Here we’ll take a closer look at the first stage of your FRCEM journey – FRCEM Primary. We’ll consider its purpose, structure and content, eligibility, dates, exam centers and provide some tips to give you the best chance of passing first time and moving closer towards full Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM).  Designed to help you prepare and sit the exam, we consider the following topics:  What is the FRCEM Primary?  What is the content and structure?  Can I sit the exam more than once?  What is the curriculum?  Am I eligible?  How can I apply? Where and when can I take the exam? How much will it cost me?  How do I prepare for each exam and what resources are available? Passed? What next?  What is the FRCEM Primary?  The FRCEM Primary Examination is the first examination in a series of three and is mapped to the Emergency Medicine 2015 Curriculum. You can find more detailed information provided in the RCEM Basic Sciences Curriculum (June 2010) which is available here or as a downloadable PDF The MRCEM Part A has been replaced by the FRCEM Primary exam with effect from August 2016.  Completion of the FRCEM examinations (Primary/Intermediate/Final) results in the award of Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.  The Royal College strongly advises all applicants to familiarise themselves with the Basic Sciences Curriculum when preparing to sit the FRCEM Primary Examination. General advice is to get to know the curriculum as early as possible and use it as a road map for your study plan.  What is the content and structure?  The FRCEM Primary exam consists of one 3-hour paper of 180 multiple choice, single best answer questions (SBAQs).  You must choose one best answer from a choice of five feasible answers.  The paper will examine all the domains of knowledge in the Basic Sciences Curriculum including: Anatomy Physiology Pathology Microbiology Pharmacology Evidence Based Medicine Can I sit the exam more than once?  Candidates are permitted a maximum of six attempts in which to pass the FRCEM Primary Examination.  Previous attempts at the MRCEM Part A examination prior to August 2016 do not count towards the number of available attempts.  The examination is conducted in English and candidates are advised that IELTS Level 7 is the expected standard for completion of the FRCEM examinations. Remember, you will need to have a pass of 7.5 average in all areas of IELTS to complete your GMC registration. What is the curriculum?  The blueprint for the FRCEM Primary Examination is as follows:  Category Sub-Category Questions Anatomy Upper limb  Lower limb  Thorax  Abdomen  Head and Neck  Central Nervous System Cranial Nerve Lesions 60 Physiology Basic cellular physiology Respiratory physiology Cardiovascular physiology Gastrointestinal physiology Renal physiology  Endocrine physiology 60 Pharmacology Gastrointestinal pharmacology  Cardiovascular system  Respiratory system  Central Nervous System  Infections Endocrine system  Fluids and electrolytes  Muscoskeletal system  Immunological products and vaccines Anaesthesia 27 Microbiology Principles of microbiology  Pathogen groups 18 Pathology Inflammatory responses  Immune responses  Infection  Wound healing  Haematology 9 Evidence Based Medicine Statistics Study methodology Principles of critical appraisal 6 TOTAL   180 Am I eligible?  To be eligible you must hold a Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) that is recognised by the GMC for registration purposes. You do not need to be registered with the GMC to enter. Don’t forget! You may need a visa to enter a different country to sit the exam. Failure to check this could prevent you from sitting the exam and your examination fee will not be refunded. How can I apply? All applications are made online. Please note, the application can take some time to complete so it is always advisable to apply well in advance of the deadlines. Applications submitted after the application period will not be accepted.  Links to all application forms and application windows are available here. Where and when can I take the exam? How much will it cost me?  Exam dates and locations for 2019 are currently available, these are regularly updated by the Royal College and can be found here.  Dates dates for 2020 have not yet been released – IMG Connect will post these as soon as they become available.  Examination Centre Fees FRCEM Primary Short Answer Question Paper   London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Leeds, Cardiff £310 Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Reykjavik, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat £390 How do I prepare for the exam and what resources are available? With lots of resources available online, we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for materials relating to the exams. Most IMGs recommended starting with the Royal College, who have created useful resources to help you to prepare for the exams. See below:  Curriculum:  Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in Emergency Medicine as set out in the Emergency Medicine Training Curriculum 2015. Information Packs: These provide detailed information for the relevant examination components so that you can best prepare for your studies and what to expect on the day: FRCEM Primary Sample questions:  Test your knowledge using example questions from the current exam syllabus provided by the Royal College, see below: • Primary – sample questions Glossary of Terms:  The royal college uses many terms that may cause confusion, so take plenty time to understand the terms and definitions used in this guide.  Candidates are expected to be rigorous in their use of these terms. Glossary of terms used in RCEM exams. Online resources:  There are lots of resources online, such as videos on YouTube, FRCEM courses and useful reading materials. We think that these are a great addition to your study plan, just be sure to check your sources.  For a useful overview of how to prepare for exams, including advice on study groups, online community support, best use of online resources & Royal College materials and courses, take a look at our blog: IMG Connects Top Tips for exam preparation  Passed? What next?  If you are completing the papers in order, the next step will be to apply for FRCEM Intermediate Certificate. For more information take a look at our blog where we explore FRCEM Intermediate and everything that you need to know about how to sit the exam, including syllabus, dates, results, fees and preparation.  Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss job options in Emergency Medicine, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you

The MRCEM OSCE exam requires a considerable amount of revision and preparation. We are often asked by Emergency Medicine doctors where they should look for resources, online revision materials, OSCE mock stations and preparation courses (online and face to face). Here we compile the best advice, tips, courses and resources available for the Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM) OSCE exam.   The MRCEM OSCE consists of 18 stations (16 patient encounters & 2 rest stations), each one lasting for about 7 minutes. The MRCEM OSCE exam will not only test your theoretical knowledge, but also your resus skills and communication skills. Even candidates who are working in an emergency medicine department (ED or ER) often find these OSCEs difficult. Even if you have a strong background knowledge in Emergency Medicine the exams can still be tricky due to a heavy reliance on testing your communication skills and etiquette.  Preparation is therefore vital for all doctors who intend to take the MRCEM OSCE (part C) exam. This can be broken down into the following:  Practical day-to-day work (colleague observations & feedback, peer groups, study groups)  Online revision resources (subscriptions, reading materials, tutorials, videos) Courses (face to face, online) In general, emergency medicine course tutors advise setting aside at least 2-3 months preparation in addition to your Emergency Medicine experience. How to get started The first step is to ensure you are familiar enough with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Curriculum (2015), and to use this to create your study plan covering the whole curriculum, whilst also identifying areas of weakness to strengthen.  Take a look through Mastering Emergency Medicine – a practical guide to re-enforce your solid background in Emergency Medicine knowledge before you start approaching the stations. Note that this book was first published in 2009, and some aspects may be slightly outdated.  Familiarise yourself with the stations, techniques and format by watching online videos and tutorials - you can find both free and paid tutorials online.  YouTube has many great videos available to get you started, covering basics of examination and OSCE guides through to mock OSCE scenarios:  Mcleods Examination videos (Basics of examination) OSCE guides - Geeky Medics   Bromley webinars and tutorials  Watching these videos before you start your practice sessions (and then repeatedly throughout your study plan) will give you a huge boost.  Resources for Emergency Medicine OSCE support General advice is to use a variety of resources, including reading materials, online subscriptions to videos and tutorials, podcasts and videos. The following have helped IMGs on their journey to successful completion of the MRCEM OSCE:  MCEM Part C: 125 OSCE Stations by Kiran Somani (2016) Mastering Emergency Medicine: A Practical Guide by Mathew Hall Bromley Emergency Courses online tutorials:  Revision communication videos  Revision examination videos Revision procedure videos Bromley Emergency Courses – online tutorial subscription to 80 OSCE scenario videos  110 OSCE station scenarios MRCEM OSCE course Podcast Self-assessment for MCEM part C (100 practice questions) (2014) Geeky Medics – Emergency Medicine Final preparation – Dr Ahmed Hassan’s Brain Map Face to face course – Bromley Emergency Medicine Please note that if you are interested in attending a 1-day MRCEM OSCE course in London, at IMG Connect we recognise that taking a course in the UK comes at significant additional cost, so depending on your circumstances we may be able to help. Get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss options available to you.  Practical work - peer groups and senior colleague observations The best way to practice and solidify what you have learnt from your studies is to organise group sessions and observations at work. Observations at work  Ask senior colleagues to observe and offer feedback to you on a regular basis on the EM ward. Receiving quality feedback in a formal setting is widely regarded as fundamental to your advances in emergency medicine practice.  Group sessions When organising a peer group of Emergency Medicine OSCE aspirants, advice is to have a maximum of three/four persons per group. Three works very well because you can each play a role during role play sessions.  When conducting role plays, you may want to organise yourselves as follows:  Patient (use instructions for the actor provided in the textbooks, remember each patient has a back story and there are many aspects the actor must show, including emotion) Exam Candidate Examiner (takes notes, observes, marks the checklist and gives immediate and detailed feedback on all aspects of the marking sheet) Remember to take turns and swap roles, work as the patient, exam candidate and the examiner. Stick to the exam format, for example set a time limit of about 7 minutes which will allow you to get a clear understanding of how to pace yourself and finish before 7 minutes. Remember not to be too fast, or too slow, helping you to make every second count. Feedback is crucial to improving your practice. As you practice together, look at the checklists after you perform each station and find out if you are missing anything.  When taking up the examiner role ensure to give detailed feedback covering all marking criteria (intro, examination, body language and winding up - the four key areas that can improve your score). Once the examiner has delivered their feedback, discuss as a group, considering how to improve in all aspects of the exam criteria.  Build stamina Once you have a routine in place for peer group practical OSCE simulations, build up towards completing a full set of stations. This should be done for each member of your group. The exam can be tiring, which can in turn affect your performance on the day of the exam. For example, if exhausted at the final stations, it can be hard to maintain your clear communication and positive body language, so a full run through will help you to understand what it will be like on the day and what you need to do to ensure that you are consistently performing.  Record sessions Try recording your group scenarios. IMGs who have done this repeatedly informed us that this was one of the single most important methods for seeing first-hand how to improve. We are after all our own worst critics! Take notes on the way you enter the room, move, talk, express yourself, your non-verbal cues, body language and interactions. Take a course  There are various workshops organised by expert course tutors in Emergency Medicine designed to help you pass. You can find these online and anecdotal evidence suggests that taking a face to face course improves your chances of passing the MRCEM OSCE exam.  Speak to an IMG Consultant to check what courses might be suitable for you, if there is not a course where you live, it may be possible for us to organise one for you and your peers.  Is a course necessary?  Many overseas doctors preparing for their FRCEM or MRCEM Emergency Medicine examinations wonder if they should take a course as part of their preparation. In short, we advise that all IMGs should attend as many courses as possible. The knowledge gained on an MRCEM or FRCEM course goes well beyond the exam.  One issue is of course that courses cost a considerable amount of money, but if you consider that taking a course increases your chances exponentially of passing the examinations first time, the cost is offset by not having to pay to re-sit and all the additional costs that come with it (i.e. flights & accommodation). Finding courses can be tricky  So take some time to work out what you specifically need help with and the stage you are at in the process. Search online to find the course that will suit your needs the most.  Speak to your peers, some may have attended a course that they felt had a positive impact on the learning and preparation.  Once you think you have found a course that suits your needs, such as an MRCEM OSCE course, check reviews posted by other IMGs to be sure of the quality of the tutoring.  If you have found a course that suits your needs, has good reviews recommendations from your peers, then it will likely be worth the investment. As a direct result you will likely pass the exams much quicker, helping you to secure the Emergency Medicine job that you want in the NHS. On the day of exam - tips from IMGs Passing any exam is not easy, passing the Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM) OSCE examination even more so. In speaking with IMGs about their journey through the MRCEM OSCE exams, we have heard many thoughts about what it takes to pass. To help IMGs preparing to take the test, here we share some tips from past examinees and OSCE course tutors.  Firstly, it is good to know that every IMG taking the test is in the same position as you, perhaps anxious about how to prepare and worried about the exam day. We are told that the exam is just an ordinary day on the ward, so why then do so many excellent practicing EM physicians struggle to pass at first attempt? It is perhaps important to say that the advice below is not just from not just those IMGs who passed first time, but from those who had to learn from their mistakes and take the test a second or even third time.  The most common thing that we hear is that IMGs must adapt their skill set to the requirements of the NHS system as well as changing their mindset to be able to work under intense observation.  Further reasons they struggle are:  1. Anxiety Experiencing anxiety during exams is completely natural and the fact that the OSCE stations are only 7 minutes adds to this in the Part C. The only way to combat exam anxiety is to accept that is both natural and inevitable. The best way to prepare and suppress the adrenergic surge is with practice, practice and more practice. The best way to practice is under exam conditions and if possible, this should be timed and observed by different examiners. We are not of the opinion that this practice should be done last minute in the week before the exam, instead, your practice should start long before this point. Ask your senior colleagues in the ED to observe and comment upon your history taking and examination skills. If you can get into a routine of doing this with 3 to 5 patients per day you will be able to run through nearly all of the most likely scenarios in only 12 shifts. Another great strategy is to teach OSCEs to the more junior doctors within the department. Teaching can be a powerful learning tool and has helped many aspirants with their revision. 2. Lack of practice Make no mistake – the exam is very tough. Over 50% of candidates failed the 2016 sitting. Unless you are freakishly good at cramming you will need to set aside at least 3 months to prepare. IMGs will all study in different ways. Remember you have been through many exams all on your own. Whatever revision method works for you, stick to it. Once you know that you are going to study, make a revision plan and stick to it.  Practice in any way that you can. As above, be sure to ask senior colleagues to observe and offer feedback to you on a regular basis on the EM ward.  To practice out of work, form a small group of colleagues who are also taking the test and run through role plays, taking turns to be patient, doctor or examiner.  Pay careful attention to time keeping as it is very common for candidates to run out of time, particularly in history taking and communication skills stations. 3. Lack of familiarisation with curriculum If you don’t know what you could be tested on, you won’t know what to prepare. The MRCEM OSCE is mapped to the competences of Year 1-3 of the Emergency Medicine 2015 Curriculum which is available on the 2015 Curriculum page. You should familiarise yourself with the Year 1-3 competences in preparation for sitting this examination.   4. Not being able to communicate effectively  Many IMGs have made the mistake of thinking that communication is only about what you say, not considering how you say it, and what you look like when you are saying it. Of course, you may be anxious, which can make you behave differently and say things in a different way. So, if you have practiced as above, make sure you incorporate practicing communicating not just focusing on what you say, but also your body language when saying it. Remember that between 70% of our communication is non-verbal! Try to speak audibly and clearly and if at all possible, sit at the same level as the patient with an open posture. Attempt to make a connection with the patient, maintain good eye contact and give them your undivided attention. Treat actors and mannequins as if they are real patients, interact with them in the same way that you would on the EM ward. Be direct and to the point but deliver any bad news in a sensitive and empathetic manner. Always check whether the patient has understood what you have said and ask if they have any questions. ​​​​​​​5. Reading and deciphering the instructions  It is vitally important to read the instructions very carefully before entering a station. Easy marks are frequently lost by nervous or over-confident candidates that have overlooked key information or made assumptions by misreading. This is a mistake many IMGs have made, so learn from their mistakes and be sure to read everything carefully. Once read, make a plan of how you will approach the scenario. Once your minute is up… deep breath and smile!  If you have any questions about how to prepare for the MRCEM OSCE exam, including advice on courses, resources, mock scenarios, online materials and revision books, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant.

