Writing a CV for a Medical Role in the UK

Writing a CV for a medical role in the UK requires balancing professionalism with showcasing your unique achievements. It’s not just a list of jobs and qualifications – “your CV should tell the story of you and your career,” making it clear at a glance why you’re the best person for the role.

UK recruiters (especially the NHS) expect a well-structured, conventional layout, so don’t get too quirky with fonts or design. Instead, focus on clear headings, concise content, and evidence of your skills. This guide walks through each key section of a UK-specific medical CV – from Personal Details to References – with practical tips to help you shine while meeting NHS and GMC expectations.

Personal Details

This section should be straightforward and factual. Include your full name (as your CV’s title, e.g. Dr Jane Smith), contact information (address, phone number, and a professional email), and your GMC registration details (status and number). If you’re on the specialist register or have a National Training Number (NTN), list those as well. You may also note your right to work or visa status here if relevant (e.g. Tier 2 visa). Keep it strictly professional – do NOT include personal data like your photo, date of birth, marital status, or religion. UK employers don’t expect a photo on a CV (to comply with equality laws), so leaving it out allows them to judge you purely on merit.

Make sure your email address is sensible (ideally some variation of your name) and that your voicemail greeting is professional – little details count. This section is usually presented at the very top of your CV in a simple block format. For example:

Name: Dr Jane Smith, MBChB, MRCP
Contact: 123 Main Street, Sheffield, S1 234 – (01234) 567890 – jane.smith@example.com
GMC Registration: Full (Licence to Practise) – GMC No. 1234567
Nationality: British (if applicable: Visa status – e.g. Tier 2 visa)
    

Keep it concise. There’s no need to title this section “Curriculum Vitae” – the content speaks for itself. Double-check that all contact info is up to date and that your name on the CV matches your name on GMC records (important for any official applications).

Personal Statement

Your personal statement (or profile) is a short “elevator pitch” at the start of your CV that summarises who you are, your career aims, and what you offer. In 3–5 sentences, outline your specialty, key experience, and the qualities that make you suited to the post. Tailor it to the role you’re applying for – a CV for a GP role might highlight your community care experience and patient communication, whereas a surgical CV might emphasise operative volume and team leadership. Avoid generic clichés (no need to state you’re “hard-working and passionate” – show it through your achievements). Instead, be specific and confident: for example, “ST6 Cardiology registrar with 8 years of NHS experience, working towards CCT in Cardiology. Experienced in managing acute cardiac emergencies and leading coronary care unit teams. Seeking a Consultant Cardiologist post to advance regional heart failure services and mentor junior doctors.” This clearly identifies your level, expertise, and goals.

Keep the tone positive and focus on what you bring to the role. Mention career highlights (e.g. “led a quality improvement project that reduced surgical wait times by 15%”) to grab attention. It’s also good to express your motivation – why you’re interested in that trust or specialty – showing you’ve done your homework on the role. Aim to strike a balance between confident and humble. One to two short paragraphs are plenty (think of it as a mini-cover letter). And remember, this is optional but highly recommended – a strong personal statement can hook the reader from the start.

Education and Qualifications

After introducing yourself, list your medical education and key qualifications. Do this in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent or highest qualification. Include the degree or exam, the institution or awarding body, and the year obtained. For example:

MMed Sci (Clinical Education) – University of Birmingham, 2022
MRCP (UK) – Royal College of Physicians, 2020
MBChB (Medicine) – University of Leeds, 2010
    

If you’re a GP or Consultant, also indicate your Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and the date it was achieved (or expected). For instance, “CCT in General Practice – Aug 2018”. Include any notable academic distinctions (cum laude, honours) if applicable.

It’s important to list postgraduate exams like MRCP, MRCS, FRCA, etc., since these are often prerequisites for senior roles. You might also include other relevant certifications here – for example, diplomas (DFSRH for sexual health, PGCert in Medical Education), or international equivalents if you trained abroad.

For each entry, provide dates and institutions. Recruiters will scan this section to verify you meet the essential criteria (e.g. have a UK medical degree or acceptable equivalent, and any required postgraduate qualifications). Keep it succinct – detailed academic results aren’t necessary, just the qualifications themselves. If you have very many qualifications, you can prioritise the most relevant (you might group older, less relevant ones). Ensure everything here matches your official documents, as discrepancies could raise concerns.

