NHS Worker CV Guide

What to include in an NHS Worker CV

YThe exact content to include in your CV will depend on the NHS worker role you are applying for, i.e. a CV for higher band NHS jobs will look very different to lower ones. However, most CVs have similar structures with main sections and headings, such as contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, key skills, achievements and references.

Regardless of the type of NHS worker job you are applying for, you should include information from your academic and professional background, i.e. your qualifications, skills, experience and achievements, that align with the requirements detailed in the job posting. It means tailoring your CV to the specific position, which we will cover in further detail later.

Before writing your CV, take the time to prepare and decide on the most pertinent information to include – you could write notes or use mind maps to help. Then, decide on the main headings to include and work through each section. We will cover some of these main sections and advise on what you can include, starting with your contact information.

Contact information

The first and probably easiest section to complete is your contact information, which should be at the very top of your CV, usually in bold and/or larger text. It is where you provide details that allow potential employers to reach you for interviews or job offers.

What to include

• Full name – clearly displayed at the top of your CV. Do not worry about including your middle name; your first name and surname are sufficient.
• Professional title – although optional, you can add your current or previous job title under your name.
• Location – provide details on where you are based, i.e. your town, city and/or county.
• Phone number – include a reliable number where employers can reach you. If you have voicemail, ensure it sounds professional.
• Email address – add a professional email address.
• LinkedIn profile – if relevant and it matches your CV, include a link to your professional profile.

What not to include

• Personal details – avoid including your date of birth, marital status or national insurance number.
• Photos – there is no need to include a photo unless the job posting asks for one.
• Multiple phone numbers – stick to one primary contact number to ensure recruiters and hiring managers can easily contact you.
• Unprofessional email addresses – use a simple, professional email format and not one that is overly casual or silly, e.g. partyanimal123@email.com.
• Social media links – avoid including personal social media accounts unless relevant to the job.

Professional summary

Your professional summary comes after your contact information, and it is a brief, usually 3-5 line paragraph, highlighting your qualifications, experience, skills and achievements. It is a snapshot of who you are and what you can bring to the NHS worker role. You may come across other names for this section, such as personal statement, professional profile or executive summary.

It is a crucial section, as it will typically be the first thing recruiters and hiring managers will read and sets the tone for your CV. If it is relevant, strong and engaging, they are more likely to notice you and want to continue reading the rest of your CV. It also helps them to quickly assess your suitability for the role you are applying for.

When writing your summary, you should tailor it to the NHS worker job and demonstrate why you are a strong candidate. Here are some pointers on what you can include:

• Professional job title and experience – start your paragraph with a strong action verb. Mention your role and years of experience.
• Qualifications – if the role requires specific qualifications, certifications or training, you can include it in your summary. You could also add details of any registration or affiliation with professional bodies, e.g. the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Key skills – include skills most relevant to NHS work, such as patient care, teamwork, communication, adaptability and medical procedures.
• Achievements – highlight any awards, recognitions or contributions to healthcare improvements to make your summary really stand out, e.g. improving patient outcomes or streamlining processes.
• Specialisations – if applicable, you could include areas of expertise such as elderly care, emergency response, mental health support, etc.
• Personal strengths – showcase qualities like compassion, efficiency and problem-solving.
• Passion and commitment – demonstrate your dedication to patient wellbeing and high-quality care.
• Career goals – if you have space, you could add your career goals, as they are a great way to show ambition and direction. Think about your short-term goals and long-term aspirations, e.g. “Aspiring to deepen expertise in emergency medicine and patient advocacy. Dedicated to continuous learning, with a long-term goal of advancing into senior healthcare management to drive impactful change within the NHS”.

Here is an example of a professional summary for an NHS healthcare assistant:

“Compassionate and dedicated Healthcare Assistant with 5+ years of experience supporting patient care in NHS hospitals and GP settings. Skilled in assisting nurses, monitoring vital signs and ensuring patient comfort. Adept at working in fast-paced environments, maintaining sterile equipment, and providing emotional support to patients. Passionate about delivering high-quality care and contributing to a positive healthcare experience.”

Education

The education section of a CV is where you provide details of your academic background. It is crucial, especially when you need specific qualifications, training and certifications for roles within the NHS. It also enables recruiters and hiring managers to assess your suitability for the particular NHS worker job and ensures you meet NHS requirements.

You can add the education section after your professional summary or put your work experience first. Your education will typically go after your summary if you have limited experience working in the NHS, where you can showcase your relevant academic achievements. Here are some examples of what you can include (in reverse chronological order – most recent first):

• Degree or qualification name – for example, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc (Hons) Nursing).
• Institution name – the university, college or training provider.
• Years attended – start and end date, or ongoing if still studying. You can add the month and year or just the year.
• Relevant certifications – include healthcare-specific training like first aid, safeguarding or specialised NHS courses.
• Key achievements (optional) – grades, honours, awards or coursework relevant to your role.

You can add lower qualifications to your CV, such as GCSEs and A-Levels (or equivalent). However, you do not typically include them if you have higher qualifications, such as degrees. If you have space and/or the job posting mentions them, include them if you think it will add weight to your CV.

Work experience/employment history

Your work experience is one of the most important sections of your CV because it showcases your practical skills, professional growth and hands-on experience in healthcare, whether in the private sector or the NHS. It helps employers understand your expertise, responsibilities and contributions, proving you have the necessary background for the NHS role you are applying for.

