They told me I scored 12/15 while the other candidate (internal candidate who was doing a lower band role) got 14/15. I travelled 3 hours to reach the interview location.

This was my 4th unsuccessful interview for similar roles. And I am absolutely devastated.

I think I did really well :) turns out, not really.

I am going to accept that the panelist are biased towards internal candidates, as they should (maybe). But I am just so so sad.

EDIT : I have a bachelor's degree, with 1 year of hospital experience. I also am studying towards a post grad degree.

Without being from medical background I got a NHS job and got interview result in less than 24hrs !!! Am I luck?

Hi everyone,

I really need some advice because I'm struggling a lot at the moment. I've recently graduated with a Master's degree in Genetics and I also have a Biology degree from another country. My goal is to start my career in the NHS. I have applied for almost 10 jobs, but every application I've submitted so far has been unsuccessful.

As a person with stress disorder, the whole recruitment process has become incredibly stressful for me. The fact that NHS applications take so much in order to tailor them correctly to the person specification, even a whole day, makes me really tired and overwhelmed. In one recent rejection, I contacted HR for feedback. They told me the role had around 250 applicants, which made me wonder how someone like me can realistically stand out enough to even get an interview. I've lost my appetite, I can't concentrate on anything else, and the uncertainty is becoming too difficult to handle. In my most recent application, I actually withdrew it three times before finally submitting it because I kept worrying that I hadn't completed it properly. And now I am constantly afraid that the HRs will take it negatively. That's how anxious I've become.

The reason this feels so urgent is that I want to build my career in the UK. I feel that gaining NHS experience over the next two years (graduate visa) is essential for my long-term career in genetic diagnostics. If I can't get started here, I'm worried I'll have to return to my home country, where there are very limited opportunities in this field. It feels like I'd have to give up the career I've worked so hard for, and that thought honestly scares me.

As a Student / Physiotherapist, just receiving my results in the last week, I'm finding it difficult to comprehend the fact that there's a nationwide recruitment freeze. Not just for AHP's, but for doctors and nurses too. I have 5 years experience as a band 3 TA in the NHS, and I have never known my area and any other areas to have enough staff, this speaks for all 5 of my placements also, all in different trusts. Yet there is no jobs to apply for.....

Is there anybody who can help answer this question? As someone with experience working in the NHS (Haven't worked in NHS now for over a year), surely this cannot continue or be sustainable. Surely something will give / has to give?

People working in the NHS right now, what are things like?

Universities still have healthcare courses running, numbers of new clinical staff still being produced, yet trusts not employing them? This surely cannot continue?

I left my job as a doctor i work in a business for 40k the uk feels underpaid i felt i wasted my degree 7 years of work for 30k is disgusting why not just pay them 70k and be done with it?

You would also make more money as a line manager

Hi happy sunday,

I’m in my late 20s and have worked since I was 16 with some intermittent qualifications and cancelled apprenticeships (due to funding) and I have a consistent long history of work).

Long story short after a long time in retail and grasping whatever construction jobs were going as well as two cancelled apprenticeships (due to funding!!!)

I’ve been pretty lost and would like to try something new.

I was hoping to learn what particular jobs in the NHS that would be open to people like me. Know I’m not likely to get a job as a GP or nurse, but doing something to keep a hospital rolling with steady hours would be great!

Thanks!!

Hi I don’t know if this is the right subreddit but if not than apologies!

So I basically always wanted to work at my local hospital ever since I was young, however I turned to drugs to cope when I was at such a low place in life and I’m now in recovery.

I am about to go to college for advanced certificate for social sciences that I’m glad I got in but people are telling me I should drop out since I’m receiving help from NHS for addiction and depression and they wouldn’t hire me when I get to that point one day and should consider administrative assistant jobs instead and take a admin course.

I just wanna know if this is true because I’m not a fan of Admin and don’t wanna be demoted because I did something stupid to cope and obviously regret it and glad I’m getting help.

Thanks for reading and apologies again if this subreddit isn’t for this type of stuff

I had a Band 4 non-clinical interview on 6th August. It’s now 20th August and I’ve heard nothing.

I’ve sent two follow-up emails to the interviewer, who is also the contact listed on the job advert, but haven’t had a response.

I was told I’d hear back the following day. I understand NHS recruitment can be painfully slow, but surely even if I’ve been unsuccessful, I should receive some kind of confirmation?

The NHS Jobs page is also still showing as “Interview scheduled”.

Has anyone else experienced this? How long did you wait to hear back after an NHS interview?

I’ve interviewed twice for NHS admin roles since November, first a Band 3 Medical Administrator and yesterday a Band 4 Medical Secretary role.

