Website of the UK government

About the health sector

There are over 350 different careers to choose from and there are many different jobs you can do.

Here are just a few job examples:

• domestic assistant
  
• midwife
  
• hospital porter
  
• management team member
  
• medical secretary
  
• driver
  
• health trainer
  
• hospital kitchen chef
  
• electrician in a depot or warehouse

What skills you will need

Some health jobs need qualifications and others don’t. What specific qualifications you need will depend on what job you want to do. All health workers need to be good with people and usually work as part of a team.

You can access the sectors own ‘careers framework’, which will tell you what skills you need and help you plan your future.

Advantages of working in health

There are many advantages to working in the health sector. For example:

• excellent opportunities – there are many different opportunities for both men and women
  
• you don’t need a degree – not all health jobs are for graduates, if you work and train hard it is possible to build an excellent career in the health service
• varied working conditions – not all jobs are hospital based; you could work in a call centre, a lab or a workshop - you could even find yourself out on the road visiting patients in the community

Real-life examples

Sam Downes, Personal Assistant

I’m the Personal Assistant to the Director of the local NHS trust. I started out as a medical receptionist. Since then I’ve done an NVQ and worked my way up to this job. I need to be very good at planning and writing. There’s a lot of responsibility, but I love it. I earn just under £26,000.

Jomo Bailey, Sterile Services Technician

I make sure that the equipment used on wards and in operating theatres is clean and germ-free. It’s hard work but I love it. I earn a good wage (about £14,000 to start with). I enjoy meeting patients and staff when I deliver clean supplies to the wards. There’s always someone new to talk to!

Find a job in this sector

Find out more about training and careers in health by visiting the websites below.

• Start a job and skills search Opens new window

• The Recruitment and Employment Confederation Opens new window

• Skills for health Opens new window

• Visit the NHS Jobs website Opens new window

Or you can call the Health Learning and Skills advice line free on 08000 150 850.

More help and support

For more information on working in this sector and gaining the skills you need, contact your local Jobcentre Plus office and talk to an adviser.

They can also tell you what help and support is available to you to help you into work.

You can talk to a Jobcentre Plus adviser by calling 0845 606 0234.

• Find your local Jobcentre Plus office Opens new window

• Help and advice when applying for a job