Hospitals across the UK are offering specialty doctor job plans with opportunity for CESR programmed support, giving doctors the chance to quickly work towards specialist registration.  For experienced IMGs this is a new and quick route to your first Consultant post. By taking up a service level job as a Specialty Doctor with CESR support as part of the job plan many IMGs are securing a great start to their future career inthe NHS taht is suited to their senior level experience.  If you are an overseas doctor looking for a Specialty Doctor job with the chance to work towards your Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR), speak to the IMG Connect team to discuss if this is a suitable route for you. We have opportunities across the UK for doctors to take advantage of the CESR programme. You can also send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk or register here.  By taking such posts in NHS trusts and hospitals you can join diverse, dynamic and inspiring groups of specialty doctors and acting Consultants all on the way to achieving their CESR as part of a tailored programme. In offering such job opportunities, hospitals will provide a supportive environment with protected time to fulfil all the requirements of the CESR application, gaining career-enhancing experiences as you do. Acting up, dedicated peer groups, coaching & mentoring, scheduled learning and study time are some of the benefits that you could receive.  In such roles you will typically receive hands on support from consultant colleague and exposure to a wide range of experience to specifically aid competency achievement for your CESR application.  In some specialty doctor jobs with CESR programme you will rotate through various departments, dependent on your required experience. Some hospitals will also provide the following as part of the CESR programme:   Supported Professional Activity (SPAs) sessions per week  Tailored experience to your CESR portfolio Regular clinical supervision  A CESR mentor  Involvement in academic programme and medical student teaching  Support in gaining research competencies  SAS Tutor support CESR / SAS support forums and meetings Chat with an IMG consultant to discuss the CESR job vacancies in the NHS and start your journey towards specialist registration and your first consultant post in the NHS.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0) 203 973 0133 WhatsAppp +44 (0) 203 973 0130 Join our growing IMG community!

One of the main reasons that overseas doctors want to work in the Emergency Medicine departments across the UK, is the excellent opportunity for access to training such as the Specialist Training Programme, career progression, including CESR, and sub-specialty development.  This short article provides useful information on the training and development available, how to access the training, the best route to becoming a consultant in the UK with entry to the specialist register, no matter what stage of your training. Emergency Medicine Training, leading to CCT We start with an overview of the Emergency Medicine Training in the NHS. Trainees may enter the emergency medicine training programme via: The EM (Emergency Medicine) core training programme at ST1. This is a three-year core training programme (starting from ST1 and ending at ST3).  For the first two years, trainees will spend 6 months in EM, Intensive Care Medicine, Anaesthetics and Acute Medicine. This is followed by a further year in trauma and paediatric EM.  The start of specialty training (ST4-6) subject to having achieved the necessary competences required for completion of ST3.  Once ST6 is completed, then a doctor will be added to the specialist register for medicine and hold the title of CCT. This means that they can apply for and practice at a consultant level in the NHS.  CESR For senior Emergency Medicine doctors (experienced specialty doctors, consultants and heads of departments) there is also the option of CESR. You can apply directly for CESR from overseas, or secure a post in the NHS with CESR support and complete your application in the UK. This is a good option for those wanting to take up their first role in the NHS as a speciality doctor (leading to consultant) or as a locum consultant. Applying from abroad can be lengthy, and it is certainly not the quickest route towards specialist registration. Most IMGs prefer to secure a post with CESR support, so speak to your IMG Consultant to learn more about the best route to the UK for senior doctors seeking consultant jobs in Emergency Medicine. Most senior Emergency Medicine job vacancies advertised will offer support with CESR, access to training and career progression, and senior managers will encourage you to develop your own professional interests. Emergency medicine departments in the NHS are particularly supportive of doctors seeking to develop both personally and professionally. To find out what jobs are on offer take a look here.  If you think that a Specialty Doctor post with CESR support is suited to you, or if you are a consultant or head of department, then you can find out more information here.  For further advice on how to secure the right job for you in the NHS, take a look at our the following article. Speak to your IMG Consultant to see what Emergency Medicine job opportunities there are for you, including access to CESR support, Core and Specialty training.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0) 203 973 0133 WhatsAppp +44 (0) 203 973 0130 Join our growing IMG community!

As an NHS employee, you will pay Income Tax and National Insurance on your wages through the PAYE system.  Overseas doctors will have tax and national insurance automatically deducted from their monthly salary. How much deducted depends on how much you earn.  PAYE stands for Pay As You Earn.  Some income is tax free. You can earn a certain amount of income each year, called your Personal Allowance, before you need to pay any Income Tax.  The personal allowance is a fixed amount set against your gross income.  In all four UK countries, the Personal Allowance is set at £12,500 (tax free income). It is worth noting that if you earn more than £125,000 you will not receive a personal allowance.  The Personal Allowance will also be set at £12,500 for 2020/21.  Any pay above the personal allowance is then taxed according to your salary and pension.  How much you pay is fixed as a percentage according to a band system. In Scotland the tax bands vary from those set in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, see below:  Tax bands in Scotland Band Taxable income Scottish tax rate Personal Allowance Up to £12,500 0% Starter rate £12,501 to £14,549 19% Basic rate £14,550 to £24,944 20% Intermediate rate £24,945 to £43,430 21% Higher rate £43,431 to £150,000 41% Top rate over £150,000 46% Tax bands in England, Wales & Northern Ireland Band Taxable income Tax rate Personal Allowance Up to £12,500 0% Basic rate £12,501 to £50,000 20% Higher rate £50,001 to £150,000 40% Additional rate over £150,000 45% Your NHS employer will set your salary and you will be automatically set up to pay your pension, tax and national insurance. However, at IMG Connect we think that it’s important to check you have the right tax code and are paying the right amount.  You can check that you are paying the right amounts using this online government tool. This will allow you to check the following your Personal Allowance and tax code are accurate. As well as helping you to understand how much tax you’ve paid in the current tax year and how much you’re likely to pay for the rest of the year.  Can I make any more savings?  You will get tax relief on your pension payments. The NHS pension scheme is an attractive one, with very few schemes in the UK even coming close to this benefit. Find out more about your NHS benefits here. Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0) 203 973 0133 WhatsAppp +44 (0) 203 973 0130 Join our growing IMG community! 

We are often asked what the best way to answer questions requiring detailed answers is during an NHS interview. It is important that you answer any question honestly and from your own perspective and experiences. Here we take a look at one approach to structuring your answers, called the STAR technique.  STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result  The technique is designed to help you to formulate clear, concise and relevant answers to competency-based or behavioural questions (questions that require you to give specific examples demonstrating particular skills, attributes or behaviours). Generally, you will have been asked to provide details or descriptions of a time when you have faced a problem or challenge, what steps you took to deal with it and what the outcome or results were.  In answering competency-based or behavioural questions, you should be considering how to provide information for the panel to evaluate your mindset and your skillset. NHS employers will analyse your behaviours, values and approach to situations defined against the skills and qualities that high-level doctors have exhibited in the role you are applying for. In your answers, NHS employers are looking for evidence of your clinical skills, problem solving skills, analytical ability, perseverance, team work and collaboration, quantitative skills, or expertise.  STAR can be used to answer such questions; each letter stands for a part of your answer.  S – Situation Describe the context of the job, task or challenge that you were facing. Be specific.  T – Task Describe your duty or responsibility in this particular situation.  A – Action Describe how you completed the task or met the challenge. Focus on what you did, not what anyone else did. Say “I”.  R - Result Finally, explain the outcome or results that came about as a direct result of your actions. Emphasise what was achieved and what you learnt.  We can’t predict what questions you will be asked during an NHS interview, but you’ll benefit from preparing several scenarios from the jobs you’ve held and what you anticipate will be required in the job you are applying for.  We advise that you make a list of the skills and/or experiences that are required for the job. Take a look at the job description or personal specification to find the skills/qualities required in the role and match these to your qualifications or experience. Then, consider specific examples of occasions when you displayed those skills. For each example, name the situation, task, action, and result. We also suggest that IMGs take a look at our series of articles on preparation for NHS interviews, giving you the best chance of securing the doctor role that you want in the UK. Connect with us:  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 WhatsApp +44 (0)203 973 0133 Email us on info@imgconnect.co.uk

PACES - so as an overseas doctor where should you start with your exam preparation? With lots of resources available online, we discussed with successful candidates for them the best place to start looking for exam materials. Whilst there are lots of fantastic courses available for IMGs to help pass their PACES exam first time, most IMGs recommended starting their preperation with free resources from the Royal College of Physicians. Using these will give you strong foundations to further suppliment with any further studies or courses which you may decdie to invest in. We have provided the Royal College's official resources below: Curriculum PACES station 4 examiner guidance examples PACES sample scenarios Videos - what to expect on the day PACES candidate videos Candidate guidenotes PACES marksheets General Exam Tips & Preparation  Passed? What next? It is recommended that to give yourself the best chance, you gain clinical experience involving care of emergency patients, adults and children. We advise you to regularly invite senior colleagues to observe and provide feedback on your clinical assessments, so you will be comfortable with the PACES format and give you confidence in approaching and examining patients with examiners present. Curriculum: Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in General Medicine as set out in the Joint Royal Colleges Specialty Training Curriculum for Core Medical Training. We recommend getting to know the curriculum as early as possible, using it as a road map for your study plan.  PACES station 4 examiner guidance examples: This useful guide contains examples of the types of statements found in the examiner guidance section of station 4 scenarios. This will help you to understand what the examiner is looking for.  PACES sample scenarios: These will provide you with the most accurate and relevant scenarios to prepare you for the real thing. Sample scenarios cover Station 2, 4 & 5 (‘history taking’, ‘communication skills and ethics’ and ‘clinical consultations’ respectively. Most of these have been previously used in a recent exam, but please note that during the exam you will only receive the section marked ‘information for the candidate’. Videos - what to expect on the day: These helpful videos will give you a true reflection of what to expect on the day of the exam, easing some of the pressure and ensuring you can focus on the task at hand.  PACES candidate video: Whilst there are lots of useful videos online that are easy to find, the PACES candidate video contains important information about the exam, and practical examples of how the exam will run.  Candidate guidenotes: These guidenotes created by the Royal College help IMGs to understand what to expect on the day, from your arrival to the completion of the test.  PACES Marksheets: To help you understand how PACES is marked here are some examples of full marksheets. It can also be useful to understand how IMGs have failed the exam in the past, as this will give you the best chance to pass first time. The ‘how I failed PACES’ guide provides tips to help you to identify where you might be going wrong, along with practical advice to help you to improve.  General Exam Tips & Preparation: For a useful overview of how to prepare for exams, including advice on study groups, online community support, best use of online resources & Royal College materials and courses - take a look at our blogs on exam tips and preparation.  Passed? What next?  First of all, congratulations! After you have passed all parts of MRCP(UK) you can apply for a full registration with a license to practice. Once the GMC have approved your application, you can work as a doctor in the UK.  Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss job options in Medicine, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  For more useful blogs & articles on exams, registrations & qualifications to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0) 203 973 0133 WhatsAppp +44 (0) 203 973 0130 Join our growing IMG community! 

