If you’re an international medical graduate or a doctor in the UK looking for a position within the NHS, your medical CV needs to stand out. Hiring managers within the NHS receive a great number of CVs and most of them will end up looking the same. So, your CV needs to be clean and clear.
Personal Details
Start with a bold heading with your name and job title. Below that, list your contact details. Your email, location and phone number are essential for the hiring manager to get back to you.
Professional Summary
Then, list all of your professional qualifications in order of relevance.
• GMC Registration
• PLAB or Postgraduate Qualification
• IELTS or OET Results
• International Qualifications
• Primary Medical Qualifications
• Life Support Courses
Career Summary and Objectives
Let the hiring manager know about your employment history and career aspirations. Start with a general overview of your employment history then, move onto your career goals.
Key Competencies, Procedures and Clinical Skills
It’s important to note that as an international applicant, the hiring manager may not be aware of all your qualifications. So make sure you provide as much detail as possible.
Current & Previous Employment
List out your job history in reverse chronological order. For each role, be sure to provide your job title, duties and responsibilities, when you started (and finished if applicable), and any promotions you received.
Research, Publications, Awards & Accreditations
Mention any research and publications you were a part of. As well as any awards and accreditations you earned, and when.
Writing the Perfect Medical CV
With medical CVs often being around 10 pages long, it’s important to utilise the following tips to make them stand out:
• Use a professional font
• Address any career gaps
• Only include relevant information
• Ask someone to read your CV
Finding a job within the NHS
As you can probably tell, the way you structure your CV for a role in the NHS is crucial. The easier it is to read and the more information you provide, the higher your chance of landing the interview and subsequently, the role.