How to Write a Dermatologist Resume (With Template)

By Indeed Editorial Team

Published 7 November 2022

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

Resumes are a critical component of the job application process, and they help highlight your best skills and experiences to make you attractive to hiring managers. Employers for roles in dermatology may look for impressive resumes that demonstrate industry competence and comprehensive knowledge about skin and its health. Understanding how to write a dermatologist resume can help you create an impressive document and improve your chances of securing an interview. In this article, we present a step-by-step guide for creating a dermatology resume and provide a resume template, example and tips for enhancing your document.

How to write a dermatologist resume

Here's a guide to creating a successful dermatologist resume:

1. Select a resume format

Before you begin writing your resume, it's important to select the correct resume format. The format you choose determines which sections are the most dominant. There are three main resume formats: functional, chronological and combination. Functional resumes focus on skills and are beneficial for entry-level roles or recently graduated dermatologists without experience. Chronological resume focus on employment history and are beneficial for experienced candidates who wish to showcase their industry knowledge. Combination resumes are useful for candidates with extensive experience who wish to showcase both their skills and work history.

2. Create a resume header

After selecting your resume format, you can begin writing. The first section of a resume is the header, and it contains your contact information. In this section, include your name, phone number, email address, location and state. It's generally not necessary to include your residential address.

3. Write your professional summary

The next section is the professional summary. This section contains two or three brief sentences that summarise the content of your resume and encourage the hiring manager to continue reading it. Include information that you consider to be important or impressive. This might include dermatology skills or specialist certifications, like a Certificate in Integrated Health and Dermatology, that signify enhanced industry knowledge. You can also provide a brief summary of your experience or explain why your skills and qualifications make you the ideal candidate.

4. Include your work experience

Depending on the type of resume format you choose, your work experience section may be the most dominant feature of your resume. List your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role. This provides the hiring manager with up-to-date information about your skills and primary responsibilities. Underneath each job title, include your employment details, such as the company name and the dates that you worked there. You can also include bullet points that summarise your primary duties, such as diagnosing skin disorders, taking biopsies or giving medicated facials to clients.

5. List your skills

If you choose a functional resume format, the skills section may be the most dominant. Regardless of the format you choose, the skills section is important for proving to hiring managers that you can fulfil the role's primary duties. Your skills section is likely to contain a combination of dermatology-specific hard skills and transferable soft skills.

Employers typically expect candidates to have a comprehensive understanding of technical skills, as these are necessary to administer skin treatments and cosmetic injections, diagnose skin ailments and refer patients to other specialists. To understand which skills hiring managers value, study the job description, as this generally outlines the qualities of the ideal candidate. Here are some dermatologist skills to include on a resume:

Dexterity
Diagnostic skills
Clinical knowledge
Chemical knowledge
Problem-solving skills
Compassion
Time management
Organisation
Attention to detail
Communication
Mathematical skills
Pathology skills

Related: Hard Skills vs Soft Skills

6. Add your education history

The education section is a very important part of a dermatologist's resume, as these professionals require extensive study before qualification. To become a dermatologist, candidates usually complete a Bachelor of Medical Studies or a Doctor of Medicine. Typically, candidates can expect to study for up to six years before commencing a year of post-degree medical experience to register as a medical practitioner with the Medical Board of Australia.

After residency, candidates register with the Australasian College of Dermatologists and undertake four additional years of training before becoming qualified and joining the Fellowship of the Australasian College of Dermatologists. To include your educational history, list the title of your qualification, the year you graduated and the institution where you gained your qualification.

7. Proofread your resume

Once you've completed your resume, you can proofread it. Resumes typically serve as a hiring manager's first impression of your communication skills, which are important for dermatologists to possess. To ensure that your resume demonstrates proficiency in written communication, thoroughly check it for any spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. Consider shortening the sentence lengths to keep your resume sections brief and easy to read.

Dermatologist resume template

Here's a resume template you can use for your document:

[First name] [Last name]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [Location]

Professional summary

[Two or three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education, certifications and professional achievements]

Experience

[Job title] | [Employment dates]
[Company name] | [Location]

[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]

[Job title] | [employment dates]

[Company name] | [Location]

[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]

Skills

Education

[Degree and major], [Name of school or university]
[Location]

[Certification name], [Host organisation, [year completed or expiration date]

Dermatologist resume example

Here's an example of a resume for a dermatology candidate:

Sara Wilson
+61 3 9231 1234 | swilson@mail.com | Hobart, Tasmania

Professional summary

Diligent and resilient dermatologist with over seven years of professional experience looking for more expansive opportunities in a new and exciting role. My extensive experience and skills have allowed me to specialise in skin disease, working with patients to overcome insecurities and health concerns to improve their relationship with their skin. My clinical skills and attention to detail allow me to work effectively with patients to help them see results quickly.

Experience

Dermatologist | 2018–present
Betterskinnow | Hobart, Tasmania

Working with children and adolescents to address common skin issues, such as acne and eczema, and designing treatment plans
Writing prescriptions for medicated products and oral medications
Delivering facials to clients after thorough consultation
Conducting biopsies and sending samples to pathology labs
Arranging appointments and consulting with new patients

Junior dermatologist | 2015–2018
Vision Aesthetics | Hobart, Tasmania

Assisted the primary dermatologist and observed their consultations with new patients
Delivered facials and recommended products to patients
Booked appointments and conducted preliminary diagnostics and consultations