Regardless of what stage you are at in your medical career, your CV if the first chance you get to make a good impression to a potential employer. The decision maker reviewing your CV will likely only have a few minutes to review your CV in the first instance, so it is important to get it right! This helpful article on CV writing is aimed at helping overseas doctors present relevant information to a prospective employer by covering the following topics:  Keeping it up to date Structure and content of your CV CV template  Responding to the job description Cover letters Style and format Keep it up to date: First things first, remember your CV is the story of your career, so you should regularly update and review your CV, allowing yourself the best opportunity of securing an interview.  Structure and content of your CV: CV’s come in all shapes and sizes, and there is no agreed approach to how long they should be. However, we are finding that there is a trend towards shorter, more concise versions. So long as they are well structured, then the length doesn’t really matter.  Being concise doesn’t mean that you can’t include everything you need, just present it in a more succinct way and remember that quality is better than quantity. Our advice is to keep your CV to around two - four pages of A4, though the British Medical Journal advise anything up to eight pages is ok.   Remember, your CV is generally the first point of contact you will have with a Trust Director, so the structure of your CV should establish a favourable image of your professionalism.  Getting the structure and content right, will also make it easy for you to tailor towards each job, hospital & Trust that you are applying for, every application can be different. It is important to consider structuring your CV for GMC registration, not only does this mean that you don’t need to create several CV’s, but also means that you will be working to a recognised structure.  CV template:  The GMC recommend the following template:  Section Detail Personal details Your name on your CV must match your name on your proof of identity Registrations Give your GMC reference number (if applicable) or details of your Medical Council or Regulatory Body you are registered with. Memberships List your memberships of professional bodies. Qualifications List your qualifications, include IELTS, OET, PLAB, Royal College Postgraduate Qualification, Primary Medical Qualification Employment history – posts held Start with the most current & most recent posts and work backwards. Please show:  post title (give the title you were employed under) dates you worked in the post, from and to, in the format DD/MM/YYYY if the post is part-time, what percentage of whole time equivalent institution name and location the name of your supervisor (especially required for training posts) give a brief job description of the duties, include the level of supervision. Be concise.  Employment history – gaps in employment Start with the most recent gaps in employment and work backwards. List any gaps that span over 28 days and include a brief explanation. Awards List any awards you have received. Research experience Give a brief explanation of any research you have undertaken, or have participated in. Publications List your publications Presentations Give details of any presentations you have given. You may find it helpful to divide them up into international, national, regional and departmental to show their importance Continuing Professional Development (CPD) List your CPD activity in the last five years. Conferences attended Give details of any conferences you have attended. You may find it helpful to divide them up into international, national, regional and departmental to show their importance. Courses attended Give details of any courses you have attended. You may find it helpful to divide them up into international, national, regional and departmental to show their importance. Audit List and give a brief description of your audit activities. Teaching and training experience List and give a brief description of your teaching and training activities. Management experience  List and give a brief description of your management activities. Procedures List the procedures you have performed. Any extra professional activities  List any relevant extra activities. For CV’s not being sent to the GMC, you can include the following extra sections:  Personal interests – show what you relate to and what your ethos for life is!  Referees – list at least two referees from your current and previous employer, include full name, position or grade, telephone number and email address.  We've created a sample CV template for overseas doctors to adopt. Request your CV template from IMG Connect here. Responding to the job description: In short, a job description will tell you what your employer will expect from you, as well as what you can expect from your employer. So, the first thing to consider is that your CV is a response to the job that you are applying for, it should be clear why you are the best person for this job. It is important to note that a job description does not purport to cover all of the aspects involved in the job but will give you a good platform for CV (and interview) preparation. Key points to look out for are:  Trust profile Accountability Duties & responsibilities Reporting structure Working relationships Organisational expectations and values Person specification  Please note that each trust or hospital will use different terms for the above categories.  Match to the job description:  Take some time to review and analyse the content of your current CV, matching it to the specifications of the job that you want and the Trust you want to work for.  Some of the information included in your CV may not be the most relevant to the job you want to apply for.  Your CV functions as a way of recording all your achievements, skills, and experiences and keeping them up to date helps you to identify areas which are particularly relevant for the role you are applying to.  Change the layout to match the job description: The actual order of the sections should match the priorities of the job description and specialty that you are applying for, see below for GMC suggested sections.  Try to highlight sections that match the job description and prioritise these sections in the CV by moving them further to the top, and less relevant sections to the bottom. If it isn’t relevant at all, don’t be afraid to remove it altogether.  This really means that you are selling yourself to the job specifically, for example put more relevant clinical audits or professional training to the top of the relevant section, and perhaps you could move this section further to the top of your CV so that it will be noticed. For example, if you are applying for a post which has a strong teaching component then the teaching experience section should be placed before the management experience section.  Similarly, if the post has a strong academic component then the research, publications and presentations should move up straight after the audits section.  With IMG Connect we can offer you vacancies that are not advertised online, as such your IMG Consultant will provide the most recent job description and all relevant and up to date information purporting to the post. We will help you to tailor your CV accordingly, providing the hospital with a detailed overview of your skills and talents. The decision maker reviewing your CV will likely only have a few minutes to review your CV in the first instance, so it is an important to get it right! What if there is no job description?  In some circumstances a job description may not be available. You may be applying for a service job with IMG connect that is not advertised online, this means that your IMG consultant will discuss your CV directly with the Directors of the hospital or lead clinicians.  In this case, your IMG Consultant will offer guidance and support to tailor your CV accordingly. They will be able to secure as much information as required, providing you with the most relevant and up to date information covering all aspects of the role.  We can help you structure your CV accordingly. Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk Cover letters: With IMG Connect we can offer you vacancies that are not advertised online, as such your IMG Consultant will provide the most recent job description and all relevant and up to date information purporting to the post.  They will help you to tailor your CV accordingly and provide the hospital with a detailed overview of your skills and talents, so you don’t need to worry about cover letters.  If you want to write a cover letter, they can be a good idea to accompany your CV. However, these are not always necessary, overall they will make little difference, it is your CV that really matters. An IMG Consultant can help establish if you need a cover letter at all.  In some circumstances your IMG Consultant will ask you to prepare a short cover letter if further explanation is required of suitability for a vacancy.  Style and format:  Keeping your CV professional, clear, concise and well-structured is essential for securing you an interview. We recommend using the following simple steps to help: use a consistent professional font (i.e. 12-point Arial, Calibri or Times) use bullet points use professional short and simple sentences, be concise use active wording when referring to skills, and focus on positive aspects (i.e. gained, confident, responsible for…) subdivide experience  avoid personal statements, & don’t exaggerate… just present facts be consistent with organisation and appearance under all categories of your CV do not repeat present chronologically number each page show your surname and initials at the top of each page get your CV proofread by an IMG Consultant Some final summarising thoughts… Remember to keep your CV clear, concise and well-structured as this is essential for securing you an interview. Once you have created your draft CV, get it proofread.  Use our template! It is a GMC recognised format and you can request it here. Alternatively, send us your CV using the links below and we can talk you through it. For more useful blogs & articles on CV format and templates to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Regardless of what stage you are at in your medical career, your CV if the first chance you get to make a good impression to a potential employer.  So, it is vital that your CV is professional, clear and concise so that it tells the story of your career. Crucial to this is the style & format, so we have put together the best tips for nailing the Style & format of your medical CV, enjoy!  To get you started, request a CV template for UK applications. The decision maker reviewing your CV will likely only have a few minutes to review your CV in the first instance, so it is an important to get it right!  Keep all information concise, using professional short and simple sentences. You can have all the information about your career on your CV but if your prospective employers can’t see the relevant information clearly then your CV will prove ineffective at securing you an interview. Be consistent with organisation and appearance.  Under all categories of your CV and subdivided experience, keep the same consistent organizational structure and appearance, this will ensure information is easily found and makes an impression.   Use clear headings.  As above your information needs to be found easily. Use the headings provided on our CV guide for overseas doctors.  Use a consistent professional font (i.e. 12-point Arial, Calibri or Times). One tiny decision, such as choosing the wrong font, could make the difference to secure you an interview. The font has to be appealing and easy on the eyes.  Use bullet points. These should mainly be used when presenting lists, achievements, duties & responsibilities and qualifications. Using bullet points makes scanning through your CV effortless. Using bullet points throughout improves the structure, style and format of your CV.  Use active wording when referring to skills, and focus on positive aspects (i.e. gained, confident, responsible for, responsible for…) When you write with the active voice, it adds impact.  Use action words. Faulty word choices can undermine the strength of your CV, so make a point of choosing powerful action verbs. Action words are specific, clarify your contributions, and bring a confident tone to your CV and list of accomplishments. Try achieved, championed, supervised, expanded, increased, improved, collaborated… Combine your selection of action verbs with quantifiable results. This shows both what you did and the impact it had. For example, “Expanded use of patient feedback, resulting in 20% increase in patient satisfaction.” Avoid personal opinions, & don’t exaggerate… just present facts. Your CV should be accurate in content, you will have plenty time to provide details on each accomplishment and skill during your interview, so keep it to the point.  Do not repeat. Your CV should be informative but concise.  Present chronologically. A good CV will be logically ordered and easy to read from start to finish. By careful and clearly ordering content, this will ensure your CV receives more attention.   For more information on what to include in your CV, take a look at our article on CV writing for overseas doctors.  Get your CV proofread by an IMG Consultant, it is always good to check, check and check again!  At IMG Connect we understand how important writing your CV is for to secure your first NHS interview so with that in mind do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions! For more useful blogs & articles on English Language Tests to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Skype interviews can be challenging. Regardless of what stage you are at in your medical career, your interview is your chance to make a good impression to a potential employer, sell yourself and secure your dream job in the NHS.  We have discussed the best tips with successful IMGs and interview panel members to help you make the next step in your career: 1. Check your IT!!! One of the easiest mistakes to make is to not check everything works before you are due to do your interview.   “test your equipment, check your camera and microphone are working. Then be logged on about 15 minutes in advance, just as you would for any interview, early! Also, make sure your username sounds professional, mine wasn’t and I recall that this was shared with the interviewer!”  Dr Arshad SHO in General Medicine 2. Think about the back drop You might be at home doing this interview, but you still need to look and be professional.   “Interviewees should be careful in ensuring that the background is appropriate, I remember somebody was in their kitchen and it didn’t look great! First impressions count after all” Francis, HR Manager Be sure to switch off TV’s, ask the children to play in the other room and be as quiet as they can be.  3. Remember your body language still counts.  You cannot shake someone’s hand on Skype, but you still need to be aware of how you come across. You need to be engaging and since you are not in the room with them, you need to think about how you engage with the interviewers. IMG, Dr Cardenas, said a good idea is “to give a pleasant nod of the head to acknowledge those doing the interview. And SMILE!”. He added that “candidates should still remember to use eye contact, look directly at the camera and not at themselves all the time!”.  Eye contact by Skype is just as important as in a face to face interview. 4. Dress for an interview You might be at home, but staying in your dressing gown and pyjamas won’t go down well. It is also not a good idea to dress from the waist up, as some may suggest.  HR Manager Sarah advised, “You are in an interview, so dress like it, otherwise don’t expect to be hired!” If you look professional, you will feel more confident.  5. Use a cheat-sheet Not being in the same room as the interviewers means you can take advantage of little tips to help you through the most difficult questions.  IMG, Dr Cardenas, used this to his advantage:  “During my video interview, I had a prompt sheet, behind the screen at eye level, it gave me confidence, but to be honest I was prepared enough not to use it”.  Be careful though, for some this is distracting, and can stop you from concentrating on the question at hand or making eye-contact.  It is after all better to be prepared!  For more useful blogs & articles on interview questions and answers to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

