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Doctor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Stephen Weeks,

Charles Wolgemuth

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical doctor skills. We ranked the top skills for doctors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 33.1% of doctor resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a doctor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 doctor skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how doctors use patients:

Collaborated with clinical staff and specialty Physicians on multiple discipline treatments and coordinated care efforts with hospitalized patients.
Collaborated with Physicians, Physical Therapists and other medical professionals to properly treat our patients.

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how doctors use customer service:

Provided exceptional customer service by conducting follow up calls after visits.
Provide world class customer service to all field members and provide expectations upon temporary doctor's dates of employment.

3. Emergency Medicine

Here's how doctors use emergency medicine:

Served the population in Emergency Medicine Service Standards in shifts as one of the three physicians for one year
Provided examination, assessment and treatment to clients in emergency medicine setting with one on one instruction.

4. Surgery

Here's how doctors use surgery:

Monitored vitals during and after surgery via stethoscope and vitals monitor.
Conducted primary examination labs referral, before surgery.

5. DR

DR is an academic title used as a designation for a person(s) who already has obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in a particular field of discipline. In medicine, DR is used by medical practitioners whose job is to tend to the sick and diseased regardless of whether or not they hold a doctoral-level degree.

Here's how doctors use dr:

Followed pediatrician, Dr. Colon with the hopes of gaining valuable insight on the daily activities and routines of a physician.
Prepared meals ran errands, light housekeeping and escorting them to Dr.

6. Cleanliness

Here's how doctors use cleanliness:

Maintained cleanliness and presentation of patient common areas.
Maintain cleanliness, and maintenance of vehicle.

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7. EMR

Here's how doctors use emr:

Trained for proper billing and coding through Compliance Specialists and gained experience with My Vision Express EMR.
Maintain medical records and scan into EMR system 6.

8. Physical Therapy

Here's how doctors use physical therapy:

Provided physical therapy services by evaluating patient care protocols; measuring outcomes; researching and evaluating emerging trends.
Falcon, Venezuela/ Manager of the Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Center and General Doctor.

9. Diagnosis

Here's how doctors use diagnosis:

Educated patients and provided them vitamin and nutritional supplements based on diagnosis.
Conducted examinations, assessments and diagnosis and prescribed pharmaceuticals as needed.

10. Primary Care

Here's how doctors use primary care:

Increased referrals from local primary care doctors and pediatricians.
Experience in contact lenses, primary care and low vision

11. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how doctors use cpr:

Provided emergency treatment during acute emergent Situations, initiates CPR and assists appropriately during cardiac emergencies.
Provide CPR and other resuscitation efforts as determined by physician and/or patient advance directives.

12. Private Practice

Private practice refers to a business operated by professionals such as doctors or lawyers neither controlled nor paid by the government.

Here's how doctors use private practice:

Solo Private Practice; General Obstetrics-Gynecology; inpatient and outpatient services
Staff physician in an outpatient, hospital-owned private practice

13. Family Practice

A family practice is a specialization that constitutes those comprehensive medical services provided to people corresponding to all age groups and genders. It includes healthcare coverage for all diseases whether chronic or acute. Apart from the clinical cures, the practice also includes therapy treatments. Family practice is delivered by physicians who are commonly referred to as family doctors.

Here's how doctors use family practice:

Provided physician coverage for owner of a Family Practice/Occupational Medicine clinic during absences
Supervised UT Family Practice residents rotating through Memorial Hospital

14. Internal Medicine

Here's how doctors use internal medicine:

Teach Internal Medicine to residents and medical students* Perform physicals for various executives in the community through Executive Health Services
Displayed unsurpassed expertise in general internal medicine, general surgery, emergency medicine, critical care, gynecology, and pediatrics.

15. Pediatrics

Pediatrics is that branch of medicine that deals specifically with the well-being and health matters relating to infants, children, and teenagers entering into adulthood. People under the age of 18 are recommended to be under the care of a pediatrician instead of a normal doctor. However, this age limit is subject to vary in different countries. A professional of this medical branch is known as a pediatrician.

Here's how doctors use pediatrics:

Doctor's training) Internal Disease, Pediatrics, Surgery & Orthopedics, Obstetrics & Gynecology Social & Preventive Medicine

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What skills help Doctors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on doctor resumes?

Dr. Stephen Weeks

Professor, Chair of Biology, The University of Akron

Generally, employers like to see "hands-on" skills for graduates. So, lab-based classes, internships, volunteer work (e.g., in hospitals or other health care settings), and experience in research labs look great on resumes. Because biology is such a diverse field, I cannot point to specific skills for the entire range of biology. Generally, however, having good writing skills will almost certainly be helpful for any biology career.

What doctor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Charles Wolgemuth

Professor Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Arizona

This is, of course, going to depend on the specific industry that a student is applying to. However, one skill that I have heard that is largely sought out is problem-solving. Any activities that allow a graduate to improve their problem-solving abilities will be beneficial, especially if the activity provides a demonstrable outcome to highlight the graduate's problem-solving abilities. In addition, computers continue to play a larger role in most industries, and the ability to code is a skill that will be more and more sought after.

What type of skills will young doctors need?

Dr. Reid B. Blackwelder

Professor and Chair, Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University

A constant need is for graduates to have an ingrained approach to having the legendary "bedside manner," which is best exemplified by the comfort with patient-centered communication skills. Attending to rapport, active listening for cues and clues, obtaining the patient's perspective of illness, and comfort in recognizing and responding to emotion are essential abilities.

In this new age, being able to translate those skills into telehealth visits will be essential.

Do you want to know more?

List of doctor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a doctor resume and required skills for a doctor to have include:

Patients
Customer Service
Emergency Medicine
Surgery
DR
Cleanliness
EMR
Physical Therapy
Diagnosis
Primary Care
CPR
Private Practice
Family Practice
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Medical Care

Ultrasound
Emergency Room
Physical Exams
Exam Rooms
Dental Care
Vital Signs
Lab Tests
EKG
Scheduling Appointments
Medical History
Test Results
Oncology
Radiology
Surgical Procedures
MRI
Patient Care

Telemedicine
ICU
Suturing
Patient Education
Blood Pressure
Insurance Verification
Front Desk
Patient Treatment
Emergency Situations
Patient Charts
Chiropractic
Hippa
Medical Equipment
Disease Prevention
Resuscitation

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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