The 3 CV Mistakes PharmD Students Make—And How to Fix Them Gracefully

Your CV is your first handshake with recruiters—and it either whispers clarity or screams chaos. At IKigai Rx, we’ve reviewed hundreds of pharmacy student CVs. Whether you’re applying for fellowships, industry roles, or residency, here are the top 3 mistakes we see again and again—and how you can fix them before Midyear.

The “List-Load” Trap

Mistake: Listing every experience like it’s a grocery list

Fix: Use a clean, narrative-driven format. Highlight impact, not just tasks.

Instead of: “Participated in clinical rounds with interprofessional team”

Try: “Contributed medication recommendations during interdisciplinary rounds—led to streamlined discharge for 2 high-risk patients.”

Over-Polishing With No Personality

Mistake: Sounding like a robot who Googled “best pharmacy verbs”

Fix: Speak like a real, thoughtful person. Use verbs that reflect your voice and own your story.

Pro tip: Add 1–2 lines that hint at your why for pursuing pharmacy/industry.

No Strategic Formatting

Mistake: Everything is crammed in Times New Roman 10pt

Fix: Use white space and bolding intentionally. Let the reader breathe.

We teach students how to use design elements that emphasize clarity—not clutter.

Want a CV that reflects your true potential?

Let’s do a quick scan together. Book your free 15-min discovery call—and walk away with 2 personalized tips you can implement today.