. Include your e-portfolio highlights and examination progress. Two to three pages is appropriate for foundation and core trainees — ensure every section adds value to your application.
How important are audits on a junior doctor CV?
Very important. Audits demonstrate your commitment to quality improvement and evidence-based practice. Completed audit cycles — where you measured, intervened, and re-measured — are particularly valued by training programme selectors. Describe the audit topic, your findings, the changes implemented, and the results of your re-audit. Even small audits show initiative and engagement with clinical governance.
Should I include teaching experience on my junior doctor CV?
Yes. Teaching is a core competency expected of all doctors, and demonstrating early teaching experience strengthens specialty training applications. Describe formal and informal teaching you have delivered — medical student tutorials, simulation sessions, or departmental presentations. Include any teaching qualifications or courses you have completed.
How do I tailor my CV for specialty training applications?
Study the person specification for your target specialty and ensure your CV provides evidence against each criterion. Highlight relevant clinical experience, audit topics aligned with the specialty, and steps you have taken to explore the specialty such as taster weeks, courses, or elective placements. Tailor your profile to express your motivation and suitability for the specific training programme.

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