Why a good resume is essential when applying for a new General Surgeon job

A well-crafted and effective resume is important when searching for a general surgeon position as it is the first introduction and serves as a marketing tool to showcase your professional qualifications, skills, and experience. A compelling resume becomes the initial point of contact with potential hiring managers, and it is imperative to make a lasting impression.

A detailed and thoughtfully written resume should highlight your medical degree, board certification, fellowships, and any specialized training relevant to general surgery. It enables you to effectively communicate their proficiency in patient care. Furthermore, a resume should demonstrate the candidate’s commitment to the requirements of the surgeon’s role.

We will provide a few important tips and an example of a good resume to help improve your resume/CV and secure an interview.

How long should the General Surgeon job resume be and what information should be included?

A general surgeon’s resume should be comprehensive yet concise. You should provide enough information to showcase your qualifications, skills, and experience. Generally, a resume should be around one to two pages in length, but it’s important to prioritize content over length. Length will vary depending on the longevity of your career.

The following information should be included in your resume: contact information, resume summary or objective, education, licensure and board certification, clinical experience, skills, research and publications, teaching and academic roles, professional membership, continuing medical education, and honors and awards.

Key Points that need to be included in a resume

Contact Information: Include your full name, professional title, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable).

Pro Tip: Your name should be in the biggest text on the page and listed near the top of the resume.  Your address should only include city and state. The provided email should be a professional email. (You should not use your current job email for a resume.)

Resume Summary or Objective: Provide a brief, targeted statement summarizing your expertise, career goals, and what you offer as a general surgeon.

Education: Include your educational background, including the name of the institution, degree earned, and graduation date. List your education in reverse chronological order with your most recent and highest degrees first. List your medical degree, residency, and fellowship training.

Pro Tip: If you are a new graduate, you may want to place the education section above the experience section. As you gain work experience, your education section should be shortened. If you have not graduated, you can add “expected graduation date” to the school.

Certifications and Licenses: Specify your medical license details and any relevant certifications.

Clinical Experience: Include your work history in reverse chronological order. For each position, include the name of the hospital or clinic, location, and dates of employment. Highlight any specialized procedure or surgery you have experience performing.

This is the most important section. Your professional experience should be presented in bullet points, and a separate section should be created for each relevant previous job experience. The headline for each previous job experience section should in bold with the addition of the time you were employed. Beneath the company name, the position should be mentioned, and the bulleted points should list the job responsibilities.


Pro Tip:  It is important to mention not only the job responsibilities but also your achieved results at that job.

Research and Publications: List any research projects you’ve been involved in and publications that you have authored or co-authored.

Presentations and Conferences: Include any conferences or seminars where you have presented your work or research findings.

Skills: Outline both your medical and interpersonal skills that are relevant to general surgery. Include your proficiencies in relevant technology and minimally invasive techniques including endoscopy, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery.

Professional Memberships: List any medical or surgical associations you are a part of like the American College of Surgeons (ACS) or the American Society of General Surgeons (ASGS).

Awards and Honors: Highlight any special recognition or awards you have received for your contributions to general surgery.

Professional Development: Showcase ongoing education, training, workshops that you have attended to stay current in the field.

Note: If applicable, mention any languages that you proficient in 

A general surgeon’s resume should highlight a combination technical, medical, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Here are some important and relevant skills to include:

  • Technical Skills:
    • Proficiency in surgical precision and fine motor skills.
    • Understanding of anesthesia, its effects, and potential complications.
    • Knowledge of hemostasis and suturing techniques.
  • Medical Expertise:
    • Extensive knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
    • Knowledge of diseases and conditions that require surgery.
    • Management of a patient before and after surgery.
  • Communication Skills:
    • Empathy and compassionate care for patients and families.
    • Communication of procedures, risks, and recovery expectations to patients.
  • Problem Solving:
    • Critical thinking and analytical skills for diagnosing and treating complex cases.
    • Adaptability to unexpected challenges during surgery.
  • Technical Proficiency:
    • Familiarity with surgical technology and the equipment.
    • Competency in using medical record systems.
  • Teamwork and Collaboration:
    • Collaboration with colleagues including nurses, anesthesiologists, and other professionals.
    • Effectively communicate with the surgical team.
  • Leadership:
    • Leadership in the operating room and in the clinic.
    • Mentorship of both residents and medical students.
  • Decision-Making:
    • Ability to make informed and timely decisions under pressure.
    • Judgement to choose the most appropriate surgical options.
  • Research and Academic Skills:
    • Experience in conducting and publishing new research.
    • Involvement in academics like teaching and presenting at conferences.
  • Continuous Learning:
    • Commitment to professional development and remaining current with advancements/treatments in general surgery.
    • Attendance at relevant conferences and workshops.
  • Time Management:
    • Efficient time management in both clinic and surgery.
    • Ability to balance multiple responsibilities and prioritize tasks.

Pro tip: It is common for each job post to received hundreds of applications and a resume checking system is often in place for recruiters to filter through relevant applications. Your resume should be customized each time to the specific general surgery job you are applying for. You should emphasize relevant skills and experiences to demonstrate to the employer you understand the requirements of the position and are the best candidate. You will be more successful if you identify the key phrases in the job description and incorporate them into your resume. 

Resume example-template: Here is a template resume for a general surgeon courtesy of LiveCareer.com. You can also build and customize your resume on their site.