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Curriculum Vitae: TipsCurriculum Vitae: TipsCurriculum Vitae: TipsCurriculum Vitae: TipsCDR Dan BrumCDR Dan Brum

Pharmacist, USPHS Commissioned CorpsPharmacist, USPHS Commissioned Corps

PharmPAC Member, Readiness Section Co-PharmPAC Member, Readiness Section Co-LeadLead

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DisclaimerThe 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.

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

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Who looks at your CV?• Promotion board members

– ROS, PIR, COERs, OS, CV

• Hiring officials / interviewers• Others e.g., PACs, working groups,

etc.

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Who else might you ask to look at your CV?

• Family or friend• Mentor• (Senior) officer volunteers• Professional resume and CV

writing service

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Multiple Versions?

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

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Resources (1)• Sample CV Template on PAC

website

– E.g., Pharmacy

http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/pharmacy/career/guidance.asp

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Resources (2)

• Category promotion precepts and benchmarks– Precepts: e.g., performance (40%),

progression (25%), edu/training (15%), career officership (15%), etc.

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Your accomplishments should be documented

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

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

document)

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Recommendations (2)• Proofread: Be meticulous• Remove outdated & irrelevant

items• Shorten it…more• One page cover sheet

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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)

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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

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Highlights• Use the template• Know the precepts & benchmarks• Highlight accomplishments that

differentiate you (from your peers)• Proofread• Less is often more

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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.

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Less is more (Example 1b)

• PHS Outstanding Service Medal (2010)

• PHS Commendation Medal (2009)• PHS Unit Commendation (2008)• Etc.

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Less is more (Example 2)

• USPHS Winds Ensemble, Percussionist (2005-10)

OR

• USPHS Winds Ensemble, Percussionist (2005-10)– 30 performances

• 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.

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Less is more (Example 3)

• PLANT Workgroup, Writer (2005-10)– Authored seven (7)

mini-biographical sketches

• PLANT Workgroup, Writer (2005-10)– Profile A– Profile B– Profile C– Profile D– Profile E– Profile F– Profile G

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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

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Contact Information

CDR Dan BrumFood and Drug Administration

White Oak 22, Rm 416010903 New Hampshire Ave.

Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002W: 301-796-0578

Dan.brum@fda.hhs.gov

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Open Discussion