NHS jobs

No, I've applied to absolutely loads of NHS jobs since November. The only reply I got was one that said that I'd hear whether I get an interview within 2 weeks of of the day they sent the email (15th January; meaning I should have heard from now :frown:

). I must obviously be doing something wrong! I'm a fellow biomed grad btw, good luck with the Physio application.

Reply 2

I've applied for a few admin jobs on their website in the past few weeks but havent heard anything back.

Reply 3

OP

I got 2 emails today- one saying that the job has been withdrawn, and the other saying that I wasn't shortlisted for interview. So at least I've heard I guess! I've applied for over 30 jobs in various places in various things, and I just want to hear something!
Ghanglish- what are you doing with yourself now? I've found my degree in Biomed to be utterly useless so far, and all I'm doing is filling the gap between graduation and (hopefully) starting my new degree!

Reply 4

Well I went on to do a Pharmacology MSc afterwards which hasn't helped me much. If anything it probably makes me look 'over qualified' for some of the jobs I'm applying for. I've been looking at medical lab assistant/trainee biomedical scientist roles (which I don't want to do forever, but it's a start). And with no relevant experience pharmaceutical type jobs applications have been fruitless too. So at the moment, I'm unemployed (although I'm doing some volunteer work) and have loans to pay - not good!

I eventually want to go on to do medicine. This years application isn't going so well, so am looking towards 2010. What I do between now and whenever I eventually get in, I don't know. I suppose I'll just keep volunteering till paid work comes along.

Did you do a sandwich year for your biomed degree. Cos I didn't and now I'm telling every sixth former I know considering biomed to do one otherwise all that work may come to nothing come graduation.

Reply 5

OP

No I didn't. I was originally enroled to do a physiology degree, but didnt like the modules for the third year, so managed to change to biomed after begging my tutor! I did do a summer lab placement after my 2nd year which I thoroughly hated, so that has put me off wanting to do that kind of thing.
I've just been applying for admin/ healthcare assistant kinds of jobs for which I am so overqualified, but I'm desperate for some healthcare experience!
Also been trying to find some weekend bar/ shop work which has also been fruitless (though I've only been looking for a week or so), but its really annoying.

Reply 6

Swirlypepper

I'm in a similar situation, going to have a BSc in Biomed come July. I know I can't apply for a job till I've graduated but just having a look around....trainee biomed posts are pretty thin on the ground! Where would you recommend I search for them closer to the time? I haven't seen an in-date ones on the NHS website :s-smilie:

If I wasn't able to get a trainee job is there any other way I could make up the lab experience for my portfolio? I really want to register and work as a biomed, but they're not making it easy :biggrin:

I wish I'd done a sandwich course too. I'm at a teaching hospital and when I asked for careers advice I got "apply for medicine! ...you don't want to?...we didn't expect this...get back to you later" and they haven't. So hopefully you experienced folk can help me out a little. Thanks so much.

Reply 7

hmm ... i wonder if that was the same hospital I was at ... when they come across someone who didn't want to do medicine they look at you open mouthed..lol. The only places I looked for biomed training posts are nhs jobs and nhs scotland. There's also the nhs clinical scientist recruitment thing (google it). I think you applications are due soon, around end of february. Word on the street is that these are quite competitive but what isn't? If any of their training schemes take your fancy you could prepare your CV and Cover letter and stuff and show your careers advisors or lecturers for their suggestions (use them whilst you are still entitled to their help). If memory serves me well, applications are due Feb, interviews maybe May/June and start training if you are successful in August/September...correct me if I'm wrong anybody. Hell, if u feel realy annoying you could approach medical labs at your hospital yourself (do all it takes).

Apart from that you could just start putting your CV on recruitment websites for general lab work (some temporary?) around August time.

But then again what the hell do I know ... I have no job 4 months from completing my MSc!

