How to Write a GP Job Advert That Gets the Right Applications

Why your advert matters more than ever

In primary care, good clinicians have choices. A salaried GP, practice nurse or clinical pharmacist can scroll past dozens of vacancies in a single evening, and most of them read almost exactly the same.

Your job advert is often the very first impression a candidate has of your practice. Done well, it does more than fill a gap on the rota. It attracts people who share your values and want to stay.

Here is how to write an advert that stands out for the right reasons.

1. Lead with what makes you different

Many adverts open with the practice list size and the clinical system. Both are useful, but neither will make a candidate stop scrolling.

Open instead with what genuinely sets you apart. That might be protected admin time, a supportive partnership, a strong training culture or a practice that has just achieved an outstanding CQC rating. If you are part of a forward-thinking PCN, say so and explain what that means day to day.

A simple test: if you could swap your practice name for another and the advert would still make sense, it needs more personality.

2. Be clear on sessions, pay and practicalities

Clinicians are busy people, and vague adverts are quickly passed over. 'Competitive salary' tells a candidate very little, while a clear sessional rate or salary band shows confidence and respect for their time.

The details candidates look for first are:

• Pay: a salary range or sessional rate, plus indemnity and pension arrangements
• Sessions: how many, which days, and how flexible you can be
• Workload: typical appointment lengths, daily patient contacts and how visits are shared
• Support: admin time, CPD allowance, appraisal support and mentoring

The clearer you are upfront, the fewer mismatched applications you will need to sift through.

3. Show the team, not just the role

People join practices, but they stay because of colleagues. Give candidates a feel for who they will be working alongside.

Mention the size and make-up of the clinical team, whether you have ARRS roles such as pharmacists, physician associates or paramedics, and how the team supports one another. A short line about regular clinical meetings, a friendly reception team or even a shared lunch on Fridays can say more about your culture than a paragraph of buzzwords.

If you can, include a brief quote from a current team member. Authentic voices build trust quickly.

4. Keep it readable and mobile friendly

Most candidates browse vacancies on their phones, often between clinics or at the end of a long day. Long blocks of text are easy to abandon.

Use short paragraphs, clear headings and a handful of bullet points. Keep the job title simple and searchable, such as 'Salaried GP, 6 sessions' rather than an internal title nobody outside the practice would recognise. Finish with a clear call to action and tell candidates exactly how to apply and who to contact for an informal chat.

5. Advertise where clinicians are actually looking

Even the best written advert will struggle if it is buried on a generic job site alongside retail and warehouse roles. Healthcare professionals want a place built for them, where every vacancy is relevant to their career.

That is exactly why work.healthcare exists. As a dedicated UK healthcare job board, we connect GP practices, PCNs and healthcare employers with the clinicians and support staff they need, all in one focused space.

Ready to put these tips into practice? Post your next vacancy on work.healthcare and reach candidates who are looking for a role just like yours.

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