Welcome to your graduate medical career
Plan your career now!
Start career planning early so that you have time to understand your skills and motivations and can make a plan of action for meeting your long-term goals. Don’t sit back and let others tell you what you should do and don’t drift into whatever seems the easiest. Be proactive in seeking out the careers guidance, information and resources provided by your university, medical school, deanery and postgraduate medical centre. Making informed decisions now will help you to shape your future.
No medical degree?
It’s not too late to embark on a career in medicine, even if you don’t have a medical degree. There are graduate medical degrees available throughout the UK and while many only offer places to graduates with biological science backgrounds, there are also courses for those from any degree discipline.
Stay up to date with postgraduate education
Postgraduate medical education is undergoing significant changes at the moment, so it’s wise to keep up to date with what’s going on. The following websites will help you find out the latest information on Foundation Programmes and postgraduate medical education:
- Modernising Medical Careers
- Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
- British Medical Association
- General Medical Council
Remember to visit your deanery’s website to find out how changes will be implemented in your region and also visit the websites of the Medical Royal Colleges.
Research all your options
With some 60 specialties and subspecialties, medicine has a diverse range of career options. You will experience some specialties during medical school, others you will be exposed to for the first time during your foundation training. However, there will be others that you may never come into contact with unless you seek them out. Make sure you know all your options so that you can match your skills and interests to the right career for you. And don’t forget about opportunities such as an academic career, working overseas, training in the armed forces, or doing something completely different outside medicine.
Be the best doctor you can be
The Foundation Programme is structured around core competences to ensure doctors receive comprehensive training in all aspects of patient care and working with colleagues. Demonstrating these core competences is vital when applying for specialist training posts and knowing how to gain experience in each area can really boost your career prospects. Developing the core competences will also help you realise your potential and be the best doctor you can be.
Perfect your applications and interview technique
Whatever stage you are at in your medical training, it’s important to know how to sell your skills when making applications and going for medical interviews. The medical profession is no different from any other in terms of using your CV and application form to highlight the skills relevant for the post to which you are applying. Being better prepared for the process will increase your chances of success, whether you are applying for a Foundation Programme or a specialist training post.