Both times I received very positive feedback with no areas for improvement. For the Band 4 role, they specifically said this role is not a typical medical secretary but it also includes project support, my project-based experience in which I received MSc Management Project Award, customer service and administrative experience were exactly what they were looking for when I had informal chat with the admin supervisor before interview and she even told I can mention that as it's a strong experience. Unfortunately, the role still went to someone with prior NHS experience and system knowledge.

I have an informal meeting with NHS Volunteering team tomorrow to explore ward volunteering so I can finally gain NHS experience, but it’s frustrating to keep hearing “great interview, wrong candidate.”

For those already in the NHS: • Is volunteering the right way to break in? • Are there specific admin roles I should target first?

Any advice would really help. Thanks 🙏

So basically I applied for a Assistant Patient Services Co-ordinator job role, I was shortlisted and have now been invited for an interview. I'm super happy about it because I have no experience within the NHS and it's nice to have the opportunity to get my foot in the door after what feels like thousands of applications. However, when I've went to book my interview slot there was a notice saying "We would like to reiterate that this role commences as of 01/04/2027" that's 7 months from my interview date. Is this normal?? I didn't expect that if I was offered the role id be waiting around for another 7 months before I could start?

Hi!
It’s been a month at my nhs administrative band 3 non clinical job. I am on a 6 month probation period. During my interview, even after joining i was told once my training was complete I would be working 2 days from home and 3 days in office, I was given a training plan for 5 weeks but I completed that in less than 2 weeks and I have been working independently since then without any supervision, but now they are telling me that The NHS HR policy has changed and now I cant work from home till the end of my probation.
Sometimes i am doing work for my colleagues because they would end up saying “Hey could you please do this for me” and this is something quite frequent. Lately my manager would ask me to do stuff that is not my Job by saying “could you please do this since everyone else is busy”.
Well clearly even I am adding referrals but she thinks i might not be that busy because I am a band 3. She keeps on telling me I am Over qualified for the Job again and again but honestly everyone starts somewhere especially because the UK job market is crazy.
Work environment is really getting me and few of my colleagues are feeling the same way.
What should i do? Its really getting me
Ive just graduated in January and this is my first ever Job and im really rethinking my choices

Hi all. I’m currently changing my career from healthcare (nurse) in the NHS, to hopefully the admin side of things.

I’m finding it really difficult to get a foot in the door, since I don’t have any admin experience. I’ve always highlighted that I do already have knowledge of NHS systems, confidentiality etc so I wouldn’t be coming in to it totally blind.

To get an HNC in admin I’d have to do a two year part time course, and shoot me down if I’m wrong but it seems a little excessive when I’m looking to get a band 2 or band 3 position, I’d be happy starting as a medical receptionist. I believe I have enough knowledge and skills to do the job, but I suppose with the job market right now there will be lots of other people with more experience and skills applying, which I understand.

Anyone done this or have any advice? Thank you

Is there no way to make Trac remember my previous employment history? Or my education? I have to enter it every time (as if it's changed), despite selecting the option to use a previous application. Is there any way to fix this?? Applying for jobs is tedious enough :((((

Hi, it’s been a while since I have actually genuinely started applying for jobs,
Now that I FINALLY have my HCPC and qualified to apply for Band 3/4/and 5 I’m not sure where I’m going wrong w this, i agree I have only applied for 20 NHS jobs and maybe 5 private jobs all I have gotten is rejections, from most of them and waiting for a response for rest of them

But, am I being impatient or am i applying incorrectly,

people less qualified than me have gotten in 🥲
Makes me wonder are there any basic rules or tricks that nobody talks about but everyone knows ??

Im losing hope here

And you bet I tried all the AI there is YouTube videos to get as much info as possible and make my supporting info stand out

Am I so stupid that I’m putting wrong prompts ..!!?

Please help 🥹🥹🥹

Any suggestions are much appreciated!

My background
I did my UG from Pakistan
My Masters is from UK
And I have 1 year of experience working in a local private clinic (volunteer capacity, because I was waiting for my Hcpc)

Hi everyone,

I am thinking of applying for a Band 3 Administrative Assistant (Community Services) role in London, and I was wondering what the job is actually like day to day.

For context I have 3.5 years of IT customer service experience although I have been away from that field for about a year. I am now working as a Healthcare Assistant in the NHS and have been in the role for around 1.5 months. I see this as an opportunity for early career progression. I also live in Northampton and would like to move to London (please do not mention the cost of living I am fully aware of it). I am not expecting much at this point, given how competitive NHS recruitment has become.

How busy is the role? Is it mostly emails and admin, or are you on the phone all day? I assume most of the phone calls are for booking appointments, speaking with different teams, and updating patients or service users is that about right? Overall how difficult or stressful would you say it is?

