Essential CV Building Tips for MD Graduates Pursuing Psychiatry Residency

Understanding the Role of Your CV in the Psychiatry Match

For an MD graduate in psychiatry, your CV is more than a list of experiences—it is a strategic document that tells program directors, “I understand psychiatry, I’m prepared for residency, and I have the potential to grow into an excellent psychiatrist.”

In the context of the allopathic medical school match, your CV works alongside ERAS, your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and MSPE. While ERAS captures structured data, your CV is often:

• Used by faculty interviewers to quickly get to know you before (or during) the interview
• Shared internally among selection committee members who may skim it instead of or in addition to ERAS
• Brought by you to away rotations, networking events, and meetings with mentors
• Required for scholarship, research, or leadership opportunities that can strengthen your psych match application

Think of the CV as a curated narrative of your professional development focused on psychiatry potential. It must be:

• Clean and easy to scan (they may look at it for under 60 seconds)
• Accurate and consistent with ERAS
• Psychiatry-aware – highlighting the traits valued in psychiatrists: communication, empathy, professionalism, curiosity, and longitudinal commitment to patient care and mental health

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Core Structure: How to Build a Strong CV for Psychiatry Residency

Before optimizing content, you need the right structure. Most MD graduate residency CVs follow a consistent order. A typical and effective structure for a psychiatry-bound applicant:

1. Contact Information & Credentials
2. Education
3. Medical Licensure and Exams (USMLE/COMLEX)
4. Clinical Experience (Clerkships, Sub‑Internships, Away Rotations)
5. Research Experience
6. Publications, Manuscripts, and Presentations
7. Work Experience
8. Leadership & Service
9. Psychiatry‑Focused Activities (can be integrated into research, leadership, etc.)
10. Honors and Awards
11. Professional Memberships
12. Skills (Languages, Technical, Relevant Certifications)
13. Personal Interests (optional, but often helpful in psych)

1. Contact Information & Credentials

At the top of your CV:

• Full name (as used in ERAS)
• MD degree designation (e.g., “John A. Smith, MD”)
• Professional email (avoid casual addresses)
• Phone number
• City/State (full address optional)
• LinkedIn profile (if updated and professional)
• AAMC ID (optional but helpful for residency-related uses)

Psychiatry-specific tip: If you have a professional website or portfolio that highlights psychiatry writing, advocacy, or research, include it.

2. Education

List your allopathic medical school first, then earlier degrees.

Format example:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) – Allopathic Medical School, City, State
  Month Year – Month Year (expected or completed)

  • Distinctions: AOA, GHHS, Honors in Psychiatry rotation (if applicable)

• Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience – University Name, City, State
  Month Year – Month Year

  • GPA X.XX/4.00 (include only if strong and helpful)

Residency CV tips for this section:

• Do not overload this section with minor details; save space for experiences.
• If you completed a post-bac, master’s in clinical psychology, neuroscience, or public health, clearly list and briefly note relevance (e.g., thesis on depression screening).

3. Licensure and Exams

Recruiters want to instantly know your exam status and eligibility.

Include:

• USMLE Step 1: Pass (or score, if desired and not hidden in your program’s context)
• USMLE Step 2 CK: XXX (Month Year)
• USMLE Step 3: (if taken)
• Any state limited licenses or ECFMG status (if IMG with MD equivalent)

For most MD graduate residency applicants, simple and clear is better than elaborate. Ensure all dates and scores match ERAS.

4. Clinical Experience

This section translates your clinical readiness. For psychiatry, program directors look for:

• Solid core clerkship performance
• Clear interest in psychiatry
• Exposure to diverse patient populations
• Professionalism and teamwork

Group experiences as follows:

Core Clinical Rotations (optional detailed listing)

If your school provides a clerkship transcript or your experiences are well-documented in ERAS, you can keep this section brief. However, if you want to show particular strength or additional psych exposure:

• Psychiatry Core Clerkship – Hospital/Institution, City, State
  Month Year – Month Year

  • Grade: Honors
  • Inpatient adult psychiatry, consult liaison service, and outpatient mood disorders clinic

• Sub‑Internship in Psychiatry – Institution
  Month Year – Month Year

  • Responsibilities closer to intern level: daily note writing, care coordination, family meetings

Psychiatry‑Specific Clinical Experiences

If you’re aiming for a competitive psychiatry residency, you should feature:

• Sub‑I in Psychiatry (if completed)
• Electives (Child & Adolescent Psych, Addiction, CL, Forensic Psych, Geriatric Psych)
• Away rotations at institutions where you hope to match

Format:

• Clinical Elective in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry – Children’s Hospital, City, State
  Month Year – Month Year
  • Participated in multidisciplinary treatment planning, school collaboration meetings, and family therapy sessions.
  • Gained experience in ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, mood and anxiety disorders in adolescents.

