MBBS Year 2 Careers Management Skills

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MBBS Year 2 Careers Management Skills

• Laura Brammar
• Medical Careers Adviser
• UCL Careers Service

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Who am I

• Not a clinician
• Background in Education, MSc Organisational
  Psychology
• UCL Careers Service, The Careers Group,
  University of London
• Work with UCL Medical School, Departments of
  Psychology, Economics and Statistical Science
• Have special interest in careers within Medicine
  Careers consultancy for BMA, London Deanery
  amongst others
• Deliver Career Prognosis Career Management
  Skills for Medical Students SSC

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4 key messages

• As youve just heard..
• The situation regarding career progression and
  training routes within Medicine is in a process
  of CHANGE
• HOWEVER an awareness of Career management skills
  can be a positive experience that you can help
  you during medical school
• AND there are resources and assistance available
  to you during your studies at UCL so
• Continue to ENJOY our MBBS

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Why careers information can help Medical students
in a TIME OF CHANGE

• Changing context of Medical training routes and
  career pathways
• Modernising Medical Careers (MMC)
• Medical Training Application System (MTAS)/
  Foundation Programme UKFPO
• So its good to keep up-to-date!

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A few careers management skills go a long
wayREGARDLESS OF FUTURE CHANGES

• Self awareness
• Research and Evaluation
• Implementation and Transition

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Self Awareness Know yourself

• Where are you now in your career thinking?
• Very clear or very vague both are EQUALLY OK
• Youre two years into a vocational/professional
  experience

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Complete the following sentences (there are no
right/wrong answers..or prizes)

• Im studying medicine because
• Getting to this point in the MBBS has been
• Im most looking forward to
• Im least looking forward to.
• At the moment, when I become a doctor Im
  interested in.

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Research and Evaluation Know whats out there

• Equip yourself with resources useful for your
  Professional Development (PDS spine of MBBS)
• Reflect on career areas and skills that appeal to
  you
• Know your landscape keep up to date with useful
  careers information
• Great., but how?!

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Some useful signposts for careers information

• The MBBS course itself talk to professional
  clinicians
• UCL Careers Service Library Resources
• London Deanery www.londondeanery.ac.uk
• Royal Colleges websites e.g. Royal College of
  General Practitioners www.rcgp.org.uk
• BMJ Careers www.careers.bmj.com

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Implementation and Transition Know how to make
successful applications

• MUCH further down the line!!
• When you need to apply to next stage of medical
  training (F1/F2) assistance will be available to
  you
• So be reassured!

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Best advice? BE REFLECTIVE!

• Keep a reflective diary during your Clinical
  Years
• It will help you remember strong examples of
  skills and experiences later
• Doesnt have to be detailed or a daily commitment
• Anything is better than nothing

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An example of how it may prove useful later...

• Describe one example of a recent clinical
  situation where you have demonstrated appropriate
  professional behaviour. What did you do and what
  have you learned? How will you apply this to
  foundation training? (150 words)
• An example question from 2007-2008 F1 application
  form

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So ways you can help yourself include

• Keep a reflective diary musing on you learnt
  about yourself.
• Think about your clinical years from a
  transferable skills perspective e.g. team
  working, ability to prioritise, ability to cope
  under pressure etc
• Take opportunities to speak to people about their
  career choices listen, reflect and learn from
  their experiences
• Keep up to date with changes
• DO NOT become OBSESSED or an OSTRICH

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REMEMBER Additional careers help is available to
you!

• Laura Brammar Medical Careers Specialist
• Offers advice on career choice, applying for
  electives, CVs, applications (including F1),
  interview skills
• Available every Tuesday
• 20 mins medical quick query call 020 7866 3600
• 1 hour guidance discussion email
  careers_at_ucl.ac.uk with MEDIC in title and will be
  contacted to book appointment
• Completely confidential
• Careers workshops available throughout MBBS course

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UCL Careers Service YOUR Careers Service

• 4th floor, ULU Building, Malet Street
• www.ucl.ac.uk/careers
• 020 7866 3600
• See students Mon-Thurs
• 9.30-5pm
• Library only Friday 11-5pm
• Open all year
• Extensive careers library

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And just to dispel those myths

• Medical students use their careers service for a
  WIDE variety of reasons
• Ranging from..
• Those who sometimes discover Medicine is not for
  them
• Those who were never really that sure they wanted
  to study medicine in the first place
• Those who fail their exams
• Those who want to leave for personal reasons
• Those who want to earn more money as an
  Investment Banker..

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BUT Also for all these reasons too

• Those who want to discuss choices of SSCs or
  electives
• Those who want to find out about volunteering
  opportunities
• Those who want help with their CV
• Those who want their F1 application forms checked
• Those who want to talk through how their MBBS is
  progressing
• Those who want to practise their interview skills
• Those who want to learn more about alternative
  careers within Medicine
• Those who want help with decision making skills
• Those who want to gain a different perspective
  from a non-clinician

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So to recap4 key messages

• The situation regarding career progression and
  training routes within Medicine is in a process
  of CHANGE
• HOWEVER Career management can be a positive
  experience that you can influence during medical
  school
• AND there are resources and assistance available
  to you during your studies at UCL so
• Continue to ENJOY medical school

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Best of luck

• Enjoy the rest of your MBBS!