We have recently been asked by IMGs what an NHS consultant doctor could expect as monthly take-home pay. So, to help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK, we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use! How much will I take home? Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.  It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.  The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses. Take home pay expectations: Consultant Doctor Scale Annual gross salary* Estimated average monthly take home pay ** 1 £79,860 £4,572 2 £82,361 £4,692 3 £84,862 £4,813 4 £87,262 £4,929 5 £89,856 £5,055 6 £95,795 £5,342 7 £101,735 £5,629 8 £107,668 £5,916 *before tax and pension **based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions To explore the pay & salary conditions across all doctor grades in the UK take a look at our blog.  At IMG Connect we work with IMGs and healthcare professionals from all over the world.  For more useful blogs & articles on doctor career structure and payscales to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you. Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Now that you have secured your first job in the NHS, you can start to firm up your relocation plans. As an overseas doctor there are many things to consider when setting up your new life in the UK, one of which is your medical defence. In this article we will help explain medical defence, considering the following topics: What is medical defence and do i need it? What indemnity will my trust provide me? Types of medical defence Who can I get medical defence from? IMG Connect's advice What is medical defence and do I need it? Unfortunately, human error is unavoidable and covering yourself against any claim is vital to the continuation of your career as a UK doctor. Appropriate medical defence will provide support for clinical negligence claims made against you whilst working in the UK.  It is a GMC requirement to have adequate or appropriate insurance in place to cover the full scope of your practice in the UK.  What indemnity will my trust provide me? Your NHS Trust will provide you indemnity for the work you are assigned as part of your contract, and you are not legally obliged to take out separate indemnity. However, your NHS Trust indemnity will cover the bare minimum and any extra work you do outside of the specific list of duties in your contract is not covered.  In addition, your Trust indemnity will not cover you for complaints made against you specifically. This includes Trust disciplinary hearings, GMC hearings, criminal investigations, coroner inquests or any private work you undertake. In summary, it is strongly advisable to take out separate indemnity to cover you against all eventualities as a doctor. Types of Medical Defence: There are two types of medical defence:  Indemnity  Insurance Indemnity works on the basis that the claim is covered as long as the cover was in place at the time the incident occurred. Insurance only covers you whilst the policy is in place and/or for a defined period after – called the ‘run off’ period. With the nature of work many doctors prefer indemnity over insurance, as claims can arise years after the event. This rings particularly true in cases involving children where 10+ years can pass before a claim is made. Who can I get Medical Defence from? There are three major Medical Defence Organisations (MDOs) who provide indemnity cover, not insurance.  All of them are not-for-profit organisations rather than commercial companies and these are: Medical Protection Society (MPS) Medical Defence Union (MDU) Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) The benefits of membership of the MDOs differ, it is important that you consider each one carefully before making a choice. IMG Connect's advice: Anyone you speak to will strongly advise a doctor working in the UK to take out separate indemnity insurance. This is vital to ensure you are covered at any point you actively practiced as a doctor in the UK.  For avoidance of doubt, consider the significance of the risks for not doing so. We would suggest treating your defence cover as if it were any other utility or provider, and shop around to make sure you get the most comprehensive package at the best value for money. At IMG Connect we are not legal advisors and we want to make clear that we are offering our advice based on conversations with the GMC and any doctors we have worked with. We strongly advise you to seek a professional opinion to form the basis of your decision.  For more useful blogs & articles on relocating to the UK to help you and your family settle quickly - take a look at our IMG Library. Our team of dedicated consultants can help you with any questions you may have on relocation costs, checklists, guidance, packages and understanding of UK culture. Don’t hesitate to get in touch, to make your relocation to the UK a success!   Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

One of the most important questions to consider when searching for doctor jobs in the UK is your salary or pay. The NHS is one of the most developed health systems in the world and doctors form an integral part of delivering high quality patient care, as such they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.  This is an area that IMGs ask a lot of questions about, it can be a confusing topic, so we hope to bring some clarity here to help you understand the NHS pay scales. If you would like to get an estimation of your expected salary once working in the UK use the salary checker button below and fill out the requested details! We will get back to you on the same day with your estimated salary!   In this article we will take a look at the following topics:   Typical NHS doctor’s salary in the UK FY1 & FY2 Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)  Specialty doctors Consultants Where do I fit on the pay scale?  Doctors in training pay scale Specialty Doctor pay scale  Consultant pay scale Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms and conditions Trust doctor jobs and IMGs pay It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed term trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. Doctors across all grades can enter a service post which means to say that they are not in training or entering specialty training.  As such, most of our adverts for fixed term or permanent posts will be service level jobs, these are usually SAS doctor, consultant, SHO or Trust doctor posts at the equivalent of FY2, ST1/2, ST3+. These can be attractive due to the improved doctor’s salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.  The salary pay scales that we have included in this article are to be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your trust doctor role (or service post).  Typical NHS doctor’s salary in the UK:  FY1 & FY2 In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £27,689. In year two this increases to £32,050.  As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.  Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)  If you are a doctor starting your specialist training in 2019, your basic salary starts at £37,935 and can progress to £48,075. As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.  Specialty doctors Specialty doctors currently earn from £40,037 to £74,661 basic pay.  The basic contract is for 40 hours. As a specialty doctor you can be paid for additional duties, extra hours worked, weekend work and on calls.  Consultants Consultants currently earn from £77,913 to £105,042 basic pay. As a consultant you can be paid for additional duties and may be eligible for Clinical Excellence Awards, which reward outstanding performance. The basic contract is for 40 hours per week. If you take on extra responsibilities (i.e. management or education) you can also expect to be paid additional supplements.    Where do I fit on the pay scale?  There are a few key points when considering where you fit on the pay scale:  Job title Experience Hours worked Trusts can be different Job title: The first thing to consider is your job title.  At the Consultant level, it is straight forward, you will be a consultant. However, at the Specialty Doctor level, you could be working as an SAS doctor, a Specialty Doctor or a Trust Grade doctor. As an ST or SHO you could also work across several levels.  Each could command a different pay scale depending on the level of work and experience required.  Take some time to check the job title that you are applying and interviewing for, and subsequently the pay scale that you can expect.  Experience within your chosen field:  Next, consider the number of years of experience you have in your speciality, this is crucial to identifying your position on the pay scale.  This is important as an NHS Trust will calculate your pay for a Specialty Doctor in Medicine by deducting two of your years of experience to compensate for the Core Training years in the UK.  Note, for some specialties this does not apply.  Check with an IMG Consultant for more information.  Hours you will work:  The second thing to consider is how many hours you will be working. For both Specialty Doctors and Consultants the hours are usually established using PAs (programmed activities). Each PA is worth 4 hrs of your week, and a standard week is 40 hrs. A standard salary is based on a full working week of 10 PAs (40 hours). If you work above 10 PAs, then you will gain additional salary on top of your basic pay.  NHS trusts can be different:  The last thing to consider before we look at the pay scales, is that some NHS Trusts can interpret the pay scales and a doctor’s experience in different ways.  All NHS Trusts should be following the same pay scale structures when recruiting and offering salaries to doctors, but this is not always the case!   This blog is a guideline, and if you are not sure of how to approach this discussion with a HR department, it can be very useful for an IMG Connect consultant to assist with the negotiations to ensure that your experience is always taken into account.   Pay scales: Doctors in training pay scale Service level jobs are in high demand at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.  It is also important to remember that once in the UK, you will have the option to apply for training, depending on your entry level.  The below pay scale reflects the pay at each level depending on the entry points to training, which are FY1, ST1/CT1 and ST3/4.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Specialty Register (StR) (Core Training) Grade Stage of training  Grade Code  Nodal Point  Value (£)  Foundation Doctor Year 1 FY1 MF01 1 27,689 Foundation Doctor Year 2 FY2 MF01 2 32.050 Specialty Register (StR) (Core Training) CT1 MC51 3 37,935 CT2 MC52 37,935 CT3 MC53 4 48,075 Specialty Register (StR) (Core Training) ST1 / SpR1 MS01 3 37,935 ST2 / SpR2 MS02 ST3 / SpR3 MS03 4 48,075 ST4 / SpR4 MS04 ST5 / SpR5 MS05 ST6 / SpR6 MS06 ST7 / SpR7 MS07 ST8 / SpR8 MS08 Specialty Doctor pay scale:  Service level specialty doctor jobs are in high demand in the UK at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.  It is important to note that your pay will reflect your experience within your chosen field.  The pay code on the left-hand side of the table below correlates to the number of years’ experience that you qualify for in your chosen specialty, and the number of years that the HR department are going to attribute to you.  Remember to discount any years that you have worked in an internship. And if you are working in a medicine specialty, deduct any core training years.  In the first threshold, for every year of experience you gain, this entitles you to a pay rise. In the second threshold, you will receive an increase every two years, and in the third, every three years.  The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in the UK. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Pay Scale Code Scale Value Basic Salary (£) Period before eligibility for next pay point MC46-01 Min 40,037 1 year MC46-02 1 43,460 1 year MC46-03 2 47,911 1 year MC46-04 3 50,296 1 year MC46-05 4 53,733 1 year Threshold 1 MC46-06 5 57,156 2 years MC46-07   57,156 1 year MC46-08 6 60,656 2 years MC46-09   60,656 1 year MC46-10 7 64,158 2 years MC46-11   64,158 1 year Threshold 2 MC46-12 8 67,659 3 years MC46-13   67,659 2 years MC46-14   67,659 1 year MC46-15 9 71,159 3 years MC46-16   71,159 2 years MC46-17   71,159 1 years MC46-18 10 74,661 - Consultant pay scale:  Service level consultant doctor jobs are in high demand in the UK at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.  At the consultant grade, HR departments will look at your years of experience within your specialty, as a consultant.  On the table below, you can see that all you need to do is count up the total number of complete years of experience (12 months each) as a consultant, and then count down the rows to establish your salary position.  Like the above, the salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.  Remember, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in the UK. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.  Years completed as a consultant Threshold Years complete as a consultant Basic Salary (£) Period of eligibility for next threshold Pay scale code 1 0 79,860 1 year YC72 Point 00 2 1 82,361 1 year YC72 Point 01 3 2 84,862 1 year YC72 Point 02 4 3 87,362 1 year YC72 Point 03 5 4 89,856 5 years YC72 Point 04   5 89,856 4 years YC72 Point 05   6 89,856 3 years YC72 Point 06   7 89,856 2 years YC72 Point 07   8 89,856 1 year YC72 Point 08 6 9 95,795 5 years YC72 Point 09   10 95,795 4 years YC72 Point 10   11 95,795 3 years YC72 Point 11   12 95,795 2 years YC72 Point 12   13 95,795 1 years YC72 Point 13 7 14 101,735 5 years YC72 Point 14   15 101,735 4 years YC72 Point 15   16 101,735 3 years YC72 Point 16   17 101,735 2 years YC72 Point 17   18 101,735 1 years YC72 Point 18 8 19 107,668 - YC72 Point 19 Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.  You may be eligible for additional pay on top of your basic salary if you work above the standard 10 PAs, work on call & weekends, or take on extra responsibilities. All doctors are eligible for NHS pensions and benefits.  For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements take a look at our blog.  For more useful blogs & articles on career structure, pay scales and a doctor’s salary in the UK - take a look at our IMG Library Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk Give us a call on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Interviews over online video recording platforms, such as Skype, are becoming commonplace nowadays, particularly for overseas doctors seeking employment in the UK.  Skype interviews have fast become the norm amongst senior staff in the NHS, with most NHS Trusts now familiar with the format. Successful IMGs have also told us that they felt comfortable during the interview, helping them to secure their NHS job.  Getting invited to an interview means you’ve passed the first hurdle – your application must have made a good impression.  IMG Connect will support the NHS Trust in organising your skype interview, and we will email you interview invites and help you set up your computer on the day. Once your CV has been selected for interview, if you are based outside of the UK, then it is highly probable that the Trust will seek to interview you using Skype.  If you haven’t already done so, setting up a Skype account is easy:  Download Skype to your computer.  Set up a free account  Log in to your account  You are ready to go!  It is a good idea to get used to the system, so the next time you need to speak to us at IMG Connect, request a skype call here.  To help you on the day of your interview we have included the follow steps to set up:  Tips for setting up on the day:  1. Add the hospital Skype ID 24 hrs prior to your interview. Your IMG Consultant will provide you with this in advance. 2. Send a message to the hospital Skype ID, stating your name and the post you are interviewing for.  This helps check that the ID is correct and is active for the start of your interview.  3. Run a test call with an IMG Connect consultant. Just to be sure everything is working; we will run a dummy call with you well in advance of your interview. If there are any issues, we can address them together.  4. Be ready 30 mins prior to the call.  It is best to be prepared, with your CV, notes and a glass of water at the ready.  Don’t forget to relax.  To help you make a good impression we have included the following tips:  Tips to make a good impression: first impressions to create a good impression 1. Be on time. Despite the fact that your interview will be held over Skype, it is vital that you set up in plenty time and allow time for things to go wrong. If you do get delayed, make sure you notify your IMG Consultant and the contact within the organisation as soon as possible. 2. Dress appropriately.  You may be on screen, but that includes trousers too! Dress as you would for any interview, it will also help you to feel confident.  3. Don’t forget to smile!  When you answer the call, don’t forget to smile. Greet the panel as you would for any interview (minus the shaking of hands of course). From start to finish, relax, be yourself and smile. The panel want to know that you cope under pressure, and can be a good member of their team, ultimately improving patient care. Your personality is key to this success!  4. Make eye contact and engage with all members of the interview panel. Just like an ordinary interview, try to engage with all members of the panel. You will know in advance who they are, so greet them and address them directly throughout your interview. Oh, and don’t forget to use address the panel using their correct titles!  5. Be aware of your body language. You want to convey that you're enthusiastic, positive and energetic, yet focused… don’t fidget!  6. Be positive at all times. It can be hard, especially when you have faced some challenging questions, but keep calm, stay positive and remember to relax!  In summary: Regardless of how confident or anxious you are feeling about interviews, talking things through with a trusted partner can help alleviate any concerns or make you consider a couple of areas you've not given much thought. At IMG Connect we work with IMG’s and healthcare professionals from all over the world and our team of dedicated consultants can help you with any questions you may have in order to prepare for your interview. We will do everything we can to help you succeed so get in touch! For more useful blogs & articles on interview questions & answers to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

