For many International Medical Graduates, passing PLAB and receiving GMC registration feels like crossing the finish line.
But here’s the part no one really warns about: you can have all the boxes ticked — and still be jobless for months.
It’s a strange, heavy silence that follows the congratulatory messages. You refresh your inbox constantly. You keep applying on Trac and NHS Jobs. You write yet another version of your supporting statement. And still — nothing.
So, what’s actually happening here? And more importantly, what can you do when you’ve done everything “right” but the job still hasn’t come?
1. Let’s be honest — the system is tough, even when you qualify
Having GMC registration doesn't guarantee job offers. It opens the door, yes — but no one tells you that you might still be left knocking.
There are hundreds of other candidates. You’re being compared with UK graduates, internal trust candidates, and people who’ve already done clinical attachments. The competition is real.
But that doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It just means you’re now in phase two of the journey — the job hunt — and it requires a whole new strategy.
2. The most common reasons IMGs don’t get shortlisted (even with GMC)
Here’s what’s often going wrong:
Your CV is not tailored to NHS standards. It's either too long, not well-structured, or doesn't highlight UK-relevant experience.
You’re applying too broadly. Trusts want candidates who are genuinely interested in their role. Generic applications often get ignored.
Your supporting information is weak. Many IMGs don’t realise this is where the real shortlisting happens. It's your sales pitch — and most people rush it.
You don’t have UK references or NHS experience. This is often the hardest one. Trusts feel unsure about candidates they can’t assess based on local experience.
But here’s the truth: all of these things are fixable.
3. Your new job now is job hunting — treat it like one
Waiting passively is not a strategy. Sending 30 applications with the same supporting statement is not a strategy.
Instead, think of this as your full-time job until you get hired. Set goals. Track applications. Follow up. Keep improving.
Some actionable steps:
Get your CV reviewed by someone working in the NHS — not just a friend, but someone who knows what hiring managers expect.
Tailor your supporting statement for every job. Yes, it takes time. But so does waiting for months with no offer.
Reach out to TrewLink experts or ambassadors — many are willing to review your application or connect you with opportunities.
4. If you can, get some NHS exposure — even unpaid
Clinical attachments, observerships, volunteering, CPD courses — they may not pay, but they offer something even more valuable: proof that you’ve stepped into the NHS and adapted.
If a trust can see that you’ve worked in their environment, even in a shadowing capacity, they’re far more likely to trust you with a job.
Even one solid UK reference — even from an attachment — can change everything.
5. Use every connection — seriously, every one
Many IMGs shy away from networking because it feels uncomfortable or "unprofessional." But in the NHS, personal recommendations matter — a lot.
Talk to peers. Join IMG Telegram groups. Attend webinars. Reach out to consultants you observed during attachments. Ask about open roles. Follow up with HR after submitting applications.
Sometimes, it takes one consultant forwarding your CV to the right department to land your first offer.
6. Rejections don’t mean you’re unqualified — they mean you're unseen
The job market isn’t personal. Trusts are overwhelmed with applications. They often filter by keywords or scan for certain criteria.
If you’re not getting offers, it doesn’t mean your skills are lacking. It means you haven’t packaged them in the right way for the UK system — yet.
That’s a painful truth, but also an empowering one. Because it means you can still take action.
7. This waiting phase is lonely — but you are not alone
This is perhaps the hardest part: watching others succeed while you feel stuck. Friends posting about job offers. Study partners moving into hospital accommodations. Everyone seems to be moving forward but you.
It’s a painful, isolating feeling — and it often leads to burnout, shame, and self-doubt.
But remember this: so many IMGs have been exactly where you are now. Some waited 3 months. Others waited a year. And almost all of them — eventually — got through.
That means you will too. Because even if it’s hard now, this part of your journey won’t last forever. The right job will come. And when it does — you’ll be more than ready.