Talk to your host Trust 

Many midwifery students secure their first job through organisations where they completed their clinical placements. Speak to the recruitment and retention team, practice supervisor and/or practice assessor about upcoming opportunities. 

Express your interest early – Let placement providers know you are interested in working for them after qualification.  

Network during placements – Build positive relationships with midwifery teams during your clinical experience. They may recommend you for positions or inform you about vacancies. 

If you are a midwifery apprentice 

Discuss with your line manager – Talk to your direct line manager about opportunities within your current organisation as you approach qualification. 

Contact your organisation's apprenticeship lead – They will know about progression routes and job opportunities for apprentices becoming qualified midwives. 

Online midwifery job search platforms 

NHS Jobs website – The main place to find NHS midwifery positions across England. Set up job alerts for midwifery roles in your preferred locations. 

NHS Professionals – NHS bank and temporary staffing agency that offers flexible midwifery work. This can be a good way to gain experience across different organisations and potentially lead to permanent positions. 

Organisation websites – Individual maternity services advertise their midwifery vacancies directly. Check regularly as positions can be posted at any time. 

Local job boards – Regional healthcare employers often advertise midwifery roles locally. Check your area's health and care partnership websites. 

Professional networks and support for newly qualified midwives 

University careers services – Your university may have partnerships with local maternity services and can help connect you with employers actively recruiting newly qualified midwives. 

Royal College of Midwives – Join the RCM to access their job board, networking events, and career support services specifically for midwifery professionals. They also have essential resources for newly qualified midwives. 

Professional networks – Connect with qualified midwives through professional events, social media groups, and local midwifery networks for job opportunities and advice. 

Health Careers – Visit NHS Health Careers website and live events for career planning support. 

The Graduate Guarantee 

The Government knows that some students and newly registered midwives have faced uncertainty - from delays in job availability or frustrating gaps between completing education programmes and starting work.

To address this, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced the Graduate Guarantee: a commitment that every newly registered midwife in England will have the opportunity to enter the healthcare workforce.

This includes £8m to open up roles for newly qualified midwives in areas where they are needed.

Explore midwifery job search platforms for current vacancies.

Some roles will be available immediately, but others may take a little more time to open. We appreciate your patience as we work to make these opportunities available as quickly as possible.

Please access the NHS Student Midwifery Hub for answers to the following (and more) frequently asked questions. 

What are the most common questions asked during a midwifery job interview?

When can I begin practicing as a registered midwife?

I've finished my university programme but haven't completed my 40 births yet, How should I approach job applications?

Can I start exploring job opportunities before I finish my course?

Do I have to stay with my employer or service after completing my midwifery apprenticeship?

How important is my first midwifery role for my career?

Where can I find the best midwifery job opportunities?

Can I apply for midwifery positions in specialties where I haven't had placements?

Can I work in other services than maternity for my first midwifery role? 

Are fixed-term contracts worth considering?

Click here. 

Application tips

Creating applications that showcase your potential

Your job application is your opportunity to demonstrate why you're passionate about midwifery and how your degree has prepared you to support women through pregnancy, birth and beyond. A well-crafted application can help you stand out from other candidates and secure interviews for your preferred midwifery roles.

Resources to help you succeed

How to create a CV: The King's Trust – Step-by-step guidance on creating professional CVs that get noticed by employers.

NHS Elect CV Guide – Specific advice for healthcare professionals on structuring CVs for NHS roles.

Royal College of Midwives – Professional support, career guidance, and resources specifically for midwives and student midwives.

Writing your midwifery job application

Your CV can be the basis of your application should be clear, professional, and tailored to midwifery roles. It's important to note that NHS Jobs require you to fill in an application form, but your CV will help you complete this effectively. Here's what to include:

• Personal details
• Professional summary
• Education and qualifications
• Work experience
• Work with women and families
• Key skills and competencies
• Professional development

Crafting your personal statement

Your personal statement is crucial for midwifery applications. It should be engaging, authentic, and demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Structure your personal statement

Responding to the job description, explain your motivation for choosing midwifery and what draws you to supporting women through pregnancy and birth.

Use specific examples to demonstrate: 

• How your placement experiences have prepared you for practice
• Times when you've demonstrated midwifery values like woman-centred care, advocacy, and professional accountability
• Your understanding of the challenges and rewards of midwifery
• Any relevant personal experiences that have shaped your career choice
• Connect your goals to the specific role and organisation, showing you've researched the position and understand what they offer.

For more information access the NHS England Student Hub here.

Job interview tips 

• Plan your journey
• Understand the role and organisation
• Prepare your materials
• Consider your needs
• Prepare questions to ask

Good questions show your interest in the role and help you decide if it's right for you:

• What does your preceptorship programme involve for newly qualified midwives?
• How does the team support continuous professional development?
• What is the approach to birth planning and woman-centered care?
• What are the current challenges and opportunities in the maternity unit?
• How do you support work-life balance for midwifery staff? 
• What to expect on interview day 

Midwifery interviews often include: 

• Panel interviews with senior midwives and maternity managers who will assess your knowledge, skills, and fit with their team
• Scenario-based questions about pregnancy care, birth complications, and emergency situations test your clinical reasoning
• Questions about midwifery values and professional standards, including woman-centered care and professional accountability
• Opportunities to ask questions about the maternity service, and support for newly qualified midwives are important

Common midwifery interview questions

• Why do you want to be a midwife?
• Share your genuine passion for supporting women through pregnancy, birth and beyond. Give specific examples of what motivates you. 
• Tell us about a birth you experienced during placement.
• Use real examples that show your midwifery skills, woman-centered approach, and ability to work under pressure. 
• How do you support women making birth choices?
• Demonstrate your understanding of informed consent, advocacy, and respecting women's autonomy. 
• What are your strengths and where do you see areas for development in midwifery?
• Be honest and show commitment to continuous learning in maternity care. 
• Can you describe an example when you have listened actively to a woman and family and the impact this had on the family?
• Demonstrates your understanding of service user voice, advocacy and active listening skills in practice. 
• Can you describe how you manage an emergency situation?
• Demonstrate your understanding of escalation procedures, appropriate management, accurate record keeping and recognition of emergency situations. 
• How do you work as part of a multi-disciplinary team?
• Give examples from placements showing collaboration with doctors, other midwives, and healthcare professionals.  

Using the STAR method in interviews

Structure your answers using situation, task, action, result to give clear, detailed responses that showcase your midwifery skills and experiences.

The STAR method helps you answer interview questions using practical examples from your training and placement:

• Situation - Set the scene and context
• Task - Explain what needed to be done
• Action - Describe what you did
• Result - Share the outcome and what you learned

For more information access the NHS England Student Hub here.