Consultant Job Hunting
How to find, assess and secure a first consultant radiologist post
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In short: Start looking at consultant posts six to twelve months before CCT, apply three to six months before your intended start, and visit the department before interview. Posts are advertised on NHS Jobs, BMJ Careers and trust websites. The job plan and on call rota matter more than the advert's headline.
When to start
- ST4: decide on region and subspecialty mix
- Six to twelve months before CCT: watch adverts, visit departments informally
- Three to six months before start date: apply
- References: line up early, including your current clinical lead
What to assess in a post
- Job plan: the split of direct clinical care and supporting professional activities, and what the department actually expects
- Subspecialty mix: does the reporting and procedural work match what you trained for
- On call: frequency, whether from home, what support exists overnight
- Department culture: visit, sit in an MDT, talk to the newest consultants
- Reporting workload: ask for the numbers, not the adjectives
- Development: study leave, teaching, research and management opportunities
Questions worth asking
- How many consultants are in post and how many vacancies are there
- What is the on call rota and who else is on it
- What subspecialty sessions are available now and in two years
- What is the expected reporting throughput per session
- How are SPAs allocated and protected
Application and interview
- Tailor the application to the job plan in the advert, not a generic CV
- Evidence subspecialty experience, audit, teaching and leadership with outcomes
- Panel interviews usually include the clinical director, a college representative, HR and an executive; expect questions on service development and governance as well as clinical work
- Visit beforehand. It signals interest and lets you check the fit
Negotiating
Usually negotiable: start date, job plan detail and programmed activity allocation, on call arrangements, study leave, office space and equipment. Usually fixed: basic salary on the national scale (England 2026/27: £113,565 at threshold 1, rising to £150,569 at threshold 4), the core job description and essential on call commitment.
Common questions
Where are consultant radiologist jobs advertised in the UK?
NHS Jobs, BMJ Careers and individual trust websites. Many posts are also circulated informally through training schemes.
When should I apply for a consultant post?
Three to six months before your intended start date, having watched the market for six to twelve months before CCT.
Can I negotiate a consultant contract?
Job plan detail, start date, on call arrangements and study leave are often negotiable. The pay scale is national.