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Applying for a Radiography, Sonography, or other health care NHS job in the UK? Is it a band 4, band 5, band 6, band 7, or band 8 role? Have you filled out the rest of the application form but somehow feel stuck with the supporting information bit?
Well, I want to help you with that.
Your supporting info (SI) is where you professionally sell yourself to your employer and convince them you are the best fit for the advertised role, and I want you to be able to submit the strongest possible NHS supporting information to maximise your chances of success and get called for interviews.
How to think of your supporting information
When starting out your supporting information, you need to think of it as the trailer to the blockbuster movie that is your professional journey. It gives a sneak peek into the exciting plot twists, standout performances, and the unique qualities that make you the lead role in your career narrative.
You can't relate to that? Okay try this;
Think of it as the secret sauce to your professional recipe. It's the special blend of skills, experiences and achievements that adds flavour to your career story and makes you a standout dish in the world of opportunities.
So your supporting information is essentially the user manual for the incredible product that is you. It's your chance to guide an employer through the features, benefits, and unique qualities that make you a must-have addition to their professional team.
In this guide, I'll be showing you how to write your NHS supporting information with examples.
What you want to achieve when you write your NHS supporting information
When you block out time from your busy schedule to sit down and craft your NHS supporting information, the only reason you do so is because you have determined to do whatever it takes to get you that desired job.
And because you want every bit of the mental energy you put into this to count for something, you definitely want to start ticking the right boxes from the onset. We are in the era of saying no to wasted efforts!
Now, what are the most important boxes you want to tick from the word go?
You want a compelling and effective presentation of your qualifications and experiences.
You want to always demonstrate relevance to the position your applying for.
You want to keep your information clear, concise and straight to the point.
You want to highlight and emphasize key skills that are most relevant to the position.
You want to showcase your career progression by highlighting areas of advancements, promotions or increased responsibilities in your career.
You want to address any gaps or potential concerns in your employment history.
You want to use strong action verbs to convey a sense of accomplishments.
You want to use industry-specific keywords that are relevant to the advertised role.
You want to highlight any relevant professional development activities, trainings or certifications that enhance your qualification for the role.
You want to keep it simple and concise.
You want to thoroughly engage your reader.
And you definitely want to proofread your work thoroughly, eliminate typos and grammatical errors. A polished and error free document reflects attention to detail and professionalism, which is what you want.
How to structure your supporting information
Without beating around the bush, I have discovered that the easiest hack to effectively organising and structuring your supporting information is to use the summarised person specification table in your NHS job advertisement.
Most NHS jobs have a job description (JD) and person specification (PS) document where they outline in detail what the job is all about, what professional responsibilities are expected from the job holder, and what specific criteria the job holder must meet to qualify to apply for the job.
Usually, in the person specification section, NHS employers would provide a summarised version of the essential and desirable attributes required from applicants. See fig 1 below;
Fig 1: Summarised person specification for an NHS Band 5 Radiographer role.
You should use this table as your table of contents. Let it guide you into effectively organising your supporting information into a logical flow of information. This seamless flow of information is indeed the best way to engage your readers, and you absolutely want your potential employer engaged to your supporting information.
How to translate this person specification table into your supporting information structure
The generic structure for every written (long form) piece is to have an introduction, a body and a conclusion. To merge this generic structure with our already-made table of content, you break up the table into sections. When you do this, you should have something like this to work with;
Fig 2: Person specification table in fig. 1 sectioned into introduction, body and conclusion.
How to extract key words from the Job description and person specification
Always peruse through both the job description and person specification to identify key words to include in your supporting information.
Using keywords in your supporting info is important because some organisations may use Applicant tracking systems (ATS) to help with the recruitment process. These systems scan CVs, resumes and supporting documents for relevant keywords to identify qualified candidates, so using these keywords in your supporting information helps to increase your visibility and the likelihood of your application getting noticed.
And even if ATS systems are not being used, being able to use industry-specific keywords showcases your familiarity with the field and its terminology, and this can be very appealing for employers. It also shows you have a solid understanding of the industry and you are well-prepared for the specific challenges and expectations of the role.
How do you identify keywords?
Educational requirements:
Required experiences:
Action verbs:
Soft skills:
Repeated phrases, skills or qualifications:
This target approach of identifying keywords helps your application to stand out to recruiters and employers.
Example of an Introduction
"As a dedicated and experienced radiographer with approximately 4 years experience, I am enthusiastic to present my supporting information for your consideration. I have a BSc in Radiography and I am fully HCPC registered.
Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated a commitment to delivering high-quality patient care and contributing to the efficiency of diagnostic imaging services.
