How to Write Your Primary Care Cover Letter and CV (Samples Included)

When applying for a new job as a Family Medicine physician or an Internal Medicine physician, updating your curriculum vitae (CV) and cover letter is a crucial step. These two documents serve as your first impression, and to make a good one, there are certain elements you need and others that should be left out.

"The most important document to provide when exploring opportunities is a CV," says Heather Mitchell, provider recruiter with Provider Solutions & Development (PS&D). "So, you will want to be sure to have this updated and provided early in the consideration process. It's how the recruiter and hiring managers assess your level of experience and qualifications to meet the needs of the role they are hiring for."

Because the physician shortage for Primary Care is so acute, medical groups and health systems are assessing for community fit in a big way as they determine who they want to interview, bring in for a site visit and potentially sign.

"A cover letter is a great way to stand out among other candidates, and while it's not a requirement, it does provide more context into whether you'll be a good fit, showcasing your interest in the organization, the location and the communities you want to provide care for, and any ties you have in considering relocation."

At PS&D, recruiters like Heather help physicians explore their options in Primary Care or Urgent Care. We have hundreds of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine roles available with partners across the country.

(Are you thinking about the next step in your Primary Care career? Learn more about how PS&D recruiters can help, at every stage of your journey.)

What to Include in Your Primary Care CV

There are four things that should be on every Family Medicine or Internal Medicine physician's curriculum vitae, no matter what your career stage or experience level:

1. Board certification
2. State licensure
3. Training
4. Current and previous practice experience

From there, Heather says, one thing that can help you stand out in the Primary Care environment is volunteer service.

"Including volunteer work and community engagement is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to underserved populations and local outreach," says Heather. "There is so much passion around why you chose Primary Care, so highlight this meaningful work and your impact in the communities you serve."

For the same reason, listing hobbies and interests on your CV is key for a Family Medicine or Internal Medicine physician applying for jobs in Primary Care or Urgent Care settings.

"Another great addition to your CV or cover letter is to include hobbies and interests. This allows hiring managers to get to know you and allows for great communication starters during the interview process. It also helps identify some of your community needs when exploring the most ideal location," Heather says.

For example, if the clinic or hospital is in a rural region surrounded by lakes, and you list boating, fishing and hiking as hobbies, they know you're more likely to be happy living there. Or if you're applying to a medical group in a large urban city, and you list Broadway theater buff and foodie as interests, that reinforces the likelihood of you being a long-term fit.

Beyond hobbies, where you are in your Family Medicine or Internal Medicine career makes a difference when it comes to your CV. Here are some tips specific to your career stage:

• Post-residency and new physicians: If you're just launching your career, be sure to spotlight experience that sets you apart from other candidates. Point out opportunities you've had specific to Primary Care, especially if it's with a patient population you want to work with.
• Mid-career physicians: By this point in your career, you may have association memberships, appointments to boards, etc. Include those, as well as leadership experience, whether it's at a committee, departmental or hospital level.
• Experienced providers or nearing retirement: Make sure to list your re-certification date and highlight past roles that are relevant to the position you're applying for. Consider deleting or moving down any roles that are less relevant.

What to Leave Out of Your Family Medicine or Internal Medicine CV

Internal Medicine and Family Medicine physicians tend not to participate as much in research, compared with other specialties, so only include this in your CV if you're interested in a faculty position, perhaps later on in your career.

"I would recommend creating two versions of your resume if you felt highlighting this experience would benefit you in a certain job," Heather says.

Additionally, Heather suggests not including personal information like marital status or photos and avoiding unnecessary formatting.

"You want to keep your formatting clean and consistent throughout your CV," Heather explains.

Are you looking for a sample Primary Care curriculum vitae? We've put together an example of a Family Medicine physician CV you can use as a template.

How to Write your Primary Care Cover Letter

Speaking of cover letters — are they still relevant? For Family Medicine and Internal Medicine physicians, Heather says yes.

"Cover letters provide deeper context around your experience and expertise, your immediate and future interests, and key motivators when considering an opportunity," Heather shares. "As a recruiter reviewing a cover letter, I get a much greater understanding of the candidate before we connect, and it helps to guide our conversation around ideal job match."

When structuring your Primary Care job cover letter:

1. Introduce yourself and say what role you're interested in (name the actual position and organization).
2. Get right into why this particular job and location are right for you.
3. Talk about experience you have that pertains directly to the job you're applying for.
4. Describe why you're drawn to work on their team and work for their health system or medical group. Include details that let them know you've researched them.
5. Close with how you resonate with their mission. It doesn't hurt to quote part or all of their mission statement.

Are you in the process of writing a Primary Care cover letter? We've created a sample Family Medicine physician cover letter for you to use as a template.

How PS&D Can Help You Find Primary Care Job Opportunities

At Provider Solutions & Development, we specialize in Primary Care roles, hiring Family Medicine and Internal Medicine physicians as well as nurse practitioners and physician assistants into jobs across the country.

Founded and owned by Providence, we recruit for hundreds of jobs within its seven-state footprint, in addition to Primary Care and Urgent Care roles for more than 40 other partners. We've helped thousands of providers find their next Primary Care opportunity.

"We need more of these physicians and with access to care challenges, it's even more critical to able to talk with them," Heather shared. "I believe in full transparency. So just in those transparent conversations and being an advocate for them, we really can narrow down what is the best fit because ultimately, we want them to be engaged in the work and stay long-term."

Are you looking for your next Primary Care job opportunity? We can help you find the right fit the first time, at every stage of your career. Reach out today to get started.