Making medical career choices

There is competitive entry to specialist training at two points:

• on completion of Foundation training
• after core training in some specialties (ACCS, anaesthetics,core medical training (CMT), psychiatry, surgery).

Career Management skills

In the Oxford Deanery all Foundation trainees are offered a place on two MedicCareers workshops organized by the CDU. The workshop takes delegates through the key stages of career management:

• Understand yourself – make a list of your strengths and areas you still need to work on
                           o What is most important to you about your work
                           o What are you good at? What are you less good at?
                                                  What feedback have you had?
                                                   What are your attributes, abilities and personal qualities
                            o What motivates you at work? What demotivates you?

• Features of your ideal work situation. Develop a description after asking yourself  a range of questions such as:
                           o Do you like to work on your own or in a team?
                           o Do you like variety or routine?
                           o Do you like doing practical procedures? Are you good at them?
                           o How do you enjoy emergencies? Pressure?
                           o How do you cope with uncertainty or patients in distress?
                           o How do your personal circumstances affect your career choice?
                           o How much money do you want?  Will you undertake private practice?

• Matching career options to your ideal outcome
                              o Look at specialty descriptions on college websites and the national careers website www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk .                              

                               o Does your specialty choice match your ideal?  If there are some aspects you feel uneasy about, why not discuss with someone in the specialty.

• Action plan
This should include plans for finding out further information. If you cannot decide between two specialties, seek advice from your Foundation Training Programme Director, Educational Supervisor or Clinical Tutor.
It can be helpful to list the positive and negative aspects of each choice.
Some people have real dilemmas or may have to adjust their career plans because of personal circumstances or illness. If you feel this is you – why not apply to the Career Development Unit for individual career guidance on cdu@oxford-pgmde.co.uk.

If you've tried to work through these stages but feel you need more direction, you can access the online medical specialty career choice tool Sci 59, which is free via your local healthcare library.