How to Get Shortlisted for an NHS Job (And How Your Application Is Really Scored on TRAC)
If you have ever applied for an NHS job, you already know the feeling:
You submit your application, wait for days… then receive that painful email:
“Unfortunately, you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.”
And you start wondering:
Did they even read my supporting information?
Is my CV not strong enough?
Why do some people get interviews quickly and others don’t?
Here’s the truth:
Getting shortlisted for an NHS job is a skill.
And once you understand how the scoring works behind the scenes, you can dramatically increase your chances.
This blog explains exactly how NHS shortlisting works, how panels score your application, and how you can make yours stand out on TRAC.
1. How NHS Shortlisting Actually Works
When you submit your application through TRAC.jobs or NHS Jobs, your application does not go directly to HR. It goes into a secure system where:
A panel of shortlisters reviews your application against the Person Specification.
Not the job advert.
Not your CV.
Not your friendly tone.
They score you purely based on:
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria
These criteria are listed in the Person Specification attached to the job advert.
If you don’t meet the essential ones, you are automatically filtered out — even if you’re a superstar.
2. What the Scorers Actually Look At
The panel focuses on three main sections:
1. Qualifications
Do you have the required degree, NVQ, training, or certificates?
2. Experience
Do you clearly demonstrate the experience they asked for?
3. Supporting Information (Personal Statement)
This is the KING of the whole application.
Most NHS jobs are won or lost here.
Your supporting information is where you prove, paragraph by paragraph, that you meet the essential criteria.
If you don’t show it — they will not assume it.
3. How NHS/TRAC Applications Are Scored
NHS shortlisting uses a method called criteria-based scoring.
It works like this:
Every essential criterion = pass or fail.
If the job requires:
“Experience using EMIS”
“Working with patients with complex needs”
“Strong communication skills”
“Ability to prioritise workload”
The panel must locate evidence of each one in your supporting information.
If they don’t see it, they write:
❌ Not evidenced
If you meet all essential criteria, they move to the desirable ones.
Desirable criteria add extra points to help rank candidates.
This helps them decide who to shortlist if many people meet the essentials.
So the scoring looks like this:
Essential Criteria: Must be evidenced = Mandatory
Desirable Criteria: Adds points = Competitive advantage
This is why two people can meet all the essentials, but only one gets an interview.
4. Why Many Applicants Fail (Even Strong Ones)
Here are the most common reasons people are rejected before shortlisting:
❌ They write a CV-style supporting information
NHS panels hate this.
❌ They summarise instead of proving
Saying “I am a good communicator” does nothing.
You must demonstrate it.
❌ They don’t match their experience to the criteria
If the panel has to guess where you meet criteria, you lose.
❌ They copy and paste generic statements
The NHS scores evidence, not emotions.
❌ They don’t use STAR examples
Simple achievements are more powerful with:
Situation → Task → Action → Result
—
5. How to Write a Supporting Information That Gets You Shortlisted
Here’s the winning structure:
—
🔹 Step 1: Start with a strong opening paragraph
Introduce yourself and reference the role:
“I am applying for the role of ___ within ___ Trust, and I am confident that my experience in ___ directly aligns with the essential criteria for this post.”
This tells the panel you know what they’re looking for.
Step 2: Address EACH essential criterion one by one
Use the format:
Criterion:
Evidence:
Example:
Ability to work under pressure (Essential)
“In my previous role as a Healthcare Assistant at XYZ Hospital, I managed high-volume wards, supported emergency admissions, and prioritised patient care under strict time pressures. For example…”
This makes scoring extremely easy.
If the shortlister can tick the box without thinking — you’re shortlisted.
Step 3: Add STAR examples for high-impact criteria
Example:
Communication Skills (Essential)
Situation: We had a distressed patient…
Task: I needed to calm them…
Action: I used active listening and clear explanations…
Result: The patient became cooperative, and the team completed the procedure smoothly.
Panels love clear evidence.
Step 4: Add Desirable Criteria to boost your ranking
This is where people win.
If you meet 3 extra desirable criteria, you move above hundreds of applicants instantly.
Don’t skip this.
Step 5: Strong, confident closing paragraph
Example:
“I meet all essential criteria for this role and bring additional strengths, including ___ and I look forward to contributing positively to your team.”
6. Bonus: Keywords That Boost Your Score
Because NHS scoring is evidence-based, these phrases help you stand out:
“Demonstrated by…”
“This aligns with the essential criterion…”
“In accordance with NHS values…”
“I have experience in…”
“Proven ability to…”
“Consistently delivered…”
“Worked collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams…”
These signal competence immediately.
7. What Happens After You Submit
Here’s the behind-the-scenes process:
1. Advert closes
System locks.
2. Hiring manager downloads all applications
3. Each panel member scores independently
They compare notes.
4. They shortlist only those who…
✔ Met ALL essentials
✔ Scored well on desirable criteria
✔ Provided clear evidence
5. TRAC emails you
Shortlisted → interview
Not shortlisted → “unsuccessful at this time”
8. Why You Should Never Apply Without Adjusting Your Supporting Info
You cannot copy-paste the same statement across 20 applications.
Each NHS Trust wants different criteria.
Even if the job title is the same, the:
demands
patient group
ward environment
systems used
expectations
are always different.
Customisation = shortlisting.
Final Thoughts: You CAN Get Shortlisted Consistently
The NHS shortlisting system looks cold — but once you understand it, it becomes predictable.
To get shortlisted:
Study the Person Specification
Match every essential criterion
Provide clear evidence
Use STAR examples
Add desirable criteria
Make scoring easy for the panel
When you treat your application like a checklist, you will notice something amazing:
Your shortlisting rate will skyrocket.
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