We have recently been asked by IMGs what an NHS specialty doctor could expect as monthly take-home pay. So, to help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK, we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use! It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed term trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. These can be attractive due to the improved doctor’s salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.  The salary pay scales that we have included in this article can be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your trust doctor role (or service post).  Take home pay for UK doctors in training:  Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.  It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the average annual gross salary for each grade, i.e. you have worked additional hours under a typical working pattern where additional pay has been provided.  The figures can be higher or lower depending on any other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses. Take home pay expectations: Grade Average annual gross salary* Average monthly take home pay** FY1 £ 33,340 £ 1,960 FY2 £ 38,590 £ 2,230 ST1-2 £ 49,920 £ 2,830 ST3-8 £ 63,260 £ 3,430 *before tax and pension **tax and pension deducted, tax rebates for tax deductible expenses not included To explore the pay & salary conditions across all doctor grades in the UK take a look at our blog series here.  For more useful blogs & articles on career structure, pay scales and a doctor’s salary in the UK - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk Call us on +44(0) 203 973 0133 Join our online Facebook Community

As an overseas doctor, preparing for your exams can be a daunting prospect and requires learning a huge amount. IMGs have told us that the top tips below helped them improve their scores on their journey to their exam success. 1. Find a study group or partner For a lot of people, studying with others is both motivational and more sustainable.  Whether to share exam tips, test each other or just be there for a bit of emotional support – the benefits are endless. Oh, and it’s free! 2. Join an online community By joining online communities of doctors in similar positions, you will surround yourself with people in the same position, revising the same topics and preparing for the same exams. Just like having a study group or partner, this can offer you a huge support network and won’t cost you a penny! 3. Use the internet to its full potential There is loads of very useful content, for all exams, available online & free of charge. Whether you’re taking an English Language test or a postgraduate exam, someone will have created an online resource for you. From podcasts and YouTube videos, to reading materials, curriculums & study guides - make sure you are using the internet to its full potential! Ask your study groups, partner or online community which resources have worked well for them. 4. Use the GMC and your Royal College to their full potential Similarly, the GMC or your Royal College will usually have lots of useful links and documents to help you prepare. Have a look online and use all of them where you can, we have tried to highlight them throughout our blogs to help you make a start. 5. Courses & Study Books Whilst you don’t necessarily have to pay for courses and books to aid your studies – most IMGs have found substantial benefits in using them. Do your research and ask those around you what has worked well for them. 6. Don’t burn out Avoid leaving everything to the last minute and make sure you stay healthy and sleep properly during your preparations. Whilst these exams are of course very important, don’t burn yourself out at the cost of good rest. You might consider yourself a night owl but your productivity will plummet without a good night’s sleep.  7. Plan your studies & staying ahead Take the time to get to know your syllabus as early as possible and use it as a road map for your study plan.  Once you have your plan, stay on top it and try and get ahead – you don’t want to be cramming revision in at the last minute at the cost of your day to day life. Join our IMG Community here, if you haven’t already done so The IMG Community is an open group that provides an informed & regulated platform for any doctor to ask questions and share their experiences. The focus of our business is to help doctors find work and relocate to the UK, and IMG Connect proves to be an effective way of managing this process for you. From answering any questions on your: exams registrations  qualifications To providing planning & support with:  relocation integration with your local community schooling  ongoing career support Remember, both our platform and our service are free of charge from start to finish.  For more useful blogs & articles on exams, registrations & qualifications to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Scoring highly in your NHS interview requires preparation and familiarising yourself with questions & answers will help you make a great impression to a potential employer.  This helpful article on your NHS interview is aimed at helping you prepare for different scenarios as well as questions and answers to create a good impression. We look at the following topics:  Preparing for your interview Where do I start with my research? What can i do to prepare? Preparing for the types of questions you may be asked FAQs Clinical questions Competency-based questions Direct questions Behavioural skills questions Prepare questions to ask the interviewers Preparing for your interview: Getting invited to an interview means you’ve passed the first hurdle – your CV must have made a good impression so now it's time to prepare. There are some key questions to consider before you start:  What do you know about the employer? (hospital & trust) What do you know about the service?  What do you know about the job?  What do you know about the team structure? Who will you be reporting to?  What will the interview be like?  Who will be interviewing you? What questions do you need to prepare?  These are just a few of the questions that you should now be asking yourself as you start to prepare for your interview. Why? Knowing as much as possible about the vacancy that you are interviewing for will help you answer questions with relevant points, ask questions to spark conversation, sound confident and well researched, overall helping you to make a good impact.  Where do I start with my research? Know the trust and department Firstly, find out about the employer and the job. Speak with your IMG Consultant who knows the hospital or trust well, they can provide you with reading materials & information packs, job descriptions, information on recent developments, trust objectives and values.  In some circumstances we will be able to arrange an informal chat with someone working in the Trust, or even better an IMG who has recently joined the Trust and has been through the same situation.  We always recommend taking a broad look at the trust online, use their official website to understand the trust structures, departments and services, as well as recent advances within the department you are applying for and the training programmes offered. It is important to take the time to learn about their department and organisation. Knowing the job you are applying for will give you a better chance of securing it.  Know the interview panel Secondly, discuss with your IMG Connect consultant and find out what the interview will involve, making sure you are prepared.  Consider who will be on the panel and what their roles are. Do some homework and look up the hospital online, you may be able to find some key information to help you to understand your panel in more detail. Use LinkedIn to connect with panel members, or just to look at their experience and contributions to the trust as a whole.  What can I do to prepare?  Think about preparing in the following areas to give yourself the best chance of success in your interview: Job description & person specification: Get to know what the trust wants, and work this into your answers, matching to your skills and experience.  Take time to review and analyse the content of your current CV matched to the specifications of the job that you want and the Trust you want to work for. Consider how you will contribute to the service and how you will meet or exceed their standards.  Trust vision and values: Look up the trust values, measure yourself against them and consider what you will offer to the service. Explore the Trust values and policies for best practice and consider how you will meet/achieve these in your daily work as well as in your career. Conduct research on the hospital and familiarise yourself with any recent developments and advances within the team you are applying for. Consider the training programmes offered via the hospital and the structure of department and staffing. Selling yourself: Your CV functions as a way of recording all your achievements, skills, and experiences, and your interview is your opportunity to share these and sell them to your prospective employer. You will likely be asked questions regarding your career, so review your CV regularly with a focus on points relevant for the role you are interviewing for.  Preparing questions and answers for your interview: You will be asked a range of questions throughout your interview, some short and direct, others more detailed and clinically specific. As such we advise to prepare a wide range of questions and answers to give you a head start in the interview and every chance of success.  Preparing for the types of questions you may be asked: Before we look at each type of question in detail, it is important to say that you should prepare concise answers. These should of course be full of facts and detail but be succinct – stick to two or three sentences where you can.  FAQs: As part of the interview you will likely be asked a few FAQs, these can be hard to predict and can be general in nature. The interview panel will want to know why you are an excellent fit for the job. Try to answer without giving too much, or too little personal information. These relate to you, your ambition, how you cope in situations, working in the UK, personality traits and so on. Prepare a number of answers you can rely on. We have included some recent examples below:  FAQs Tell me about yourself. Why do you want to work here?  Why do you want to work in this specialty? Where do you see yourself in 3 – 5 years?  Do you have an interest in… further training? Research? Teaching? Audit?  Why do you want to work in the NHS?  What do you know about our service?  What do you know about us?  What impact would you like to make here?  What concerns you about a career in this specialty? What are the challenges facing this specialty in the next five years? Is the clinical governance system really necessary? What are the main issues facing the NHS over the next five years? If you could change one thing in the NHS what would it be? Do you think doctors are misrepresented by the media? What do you want from your career? Looking over your CV, could you pick two or three achievements which you are most proud of? If you could go back to your first day of medical school and do all of your training again, what would you do differently? We are interviewing many high calibre candidates, why should we appoint you? Clinical questions:  Undoubtedly you will be asked relevant questions in a clinical context, do your homework on the service and relate this to your own practice. These are hard to predict, so prepare a wide range of responses and review your own practice against the trust you are applying for.  Consider how you deal with certain aspects of your role, including:  Clinical techniques Equipment Prescribing History taking and management planning Clinical judgement Physical examination procedures Knowledge of specialism Ethical dilemmas & practice Professional behaviour Trust policies Communication & team discussions Input from senior colleagues Remember, interview panels want to feel confident that you will be able to adapt quickly to practice in the UK, so don’t forget you will be working in the NHS and all answers should reflect current practice in the UK. Competency-based questions (typically clinical questions): Many clinical questions will ask you to explain what you would do, often these require detailed answers, with several variables. Competency-based questions are focused on actual experiences and ask specific questions that require you to give examples from past experiences. Reflect on your practice, how you deal with situations, and how you work with your multidisciplinary team to ensure the best care and outcomes for the patient. The STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a useful model for describing your capability and competency. When preparing answers these should be in depth, a lack of depth means your answer lacks impact. The STAR technique will ensure your answers are structured, don’t talk in broad terms – give specific examples.  Briefly describe: S - the background to the specific situation T - the task being undertaken, specifically describe your responsibility A - what action you took  R - describe the result of your actions Example competency-based questions: Give an example of a time when someone has complained about your work or when you’ve known that someone wasn’t pleased with your work? Give an example of a time you had to work with a group of people on a project or another job? Describe a recent patient interaction which shows your ability to create trust and what steps would you take to develop an effective relationship with your patient. Can you please detail a time when a new and different approach to your patient proved beneficial? What did you do and what was the outcome? Direct questions: Whilst most questions will be broad, be prepared for direct questions, such as:  What specifically qualifies you for this position? What do you know about us?  Why do you want this job? Where do you see yourself in 3 years? Take a second to compose your answer and avoid a jumbled response.  Behavioural skills questions: These cover a wide range of behavioural skills necessary to be successful in your NHS role, i.e. communication, problem solving, teamwork, managing others, organisation, empathy and so on. As these can be hugely varied in nature, we have included a table of examples:  Communication Skills Describe a situation where your communication skills had a positive effect upon patient care. How do you know that you are a good communicator? How would you like to develop your skills further? Give an example of how your communication skills have enabled you to develop effective relationships with your colleagues. Describe a time when you found it difficult to communicate with a colleague or patient. What did you do and how did you feel? Problem Solving and Decision Making Describe a difficult problem you have faced at work. How did you contribute to the solution? Give an example of a difficult decision you have made recently. How did you decide what to do? Describe a time when you felt that you made the wrong decision. How did you feel and what has happened as a result? What is your strategy dealing with difficult problems at work? Do you always know the right thing to do in any given situation? Managing Others and Team Involvement Describe a time when you have led a team successfully. Describe a time when you have supported a colleague with a work related issue. Outline a situation where you have had to motivate work colleagues to do something that they did not agree with. Which do you prefer, leading a team, or being a team member? Empathy and Sensitivity Why is it important for doctors to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity? Describe a situation where your sensitivity to a patient's perspective altered the way that you managed their care? Describe a situation where you have demonstrated sensitivity or empathy towards one of your colleagues. Do you really need to show sensitivity and empathy to be a good doctor or are clinical skills and knowledge more important? Organisation and Planning How do you keep yourself organised at work? What strategies do you use to plan your work effectively? How do you cope when unexpected and unplanned work is added to your workload? What advice would you give to an FY1 doctor on their first day, about being organised at work? How have your planning skills had a positive impact upon those around you? Vigilance and Situational Awareness Describe an example of when your awareness of a developing situation at work, enabled you to avoid a problem or difficulty. What impact has clinical governance had on your work to date? Why is vigilance an important attribute to have for this specialty? Describe a situation where you lacked awareness of a developing situation, resulting in difficulty for you, your colleagues, or a patient. Coping with Pressure How do you cope with pressure? Describe a situation where you found yourself under conflicting pressures. What did you do to resolve them to the satisfaction of everyone involved? What do you do when you can no longer cope with the pressures of your workload? What strategies do you have in place to manage your workload and the pressure that you are under? How have you used your initiative to manage your work effectively, and reduce the pressure that you are under? Professional Integrity Give an example of a clinical scenario where you made a mistake. What did you do about it? What do you understand by the term 'professional integrity' and can you give an example where you have shown professional integrity at work? Why is it important for doctors to demonstrate integrity in all elements of their work? Is it ever justifiable to bend or break the rules at work? Have you ever done so? What would you do if you overheard a senior colleague making an inappropriate remark to a patient? How would you respond if one of your patients asked you out on a date? Clinical Knowledge and Expertise Describe a difficult clinical scenario you have been involved in. How did you contribute? Describe the most interesting case you have been involved in recently. How did you contribute to the management of the case? Describe a situation where management of a patient did not go as planned. What happened and what did you learn? You may also be asked a range of questions about particular clinical scenarios relevant to your specialty. Research Skills Why is research important? Describe your last audit. Is it important for all doctors to undertake research? Which is more important - research or teaching? Which do you prefer? Tell us about your publications. Prepare questions to ask the interviewers:  “Do you have any questions?” This is almost always asked at the end of an interview. Asking some questions can show you are interested and have done your research. Topics can include training, department structure and staffing, recent advances in the service, technology, equipment and clinical procedures.   Try to treat the interview like a conversation, with well-prepared questions that are based on the job description, service structure and patient care delivery, as well as the vision of the trust as a whole.  For more useful blogs & articles on interview questions and answers to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on 0203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Trust doctor jobs in the UK are paid well and the number of posts available in the UK have risen steadily over the past decade. Trust doctors are employed by the NHS in service posts, and therefore for training purposes only are not regulated by Royal College or Deanery. They are an attractive way for both the NHS and IMGs to ensure doctors are secured into posts quickly. The work of a trust doctor is often indistinguishable from that of a training post, and can therefore be an attractive option for trusts, paving way for the recruitment of overseas doctors.  In this article will explore the both, with particular focus on service jobs. We will include the following topics: What is a trust doctor?  Could I take a training post instead?   What are the benefits of a trust doctor job?  How do I secure a trust doctor job in the NHS?  What is a trust doctor?  Trust doctor jobs in the NHS cover a range of grades and apply to all specialities. It is a term applied to a doctor who is working in the NHS in a non-training post.  Typically, the title trust doctor is applied to a doctor working at Senior House Level (FY1 & 2), however the term has now become synonymous with all grades.  It is now a term most commonly applied to doctors from FY1 to ST3, but can be applied to specialty doctors by some trusts.  Trust doctors work in career posts without specialist recognition, but often doctors doing service level jobs secure an ‘approved post’ and complete specialist training, others continue to progress using their experience as the platform. Many of the doctors accepting service posts are from overseas, this can be a quick way to enter the NHS system and start your career in the UK.  Could I take a training post instead?   Yes, training posts in the NHS are very attractive. However, competition for places on training posts within the NHS is highly competitive.  As such for IMGs interested in securing a place on a training post in the NHS, we advise that IMGs obtain a trust doctor or SAS doctor post, depending on experience, for 1 – 2 years. Following which you will be able to apply for a training post, for which you will be given priority.  Not only will this approach give you the best chance of securing excellent training and career progression opportunities in the NHS, it will also give you the chance to settle in to the UK, get to know your trust better, and help you understand the training post that will suit you the most.  Trust doctor posts also offer very competitive rates, so whilst you are getting to know the NHS and settling into life in the UK, you can also ensure that you are financially rewarded What are the benefits of a trust doctor job?  No matter what grade you are working at, there are benefits to a trust doctor role.  Less competition and route to more training The majority of IMGs are keen to enter training pathways at some point, but competition for these positions is very high. Places are offered to UK based applicants first, then EEA followed by Non-EEA applicants. As such, it can be difficult to get a training post when applying for your first NHS role.  However, competition for trust doctor roles are not nearly so competitive and can lead to successful applications for training programmes.  Quicker route to securing your first post For overseas doctors applying for trust doctor posts, as opposed to a training post, the process can be quicker. Less competition and a high demand for doctors will ensure that IMG Connect can secure you interviews quickly.  Financial reward Trust doctor jobs typically offer competitive salaries, with some harder to fill locations able to offer additional incentives. Speak with your IMG Consultant for more information.  Allowing you time to settle into the UK and NHS Taking a trust doctor role can be a great way to allow yourself time to settle into your new job and enjoy living in the UK. By taking on a new culture, employer and healthcare system all at once, you may feel more comfortable taking on a service post avoiding all the extra commitment and learning associated with a training role.  More patient focused roles and less responsibility Trust doctor posts are usually more focused on meeting NHS service requirements compared to trainee roles. Many doctors simply prefer a role where they can spend more time with patients, without the pressured commitment to training, admin and competition associated with training roles. This gives you more time to do the job you love. Balance between work and personal life When taking a service post such as a Trust doctor post, additional working hours and on call commitments can be optional.  You will also be given the option to increase your overall hours through weekend and shift work, which will increase your overall take home pay.  In most circumstances it is up to you how you want to approach balancing a life at home with work commitments & financial rewards.  Freedom to consider all parts of the UK Entering a training post is not only a commitment to the programme over a number of years, but also the geographical location that the deanery covers. By taking a trust doctor service role instead, you could complete a one-two year contract, but realise the area is not for you. At this point you could take a new contract and not have to worry about giving up your hard-earned place on the training programme. Remember, it is vital that all contracts are honoured, not only will leaving early have a negative impact on your CV, but may also damage your chances of securing your next post.  How do I secure a trust doctor job in the NHS?  There are many reasons why a trust doctor job can be a great option for IMGs when considering their first NHS post and it is clear that service doctors are vital to the day to day running of the NHS. Of course, many doctors will be keen to get straight onto the specialty training programme, with a clear vision of achieving consultant status. The NHS training programme is recognised the world over for its quality and innovation and as such places are at a premium. Regardless of the route you wish to take, IMG Connect will support any doctor pursing either path and can offer guidance and advice throughout either process. For more useful blogs & articles on exams, registrations & qualifications to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