As mentioned, your work experience can go before or after your education section. You can include previous jobs, apprenticeships, internships, placements, volunteering and even transferable experiences, and add them in reverse chronological order. Here are some pointers on what to add in this section:

• Heading  – include a heading -“Work Experience” or “Employment History”.
• Job titles – clearly state your previous roles, focusing on those most relevant to the job you are applying for.
• Employers – include the names of the organisations you worked for.
• Employment dates – add start and end dates (month and year) for each job. Add present if you are still currently employed.
• Key responsibilities – reflect on what you did in your previous roles and select 3-5 relevant duties that showcase your contributions. You can also weave your achievements and skills instead of just listing your responsibilities, for example:
  • Achievements and impact – highlight measurable successes, such as improving patient care or streamlining processes.
  • Relevant skills – mention skills gained, such as teamwork, communication or medical procedures.

If you have gaps in your work history, be honest and explain them positively. On the other hand, do not list every job you have ever had. Only include the most recent and relevant.

Here is an example of how to structure your work experience:

Healthcare Assistant. Royal Hospital London. January 2020 – present

• Assisted nurses and doctors in patient care, including monitoring vitals and administering basic treatments.
• Supported patients with mobility, hygiene and daily activities, ensuring dignity and comfort.
• Maintained accurate medical records and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient outcomes.
• Introduced a patient engagement initiative that improved communication between staff and patients, leading to a 20% increase in patient satisfaction scores.

Key skills and achievements

The next section can be your skills and achievements, or you can weave them into your work experience. If you have many relevant and stand-out examples, having a separate section may be worthwhile.

Key skills are the essential abilities and competencies that help you succeed in your roles, and there are two main categories – hard and soft skills:

• Hard skills (technical and professional expertise) are measurable, job-specific abilities learned through education, practice and on-the-job training. Some hard skills for an NHS worker include carrying out medical procedures, using medical equipment, using NHS systems, emergency response, health and safety compliance, safeguarding, infection control, managing patient records, etc.
• Soft skills (interpersonal and personal qualities) are transferable, personality-driven skills that enhance patient care and teamwork. Some soft skills for an NHS worker include compassion, communication, empathy, active listening, teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, resilience, etc.

Both skill types are equally important in NHS roles, ensuring high-quality patient care and efficient healthcare delivery. Recruiters and hiring managers will review your CV to see if you have the necessary skills to match the job requirements. Including skills from the job posting can help your CV pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filters that pick out specific keywords and ensure you are customising it for the position.

You can also combine your achievements with your skills, highlighting your impact and contributions in previous roles. We will look at how to focus on your achievements later.

Other information

The sections we have looked at are the main ones most individuals tend to include in their CVs. You may also come across examples with additional sections. Your CV is unique and should reflect your academic, professional and personal background. If you also want to add, remove or move sections around, that is completely fine!

If you include extra sections in your CV, ensure they add value and do not make the document look cluttered. Here are some examples that you could include:

• Certifications and training – instead of trying to cram everything in your education section, you could leave this one for any formal academic achievements, e.g. degrees, and have a separate one for any professional development. For example, you could include NHS-specific courses like safeguarding, infection control, or first aid or add online courses, workshops and practical training.
• Professional memberships – if your role requires affiliations with professional organisations, you could add them in a different section, e.g. the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the General Medical Council (GMC), etc.
• Volunteer experience – you may want to leave your work experience section for paid roles and include a separate one for volunteering. You can showcase any unpaid healthcare-related work that demonstrates commitment.
• Publications and research – if you have contributed to medical journals or studies, you could have a section listing the titles, dates and links.
• Language and technical skills – you could include this in your skills section or add another one where you mention any additional languages spoken, especially if relevant to patient care, and proficiency in NHS systems, electronic patient records or medical software.
• Hobbies and interests – only include this section if it is relevant and to showcase your personality, transferable skills and interests beyond work. Some examples include volunteering in care settings, engaging in sports and fitness for wellbeing, participating in creative pursuits like writing or music, practising mindfulness and mental health advocacy, learning languages or exploring cultural exchange.
• Testimonials – you could provide positive feedback or testimonials from clients if you have been self-employed in a healthcare or social care field that showcase your person-centred care approach and effectiveness.

References

The last section in a CV is typically the references section. It is where you provide details of 2-3 professionals (referees) who can vouch for your skills, experience, work ethic and character. It is important because employers may contact your referees to verify your qualifications and work history, ensuring you are a suitable candidate for the role.

Referees are typically your most current employer, a direct supervisor, manager or a previous employer. If you have limited work experience, it could be a tutor, mentor, lecturer or teacher. They will be suitable if they are professional and can provide insight into your work and abilities. Family and friends cannot be referees.

Before adding your referees to the reference section, check if the job posting asks for their specific details at this stage. If not, you can add “References available upon request” under the section heading. If you do need to give details, ask your referees for permission first and include the following in your CV once they have given their consent:

• Referee’s name – full name of the person providing the reference.
• Job title and organisation – their role and the name of the organisation where they work or worked.
• Contact details – a current email address and phone number.
• Relationship to you – how they know you (e.g. former manager, supervisor or mentor).

You can also provide your referees with information about the job you are applying for so they can tailor their reference accordingly.