Clinical Experience

This is the core of your CV – a record of your medical employment history. List your clinical posts in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent position and working backwards. For each post, include: Job title, grade, specialty, employer (hospital or practice name), and dates. For example:

Specialty Registrar (ST3) – General Surgery – Royal London Hospital, Aug 2019 – Present
Responsibilities: Managing acute surgical admissions, leading ward rounds, assisting in theatre (average 15 cases/week) and running weekly minor ops clinic.
Key Achievements: Introduced a new ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery) protocol that reduced average post-op length of stay by 1.2 days; audited and improved consent procedures, achieving 100% documentation compliance.
    

Notice we not only list duties, but also highlight achievements. NHS employers value what you contributed, not just what you were tasked with. In each role description, try to include at least one specific accomplishment or improvement you were part of. This could be a clinical outcome, a leadership experience, or a quality improvement project. Use action verbs and, where possible, quantifiable results (“reduced X by 20%”, “managed a team of Y people”, “performed Z procedures”). This shows your impact.

Work back through all relevant posts. It’s usually expected in medicine to account for your entire career from qualification to date, especially for senior roles – so include foundation training, core training, etc., down to your first job. However, if you have a lengthy career, early jobs (e.g. older than 10-15 years) can be summarised to avoid a very long CV. The key is no unexplained gaps: if you took 6 months out for travel or maternity leave, you can simply state that in your chronology (e.g. “June–Dec 2015 – Career break (maternity leave)”) so that your timeline is complete.

For each entry, keep the description concise. A common approach is bullet points under each job – typically 2-4 bullets highlighting responsibilities and achievements. Make sure to include the essentials for each role: the location (so the reader knows what kind of setting you worked in), your grade (to indicate level of responsibility), and the dates (month/year). Consistency is key – use the same format for each job to make it easy to scan.

If you’re applying to a specific specialty and some of your past experience is in other fields, you can still include them but focus the detail on the posts most relevant to the target role. For example, a GP CV might briefly note an earlier hospital rotation in surgery with one bullet, but expand more on GP registrar posts with several bullets. Emphasise any experience that matches the job’s person specification (e.g. if the role requires management of acute cardiac cases, highlight your cardiology rotation work). According to NHS guidance, “point out the relevance of the non-clinical skills you have acquired – these are often important sections on the person specification which will be tested at interview.”

Leadership and Management

The NHS places high value on doctors who can lead teams and manage services, so dedicate a section to Leadership & Management experience. This is where you detail any roles or activities that show your management abilities beyond routine clinical work. Think broadly – it’s not only formal titles like Chief Resident or Clinical Lead, but any initiative where you took charge or improved a service.

For example, maybe you chaired a hospital committee (mortality review group, ethics committee), acted as a rota coordinator, or led a project (implementing a new electronic health record system or spearheading a quality improvement project). Perhaps you’ve been the lead registrar on a shift, responsible for supervising juniors. Even organising a conference or being on a national trainee committee counts as leadership. List these experiences with a focus on your role and outcomes: what did you do and what was the result?

• Junior Doctor Representative on the hospital management board – liaised between trainees and management, successfully advocated for a new mess and improved rota scheduling.
• Led a multidisciplinary taskforce to improve A&E patient flow, resulting in a 10% reduction in waiting times over 6 months.
• Organised the surgical department rota for 20 junior doctors, ensuring safe cover and compliance with EWTD hours.

Aim to demonstrate skills like team leadership, problem-solving, project management, and service improvement. These examples show you can take initiative and handle responsibility – crucial for roles like Consultant and GP partner. If you’ve completed any leadership courses or management training (e.g. an “NHS Leadership Academy” course, or a management and leadership certificate), include those here or in your Education section.