Use action verbs and psychiatry-relevant responsibilities: “conducted brief psychiatric assessments,” “assisted with psychoeducation,” “coordinated community mental health resources.”

This shows concrete skills rather than vague statements like “exposed to psychiatric patients.”

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Highlighting Psychiatry Fit: What to Emphasize on Your CV

Your goal is to convince programs that you are not just a generic MD graduate residency applicant, but someone whose experiences and values align with psychiatry.

1. Research Experience in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Research is particularly appreciated in academic psychiatry programs, but even community programs value applicants who show intellectual curiosity.

Create a dedicated Research Experience section separate from Publications/Presentations.

For each entry:

• Project Title or Focus
• Institution/Department
• Mentor’s name and credentials (e.g., “Mentor: Jane Doe, MD, PhD”)
• Dates
• Brief bullet points outlining your role and outcomes

Example:

Research Assistant – Depression and Primary Care Integration Study
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center, City, State
Mentor: John R. Lee, MD
June 2022 – May 2023

• Conducted chart reviews and data abstraction for a study integrating PHQ‑9 screening into primary care clinics.
• Assisted with patient recruitment and informed consent in English and Spanish.
• Co‑authored abstract accepted at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting.

Even if your research is not strictly psychiatric—e.g., neurology, addiction medicine, health disparities—frame it in a way that highlights relevance to mental health, brain sciences, or vulnerable populations.

2. Publications, Manuscripts, and Presentations

A well-organized Publications and Presentations section adds academic strength to your psychiatry residency profile.

Subdivide when helpful:

• Peer‑reviewed Publications
• Manuscripts Under Review or In Preparation (label clearly)
• Book Chapters
• Abstracts and Posters
• Oral Presentations

Use a consistent citation style (e.g., AMA). Example:

Smith JA, Lee JR. Depression screening in primary care: Implementation outcomes in an underserved population. J Prim Care Community Health. 2023;14:1‑8.

For posters:

Smith JA, Patel R. Substance use patterns among college students during COVID‑19. Poster presented at: American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; May 2023; San Francisco, CA.

For a psych match, program directors often scan this section to see:

• Any work with mood disorders, psychosis, addiction, suicidality, trauma, CL psychiatry, or public/community psychiatry
• Evidence you can see a project through to dissemination

If you have no psychiatry publications, emphasize behavioral health, neurobiology, public health, or social determinants of health research, and explicitly connect it to your interest in psychiatry in your bullets and, later, your personal statement.

3. Leadership and Advocacy in Mental Health

Psychiatry values advocacy, communication, and systems thinking. Carefully curate a Leadership & Service section with emphasis on mental health–related roles.

Examples:

Co‑Founder, Medical Student Mental Health Advocacy Group
Allopathic Medical School, City, State
August 2021 – May 2023

• Organized campus‑wide destigmatization campaign for depression and anxiety among medical students.
• Coordinated peer‑support training workshops with the counseling center.

Volunteer Counselor, Crisis Text Line
Remote
January 2020 – December 2022

• Completed 30 hours of crisis intervention training focused on suicide risk assessment, de‑escalation, and safety planning.
• Provided text‑based support to individuals experiencing acute emotional distress under supervisor oversight.

When wondering how to build a CV for residency in psychiatry, think about experiences that demonstrate:

• Comfort with emotionally intense conversations
• Respect for patient autonomy and dignity
• Experience working with marginalized populations
• Ability to collaborate in interprofessional teams

4. Teaching and Mentoring

Psychiatrists often serve as educators for patients, families, and trainees. Teaching experiences signal maturity and communication skills.

Include:

• Peer tutoring (especially in behavioral science, psychiatry, or neuroscience)
• Teaching assistant roles
• Community education (e.g., mental health workshops, psychoeducation groups)
• Curriculum development in mental health topics

Example:

Peer Tutor – Behavioral Sciences
Allopathic Medical School
September 2021 – May 2022

• Provided weekly 1:1 tutoring to pre‑clinical students in psychiatry and behavioral science.
• Developed summary handouts on mood disorders and anxiety management techniques.

