The Employment section of the PMCV resume template is often underestimated by medical students, but many health services place genuine value on it. This section helps employers understand how work-ready you are, how you manage responsibility, and how you function in a professional environment outside university.
Importantly, this section is for paid work only. Any unpaid roles belong in the Volunteering section.
Why employment history matters
Health services know that most students have limited clinical experience beyond placements. Employment history helps demonstrate:
Reliability and professionalism
Ability to manage time alongside study
Experience working in teams and structured environments
Communication skills, particularly with the general public
Exposure to responsibility, pressure, and competing priorities
All types of paid work are valued. You do not need to have worked in healthcare for this section to be meaningful. Regular, ongoing roles such as retail, hospitality, administration, tutoring, disability support, or customer service are often viewed very positively.
What to include in each employment entry
Each role should be listed in reverse chronological order, with your most recent role first.
For every position, include the following four elements as requested in the PMCV template.
Period
Use Month/Year to Month/Year
Indicate whether the role was full-time, part-time, or casual
You may include approximate hours per week if relevant
If you are still employed, write your start date followed by Current
Example:
January 2024 to Current, part-time, approximately 16 hours per week
Role or Position
State your official job title. If the title is not self-explanatory, add a brief description of the scope of the role.
You may include short achievement or responsibility statements under this heading if they add value.
Organisation
List the name of the organisation that employed you, not just the local site or venue if part of a larger organisation.
Location
City and suburb are sufficient. Full addresses are not required.
Using achievement statements effectively
Achievement statements are optional but can strengthen your employment section when used well. They are particularly helpful if your role involved responsibility, leadership, or measurable outcomes.
A simple formula works best:
Action verb → outcome/result → how you achieved it
Where possible, quantify outcomes to make them concrete.
Example achievement statements
Awarded Customer Service Representative of the Year for two consecutive years
Achieved customer satisfaction ratings above 90 percent by actively listening to clients and resolving issues efficiently
Supervised and trained four new staff members, contributing to improved team retention
You do not need achievement statements for every role. Use them selectively where they genuinely add insight.
What counts as relevant employment?
Students often worry that their jobs are not “medical enough”. This is not the case.
Roles commonly valued by health services include:
Retail or hospitality roles with regular shifts
Customer-facing roles involving communication and conflict management
Administrative or clerical roles
Support work, disability care, or aged care
Tutoring, teaching, or coaching roles
Paid research or university roles
What matters most is consistency, responsibility, and professionalism, not the industry itself.
Common mistakes to avoid
Including unpaid roles in the Employment section
Listing roles in chronological instead of reverse chronological order
Overloading entries with excessive detail
Using vague descriptions such as “general duties” without context
Downplaying non-medical work
Remember that health services do not expect extensive employment histories from students. Quality, clarity, and accuracy matter more than volume.
Final tips
Be truthful and precise with dates and role details
Use consistent formatting throughout the section
Proofread carefully for errors
Think about what each role says about how you work, not just what you did
Your employment history helps employers picture you as a future colleague. A clear, well-structured section reassures health services that you are organised, reliable, and ready to step into the workplace as an intern.