Teaching and Training

Teaching is a fundamental part of a doctor’s role in the UK, so your CV should showcase your experience and enthusiasm for educating others. In this section, list your involvement in teaching, training, and mentoring. This can include:

• Formal teaching roles: Perhaps you were a clinical teaching fellow, an instructor for ALS (Advanced Life Support) courses, or a clinical supervisor for foundation doctors or physician associates.
• Informal teaching: Most doctors do some on-the-job teaching. Maybe you regularly teach medical students during their placements, or you led bedside teaching sessions for junior trainees.
• Presentations and lectures: If you’ve given any talks – from grand rounds to presenting at journal clubs or local teaching sessions – you can note those here (unless you have a separate section for presentations).
• Curriculum or course development: For example, “Co-designed a new simulation training module for surgical trainees on managing laparoscopic emergencies.”
• Teaching qualifications: If you’ve done a PGCert or Diploma in Medical Education, or courses like “Teach the Teachers,” mention them here (or in Education, with cross-reference).

When describing your teaching experience, try to indicate scope and impact. For instance: “Clinical Supervisor for 2 foundation year doctors – provided weekly tutorials and feedback, both FYs passed all assessments under my supervision.” Or “Led undergraduate bedside teaching in Paediatrics for groups of 5 students, receiving average feedback score of 4.5/5.” This gives tangible evidence of your teaching ability.

If you have presentations or posters at conferences, you could list them in a sub-section here or under Research (since they often stem from research projects). Some CVs split “Teaching Experience” and “Presentations” separately. For brevity, you might combine them if you don’t have a long list for each.

Research and Publications

If you have research experience or publications, dedicate a section to them – this is crucial for academic and consultant roles, and it strengthens any application by showing engagement with evidence-based practice. Start by summarising any research projects you’ve been involved in. This might be lab research, clinical trials, or significant audits and quality improvement projects (audits and QIPs can be included here or in a separate section, but often they fit under the research umbrella as they contribute to improved practice). Describe your role: e.g. “Research fellow on a multi-centre trial of a new diabetes drug – responsible for patient recruitment and data analysis.” Keep descriptions brief, focusing on skills gained or outcomes (published paper, conference presentation, etc.).

Next, list your publications. Typically, you’d format this as a bibliography list, either numbered or bullet points. Follow a standard citation style: list all authors (with your name in bold if desired), title of the paper, journal, year, and page numbers. For example:

Smith J, Doe A, Bloggs J. Outcomes of Enhanced Recovery After Hip Surgery. BMJ 2019; 364:l192.
Doe A, Smith J. Case report: Unusual presentation of Crohn’s disease. J Med Case Rep 2018;12:123.
    

If you have only a few publications, you can include them all. If you have many, consider separating by category (e.g. peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, chapters) or just listing the most significant and stating “Full list available on request.” Always be truthful – don’t inflate a “submitted” paper as a full publication. It’s okay to include submitted or in-progress research, but label it as such (e.g. “Manuscript in preparation” or “Submitted to Lancet, under review”).

Also include presentations and posters you’ve given at conferences, especially if you don’t have many formal publications. You can list them with title, venue, and date, for example: “Poster: Improving Sepsis Outcomes – Presented at NHS Expo Conference, Manchester, 2022.” Categorising them into international, national, local can subtly indicate their prestige.

Awards and Achievements

This section is for the special accolades that make you stand out. Here you list any honours, awards, or notable achievements you’ve earned in your medical career (or even earlier, if very impressive and relevant). Examples include academic prizes (e.g. “Distinction in Medical Finals,” “Dean’s Gold Medal in Anatomy”), awards during training (e.g. “Best FY1 Doctor Award, 2015” or “Audit Prize Winner at Regional Meeting”), scholarships, or grants. If you’ve received patient commendations or was Employee of the Month, those can be included if you have space, though formal awards carry more weight.

List awards in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Include the name of the award, the year, and (if not obvious) a brief note on what it is. For example:

Royal College of Surgeons – Surgical Trainee of the Year, 2022 (awarded for excellence in surgical training across the region)
Audit Prize (1st Place), 2021 – Annual Trust Quality Improvement Presentation Day
Medical School Distinction, 2010 – Graduated in top 5% of class
    

If the award is not self-explanatory, you can add a parenthesis or a brief clause to give context. However, avoid lengthy descriptions – this section is typically a simple list. The idea is to present a snapshot of your excellence and recognition by others.

If you don’t have any formal awards, think of achievements you can still mention. For instance, completing a relevant non-mandatory course (like a Diploma), running a marathon for charity (shows personal commitment), or anything that demonstrates dedication or skill. Be judicious – ensure any listed achievement adds value to your CV or shows a dimension of you that’s relevant to being a good doctor.