This supporting information aims to provide insight into my skills, qualifications, and experiences in the field of radiography. I am confident that my expertise aligns seamlessly with the requirements of [organization], and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute my skills to your esteemed team".
I've got lots of more specific examples for your supporting information - Check it out in my video below.
How to incorporate specific experiences and examples in your supporting information.
In the body of your work, your ability to include past experiences and examples in your supporting information help to make it more personalised, authentic and relatable.
Your authenticity helps to increase your chances of getting picked for interviews, so this is a valuable skill to have.
When describing real life past experiences, it’s always helpful to use the 'STAR' technique;
S = Situation, where you describe the event or the situation you were in
T = Task, where you describe the task you had to complete
A = Action, where you describe what actions you took to complete the task, and
R = Results and reflection, where you close with the results of your effort and you reflect on what you learnt from the event.
Example of how to use the STAR technique
Let's say you want to narrate an experience of how you were flexible in your approach to work as a radiographer or sonographer, you could say;
"During the COVID-19 outbreak a few years ago, we experienced a period of staff shortages in our radiology department. (SITUATION).
Recognizing the increased workload in the department, I knew something had to be done to ensure the ongoing delivery of services. (TASK).
I embraced flexibility and I voluntarily adjusted my schedule to accommodate additional shifts, and collaborated with colleagues to create a temporary rotation plan. In response to the sudden influx of outpatient requests then, I adapted my work routine to extended working hours. Additionally, I proactively sought additional training opportunities to enhance my clinical skills, allowing me to contribute more effectively during peak times when specific expertise was in high demand. (ACTION).
This ensured that patients received timely imaging services without facing significant delays. (RESULTS).
Upon reflection, it was evident that this was all made possible due to the effective coordination with the administrative staff, fellow radiographers, and other healthcare professionals to optimize scheduling and resource allocation. (REFLECTION)."
Your conclusion
You conclusion is where you summarise everything you've captured in the introduction and body of your work, and how these things make you the best fit for the role.
It is also a good opportunity for you to reaffirm your interest in the role, convey your readiness to contribute to the team immediately, show gratitude and offer availability for further discussion.
You have to maintain a polite and professional tone all through the introduction, body and conclusion of your NHS supporting information.
Example of a Conclusion
"In conclusion, my journey as a radiographer has been driven by a passion for excellence in patient care and a commitment to staying at the forefront of advancements in diagnostic imaging.
Through a combination of technical proficiency, adaptability to evolving technologies, and a patient-centred approach, I have consistently contributed to the success of healthcare teams.
I am eager to bring my skills, dedication, and collaborative spirit to [organization/department name]. The prospect of contributing to a dynamic and innovative radiology team excites me, and I am confident in my ability to make meaningful contributions to the delivery of exceptional healthcare services.
Thank you for considering my application. I welcome the opportunity to discuss in further detail how my experiences align with the goals of your organization. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to the continued success of your radiography team".
More helpful tips for your supporting information
Always remember never to include examples that paint you in a negative light. That's primarily because the potential employers reading your supporting information are human beings and they will naturally be biased against any captured negativity, so best to be mindful of this.
Remember to always tailor your SI to the specific job you are applying for, copying and pasting for all your jobs may be detrimental to your application.
3. Always remember to proofread your supporting information, this is vital. Any supporting information riddled with too many grammatical or punctuation errors will naturally put off any employer.
4. Remember not to copy and paste other people’s supporting information. Plagiarism is a big deal, and it minimises your chances of success. Always use examples provided to you as a guide to help you in crafting an outstanding SI that is authentic to maximise your chances of success.
5. Include any voluntary work you may have undertaken in the past, and address the gaps in your employment if you have any.
6. Remember, you don’t have to meet all the desirable attributes of an advertised role. If you meet the essential attributes and your application is strong enough, you still have a good chance of being considered for the job.
7. Remember to stick to the word count, super important.
You have to see my video on the things you must not do on your supporting information. See it below.
If you need help with your medical or radiography supporting information, we do provide this service. You can explore my service page here, or drop an email (info@naijauksonographer) and we can talk about your options.
You may never see me again, so If you want to keep receiving very helpful tips on how to achieve your career dreams as a radiographer, sonographer or healthcare worker in the UK, then please don’t forget to subscribe, like, share and comment.
Check out my YouTube channel as well as I've got loads of helpful videos on there too.
See you in my next post.
Fig 1 - gotten from the band 5 radiography job description and person specification document from Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, Wales. I claim no rights to the ownership of the content of fig 1 above. https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9040-23-2085?keyword=radiographer&location=Wales&distance=5&language=en