Making Career Decisions

1
Making Career Decisions
2
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

3
ROADS safety check

• To what extent
• Is your goal Realistic?
• Have you considered all Opportunities?
• Have you built in the Anchors that will provide
  personal support in the background to your
  career?
• Will your choice Develop your potential?
• Can you work with or minimise the Stress factors
  in your career choice?

4
Four Stage Process

• 1. Self assessment (Taking a history)
• 2. Career Exploration (Examination)
• 3. Decision making (Call for investigations)
• 4. Plan implementation (Treatment plan)

5
Four stages explained

• 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
• 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

6
Speciality Choices

• Early years core training is generic,
  transferable competencies
• Some junior doctors know exactly which speciality
  they wish to enter
• Most are pluri-potential and will be prepared to
  compromise
• Some are fixed geographically this can limit
  options
• You need to understand a speciality, what the
  work involves and the pathway to achieve this
• Need current information when making choices

7
Things to pin down

• What are my main options and preferences?
• What evidence do I have to prove that I fit the
  requirements of my choices?
• Where am I planning to apply?
• What is my 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice?
• What is my Plan B?

8
FAQ

• Can I go overseas?
• YES
• At any time if between training programmes
• During speciality training programme
• Discuss with deanery first

9
Decision making methods

• Ask why x 5
• Mind Mapping
• 6 thinking Hats
• Force Field/Push-Pull Analysis
• Talking to others will help you to gather
  evidence for informed decision-making, but beware
  if I were you

10
Competition Ratios for ST1 Specialty Training
Recruitment in Wales 2007
11
Competition ratios a word of warning!

• Can help to give an idea over time of most/least
  popular specialties BUT
• Posts are based on NHS service need this changes
  from year to year
• Where few training posts are created one year,
  many can be created next year and vice versa
• Using ratios to determine choice is like driving
  whilst looking in the rear view mirror

12
SCI59

• On line self assessment tool www.sci59.open.ac.uk
  
• OU development Gale and Grant
• Improves self awareness if questions considered.
• Gives 10 specialities most likely to enjoy
• Gives 10 specialities which will be a challenge
• Available for all F1 and F2 in Wales
• Take it with a pinch of salt hazard warning!!!
• Licenses available for use in Wales
• Free to BMA members via their website
• mortr_at_cf.ac.uk for access to SCI59

13
What happened in 2008?

• Speciality training either run-through or 3 -7
  years
• Generic early years (2-3 years) and then
  competitive entry for ST3 onwards (3-5 years)
• Could make as many applications as you wish
• 2009? Keep watching for information

14
Speciality Training 2008

• Direct entry specialities
• General Practice
• Clinical radiology
• OG
• Paediatrics
• OFMS
• ENT
• Ophthalmology
• Histopathology
• Microbiology inc Virology
• Chemical Pathology
• Public Health

• Generic Early Training
• Surgery
• Medicine
• Anaesthetics
• Psychiatry
• ACCS 3 years general then Anaes, Em. Med or
  Medical specs
• Then apply for ST3 (next key decision!)
• UK recruitment process

15
Information what?

• 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

16
Information where?

• Peers
• Hierarchical contacts
• University teachers, careers services
• Web based MMC, Deaneries, Royal Colleges, BMJ,
• Local NHS College tutors, Ed Supvr, PGO, VTS,
  HR
• Deaneries
• Libraries (see PGC library)
• Careers fairs
• Independent sources

17
Sources of Information

• www.mmc.nhs.uk look at person specifications
  and careers sections.
• http//www.nhscareers.nhs.uk for outlines of
  specialities, pay
• http//careerfocus.bmj.com/ details of UK and
  other job vacancies, career advice, FAQ
• http//www.cardiff.ac.uk/pgmde/ for info on PG
  training and employment in Wales
• http//www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/ for
  everything about the Foundation Programme

18
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
• www.mmc.nhs.uk

19
Reality checks

• Even with your talent and aspiration remember
  that
• There are more UK medical graduates (so more
  competition)
• There is no patronage / bias in selection
• The NHS will train the workforce it requires, not
  create the posts you want
• Not everyone gets their first choice

20
Decisions to be aware of

• Selection centres via different Deaneries can
  clash
• Offers are not all made at the same time
• Offers require a response in 48-72 hours
• Once you accept an offer, you are expected to
  withdraw from the process
• Only apply for opportunities you would accept
  dont be a victim of the safety net approach

21
If you have no offers

• there are other options
• Some Deaneries have an interim round
• Unfilled posts are released to Trusts so that
  service needs can be met
• Watch for vacancies in early summer
• Locum post (may be a LAT/LAS)
• Build experience in a Career Grade/SAS post
• Time for an overseas opportunity?

22
If Plan A fails, remember

• You can always apply again
• You can make any experience add value to your
  CV/portfolio and give you more to offer
• It is not impossible to change path if you try a
  specialty and it doesnt work for you
• Not all training posts get filled, so opportunity
  can arise sooner than you think

23
And

• We want you to stay in Wales
• Lots of opportunities
• Lots of Career Support available in local PGC
  network, via Trusts and from the Deanery
• 59 specialities in total
• Something to suit everyone

24
Deanery Careers/LTFT Team

• Dr Melanie Jones
• Associate Dean and Careers/LTFT Lead
• Sally Blake
• Career Development Adviser
• pgmedicalcareers_at_cardiff.ac.uk
• Rachel Mort
• Executive Officer
• flexibletrg_at_cardiff.ac.uk

25
Career support in F1 and F2

• Careers skills and support in curriculum
• Discussion and information opportunity
• Educational supervisors support careers thinking
  and decision making
• Specialist local support
• Use of tasters in F2
• Referral to Deanery team for complex or impartial
  support

26
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