Professional Memberships and Registrations

In this section, list your memberships in professional bodies and your registrations. In the UK, the most critical is your GMC registration. You’ve likely already noted your GMC number under Personal Details, but here you can reaffirm your registration status (e.g. “Fully registered with GMC with Licence to Practise, since 2011”). If you are on the Specialist or GP Register (for Consultants or qualified GPs), state that clearly: “On the GMC Specialist Register for Cardiology (CCT 2023).” This immediately tells the employer you have completed training and are eligible for a consultant post.

Next, list memberships of Royal Colleges or other medical associations. Use the formal post-nominal letters and explain if needed. For example: “Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) – achieved 2018.” If you have Fellowship status: “Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) – admitted 2020.” It’s wise to include the year you achieved it, especially if there’s a chance your membership status might lapse without renewal – the BMA even suggests noting the year of accreditation to avoid any confusion about current membership.

Other memberships to consider listing:

• Medical Defence/Protection Organisations: e.g. “Member of Medical Protection Society (MPS)”.
• BMA (British Medical Association): Being a BMA member can be listed, although it’s not usually critical for hiring; however, it does show engagement with the wider profession.
• Specialist societies or associations: e.g. “Member of British Orthopaedic Association”, “European Society of Cardiology – Associate member.”
• Teaching/Academic memberships: e.g. Academy of Medical Educators if relevant.

Format this as a bullet list or a simple list of affiliations. For example:

GMC – Full Registration (No. 1234567)
MRCGP (Member of Royal College of GPs) – achieved 2018, current member
BMA – member since 2011
MDU (Medical Defence Union) – member no. 7654321
    

Ensure you use the correct names and designations. Also, double-check that any post-nominals you list after your name (like in the header of your CV) correspond to memberships you actually hold and currently maintain. If a membership has lapsed (e.g. you passed an exam but didn’t continue membership), you can still list the qualification (as it’s a qualification achieved) but it’s good to be transparent by indicating the year (as noted above, e.g. “MRCP (2015)” if not currently paying college fees).

Including this section helps tick off some of the basic criteria for NHS roles – many person specifications will ask for “GMC registration” and “membership of relevant Royal College” as essential or desirable criteria. By clearly listing them, you make it easy for HR or the selection panel to see you fulfil these requirements.

Additional Skills

This is a catch-all section for any other skills or qualifications that haven’t been covered elsewhere but could be useful to the role. Think of things that add value to you as a clinician beyond the obvious. Common points to include are:

• Languages: In a diverse healthcare system, speaking multiple languages is a plus. State your level of fluency. e.g. “Fluent in Urdu and Punjabi”, “Conversational Spanish.”
• IT Skills: List any notable tech skills. Being “proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)” is almost assumed, so focus on relevant ones: e.g. “Experienced in using NHS electronic health record systems (SystemOne, EPIC)”, “Skilled in statistical analysis using SPSS/R (used in research projects)”.
• Clinical Skills/Certifications: Here you can include specific procedural skills or certifications not already detailed. For instance, “ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) certified”, “Proficient in point-of-care ultrasound (trained in Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma - FAST)”, or “Bronchoscopy privilege – independently performed 30 bronchoscopies.”
• Driving Licence: For certain roles (GPs, community roles, any job requiring travel between sites), it’s worth noting “Full clean UK driving licence.”
• Other Skills: This could be anything from “Medical Spanish Certification” to “Trained in conflict resolution and mediation” – basically any additional training that doesn’t fit under formal education but is useful professionally.

You can format this section as a simple bullet list of skills or short phrases – it doesn’t usually require narrative descriptions. For example:

Fluent French (B2 level)
Advanced IT skills: NHS e-Portfolio, Cerner EPR, SQL database basics
ALS, ATLS & APLS certified (last recertification 2022)
Full UK driving licence
    

Be honest about your proficiency; you might be asked about these in an interview (especially languages). This section can also spark interesting interview questions that allow you to showcase unique aspects of yourself. Even hobbies can be included here or in a brief separate section if they are relevant and add to your application – for instance, competitive sports (teamwork, discipline) or musical talents (commitment, stress relief) can humanise your CV. The NHS careers site suggests including hobbies or interests especially if they add value or transferable skills.

