Dear fellow IMG,
NHS applications can feel daunting at any stage of your career, whether you’re applying for your first NHS role, looking to progress, or seeking a position that better reflects your experience. It can be difficult to know what an employer is looking for and how best to show what you can bring.
I came to the UK in 2023, after medical school and my internship year. I had been a doctor for a year and had limited clinical experience compared with many of the applicants I was competing against. Like many IMGs, I was finding my way into a healthcare system I had never worked in before.
I was lucky to secure my first NHS job as a Urology SHO just a few short weeks after receiving my GMC registration.
But I didn’t get there entirely on my own.
I was fortunate to have a relative who was already working as a doctor in the NHS. They helped me understand what recruiters were looking for, reviewed and edited my application, and guided me through interview preparation. Having someone who understood the system made an enormous difference.
Since then, I’ve progressed from SHO to registrar and secured multiple NHS roles. My experience has taught me how important it is to understand what each role requires and to show clearly how your experience meets those needs.
This is what inspired me to start IMGate. I wanted to make the kind of practical, honest support I received available to IMG doctors at every stage of their careers, including those navigating NHS recruitment on their own. I know that not every IMG has years of clinical experience or an extensive portfolio; I certainly didn’t when I started.
When I review an application, I look at the complete application alongside the job description and person specification. I help identify when relevant experience needs clearer explanation, when a requirement may be met but lacks evidence, and when there is a genuine experience gap that wording alone cannot fix. I believe good advice should help you see the difference.
I personally review and approve every application assessment against the documents you provide. My advice is shaped by my own journey through NHS recruitment, though I cannot know how a particular panel will score an application or guarantee an interview.
Someone helped me get my foot in the door. I’d like to help you do the same.
Warmly,
DayanFounder, IMGate