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Formatting and Style: Making Your Psychiatry CV Easy to Read

Even a strong content profile can be overlooked if your CV is hard to read. For the allopathic medical school match, aim for a CV design that is:

• Clean and conservative – no colors, graphics, or unusual fonts
• Skimmable – clear headings, consistent bullet styles
• 1–3 pages, depending on experience (for MD graduates applying to residency, 2–3 pages is common and acceptable)

Formatting Principles

• Font: 10–12 pt (e.g., Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial)
• Margins: ~0.75–1 inch
• Use bold for section headings and role titles.
• Use italics or regular font for institutions and locations.
• Align dates on the right margin for easy scanning.
• Be consistent with tense: past experiences in past tense; current roles in present tense.

Example bullet format:

• Conducted initial psychiatric evaluations under supervision for adults with mood and anxiety disorders.
• Collaborated with social work and psychology colleagues to coordinate discharge planning.

Psychiatry‑Savvy Language

Use wording that conveys:

• Interpersonal skills: “facilitated,” “counseled,” “collaborated,” “coordinated”
• Analytical skills: “analyzed,” “reviewed,” “evaluated,” “synthesized”
• Professionalism: “maintained confidentiality,” “demonstrated cultural humility,” “participated in quality improvement”

Avoid:

• Overly casual language
• Exaggerated claims not supported by your role (e.g., “independently managed psychotic patients” as a student)
• Vague bullets such as “observed patient care”

Tailoring Without Misrepresenting

You do not need a totally different CV for every psychiatry residency, but you can:

• Maintain a core CV and minorly adjust:
  • Order of sections (e.g., move Research up for research-heavy programs)
  • Emphasis in bullet points to highlight CL, child, addiction, or community psychiatry experiences
• Check for alignment with your ERAS entries to avoid inconsistencies

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Strategic Content Choices: What to Include, What to Cut

One of the most common questions is not just how to build a CV for residency, but what to leave out. For a psychiatry‑focused MD graduate residency CV, prioritize experiences that show depth and continuity.

1. Work Experience

Include non‑medical jobs if they demonstrate:

• Long‑term responsibility (e.g., years of work during college)
• Transferable skills (communication, leadership, cultural competence)
• Overcoming adversity

Example:

Residential Counselor, Group Home for Adults with Serious Mental Illness
Community Agency, City, State
June 2018 – August 2019

• Supported residents with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression in daily living tasks.
• Collaborated with visiting case managers and psychiatric providers.

If you worked in something unrelated (e.g., barista) you can either:

• Include it briefly (one line) for continuity if there was a long gap, or
• Omit it if you have substantial medical and psychiatry‑related experiences

2. Honors, Awards, and Scholarships

This section shows recognition of your excellence and effort:

• Clerkship honors (especially in psychiatry, neurology, internal medicine, pediatrics)
• AOA, GHHS, or other honor societies
• Research scholarships and travel awards
• Leadership or service awards, especially in mental health

List them in reverse chronological order, including:

• Name of the award
• Institution
• Month/Year
• One short phrase if the purpose is not self‑explanatory

Example:

Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductee – Allopathic Medical School, May 2023
Recognized for excellence in humanistic patient care and professionalism.

3. Professional Memberships

Psychiatry‑relevant memberships can strengthen your psych match narrative:

• American Psychiatric Association (APA) – Medical Student Member
• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) – Student Member
• Psychiatric specialty interest groups in your medical school

Format:

American Psychiatric Association (APA) – Medical Student Member, 2022 – Present

This signals early engagement with the field and awareness of ongoing developments.

4. Skills and Languages

This section may seem minor, but in psychiatry it can be highly relevant.

Languages:

• List languages with proficiency level: fluent, advanced, conversational, basic.
• Be honest; you may be tested by patients or staff.

Psychiatry‑relevant skills:

• Motivational interviewing training
• MI or CBT workshop participation (do not overstate; specify “introductory workshop” if that’s the case)
• Experience with standardized assessment tools (e.g., PHQ‑9, GAD‑7, MoCA)
• Data analysis tools used for mental health research (SPSS, R, NVivo)

Example:

Languages

• Spanish – Advanced (clinical conversation competent)
• Arabic – Conversational

Skills

• Proficient in SPSS for quantitative research analysis
• Trained in basic suicide risk assessment as part of Crisis Text Line training

5. Personal Interests

In psychiatry, personal interests often become genuine starting points for interview conversations. They can also highlight empathy, cultural curiosity, and balance.

