Nurse or Healthcare Professional
Cares for people directly and helps them recover, cope and stay well.
Why it may fit you
- Included to widen the options you have seen
Your evidence for this career
Based only on the experiences and strengths you have entered. Add more in My Evidence.
Strong evidence
Nothing here yet — two experiences showing the same skill will move it here.
Some evidence
Nothing here yet.
Evidence to build
- Listening
- Communication
- Supporting others
- Teamwork
- Attention to detail
- Working with data
- Research
- Organisation
- Resilience
- Planning
What you may need to develop
Listening
Why it matters: Underrated, and central to advisory, care and client roles.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Volunteer in a support, buddy or peer-mentoring scheme
- • Interview someone about their career and write three notes from it
Communication
Why it matters: Named in almost every job advert, and usually tested at interview.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Ask for written feedback after a presentation or piece of writing
- • Write a short summary of something technical for a general reader
Supporting others
Why it matters: Central to health, education, care and community-facing work.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Volunteer with a community, church, charity or student support group
- • Support a peer formally through a scheme so it can be evidenced
Teamwork
Why it matters: Employers want a specific example, not the word itself.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Write up one team experience: your role, a disagreement, what you did
- • Join a team activity outside your course
What they do
Nursing and allied health roles combine practical care, clear communication and clinical knowledge. There are many routes in, including apprenticeships and support-worker roles.
What your day could involve
- Checking on patients and recording observations
- Explaining treatment to a patient and their family
- Working with doctors, therapists and support staff
- Keeping accurate records
- Learning a new procedure with a mentor
Skills employers often look for
People skills
- • Listening
- • Communication
- • Supporting others
- • Teamwork
Technical skills
- • Attention to detail
- • Working with data
- • Research
Professional skills
- • Organisation
- • Resilience
- • Planning
Qualifications
There is usually more than one way in. A degree is one route — not the only one.
Typical degree routes
- • Nursing
- • Midwifery
- • Physiotherapy
- • Occupational therapy
Apprenticeships
- • Healthcare support worker apprenticeship
- • Nursing degree apprenticeship
Other routes in
- • Start as a healthcare assistant and train while working
- • Access courses for those without traditional entry grades
Certifications worth exploring
Only worth doing if it helps you. Experience and evidence usually matter more than collecting certificates.
Useful now
- First aid certificate
Practical, cheap and shows commitment on an application. - Care Certificate awareness
The standard expected of support workers in the UK.
Useful later
- Specialist clinical training
Chosen once you know the area you enjoy.
Optional specialist
- Mental health first aid
Valuable if you head towards mental health roles.
Organisations to Put on Your Radar
Examples to explore — illustrative, not job adverts or endorsements
Large employers
An NHS hospital trust
Healthcare
Roles to look for: Healthcare assistant, apprentice, student placements
Why explore it: Widest range of training routes.
Specialist organisations
A private hospital group
Private healthcare
Roles to look for: Support worker, nurse
Why explore it: Focused specialisms and often flexible shifts.
Public sector
A community health service
Public sector
Roles to look for: Community support worker
Why explore it: Working with people in their own homes.
Charities and NGOs
A hospice or health charity
Third sector
Roles to look for: Volunteer, care assistant
Why explore it: A good first volunteering route.
Start-ups and growing companies
A digital health company
Health tech
Roles to look for: Patient support roles
Why explore it: Combines care with technology.
Organisations in my region
Your nearest hospital or care provider
Varies by region
Roles to look for: Apprenticeships, bank shifts
Why explore it: Check their careers page for insight days.
What should I look for on an employer's website?
- Graduate programmes — Structured schemes with training, usually opening a year before they start.
- Apprenticeships — Earn while you learn. Look for the level — Level 2 or 3 up to degree level.
- Internships — Paid experience over summer or a placement year. Often the main route into graduate roles.
- Insight days — One-day or one-week introductions, often for Year 12, 13 or first-year students.
- Volunteering — Many employers run volunteering days or support local projects you could join.
- Work experience — Short placements or shadowing. Ask directly — many are never advertised.
- Entry-level roles — Assistant, coordinator or support job titles are real doors into a career.