Do NHS Observerships Actually Work? The Truth IMGs Need to Hear
Its Tech Surgeon
848 views
Do NHS observerships actually work — or are they one of the most common and expensive mistakes IMGs make?
In this video, I break down the honest truth about clinical observerships for international medical graduates (IMGs) and UK-trained doctors outside of specialty training — including when they genuinely help, when they backfire, and the exact 3 conditions that determine whether an observership is worth your time and money.
What I cover:
• The reality of what a recruiter actually sees when you list an observership
• The 3 conditions that make an observership worth doing
• When observerships genuinely move the needle — and why
• The 2 specific situations where an observership hurts your application
• A step-by-step strategy for deciding whether to pursue one
• How this applies to UK-trained doctors in Trust Grade and specialty training
This is relevant if you are:
• An IMG applying to NHS posts or Trust Grade positions
• A UK-trained doctor building a specialty training application
• A doctor returning to the NHS after a career break or time abroad
I’m Pasan Witharana, a cardiothoracic trainee and PhD researcher at Imperial College London. Subscribe for weekly videos on academic writing, research paper tips, literature review strategies, PhD productivity hacks, and career advice for medical professionals and researchers navigating the NHS and beyond.
Tried everything and nothing worked? See if coaching may be the solution for you: https://pasanwitharana.com/consulting
📱 Instagram: Instagram: itstechsurgeon
🌐 Website: https://pasanwitharana.com/
3 Comments
You have mentioned in a video that we should try contacting the consultants of the relevant department while applying for a post.
But I am unable to find the contact details of any consultant whenever I apply for a role in any Trust
Do NHS Observerships Actually Work? The Truth IMGs Need to Hear
Its Tech Surgeon
848 views
Do NHS observerships actually work — or are they one of the most common and expensive mistakes IMGs make?
In this video, I break down the honest truth about clinical observerships for international medical graduates (IMGs) and UK-trained doctors outside of specialty training — including when they genuinely help, when they backfire, and the exact 3 conditions that determine whether an observership is worth your time and money.
What I cover:
• The reality of what a recruiter actually sees when you list an observership
• The 3 conditions that make an observership worth doing
• When observerships genuinely move the needle — and why
• The 2 specific situations where an observership hurts your application
• A step-by-step strategy for deciding whether to pursue one
• How this applies to UK-trained doctors in Trust Grade and specialty training
This is relevant if you are:
• An IMG applying to NHS posts or Trust Grade positions
• A UK-trained doctor building a specialty training application
• A doctor returning to the NHS after a career break or time abroad
I’m Pasan Witharana, a cardiothoracic trainee and PhD researcher at Imperial College London. Subscribe for weekly videos on academic writing, research paper tips, literature review strategies, PhD productivity hacks, and career advice for medical professionals and researchers navigating the NHS and beyond.
Tried everything and nothing worked? See if coaching may be the solution for you: https://pasanwitharana.com/consulting
📱 Instagram: Instagram: itstechsurgeon
🌐 Website: https://pasanwitharana.com/
I am an IMG. After graduating in 2022, I completed one year working as a general practitioner outside the UK. I then moved to the UK to pursue an MSc in Human Anatomy, followed by a year working as an Anatomy Demonstrator. During this time, I also completed the MRCS examinations and undertook clinical attachments.
My long-term goal is to pursue a career in surgery. However, I am currently applying for both medical and surgical roles and have been receiving rejections, which I believe may be due to being away from clinical practice for nearly three YEARS or maybe they think my cv is not consistent as I have gp and mrcs.
I would be grateful for guidance on how best to address this gap and improve my chances of securing a clinical post.