Making Career Decisions

Learning outcomes You will: Understand a range of career factors which can help inform your choices after Foundation training Know how to evaluate specialty preferences and options in a systematic way Have access to a range of decision-making tools and resources Be able to use and interpret competition ratio data realistically Be able to scenario plan for the range of decisions and choices which typically occur as part of specialty training application Understand the importance of contingency plans

Deanery Careers/LTFT Team Dr Melanie Jones Associate Dean and Careers/LTFT Lead Sally Blake Career Development Adviser E Guidance link from

Self review Assoc Deans Professional Support Advisers(Careers/ Performance), ISP Advanced Local Support Faculty Lead, Foundation PD, Training PD, Specialty Lead, Mentors, Employer/Occ Health Local info / support Educational Supervisor, Royal College Tutor, PGCM Career Support for Trainees Specialist Deanery Who provides support ? You

Are you ready for this?

Your career at its simplest… 1.Go to Medical School 2.Become a Junior Doctor 3.Enter specialty training 4.Become a consultant

The road ahead…

Interactive Career map From hot button on Deanery homepage

Main Options after F2 Specialty Training programme Integrated Academic Training (WCAT) Specialty doctor Time Out/Abroad Research/teaching Other use of medical training (law, finance, informatics, sales, health related)

Typical decision dilemmas Which round should I apply to? Should I wait/re- apply in Round 2? Should I accept an offer if I dont know where my posts will be? Dual career issues Am I prepared to move to pursue a specialty or stay and let Plan A go? What is my 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd choice? What is my Plan B? Should I go abroad? Do I still want to be a doctor?

Influences on career decisions Time - earlier decisions are now required! Generation (Boomers, X and Y) Choice left to individual – (UK norm) Prior exposure to a speciality helps inform choice Peer influence (what others think) Role models Positive and negative experiences (horn and halo) Life style and work life balance You need to take an evidence-based approach!

Where should we be now? Self assessment Exploring career values, motivators, preferences, personal strengths, limitations Career exploration Establishing options, alternatives and plan Bs, information gathering, networking, reality checking Decision making (you are here!) Evaluating options, mapping skills and attributes against actual roles, considering options and preferences, clarifying personal factors, making choices Plan implementation Applicant research, CV update and applications, preparing for assessments and interviews

Still exploring? You can organise tasters in F2 to look at specialties you may consider or want to find out about Go to national medical careers fairs (RCP, Mersey 15 September, BMJ London 19 – 20 October) For diary of all UK Careers events ical_careers_events_calend.aspx Talk to trainees – what did they choose, why?

Try SCI59 On line self assessment tool Improves self awareness if questions considered Gives 10 specialities most likely to enjoy Gives 10 specialities which will be a challenge Take it with a pinch of salt – hazard warning!!! Free to BMA members via their website e/Careersguidance.jsphttp:// e/Careersguidance.jsp

Do some personal research Visit departments and talk to people Have your questions ready Have contact details to hand Youre the ideal person to ask about … Id really value your view on… Whats it really like working as a ……?

What do I need to know about particular specialties? Skills and competencies required Experience needed Pathways and progression Competition ratios Number and type of posts Local and UK variation Qualifications and training needed Must be up to date information

Have you got what they want? What I wantWhat the specialty 1 wants 3 What I offer 2What the specialty offers 4

Exercise Compare 2 Person Specifications How do the first sections differ? Look at common behavioural attributes e.g. Communication, Team work How do they differ?

Competition ratios – a word of warning! Medical students and doctors like evidence- based approachesMedical students and doctors like evidence- based approaches Numbers look an attractive way of planning or justifying decisionsNumbers look an attractive way of planning or justifying decisions Posts are based on NHS service need; this changes from year to year Everybody presents information differently (and usually not the whole story) Using ratios to determine choice is like driving whilst looking in the rear view mirror

Case study – Radiology in Wales 2009/ applications for 7 posts224 applications for 7 posts Competition ratio = 32:1Competition ratio = 32:1 39 invited to interview = 5:139 invited to interview = 5:1 15 attended = 2:115 attended = 2:1 3 appointable candidates, 4 posts to Round 23 appointable candidates, 4 posts to Round = 28 applicants put Wales first choice in national process (but 20 interviewed and 5 offers made)2010 = 28 applicants put Wales first choice in national process (but 20 interviewed and 5 offers made)

Sources of Information : on all specialty recruitment; look at person specifications and careers sectionswww.mmc.nhs.uk : information on recruitment rounds and procedureswww.bma.org.uk : for specialty information including workforce projectionswww.medicalcareers.nhs.uk : for outlines of specialities, paywww.nhscareers.nhs.uk careerfocus.bmj.com/ : details of UK and other job vacancies, career advice, FAQcareerfocus.bmj.com/ Careers in Wales : for info on specialty training rounds in Waleswww.walesdeanery.org all vacancies in Waleswww.medicalcareerswales.com : for video clips on specialty training in Waleswww.doctorstrainingwales.tv

Gold Guide Everything about speciality training Flexible training/LTFT Time out for research Time out for approved clinical training or experience Career breaks Inter deanery transfers Time out for other good reasons

Reality checks: Even with your talent and aspiration remember that: The NHS will train the workforce it requires, not create the posts you want Not everyone gets their first choice Think in terms of choosing some specialties not just choosing a specialty There will be changes, transitions and bottlenecks to navigate from hereon in Learn to live with risk and uncertainty

Action Plan Weigh up all your circumstances Prioritise your options and preferences Think of a Plan B (and C) Carry out detailed research Build experience via Tasters / audit / teaching Get portfolio in shape (Dops, Mini CEX etc) Bookmark and browse your key information sites Update your CV Think about your interview skills