There are many different types of doctors and correlating salaries in the NHS and, like the various specialties, they can be complex. The following is a brief overview of the different types of doctor, their pay and roles they fulfill within the UK Healthcare system and in this article we will look at the following: Designations of UK doctors Medical students Junior doctors SAS doctors Consultants Trust doctors General Practitioners Locum doctors Academic doctors  Pay and conditions circulars Designations of UK doctors: Other than for medical students, all doctors we list below are medically qualified and can use the title Dr before their name.  For historical reasons in the UK, surgeons may use the title ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Miss’ or ‘Ms’. A doctor that is a university professor may also use the title ‘Professor’ instead of ‘Dr’. Medical students: Medical students usually undertake a five-year course of study for undergraduate or a four-year postgraduate course to become a doctor.  Two years studying basic medical sciences is followed by three years more clinically focused training, during which they will work in hospital wards under the supervision of consultants.  Following completion of their medical degree, newly qualified doctors gain provisional registration with the GMC. They will receive their primary medical qualification which is typically denoted in the UK by either: MBBS, MBChB, BM, MB BCh. Junior doctors:  Medical graduates enter the medical workforce as junior doctors. They are employed on a national negotiated contract on a two-year work-based training programme known as the Foundation Programme. The Foundation Programme is the first level of clinical training for a qualified doctor, bridging the gap between medical school and Specialty Training. The Foundation Programme is carried out in hospitals over two years which are referred to as FY1 and FY2. Upon completion of FY1, a doctor will gain full registration with the GMC. Completion of FY2 allows doctors to apply for further study and training in a specialised area of medicine, known as Specialty Training. Doctors enter Specialty Training at ST1 and the length and type of training will depend on the specialty chosen – specialist training can take up to eight years.  In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £27,689. In year two this increases to £32,050.  If you are a doctor starting your Specialty Training in 2019, your basic salary starts at £37,935 and can progress to £48,075. Staff Grade, Associate Specialist and Specialty Doctors (SAS Doctors): SAS doctors are in non-training roles where the doctor has at least four years of postgraduate training, two of which being in a relevant specialty (FY1, FY2 and two years specialist training). This means doctors can move into these posts at various levels of experience and seniority whilst also gaining experience and promotion within the grade itself. SAS doctors are typically more focused on meeting service requirements when compared to trainee or consultant roles. Often, they have considerably fewer administrative duties when compared to consultants and can have very ‘hands on’ roles with lots of patient contact. Specialty doctors currently earn from £40,037 to £74,661 basic pay. Whilst the titles staff grade, specialty doctor and associate specialist are all commonly used, recent changes to terminology means that all SAS doctors are now on Specialty Doctor contracts.  Consultants: Consultants are senior doctors that have completed full specialist medical training in a specialised area of medicine and are listed on the GMC’s specialist register, gaining the accreditation CCT. Doctors can also meet the criteria for specialist registration via the CESR route, consider your eligibiiity for CESR here. Consultants have clinical and administrative responsibilities in managing SAS and junior doctors. Consultants currently earn from £79,860 to £107,668 basic pay. Trust doctors: Trust doctors in the NHS are employed for service posts, and trust doctor is a term applied to a doctor who is working in the NHS in a non-training post. Trust doctor jobs in the NHS cover a range of grades and apply to all specialities.  Typically, the title trust doctor is applied to a doctor working at Senior House Level (FY1 & 2), however the term has now become synonymous with all grades. It is now a term most commonly applied to doctors from FY1 to ST3 but can be applied to specialty doctors by some trusts.  Many of the doctors accepting service posts are from overseas as this can be a quick way to enter the NHS system and start your career in the UK. Trust doctor posts also offer very competitive rates, so whilst you are getting to know the NHS and settling into life in the UK, you can also ensure that you are financially rewarded. Locum Doctors: Locums doctors are fully qualified doctors who temporarily cover a position, often covering things like sick leave or maternity. All doctors can work as a locum aside from FY1 doctors and it can be done via an agency or NHS locum post. Academic Doctors: Academic doctors often combine clinical care with teaching and research, doing so to develop the science of medicine. They can be any grade of doctor from an FY2 to a consultant, GP or SAS doctor. Common academic job titles, in order of seniority are: Prof Professor CSL Senior Clinical Lecturer / Associate Professor CRF Clinical Research Fellow CL Clinical Lecturer  ACF Academic Clinical Fellow Pay and Conditions Circulars: Current national salary scales for all medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.  For more useful blogs & articles on career structure, pay scales and a doctor’s salary in the UK - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

