Finding Your First NHS Job

Overview

Your first NHS job is often the hardest role to secure — but also the most important step in your journey.

This stage is not about prestige.
It is about getting UK experience, understanding the system, and becoming employable long-term.

What Types of Jobs Should You Apply For?

Most IMGs start with:

  • Trust Grade SHO

  • Clinical Fellow

  • Junior Clinical Fellow

  • FY2 LAT (Locum Appointment for Training)

  • SHO-level Service Posts

These roles give you:

  • UK references

  • NHS experience

  • Portfolio evidence

  • Confidence in practice

Your first job is a foundation, not a final destination.

Where to Find NHS Jobs

The main platforms are:

  • NHS Jobs website

  • Trac.jobs (used by many trusts)

  • LinkedIn (some clinical fellow posts)

  • Hospital trust websites

  • Recruiter agencies (use carefully)

Most hospitals advertise continuously.

What Recruiters Actually Look For

For junior posts, trusts care most about:

  • GMC registration

  • Safe communication

  • Basic clinical competence

  • Willingness to learn

  • Reliability

  • Good references

They are not expecting perfection.
They are looking for someone safe and teachable.

Shortlisting Tips That Actually Work

Small improvements make a big difference:

  • Tailor your CV to the job description

  • Use NHS-style language (handover, escalation, MDT, SBAR)

  • Highlight audits, teaching, and teamwork

  • Show commitment to the UK system

  • Keep your CV to 2–3 pages, clean and professional

Generic CVs usually fail.

Interviews: What They Commonly Test

Expect questions around:

  • Managing an unwell patient

  • Prioritisation on call

  • Communication with seniors

  • Consent and capacity

  • Handling conflict

  • Reflection on mistakes

They are assessing safety and insight, not memorised guidelines.

Reality Check

You will likely face:

  • Rejections

  • Silence after applications

  • Long waits

  • Jobs that aren’t ideal at first

This is normal.
Many successful consultants started with difficult first posts.

Persistence beats perfection here.

Common Mistakes

  • Applying only to London

  • Waiting for the “perfect” job

  • Sending the same CV everywhere

  • Not preparing for interviews

  • Taking rejections personally

Your strategy matters more than luck.

Reassurance

Once you secure your first NHS job, everything becomes easier:

  • You understand the system

  • You get UK referees

  • Your applications become stronger

  • Your confidence grows quickly

 

The first step is the steepest — but it is absolutely achievable.