The healthcare sector is one of the UK's most competitive fields, with employers requiring specific qualifications, experience, and personal attributes from candidates. A well-crafted CV can make the difference between securing an interview and having your application overlooked.
Whether you're a newly qualified nurse, an experienced doctor, or a healthcare assistant looking to progress, understanding how to present your skills and experience effectively is crucial for career advancement in this demanding yet rewarding field.
For most healthcare roles, aim for around two to three sides of A4 paper, though academic CVs for research positions may be longer to accommodate publications and research experience. Mandatory information on every medical CV should include your personal details, national insurance number, and GMC or professional registration details where applicable.
Structure your CV with clear sections: personal statement, professional qualifications, clinical experience, education, continuing professional development, and references. This logical flow helps hiring managers quickly locate relevant information.
Healthcare roles require specific professional registrations. For doctors, include your GMC number prominently. Nurses must display their NMC PIN, whilst other healthcare professionals should list relevant professional body memberships such as HCPC registration numbers.
These credentials immediately demonstrate your eligibility to practice and should be positioned early in your CV, typically in the personal details section or immediately following your professional statement.
Detail your clinical placements, rotations, and work experience with specific examples of patient care, procedures performed, and outcomes achieved. Seasoned healthcare professionals should demonstrate collaborative team player abilities, working seamlessly with nurses and other healthcare staff to consistently meet patient needs.
Include specific examples such as "Managed caseload of 15 patients in acute medical ward" or "Administered medications and monitored vital signs for post-operative patients." Quantify your experience wherever possible.
Healthcare employers look for specific personal attributes beyond clinical skills. Always use positive language and aim for a confident tone when describing your capabilities and experiences.
Key qualities to highlight include:
- Compassionate patient care
- Effective communication with diverse patient groups
- Ability to work under pressure
- Attention to detail in clinical procedures
- Commitment to continuous professional development
These soft skills are just as crucial as technical competencies in healthcare recruitment decisions.
Healthcare is an evolving field requiring ongoing learning. Include recent training courses, certifications, and professional development activities. This might include life support certifications, safeguarding training, infection control updates, or specialised clinical skills courses.
Include any relevant certifications or licences and ensure all mandatory training is up to date. This demonstrates your commitment to maintaining professional standards and staying current with best practices.
Present your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. For each role, include the job title, employer, location, and dates of employment. Follow this with bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements.
Use action verbs such as "administered," "coordinated," "assessed," and "delivered." Focus on patient outcomes and teamwork examples that demonstrate your value to healthcare teams.
Healthcare professionals should be proficient in drawing blood, preparing laboratory samples, and other technical procedures relevant to their role. Create a dedicated skills section highlighting your clinical competencies.
Include both technical skills (catheter care, wound management, medication administration) and technology competencies (electronic patient records systems, medical devices, clinical software). This comprehensive approach demonstrates your readiness for modern healthcare environments.
Photos aren't required in a CV by most employers, so avoid including headshots unless specifically requested for creative roles. Avoid including your photo, date of birth, marital status, or full address—these are not required on a UK CV.
Other common mistakes include:
- Using unprofessional email addresses
- Including irrelevant work experience
- Failing to proofread for medical terminology spelling
- Omitting key professional registration numbers
- Using overly complex medical jargon without context
Your CV needs to look professional, sleek and easy to read. A subtle colour palette, clear font and simple design are generally best for healthcare applications.
Your CV needs to look professional, sleek and easy to read. A subtle colour palette, clear font and simple design are generally best for healthcare applications. Use consistent formatting throughout and ensure adequate white space for readability.
Save your CV as a PDF to preserve formatting across different systems, and use a clear filename such as "Firstname_Lastname_CV_2024.pdf". Always proofread carefully - medical terminology must be spelled correctly, and any errors could suggest poor attention to detail.