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How to submit an impressive medical internship application

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CV and job application advice from DPM’s internal HR team.

There are no good shortcuts when it comes to applying for medical intern jobs and submitting medical internship applications.

However, if you set aside some time to craft a quality job application and follow the tips below, your diligence will surely impress.  

What makes a medical internship application stand out?

As a HR professional who has read through hundreds of CVs, I can assure you that a vague application sticks out like a sore thumb. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you can submit the same CV and Cover Letter to seven different hospitals. It’s always obvious that you have taken this shortcut and it will not create a great first impression with those reviewing your application.

To stand out for the right reasons, ensure you personalise everything and tailor each application to match exactly what is asked for by the different hospitals on your preference list.

Read up and do your research.

If you’re going to personalise your application for different hospitals, it’s important that you sound informed. Every hospital has a careers page on their website with invaluable resources for you to read and use to support your application.

Why say “I want to work at the Alfred Hospital so I can help people”, when you could say “It’s been my goal to work for Alfred Health for many years as they are renowned for their training of graduate doctors, and I am excited about being involved in the 2022 Junior Medical Staff Mentor Program”.

If you have an opportunity, you could consider attending the AMA Victoria Medical Careers Expo  and ask different health services what sets them apart. You may even meet the very people who will be reading your application in a few months. Don’t be afraid to incorporate what you learn into your Cover Letter in some way, for example “I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Jane Doe at the recent AMA Victoria Medical Careers Expo and was very interested to hear about the multitude of career paths available to me at St Vincent’s Hospital.” 

What about a cover letter? Some hospitals ask for them while others don’t allow you to submit one – help!

Submit a Cover Letter wherever possible. While the standardised online CV form may be the default process for some hospitals, find out if you can submit a Cover Letter and a CV directly with their HR department too. Even where it’s not advertised on their website as an option, you may find that it’s possible by emailing or calling them directly.

Where a Cover Letter is simply not a possibility, insert a paragraph at the top of your CV to ensure that you are articulating why you want to work specifically for them.  

Don’t get hung up on formatting.

It’s not necessary to pay a graphic designer or use a swanky multicoloured template for your résumé to impress. In fact it can be quite distracting and deter people from reading the content too closely if there is too much going on. Think about your industry – nobody expects a doctor to have an immaculately designed document, you’re not applying to be a Marketing Executive are you? Keep it neat, factual and in a logical order.

Content is king. But a king that goes on and on for 4 pages will cause a revolt.

If you clearly list your previous work history and education in chronological order, your experience will speak for itself. Once you have this list on paper, review the length of your CV. We recommend no more than two pages. Read over everything and edit, edit, edit.

If you’re worried that your medical internship CV looks too short, and you’re struggling to fill a single page, take a step back. Think back to your rotations and what you have done and aim to add more in.

So, if I was vice captain of the Kayaking team in high school, should I include that in my CV?

It really depends. Not if your two pages are jam packed full of achievements and work history that is more relevant to your future job. But absolutely if all you have on your CV is studying 24/7 for the past seven years. You could even list a few dot points of what your responsibilities and achievements were in that role.

Read our Intern Match video article for advice and tips on how to ace your interview – we’ve got your back. Alternatively, visit our Medical Student Hub for the latest news, updates and resources that will help you through medical school.

* Disclaimer: The information contained in this site is general and is not intended to serve as advice as your personal circumstances have not been considered. DPM Financial Services Group recommends you obtain personal advice concerning specific matters before making a decision.

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