We have recently been asked by IMGs what an NHS specialty doctor could expect as monthly take-home pay. So, to help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK, we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use! How much will I take home? Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.  It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.  The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses.  Take home pay expectations: Specialty Doctor pay threshold Annual gross salary* Estimated average monthly take home pay **  Min £40,037 £2,564 1 £43,460 £2,758 2 £47,911 £3,010 3 £50,296 £3,143 4 £53,733 £3,309 5 £57,156 £3,474 6 £57,156 £3,474 7 £60,656 £3,643 8 £67,659 £3982 9 £71,159 £4,151 10 £74,661 £4,320 *before tax and pension **based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions To explore the pay & salary conditions across all doctor grades in the UK take a closer look here. For more useful blogs & articles on career structure, pay scales and a doctor’s salary in the UK - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Your salary and employee benefits are important considerations when searching and applying for jobs in the UK. The NHS is one of the most developed health systems in the world and doctors form an integral part of delivering high quality patient care. As such doctors are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits, some of which will not be afforded to you in other countries across the world. In this article we will discuss the NHS employee benefits, covering the following topics:  Annual leave Pay enhancements Personal development & career progression Sick leave Maternity leave Paternity leave Parental leave NHS pension NHS discounts Doctors in training Study leave Study budget Study sessions Part-time training The doctor salary package in the UK, including benefits, can as a whole, make working for the NHS an attraction for many overseas doctors. Whatever grade or specialty you join, you will become an integral part of the NHS and as such enjoy one of the most competitive packages offered by a UK employer.  Everyone who works in the NHS is guaranteed an annual salary matched to their role, and even better are afforded the opportunity to increase this year on year through additional responsibilities and training & development.  All staff will receive an attractive annual leave package in addition to a range of benefits.  Annual leave: You are entitled to be paid annual leave every year, the amount of annual leave you receive will increase depending on your level of service within the NHS.  You will also receive an additional 8 days of bank holidays.  The longer you work in the NHS, the more annual leave you get.  The table below summarises the current entitlement: Length of service Annual leave entitlement 0-5 years 27 days + 8 days bank holidays After 5 years 29 days + 8 days bank holidays After 10 years 33 days + 8 days bank holidays Pay enhancements:  Pay enhancements reward out of hours working, shifts, overtime and on calls. This means that you can enhance your take home pay each month.  Personal development & career progression:  Each member of staff is given an annual review focused on their own progress and development designed to support their career aspirations.  Sick leave: Sick days will not be deducted from your annual leave days. If you are unfortunate enough to get sick during annual leave, you may also be able to claim it back so you can use the annual leave another time. Maternity leave: Regardless of how long you’ve been working in the NHS, all pregnant employees are entitled to 1-year maternity leave. It is illegal for your employer to fire you during this time. Depending on how long you’ve been working in the NHS during pregnancy, you may also be entitled to maternity pay. Paternity leave: Fathers are entitled to 2 weeks paternity leave. This applies to same-sex partners as well as nominated carers for single mothers.  Shared parental leave:  The 1-year maternity leave can in some cases be shared between the parents. Parental leave:  You are also entitled to 18 weeks parental leave for each child until your child reaches 18 years of age.  Some weeks may be paid but most of this leave is unpaid.  This is particularly useful for IMGs as it can be used for various things to ensure that your family is cared for and settled into life in the UK. For example, you can take agreed parental leave for things such as helping your child settle into school, if sick, staying with them in hospital, or just to spend more time with your children when you feel it is necessary. NHS pension:  The NHS Pension is a good scheme when compared with other private pensions available both in the UK and worldwide. In the current financial market, we have found it hard to find a better one, it is generous and an excellent package overall.  All new permanent employees are automatically enrolled in the NHS Pension scheme.  NHS discounts:  A useful range of discounts for NHS employees are available with many shops and services. Don’t forget to ask any shop, restaurant, hotel or any service whether they offer discounts to NHS employees. You will be pleasantly surprised how many do, and can save a lot of money when taking holiday breaks in the UK, or shopping trips.  Doctors in training: Doctors in training will receive the following additional benefits: Study leave: Trainees from FY2 and above will have an entitlement to receive paid study leave. For trainees this is usually 30 days per year with the majority allocated to compulsory teaching sessions provided by the training programme, and 10 days for the trainee to decide what to do with. Study budget: Trainees will have access to a small amount of money to attend courses and conferences. It usually does not cover all the expenses, but it undoubtedly helps.  Study sessions: It is important to note that this is not the same as study leave, instead trainees will have a half day or 2 half days a week for study which can be used to work on audits, presentations, publications and research. Most IMGs typically use study leave to attend courses, conferences, and study for exams. Part-time training: If you need to reduce your hours in order to balance work and other commitments like caring for children or an elderly family member, you can request to complete your training part-time. This is known as “less than full time training” or LTFT training.   The least you can work is 50%, remember this will mean you will take twice as long to complete your training.  Your annual pay with LTFT training will be considerably less than a full-time job.  For IMGs it is important to note that this may have implications whilst working on a Tier 2 visa where you generally need to earn more than £30,000 per year. For the full terms and conditions of working in the NHS, please read through the employee handbook. For more useful blogs & articles on career structure, pay scales and a doctor’s salary in the UK - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Regardless of what stage you are at in your medical career, a CV is the first opportunity you have to make the first impression you want to an employer. When you consider that the average CV gets 10-15 seconds of attention it is clear how important it is to get your CV right and make it stand out. Your CV tells the story of you and your career and at a glance and it should be clear why you are the best person for the role you are applying for. To help, we have created a standard CV template for you to use when writing, reviewing and editing your CV. The template is based on GMC requirements, ensurig that you can use your CV for both registrations and applications.   Request our helpful CV template for GMC applications here.  Get in touch with IMG Connect to review your CV and offer any additional support required. We will work with you to source the most suitable job options in the NHS, and help you tailor your CV accordingly.   At IMG Connect we believe that a well-structured, clear, and concise CV will be instrumental in securing you a place at interview. Once you have prepared your CV, send us a copy for review and feedback. For more useful blogs & articles on CV format and templates to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Connect with us: Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Regardless of what stage you are at in your medical career, your interview is your chance to make a good impression to a potential employer, sell yourself and secure your dream job in the NHS.  We can’t stress enough how important preparation is to making sure that you have a successful interview. So, we have collected the best tips from our community of IMGs to help you to stand out during your interview and ensure that you always get your point across. In this article we cover the following topics:  Interview preparation  Setting up on the day  During the Skype interview Interview preparation tips:  1. Know who will be interviewing you.  As an overseas doctor it is of course tricky to visit the hospital before interview, so getting to know your interview panel prior to interview is important and will make you stand out - try connecting on LinkedIn or look at their profile. Panels will be made up of a range of senior staff, some will have developed their career within their specialisms, take a look at the Trust website to gather more information. 2. Be up to date.  Keep up to date with the Trust’s vision and strategy, try to convey how you will fit in with this – consider how you can contribute to help them achieve their vision. For example, if you know they are developing a new department you can talk about your interest in this area and what you could offer. 3. Reflect on the hospital values.  Your interview should demonstrate that your personal values and behaviours align with the NHS values. In a nutshell these are your motivation and commitment to the NHS and the role, your ability to work in multi-professional teams, the central importance of the patient's experience. 4. Be reflective.  Responses to questions can show that you have reflected on your experience, that you have learnt from them, and that you have gained expertise you can bring to the role, benefiting the service and wider Trust.   5. Prepare concise answers.  When preparing answers for an interview, break these down into key points. It is important that your answers have an impact, so deliver them in 3 or 4 clear sentences. Remember, the interview panel are looking for you to be a clear communicator for the benefit of future patients and colleagues. 6. Practice your answers, but don’t sound robotic.  We suggest that you rehearse your interview with a colleague, who can ask you follow up questions.  This is a valuable way to gain feedback and to find out how you perform under pressure. 7. Prepare for direct questions.  Whilst most questions will be broad, be prepared for direct questions, such as “what specifically qualifies you for this position?” or “why do you want this job?”. Take a second to compose your answer and avoid a jumbled response.  8. Be structured.  Make your point, provide evidence and explain.  Have a strong structure to your answers, such as the above. Make 2 or 3 key points at most and give personal or clinical examples, with explanations.  9. Prepare for behavioural skills questions.  Be prepared for behavioural skills questions, such as “describe a situation where you disagreed with a colleague and how you reacted?” or “describe a difficult problem you have faced at work, how did you contribute to the solution?”. In your answers, set the context, describe what was required, what you actually did, and how well the situation played out. 10. Use active wording.  When referring to skills, action words are specific, clarify your contributions, and bring a confident tone to your answers (i.e. championed, supervised, expanded, increased, improved, collaborated, gained, achieved, confident, responsible for…) When you speak with the active voice, it adds impact. You can even combine your selection of action verbs with quantifiable results. This shows both what you did and the impact it had. For example, “Expanded use of patient feedback, resulting in 20% increase in patient satisfaction.” 11. Prepare to respond to all aspects of your CV. Remember, an interview will not be solely based on clinical experience. Panel members will be interested in different parts of your CV, such as your management experience, working with others, leadership or ability to improve the quality of services.  12. Prepare questions to ask the panel.  You can treat the interview like a conversation. Prepare detailed questions to ask at the end of your interview, you will always be given this chance. Don’t be afraid to ask questions throughout the whole interview, it can have a positive impact!  Tips for setting up your Skype interview on the day:  Now that you have prepared your questions well in advance, don’t let all of your preparation go out of the window by rushing on the day. If you are flustered, you won’t be composed. We strongly advise making sure that you are set up and ready in advance, consider carefully the following tips to make a success out of your Skype interview:  1. Add the hospital Skype ID 24 hrs prior to your interview. Your IMG Consultant will provide you with this in advance. 2. Send a message to the hospital Skype ID, stating your name and the post you are interviewing for.  This helps check that the ID is correct and is active for the start of your interview.  3. Run a test call with an IMG Connect consultant. Just to be sure everything is working; we will run a dummy call with you well in advance of your interview. If there are any issues, we can address them together.  4. Be ready 30 mins prior to the call.  It is best to be prepared, with your CV, notes and a glass of water at the ready.  Don’t forget to relax.  During the Skype interview: First impressions are important when wanting to create a lasting good impression. Apply these tips right from the beginning of the interview to make sure you potraying yourself in the manner you want to, from start to finish. 1. Be on time. Despite the fact that your interview will be held over Skype, it is vital that you set up in plenty time and allow time for things to go wrong. If you do get delayed, make sure you notify your IMG Consultant and the contact within the organisation as soon as possible. 2. Dress appropriately.  You may be on screen, but that includes trousers too! Dress as you would for any interview, it will also help you to feel confident.  3. Don’t forget to smile!  When you answer the call, don’t forget to smile. Greet the panel as you would for any interview (minus the shaking of hands of course). From start to finish, relax, be yourself and smile. The panel want to know that you cope under pressure, and can be a good member of their team, ultimately improving patient care. Your personality is key to this success!  4. Make eye contact and engage with all members of the interview panel. Just like an ordinary interview, try to engage with all members of the panel. You will know in advance who they are, so greet them and address them directly throughout your interview. Oh, and don’t forget to use address the panel using their correct titles!  5. Sell yourself.  Give real examples of 'how' you have achieved positive outcomes, specify what these were and the benefits. Be clear about what your personal contribution was. So, don’t be too modest - it can be hard at times, but you are there to highlight your attributes and achievements.  6. Remember to use 'I' rather than 'we'. This adds impact to your achievements, and lets the panel know the contributions YOU have made in your career as a doctor so far. 7. Be aware of your body language. You want to convey that you're enthusiastic, positive and energetic, yet focused… don’t fidget!  8. Be positive at all times. It can be hard, especially when you have faced some challenging questions, but keep calm, stay positive and remember to relax!  For more useful blogs & articles on interview questions & answers to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

