How to get a job in the NHS without experience

About 125,000 people join the NHS each year without any prior experience of working for an NHS organisation, according to figures from NHS England.

Many of these new joiners will be entering established clinical career pathways following training – such as newly qualified nurses or doctors.

However, thousands of others will be entering into general administration, support or management roles which do not require NHS-specific training. With good job security, reasonable pay and progression and the chance to work as part of a team that saves and changes lives, it isn’t difficult to see why people might want to join the NHS.

Competition for jobs within the NHS is at an all-time high, and for “outsiders” it can see an almost impossible task to make it through to the interview stage of recruitment, let alone securing a role.

However, hope is not lost! Working with a panel of experienced recruiting managers, we’ve developed four top tips to help people without NHS experience ace their application and secure their first role:

1. Don’t think that applications are just a “numbers game”

NHS job applications are notoriously time consuming, with the two main application platforms (NHS Jobs and TRAC) requiring users to manually input their job and educational history and write a lengthy supporting statement. Because the platforms save these entries after they have been inputted, it can be tempting to just re-use the same application for different roles – or ask AI tools to do a quick rewrite of the personal statement and submit the application.

Unfortunately, the reality is that roles in the NHS now average hundreds of applications. Generic applications and applications which are mostly the product of AI don’t do enough to stand out from the crowd. You need to tailor applications carefully to show that you understand the role and the organisation you are applying for, particularly within your supporting statement. Simply submitting hundreds of the same application won’t get you anywhere.

2. Clearly demonstrate how your skills and expertise can be adapted to NHS environments

An obvious advantage for candidates who are already working within the NHS is that they can contextualise their experiences to the unique environment of the NHS in their application.

If you’re applying to the NHS without having worked there already, you need to show the recruiting manager that you are well-prepared to fit into busy working life within an NHS organisation.

Within your supporting statement, make sure you “join the dots” between your work and educational background and the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.

For example, if you were applying for a receptionist position with a background of working in retail, you should make sure that you outline how you think interacting with customers has helped you prepare for working with patients.

For more specialised roles, try and do some research about how your skills or qualifications might be transferrable. Many systems or processes within the NHS are unique (for example Electronic Patient Record systems), but if you can mention how you have learned to use similar systems or processes in current or past roles, this might help to reassure the hiring manager that you are likely to pick up the needs of this new role more quickly.

3. Show that you understand the basic structure of the NHS

One of the most common failings we see in job applications from candidates without NHS experience is the failure to recognise the NHS is not a single body.

The NHS is made up of thousands of different organisations – from hospital trusts, to regional and national bodies, and a vast range of organisations providing specialist services or support.

Each of these bodies is unique, with their own priorities and organisational culture. If your job description talks solely about the NHS as if it is a single entity, you are showing the hiring manager you don’t really understand the organisation you are applying for.

Have a look at the organisation you are applying for’s website and social media channels. These should be able to give you information you can reference in your supporting statement – for example their strategic priorities or in relation to their latest news.

4. Be curious at interview stage

If you’ve made it to the interview stage – congratulations! Your odds of securing that dream job in the NHS have just got significantly better.

NHS interviews tend to be quite structured and formal. Often, candidates feel that they find it properly engage with their interviewers, and might leave disappointed about not building a positive relationship during the interview.

NHS interviews always include time for the candidate to ask questions, and this is the key section for really having a conversation with the interviewers.

Your interviewers will know you’re from outside the NHS, so asking intelligent questions about the role shows that you’re a proactive person who is already considering what they will need to learn and understand to be successful. The questions from the candidate are usually are usually also the final part of the interview, and so they are your final chance to leave a good impression on the interview panel.

5. Get an expert guide

Yes, we’re biased – but we think you’ll agree that understanding the recruitment process in the NHS is a difficult task. From oddly-worded job descriptions to application forms which take hours to complete and weeks spent hanging around waiting for progress updates, there is a lot to get your head around.

Our team collectively review thousands of applications each year, and it is frustrating to see so many candidates misunderstanding what is required or making errors in their application forms which mean they can’t even make it to interview.

We’ve developed our insider’s guide to writing a great NHS job application to give candidates the absolute best chance of scoring well on their application. We hope that it helps more talented and passionate people without NHS experience get the jobs they deserve.