How to Write a Psychiatrist Resume: The Ultimate Guide
If you are looking for a position as a Psychiatrist, there are some tips you can follow to help you create your resume.

Updated 6 min read
A psychiatrist is a mental health professional who has completed medical school and residency training in psychiatry. Psychiatrists diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. They also provide medication therapy for psychiatric disorders.
A resume is an important tool that can be used to help you land interviews with employers of interest to you. If you're wondering how to write a psychiatrist resume, this blog post will give you the tools you need to do just that! Read on for more details about what should be included in your resume as well as tips for creating the perfect layout.
What is a Psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions related to mental illness. A psychiatrist usually has a doctoral degree in the field of psychiatry, which requires five or six years of study. Psychiatrists are typically licensed to prescribe medications when needed.
Pick the Ideal Format for your Psychiatrist Resume
There are two main formats you can pick for your resume: chronological and functional.
The chronological format is the most common and most traditional. It lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position and ending with your first job. This resume format is best for someone who has a steady career history with no gaps or periods of unemployment.
The functional resume is designed to highlight specific skills and experiences that relate directly to the job at hand. The functional format lists skills and experiences without regard to time period, which can make it easier for people who have had long breaks in employment or who have gaps in their work history due to illness or family responsibilities.
How to Write Resume Objective or Resume Summary for Psychiatrist
The first thing you will want to include in your resume is an objective statement. This statement should be just one sentence that summarizes the job for which you are applying (e.g., "Seeking a psychiatric position").
Next, you will want to include your work experience. One of the most important things to consider when including this information is how far back your work history should go. The best thing to do is list your most recent job first and then list jobs that are more relevant to the position you're applying for.
You'll also want to include any awards or honors that you have received, as well as any education beyond medical school. Finally, include references! Make sure you contact people beforehand and ask them if they're willing to act as a reference for you; they'll be more likely to provide a good recommendation if they know it's coming from your end.
Psychiatrist Job Description for a Resume
The first step to writing a resume is identifying what information should be included in it. A psychiatrist resume will differ from other resumes since it should contain detailed information about your education, training, and experience.
When writing a traditional resume, you might include your contact information, objective statement, list of qualifications, work history, skills, paid or unpaid responsibilities, accomplishments, awards and recognitions. Your psychiatrist resume will also need to include this information because you are applying for a job as a mental health professional. However, there are some additional considerations that need to be taken into account when writing this type of resume.
For example:
- Your training in psychiatry needs to be highlighted because it's the main qualification you're bringing to the table. This means that your education section should show all your relevant schooling and training - including residencies and fellowships - instead of just listing the degrees you earned
- You may want to consider adding an "honors" section. This can provide an easy way for potential employers to see which awards or recognition you've received in the past
- If you have patents or publications related to psychiatry or mental health treatment methods or practices then they should be listed under "publications" on your resume
Education Section
The education section of your resume is very important because it provides employers with the information they need to gauge your level of expertise. When you're writing a psychiatrist resume, be sure to include the following information:
- Name of School
- City/State
- Location
- Dates attended
- Degree earned
- Current or most recent degree
Write a Skills Section
The skills section on your resume is a valuable opportunity to showcase your skill set. You may have noticed that many of the skills listed in the example resume are transferable across professions.
Consider highlighting how you're qualified for a new position. If you're applying to work as a psychiatrist, be sure to mention any experience you've had working with mental health patients. When outlining your skills, make sure to include any relevant volunteer work or community involvement that would benefit from your profession.
Including a skills section makes it easy for employers to get a sense of who you are and what you can bring to their company. It will help them decide if they want to learn more about your qualifications and capabilities.
Include a Cover Letter for your Psychiatrist Resume
A cover letter is a one-page document that's sent with your resume when you apply for a job. It should briefly summarize why you're interested in the position and provide additional details about your qualifications or background that will help convince the employer to call you for an interview.
Think of your cover letter as a sales pitch: You're trying to sell yourself and your skills to the employer.
The good news: Your cover letter doesn't need to be long! If you can convey your message in just one page, it might be better than writing a short paragraph on each bullet point in your resume.
However, if you want to include more information about yourself and why you're interested in this particular position, feel free to write a longer cover letter. Remember, this is your chance to show off how smart and talented you are—don't hold back!
Key Takeaways
- Include your most recent employment experience first with the most relevant work experience following
- Include information about any specialty training you've completed
- Mention any awards or credentials you have including licenses, degrees, or diplomas
- Keep your resume to one page if possible—too much information on your resume will overwhelm employers and make it difficult for them to find what they're looking for