Reply 8

Swirlypepper

Cheers for that. I've whisked in my application with just four days to spare, phew! I'm not feeling too confident about it as it says in their entry requirements that biomedical science isn't on their list of 'most accepted' degrees but falls into the 'may also be considered' category. I've also got in touch with AstraZenica, they seem quite graduate friendly. As long as I'm doing some lab work to get money while looking for more trainee biomed posts I reckon I'll be alright. Scary stuff, I don't feel like a grown-up yet!

Reply 9

I just got an email saying i've been invited to an interview for a receptionist job I applied for :smile:

Reply 10

OP

catalicious

I just got an email saying i've been invited to an interview for a receptionist job I applied for :smile:

Well done!! When did you apply for it, and where is it??
Still nothing from any of my jobs. :frown:

Reply 11

djk_99

Well done!! When did you apply for it, and where is it??
Still nothing from any of my jobs. :frown:

I applied for a few admin jobs at my local hospital about 2/3 weeks ago and this is the only one I have an interview for so far. My interview is on 24th feb, I'm suprised they are actually interested to be honest cos I have no admin work experience what so ever - only shop/retail work.

Reply 12

OP

catalicious

I applied for a few admin jobs at my local hospital about 2/3 weeks ago and this is the only one I have an interview for so far. My interview is on 24th feb, I'm suprised they are actually interested to be honest cos I have no admin work experience what so ever - only shop/retail work.

Well thats pretty good! Least they've given you a chance. Good luck!
I only started applying for these NHS jobs about 3 weeks ago, so I guess there's hope for me yet!

Reply 13

NoAngel

2

Swirlypepper

Cheers for that. I've whisked in my application with just four days to spare, phew! I'm not feeling too confident about it as it says in their entry requirements that biomedical science isn't on their list of 'most accepted' degrees but falls into the 'may also be considered' category. I've also got in touch with AstraZenica, they seem quite graduate friendly. As long as I'm doing some lab work to get money while looking for more trainee biomed posts I reckon I'll be alright. Scary stuff, I don't feel like a grown-up yet!

Good luck with your application. I've also sent mine in, hope they don't keep us waiting too long. I've made a thread about it so that hopefully we can keep each other informed as to the progress of applications.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=722000

Reply 14

Can I just ask, when you guys are applying to a job on the nhs website, do you cut and paste your CV + a cover letter/personal statement in the additional information section? Because that's what I do and I'm wondering whether I'm just jamming too much information into one section leading to a busy, tired employer to just chuck my CV because he/she can't be bothered with information overload.

Reply 15

Eidolon

1

It once took them a year to get back to me... no exaggeration. That website is the devil. Often you can get paper applications and I have had much more luck with that.

Reply 16

OP

ghanglish

Can I just ask, when you guys are applying to a job on the nhs website, do you cut and paste your CV + a cover letter/personal statement in the additional information section? Because that's what I do and I'm wondering whether I'm just jamming too much information into one section leading to a busy, tired employer to just chuck my CV because he/she can't be bothered with information overload.

I've just written a little personal statement type thing- why I'm applying for the job, a bit about my degree, a bit about my work experience, a bit about previous jobs, and a bit about what skills I've gained from each.
Obviously I tailor it to each job that I apply for- make sure that you include all the skills that they deemed essential on the person specification.

I wouldn't think that you need to put your CV in that space- they can get your personal information from the section you filled in, and info about your jobs from that section.

Eidolon

It once took them a year to get back to me... no exaggeration. That website is the devil. Often you can get paper applications and I have had much more luck with that..

I've actually got an interview for an NHS lab job tomorrow- I applied for it via the website last week, but accidentally applied for it through an agency too (didn't realise it was the same job- they didn't say what company it was for!), and the agency was how I got the interview.
That website seems absolutely useless, and everyone I speak to has horror stories about it. NHS recruitment needs a serious looking at.

Reply 17

OP

I got the NHS lab job, they called me up a couple of hours later and said they'd love to have me!
I also got a call about another NHS HCA job I applied for about 5 weeks ago, and I have an interview for that next Monday. That's the one I really want, so I'm dead excited!!

Reply 18