As an overseas doctor, preparing for any English Language Test, whether you have chosen IELTS or OET, requires learning a huge amount. IMGs have told us that one of the most effective ways to improve their general level of English, and help them on their journey to improving their test scores, is to study at home. So, we have put together a handy list of IMG tips for studying for the English Language Tests at home, enjoy!  Whilst exam papers are an essential weekly part of your overall study plan, too many exam papers can lead to boredom or frustration.  1. Start devouring podcasts If you don’t already listen to podcasts, you should! They are great! You can access these at home, or on your commute to work. On your laptop, or even better, on your phone. If you have an apple, simply open the podcast app already installed.  If you have Android, then try Stitcher, RadioPublic, Podbean or Pocket Casts.  Here are a few of the IMG Connect Team favourites: There is no such thing as fish In our time, science The Infinite Monkey Cage Today in Focus Happy Place Woman’s Hour Ted Talks Health Dan Snow’s History Hit  Thinking Allowed BBC Inside Science The Guardian’s Science Hour Ted Talks Science and Medicine  Discovery 2.Speak to native English speakers There really can be no substitute for regularly speaking to native English speakers. In most cities across the world there will be a community of English speakers, seek them out online or go say hello!  The IMG team are always happy to have a chat with you, so if you can’t find anyone, then give us a ring!  3. Speak to everyone! We know that sometimes in this modern world, people would rather turn to their computers, but to learn English is to share English! Whether a colleague at work, a fellow student, a friend or family member, speaking English about a range of topics, medical and general, will help you to practice what you learn. Be sure to apply your recent learning of vocabulary and grammar. It is widely known that students who speak and listen to people every day, learn quicker.  4. Get down with the kids… and watch YouTube!  There are millions of videos on YouTube, with thousands of great channels and shows to subscribe to. And of course, they are mostly all free! But don’t get stuck watching cute cats and dogs, stick to the task at hand – learning English!   IELTS and OET have their own official channels, full of useful resources.  Instead of randomly watching topics, think about your exams and search YouTube for suitable resources.  At IMG Connect we have found a few great suggestions to search for:  OET Medical lectures Nobel Lectures  Oxford University lectures – medical  Cambridge University medical lectures  IELTS Parliamentary debates, UK BBC, Sky, Channel four News  National geographic Ted Talks But don’t take our word for it, search for your own topics of interest.  5. Binge on your favourite movies (in English) What could be better than sitting back after a day at work and watching a movie? Well, watching a movie and learning English at the same time! The rule here is to not just sit back and relax, you have to do some work too, put the subtitles on, and follow the dialogue. If you don’t understand, then pause, rewind and watch again.  Try to choose the right type of films, with lots of dialogue, so apologies to all those blockbuster fans, you may have to watch something else. Documentaries are excellent, with topics for everyone!  Listen to the way that words are said, how the actors or narrators stress the sounds. And copy it! Even better, take a note of all new vocabulary, and when the film is finished, find out what they mean.  6. An article a day gets the doctor to the UK! This doesn’t have to be test related, you can choose something that you really are interested in. It can’t all be boring!  Blogs, news outlets, organisations – you choose.  Reading an article a day, short or long, can dramatically improve your confidence.  7. Tweet, tweet, twooo!  Twitter isn’t just about a tweet, but there are plenty fantastic articles and up to date topics that are shared daily.  Find someone you are interested in and follow their articles.  Many news groups share excellent articles daily.  But remember don’t just read the headline!  8. Write as much as you can, to anyone you can. Practicing writing English in different contexts will help you to cement your learning and get you into the habit of writing to a high level of structure and grammar.  You could write a blog online for your colleagues, this is free on wordpress. It is your blog, so you choose the topic!  Of course, you should practice writing the essays for the tests, but if you know anyone that reads English why not also write to them…in English of course! 9. Get help and advice… it’s free! One easy step is to join our online community of IMGs who can help with more tips or general advice and support. Beyond that there are loads of great outlets online for general and more specific advice.  For more useful blogs & articles on exams, registrations & qualifications to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Regardless of what stage you are at in your medical career, a CV is the first opportunity you have to make the first impression you want to an employer. When you consider that the average CV gets 10-15 seconds of attention it is clear how important it is to get your CV right and make it stand out. Follow our Top 14 Tips and be sure to give yourself the best opportunity of landing the interviews you want to. Your CV tells the story of you and your career and at a glance and it should be clear why you are the best person for the role you are applying for. Request our helpful CV template for GMC applications here.  14 general tips for writing a doctor CV:  1. Review and update.  By taking the time to regularly review and update your CV, it allows you to create a standard format that you can adapt for each position that you apply for, giving you the best chance at landing the interview you really want. 2. Keep up to date.  Modern medical CVs are reflective of the changing face of the profession. Keep up to date.  3. Keep it traditional.  If it works, don’t fix it. Using our template, follow the GMC guidelines on the layout and content of your CV.  If you are applying for a training programme, check the GMC requirements for example, applications for Specialist registration require a particular format. 4. Don’t write war and peace.  There is no prescribed length of a medical CV, but if you follow standard layouts, order by relevance and write succinctly, a standard CV could be between 2 – 8 pages long. Remember though, it can be as long as it needs to be!  5. Presentation is vital. Use a clear font and size (we recommend 12-point Arial, Calibri or Times), a clear layout, avoid large chunks of text and use bullet points.  6. Keep it concise.  Adopt a style of writing that is professional, using short and simple sentences - use active words when referring to skills and focus on positive aspects. 7. Match to the job description.  Prioritise the section of your CV that matches the job at the top, so it's seen first.  Reprioritise the least relevant content to appear further down each section.  Highlight elements that match the specific job description and person specification. 8. Do not exaggerate.  There is no need to exaggerate any information on your CV. And remember you don’t need to include everything you have done in your career, if it is not relevant to the application, consider if you need to include it at all. There will be plenty of opportunity at interviews to get this information across. 9. Align with the trust or hospital values.  Your CV and interview should demonstrate that your personal values and behaviours align with the NHS values outlined in the NHS Constitution. In a nutshell these are your motivation and commitment to the NHS and the role, your ability to work in multi-professional teams, the central importance of the patient's experience. 10. No need to waste paper. Don’t include a cover sheet or index. You want the reader to see the main page straight away, which shows who you are, what qualifications you have and that you are suitable for the vacancy. 11. Use a spell checker!  To ensure no spelling mistakes, use a spell checker. One of the main reasons a CV will be rejected is incorrect spelling.  12. Proofread.  Competition means that you need to prepare an error free CV. Proofreading is crucial, and spelling checks on your computer will not suffice. Take time to conduct a thorough examination looking for possible errors or flaws in format, sentence structure, content or layout.  13. Get someone else to proofread.  Ask a peer or senior colleague to proofread and get their feedback. Don’t forget to act upon their feedback and make any necessary changes, before asking them to check again, just in case.  14. Get us to proofread!  Get in touch with IMG Connect to review your CV and offer any additional support required. We will work with you to source the most suitable job options in the NHS, and help you tailor your CV accordingly.   At IMG Connect we believe that a well-structured, clear, and concise CV will be instrumental in securing you a place at interview. Once you have prepared your CV, send us a copy for review and feedback. For more useful blogs & articles on CV format and templates to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Library. Connect with us: Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors are employed in the NHS in a non-training post. An SAS doctor will have at least four years of postgraduate training, at least two of which will be in a relevant specialty.  SAS doctor jobs in the UK are paid well and the number of posts available in the UK have risen steadily over the past decade. They are an attractive way for both the NHS and IMGs to ensure doctors are secured into posts quickly.  In this article we will consider the following topics:  What is a SAS doctor?  Could I take a training post instead?   What are the benefits to a SAS role? How do I secure a SAS doctor job in the NHS?  What is a SAS doctor?  Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors fill NHS service roles which sit outside of the Specialty Training pathway. These roles are non-training ‘service’ roles where the doctor has at least four years of postgraduate training, at least two of those being in a relevant specialty. A variety of terms can be applied to SAS doctors, including specialty doctor, associate specialist and staff grade.  It is worth noting however that not all non-training medical roles (service posts) are SAS doctors. Service roles are available across all grades and can be commonly referred to as Trust doctors.  Could I take a training post instead?   Yes of course. Training posts in the NHS are very attractive however competition for places on these posts is highly competitive.  As such for IMGs interested in securing a place on a training post in the NHS, we advise that they should obtain a trust doctor or SAS doctor post, depending on experience, for 1 – 2 years. Following which you will be able to apply for a training post, for which you will be given priority.  Not only will this approach give you the best chance of securing excellent training and career progression opportunities in the NHS, it will also give you the chance to settle in to the UK, get to know your trust better, and help you understand the training post that will suit you the most.  SAS doctor jobs also offer very competitive rates, so whilst you are getting to know the NHS and settling into life in the UK, you can also ensure that you are financially rewarded. What are the benefits to a SAS role? Less competition and a route to Specialty Training The majority of IMGs are keen to enter the specialty training pathway at some point, but competition for these positions is very high. Places are offered to UK based applicants first, then EEA applicants, finally followed by Non-EEA applicants. As such, it can be difficult to get a training post when applying for your first NHS role.  However, competition for service roles is not nearly so competitive and following completion of one year as a Specialty doctor you can enter into the first group of applicants for specialty training. Allowing you time to settle into the UK and NHS Taking a service role can be a great way to allow yourself time to bed into NHS and UK culture in the first months following your move. By taking on a new culture, employer and healthcare system all at once, you may feel more comfortable taking on a SAS post, avoiding all the extra commitment and learning associated with a training role. Quicker route to securing your first post For overseas doctors applying for SAS posts, the process can be quicker. Less competition and a high demand for doctors will ensure that IMG Connect can secure you interviews quickly.  Financial reward SAS posts typically offer competitive salaries, with some harder to fill locations able to offer additional incentives. Speak with your IMG Consultant for more information.  More patient focused roles and less responsibility SAS roles are usually more focused on meeting NHS service requirements compared to trainee roles. Many doctors simply prefer a role where they can spend more time with patients and doing the job they love, without the pressured commitment to training, admin and competition that a training role brings. Balance between work and personal life When taking a SAS post, additional working hours and on call commitments can be optional.  You will also be given the option to increase your overall hours through weekend and shift work, which will increase your overall take home pay.  In most circumstances it is up to you how you want to approach balancing a life at home with work commitments & financial rewards.  Freedom to consider all parts of the UK Entering a training post is not only a commitment to the programme over a number of years, but also the geographical location that the deanery covers. By taking a service role instead, you could complete a one-two year contract, but realise the area is not for you. At this point you could take a new contract and not have to worry about giving up your hard-earned place on the training programme.  Remember, it is vital that all contracts are honoured and not only will breaking contract have a negative impact on your CV but may also damage your chances of securing your next post.  Specialist Registration is still possible Specialist registration is still possible via the CESR route as some hospitals or Trusts will offer SAS doctors the support required with their CESR applications. However, it is likely to be a much longer process when not taking the training pathway. In summary: There are many reasons why a SAS post can be a great option for experienced IMGs when considering their first job in the UK, and it is clear that trust doctors are vital to the day to day running of the NHS. Regardless of the route you wish to take, IMG Connect will support any doctor pursing either path and can offer guidance and advice throughout either process. So how do I secure a SAS doctor job in the NHS?  You can apply for SAS doctor roles online via the the NHS Jobs websites for England & Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. However, working with IMG Connect can offer more jobs than are available online with the added benefit of an IMG Consultant speaking directly with services on your behalf to expedite the process and negotiate the best doctor salary for you. For the most comprehensive selection of roles and fastest routes to the UK for Trust Doctors, register an interest or apply for trust doctor roles via our Job Search page on our website. For more useful blogs & articles on career structure, pay scales and a doctor’s salary in the UK - take a look at our IMG Library. Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

The NHS offers extensive training schemes and career development for all of its staff, and such programmes are recognised as a gold standard across the medical world.  Training in the NHS is always in keeping with advances in medical sciences and the progressive landscape of the medical profession, including the more complex ailments of a growing and ageing population. The NHS frequently updates and develops its training programmes, making them attractive to UK graduates and doctors, as well as overseas doctors seeking the very best training.  In this article we will cover the following topics:  Why is it important for IMGs to understand the NHS Training Pathway? The NHS Training Pathway From Graduation to Foundation Training Specialty Training Programmes Different types of Specialty Training programmes Uncoupled specialty training programmes Run-through Training Programmes Completion of Specialty Training Programme Should I apply for a training or service post?  As an IMG can I get onto the specialist register? How do I secure a service post? With the view to securing training at a later date. Why is it important for IMGs to understand the NHS Training Pathway? Most IMGs looking to move to the UK will be keen to enter into UK Specialty Training at some point, and as such it is important to understand the UK training pathway from start to finish in order to map your NHS career effectively. Furthermore, greater understanding of the NHS structure and training offered to doctors in the UK will help an IMG to understand at what grade they can likely enter the system.  The NHS Training Pathway The NHS Training Pathway is the term given to the journey from medical school to completion of GP or specialist training and is the path most commonly followed by UK trainees. From Graduation to Foundation Training Upon graduation from a medical school, doctors gain provisional registration with the GMC allowing them to enter the Foundation Programme - a two-year work-based training programme. Upon completion of the first year (FY1) doctors will gain full registration with the GMC and can apply for further study and training in a specialised area – known as Specialty Training. Specialty Training Programmes Completion of the Foundation Programme allows doctors to apply for Specialty Training in an area of medicine or general practice. There are 60 different specialties to choose from.  A doctor entering year one of Specialty Training is known as an ST1 doctor. Specialty Training programmes can take between three and eight years depending on the specialism chosen. Doctors can pass through the training quicker depending on how fast they achieve their competencies.  However, rarely do doctors complete the training pathways in the indicated time for a variety of reasons. On average the training takes between 1 - 4 years longer than indicated in the curricula.  Different types of Specialty Training Programmes There are a number of different types of Specialty Training programmes, which are different for each specialty.  Uncoupled Specialty Training Programmes These programmes split into Core Training and Higher Specialty Training. Core Training lasts for either two or three years and once complete, allows you to apply for Higher Specialty Training, which can take between 3 – 5 years.  Overall, Specialty Training programmes can take between 5 – 8 years in their entirety, depending on your medical specialty.  Doctors will be known as ST1-3 during their Core Training and ST4-6/7/8 level during Higher Specialty Training programmes. Higher Specialty Training programmes are very competitive, and completion of Core Training does not guarantee a Higher Specialty Training post.   It is worth noting that in August 2019 the core medical training programme will be replaced by the Internal Medicine Training Programme, described as ‘a new training model designed to equip doctors with skills and confidence to lead on the care of patients in general ward and acute care settings’. Run-through Training Programmes For these training programmes you only have to apply once, at the beginning of the programme, as you are recruited for the full duration of Specialty Training. They can last from approximately three years for general practice, to five or seven for other specialties. Completion of Specialty Training Programme Upon successful completion of either a run-through or coupled training programme doctors are awarded a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). At this point doctors are entered onto the specialist register (or GP Register) and are recognised as a consultant. Should I apply for a training or service post?  As above, competition for places on training posts within the NHS is highly competitive. As such for IMGs interested in securing a place on a training post in the NHS, we advise that IMGs obtain a service post for 1 – 2 years.  Following this contract you can apply for a training post, for which you will be given priority. Not only will this approach give you the best chance of securing excellent training and career progression opportunities in the NHS, it will also give you the chance to settle in to the UK, get to know your trust better, and help you understand the training post that will suit you the most.  Service posts also offer very competitive rates, so whilst you are getting to know the NHS and settling into life in the UK, you can also ensure that you are financially rewarded.  As an IMG can I get onto the specialist register? IMGs that enter the UK training programmes later on and have not completed the full programme can still get on the specialist register via the CESR route (Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration) Check to see if you're eligible via the GMC website or read through our overview on CESR and eligibility for CESR. How do I secure work as a trust doctor? With the view to securing a training post at a later date. You can apply for Trust doctor or service roles online via the NHS Jobs website.  However, working with IMG Connect can offer more jobs than are available online with the added benefit of an IMG Consultant speaking directly with services on your behalf to expedite the process and negotiate the best doctor salary for you. For the most comprehensive selection of roles and fastest routes to the UK for Trust Doctors, register an interest or apply for trust doctor roles via our Job Search page on our website. For more useful blogs & articles on career structure, pay scales and a doctor’s salary in the UK - take a look at our IMG Library. Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk  Call us on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!

One of the most important questions to consider when searching for doctor jobs in the UK is your salary or pay. The NHS is one of the most developed health systems in the world and doctors form an integral part of delivering high quality patient care, as such they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.  In this short article we provide an overview of doctors pay in the UK by grade.  It is important to note that the below rates of pay are a guide based on current NHS pay scales and it is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the pay opportunities before your start applying for posts in the UK. It is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on your experience and demand.  For overseas doctors, posts will include competitive rates of pay, additional pay for extra hours worked, benefits and pensions.  FY1 & FY2 In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1), your basic salary is £27,689.  In year two this increases to £32,050.  As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.  Specialty Training (ST1 – ST8)  If you are a doctor starting your specialist training in 2019, your basic salary starts at £37,935 and can progress to £48,075. As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.  Specialty doctors Specialty doctors currently earn from £40,037 to £74,661 basic pay.  The basic contract is for 40 hours Consultants Consultants currently earn from £79,860 to £107,668 basic pay. As a consultant you can be paid for additional duties and may be eligible for Clinical Excellence Awards, which reward outstanding performance. The basic contract is for 40 hours per week. If you take on extra responsibilities (i.e. management or education) you can also expect to be paid additional supplements.  Pay and terms and conditions Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website. For more useful blogs & articles on career structure, pay scales and a doctor’s salary in the UK - take a look at our IMG Library. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with an IMG Consultant to discuss UK job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable locations for you.  Connect with us Send your CV to info@imgconnect.co.uk Give us a call on +44 (0)203 973 0133 Join our growing IMG community!