• Home
• Medical Education
• Specialty Training
• Colleges and Deanery Recruitment
• News and Events
• Contact Information

• Specialty Training 2012
• Specialty Training 2011
• Specialty Training 2010
• Introduction to Training
• Overseas Applicants
• Recruitment Process
• Stage 1 - Getting Started
• Stage 2 - Choosing your Specialty
• Stage 3 - Vacancies & Applications
• Job Advertisements & Applications
• Submitting your Application
• Sample National Application Form
• Certificates A and B for F2 competences
• Stage 4 - Interviews & Offers
• Help & Guidance
• Gold Guide
• Feedback & Complaints
• Publications

There are various things you should think about before submitting your application. Use the links below to jump to information on each of the following topics.

• Planning your application choices
• The application form
• Planning and presentation

Things to think about

Planning your application choices

You can make as many applications as you wish to different specialties, provided you meet all the eligibility criteria and required competences of the post for which you are applying. 

See the section on Colleges and deaneries for summary information on each national recruiting office and local deanery.

A risk to consider is that, if you spend the first few weeks of the recruitment process applying only for posts that are highly competitive, you could find that by the time you start applying for posts with lower competition ratios, those posts may already have been filled.

We recommend that you consider the pressure of the competition along with other factors that are important to you. The competition information will give you an indication of the most and least popular specialities and areas. 

It is a good idea to consult with senior colleagues and mentors about where you are most likely to be successful.

 

The application form

All applications are in an electronic format to be completed online or submitted by email. You should make sure that you are using an email account that you can access at any time and will not be blocked by your trust's IT security system. If you are uncertain about this you should check with your IT department at work.

Some specialties are recruiting by means of a national process handled by a Royal College or lead deanery on behalf of all deaneries.  In these specialties, you will be able to make a single application where you state in the application form your order of preference between deanery locations. 

To ensure a fair, legal and equitable process, the people doing the shortlisting will not see your personal details when they consider your application.

You can see part 1 of the application form and a sample of part 2 at:

• Application for employment: sample part one
• Application for employment: sample part two
• Sample Equality and diversity monitoring form

Planning and Presentation

This section offers some general advice to help you complete the best possible application form. Most of the advice is common sense, but you would be surprised by the number of applications that are disadvantaged by a lack of attention to basic details.

 

Before you write anything

Read all supporting documentation

Your application form is your personal marketing tool – use all documentation provided to help you tailor your responses. Pay particular attention to:

• The job description
• The person specification and the application form, so that you understand what is required from you
• Familiarise yourself with any other material, including any deanery guidance for applicants
• Any other documentation required to be submitted.  Deaneries will not chase you for information.  You need to make sure you have submitted everything that is required or you could risk your chances of being shortlisted.

Gather your evidence 

Ensure that you have gathered all the dates and titles of qualifications, publications, research, audits, presentations etc.  Every statement that you make on the form should be able to be backed up by evidence (either on the application form or at interview) to prove that you do indeed meet the person specification.

There will be questions about your skills and competences where you will need to describe real-life experience, either from your medical work and/or extra-curricula activities. 

• What examples do you have?  Do they actually address what is asked?
• In what way are they unique? Can you provide examples that might stand out from the crowd?
• What exactly was your part in the example you describe? For example, if you are using an extra-curricula activity, what was your role - chair, secretary, captain etc.?
• You will need to use different examples for each question posed.

Do your career research

Make sure that you really know why you are applying for a particular specialty and what you can bring to it in terms of skills and personal attributes.

Plan your time

Work out how long it will take realistically to work on and complete the form, including getting feedback from colleagues. You know the way you work best, but manage any risks that could lead to errors or a product that is less than your best.

Referees 

Contact them at the earliest opportunity to check that they will be happy to support your application, and they will be available to do so within the application timeframe.

You will need to provide details, including up to date email addresses, of three referees who have supervised your clinical; training within the past two years.  If you are applying to more than one specialty, you may opt to nominate different referees for each specialty.  If you have recently had a career break and cannot nominate referees from the past two years, then your referees must include your two most recent supervisors. If you are offered, and accept a training programme, your employer will not be able to issue a contract without references.

 

Key content of application forms

Your application form will need to pass the first stage eligibility check before it is considered for shortlisting.  Deaneries’ administrative teams will check that you meet the eligibility criteria in terms of:

• Immigration status
• GMC (and GDC registration, if required)
• English language skills as per the eligibility criteria
• Any examination or experience requirements in line with the post

See the information about eligibility for details.

In response to the CV-based questions, all previous experience in the particular specialty or specialty group must be declared.  This includes experience outside the UK and all experience in the UK, whether within educationally approved posts or not.

You should also give the reasons for any time you have spent out of work, such as maternity leave or relocation to the UK, so that there are no unexplained career gaps on your application form.

It is best to avoid upper case as most people find it too difficult to read.

Build in time to get feedback and make amendments to your completed application form with a mix of medical and non-medical colleagues.

 

Tackling the competency questions

You may already have developed a technique that will help you answer successfully any competence-based questions. Some people find it helpful to use a structure based on “situation, action, result” as an effective way of getting your answer across logically and efficiently:

• Situation/Task - gives the reader the context, but don’t overdo it on description
• Action - this is where you demonstrate and highlight the skills and personal attributes that the question is testing.  Explain what, how and why you did what you did.  Talk about you, not everyone else.
• Result - explain the outcome of your action.  Describe what you accomplished.  What did you learn?