Winning medical applications

Once you have found a medical job that matches your skills and what you are looking for, you can apply for it easily online through NHS Jobs. Whether it is a locum post, a specialty doctor position, or a consultant position, you will want to submit an application that presents you in the best possible light. Here are some things to bear in mind when making a medical application.

Before you start

Take time to read the job description, person specification and application form very carefully, so you understand fully what is expected of you. Make sure you are clear in your mind why you are applying for a particular role and what you can bring to it in terms of skills and personal attributes. And make sure those things sing out loud and clear on your form.

Are you eligible?

Check you are eligible for the position and meet the criteria in terms of:

  • your immigration status
  • registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council (GDC)
  • your language skills
  • the examination requirements
  • the level of experience required.

Provide evidence

Every statement you make on the form should be backed up with evidence to show how you meet the person specification. Gather dates and titles of any qualifications, publications, research, audits or presentations relevant to your application.

Tackling competency questions

These questions are designed to help establish whether you have the key competencies or skills required for the job. So it is important to find an effective way of getting your answers across. It may be helpful to use a structure based on:

  • the situation - where you briefly explain the situation or task
  • the action - where you explain what action you took and why, demonstrating your key attributes and skills
  • the result - where you explain the outcome of your action, and what you accomplished.

Other skills you will need to demonstrate

It is important to provide evidence of your personal skills, as well as your clinical ones. Ultimately you need to show that you:

  • put the patient at the centre of care
  • are organised and able to prioritise
  • can work effectively with others
  • have good communication skills
  • can deal with pressure and challenge.

A few other things to bear in mind

Finally, when submitting any application, it is important to use common sense:

  • give yourself plenty of time to complete and submit the form
  • make sure all the details on the form are correct - including spelling and punctuation
  • answer all questions as fully and accurately as possible
  • send copies of any other documents required as outlined in the job advert, at the same time that you submit with your application
  • check your referees are happy to support your application
  • make sure you are free on any identified interviews days
  • check, then double-check your application, before hitting the 'submit' button.

You may also like to read our articles on 'Searching for the perfect job' and 'Developing a career plan.'