References

End your CV with a references section. In the UK, it’s typical to provide 2 to 3 referees who can vouch for your professional experience and character. Ideally, one should be your current or most recent supervisor (for trainees, usually your Educational Supervisor or Training Program Director; for consultants, perhaps your Clinical Director or a department lead; for GPs, maybe your trainer or a senior partner). The others can be previous supervisors or another senior colleague who knows your work well. Make sure at least one referee is a clinical supervisor who directly observed your work.

List each referee’s name, job title, workplace, and contact information (phone and email), and optionally their relationship to you (e.g. “Clinical Supervisor during Core Medicine”). For example:

Dr Alan Brown – Consultant Physician, ABC Hospital, NHS Trust. Email: alan.brown@nhs.net | Tel: 0207 123 4567 (Dr Brown was my Core Medical Training supervisor in 2018-2019)
Dr Susan Green – GP Partner, Sunrise Health Centre. Email: sgreen@nhs.net | Tel: 07777 123456 (Dr Green supervised me as a GP Registrar, 2020)
    

Before listing someone as a reference, always ask their permission and ensure they are willing to provide a positive reference. It’s good practice to keep your referees informed about the jobs you’re applying for, so they aren’t caught off guard by a reference request. Typically, references are taken up after interviews (for the selected candidate), but some NHS applications ask referees at the application stage – so giving their details up front is expected.

Some people choose to write “References available on request” to save space. In medical CVs, however, it’s common and appreciated to provide the details directly, as it shows transparency and readiness. Given NHS standards, listing three referees (with at least one current supervisor) is advised. Ensure the contact info is correct – an HR department won’t chase down a reference if the email bounces.

Lastly, maintain good relationships with your referees and keep them updated on your career moves. A strong, supportive reference can solidify a job offer. And of course, only choose people who will speak highly of you! If you’re not certain a consultant would remember you well or favourably, it’s better to pick someone else who will.

Top 10 Tips for a Standout Medical CV

1. Keep it concise: Aim for a CV that’s around 2-3 pages for most roles. Be selective – include quality over quantity, but don’t omit key information (senior or academic CVs can be longer, but still stay focused).
2. Tailor it to the role: One size does not fit all. Emphasise the experience and skills most relevant to each job you apply for, mirroring the language of the person specification where you can.
3. Highlight achievements, not just duties: Don’t just list what you did, show what you improved or accomplished. For example, say “Implemented a new clinic system that improved patient flow” rather than just “clinics on Tuesday”. Concrete outcomes (with stats if possible) make you memorable.
4. No photo or fluff: There’s no need to include a photograph or personal details like age or marital status – UK employers prefer to avoid bias. Let your qualifications and experience do the talking.
5. Be honest and accurate: Never exaggerate or falsify information. The GMC takes a very dim view of dishonesty, and even a “harmless” embellishment (like overstating your role in a project) can backfire if checked. Stick to the truth – and be prepared to discuss anything you’ve written.
6. Clear structure and format: Use standard section headings (Profile, Experience, etc.) and a consistent layout. Make sure it’s easy to navigate – recruiters often skim quickly. Bullet points and crisp formatting help important points stand out. Avoid tiny fonts or walls of text.
7. Proofread – then proofread again: Spelling or grammar mistakes on a medical CV can be red flags. Attention to detail is critical in medicine, so an error-free CV suggests you’re careful and diligent. Consider asking a colleague or mentor to review it as well – fresh eyes catch mistakes.
8. Include all necessary info: Don’t make the reader hunt for essential details. Ensure your CV clearly states your qualifications, GMC status, and employment history with dates. Missing dates or gaps without explanation will raise questions – cover your timeline fully.
9. Show you’re well-rounded: Use sections like Leadership, Teaching, and Additional Skills to display dimensions beyond clinical work. The NHS loves doctors who can lead teams, teach juniors, and contribute to research or audits. It’s often these extra contributions that set you apart from someone with a similar clinical background.
10. Stay professional in tone: Write in a professional yet conversational tone – it should sound like you, but the polished, clinical version of you. Avoid slang or overly casual language. At the same time, don’t be too formal or robotic. You want the reader to sense your enthusiasm and professionalism. A friendly, confident tone can leave a positive impression.