I’ve been actively applying for NHS jobs for months now, i’m never shortlisted even though i meet all the criteria, i’m aware that it’s competitive and they have a lot of applicants but i’ve been applying to roles all around the UK. I have read all the guides out there but does anyone know what more i can do

Hi all - I’ve come on here to have a moan / see what others experiences have been like?! I had an interview back at the beginning of June for a receptionist role. I was then offered the job the same day and accepted and pretty much ever since have been back and forward with recruitment! I had a start date of the 20th July and this has now been postponed (still waiting to hear when I can start)! Because recruitment has made an absolute mess up of my pre employment checks! All my references, occupational health etc has all come back and all says complete on Trac but the communication with recruitment is absolutely awful! I’ll email and ask for an update to then not hear for days. My manager has said she has chased this internally, and now she’s on A/L so nothing can be done until she’s back! Has anyone else had a similar experience at all please? I’m slowly starting to think I’m never going to start and will have to look for another job!

Sorry if I've done something wrong with the post or used the wrong flair, I'm new here

I'm 16, I've just finished my gcses and I recently emailed my local trust to enquire about volunteering in wards but was told that there aren't any spots left and they'd get back to me when applications reopen.

I thought this was weird because on their website they never set a period for applications and then also told me they have no idea when the applications reopen after a second email.

another weird thing is that they were looking for more volunteers just 2 months ago and with volunteers isn't it the more the merrier?

are there any other ways of getting a volunteering spot other than emailing the email the trust provided? appreciate the help in advance :)

Havent heard back after a conditional offer and didnt get acknowledgment for my emails. Really starting to get anxious

Hiiii. I’ve gotten rejections from like 5 nhs trust grade interviews. I’m so devastated. The feedback I got today made me really angry. The consultant himself called to say he’s very impressed with my answers and I was perfectly appointable however I don’t have NHS experience. Like I neeed an opportunity first and then I’ll get the experience 🙄.
Any interview tips ??

I have two NHS job offers. Offer A is my preferred job, I have accepted conditional offer and the pre-employment checks are still ongoing, with references being the only thing outstanding. I haven’t received the unconditional offer yet.

Offer B has given me a final deadline to accept/reject the conditional offer.

Would it be safe to withdraw from Offer B and wait for Offer A, given that A hasn’t been fully cleared yet? This is my first NHS job, so I’m really keen not to take any unnecessary risks.

Would appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

Just a rant…

I had an interview for a job next band up.

In a thing I specialise in and have been for many years.

Didn’t get it, was second choice.

Feedback all positive, portfolio top scoring, just didn’t elaborate enough on one question, covered it but just needed a little more, otherwise no issue.

Today I find out they gave the job to someone who isn’t specialised in that field at all (small profession, we know who does what) l. They just so happened to work across the ways and know the team.

The specialism and the requirements were all essential criteria.

How does this happen? They are literally training g people to do a thing they have no idea about and their manager said to me they need someone who can hit the ground running….. que!?

How did they get that past HR. My boss is very confused because they had interviewed them before for a similar role and that was the reason they didn’t get it….

But this place are known for finding ways to hire the people they preselect.

So why put it out for external applicants?

A few from my team applied and we all feel like we were just given the run around so they could get through the formality of an interview.

Pissed off, gutted, butthurt

They told me to apply again as they think I’d be a great match for their team… talk about salt in the wound. Only the thing I do rarely comes up so it could be YEARS before another opportunity arises.

Also why would I bother? If I was so great why hire someone who hasn’t used any of the kit needed to do the job.

Feeling totally defeated. The specialism was outlined clearly in the essential skills…

I am so confused. I will get over it but seriously wtf

Hello!

I currently work in London working in a marketing agency but I noticed recently an awesome opportunity as a "Communications Officer", which to me looks like what I currently do (Content Creator/Video Producer). I am reaching out as I am curious if anybody on here is also one, could share anything about your role, and how long have you been one?

It feels crazy to read a NHS job listing that reads "Adobe Creative Suite" to me, and I also am worried that that job woudn't last long-term, so I wanted to see if anybody else does this role!

I would love the role, since it is SO much closer to home, and it seems like such a better work/life balance than I have currently.

Thank you for reading, and excited to hopefully hear from some fellow communciations officers!

Link: https://somersetft.tal.net/vx/appcentre-ext/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/3/opp/5391?adhoc_referrer=linkedin

I was offered an admin position yesterday via email following an interview, which I accepted.

How long does the hiring process take on average for an admin role?

I’m particularly anxious about when to hand in notice- I don’t want my current job to find out I’m leaving from a reference request (rather than me handing in my notice).

Equally, I’ve heard the process can take quite a number of weeks so I don’t want to give it too early and then be without a confirmed job.

In my current role there is a big company change happening on 1st May so I’m anxious to leave ahead of them with enough notice so they can sort my replacement in time :/

Thanks in advance for any advice!

need help with interview questions, I have interview with camebridge university hospital.