Examples to include:

• Long‑term hobbies (music, art, writing, sports)
• Community engagement (book clubs, writing groups, meditation groups)
• Activities that demonstrate resilience and wellness

Brief bullets work best:

• Long‑distance running; completed two half‑marathons
• Creative writing; short stories exploring themes of identity and belonging
• Mindfulness meditation; co‑led peer mindfulness sessions during medical school

Avoid controversial or polarizing statements; keep them neutral and genuine.

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Putting It All Together: Practical Steps to Build or Revise Your Psychiatry CV

To move from theory to action, use this stepwise approach:

Step 1: Gather Raw Data

Collect:

• ERAS experiences list
• Research logs, poster abstracts, publication reference lists
• Old resumes, volunteer logs, leadership records
• Awards documentation and membership confirmations

Step 2: Map to a Standard CV Template

Create headings matching a typical medical student CV geared toward psychiatry. Place all items under the most logical category.

Ask yourself:

• Does this experience demonstrate a skill or value relevant to psychiatry?
• Does it show growth over time?
• Is it unique or impactful enough to list?

If not, consider cutting it or consolidating.

Step 3: Convert Duties into Impact‑Oriented Bullets

Use a simple formula:

Action verb + what you did + why/impact (if possible)

Instead of:
“Worked with psychiatric patients.”

Write:
“Interviewed and presented new psychiatric admissions under supervision, developing differential diagnoses and initial management plans.”

Step 4: Psych‑Align Your Wording

Where appropriate, emphasize:

• Collaboration with interdisciplinary teams
• Work with vulnerable populations
• Communication skills and conflict resolution
• Insights into stigma, cultural humility, and social determinants of mental health

Step 5: Seek Mentored Feedback

Ask:

• A psychiatry faculty mentor
• A senior psychiatry resident
• Your school’s career advisor

Have them review specifically for:

• Clarity and honesty
• Relevance to psychiatry
• Gaps or unexplained time periods
• Over‑ or under‑emphasis of certain activities

Step 6: Cross‑Check With ERAS

Your medical student CV and ERAS entries must align:

• Dates and titles should match exactly.
• Do not materially change your role descriptions between the two systems.
• Make sure any “in preparation” manuscript on your CV is also accurately represented in ERAS (or not mischaracterized as accepted).

Step 7: Update Regularly

Your CV is a living document:

• Update immediately after new publications, presentations, or roles
• Save versions by date (e.g., “CV_PsychResidency_2025_07”)
• Use your updated CV to quickly add new entries into ERAS or other applications

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FAQs: CV Building for MD Graduate in Psychiatry

1. How long should my CV be for psychiatry residency applications?

For an MD graduate applying to psychiatry residency, 2–3 pages is common and acceptable. A 1‑page resume style is usually too short to capture all relevant clinical, research, and leadership experiences. Focus on clarity and relevance; do not stretch to add filler, but don’t omit significant experiences just to fit a single page.

2. How important is research on a psychiatry residency CV?

Research is helpful but not mandatory for all programs. Academic psychiatry programs may weigh research more heavily, especially in behavioral health, neuroscience, or health services. Community programs may be more flexible. If you lack psychiatry research, emphasize other strengths: strong clinical performance, meaningful mental health advocacy, crisis work, or community service.

3. Should I list all of my publications, including non‑psychiatry work?

Yes—with judgment. If you have many publications, prioritize those most relevant to psychiatry, neuroscience, behavioral health, or population health, and consider grouping less‑relevant items under a subheading. Non‑psychiatry work still shows scholarly ability, persistence, and analytical skills, all valued in psychiatrists.

4. How is a residency CV different from a non‑medical resume?

A residency CV is more detailed and academic than a typical job resume. It includes comprehensive lists of education, clinical experiences, research, publications, presentations, and leadership roles—often extending to 2–3 pages. A standard resume is shorter (often 1 page), more general, and tailored to a non‑academic audience. For the psych match, programs expect an academic‑style CV that aligns with your ERAS application.

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By approaching your CV as a structured, psychiatry‑focused narrative rather than a simple list, you position yourself as a thoughtful, prepared MD graduate ready to contribute meaningfully to a psychiatry residency program.