Work experience. How much is needed?

**nj.medic** · 23-01-2006, 05:08 PM

I apologise in advance for the length of this.

I've notice that a few people are getting jobs in a hospital or doing volunteer work to strengthen their applications. This is not really an option for me.

I've spent most of the last 8 years studying (I'm 30) to reach the top of my current profession. My most recent exam needed 6 months of intense study and then a trip to Brussels for the actual exam. Only 15,000 people have ever passed this exam since it's creation in the late 1980's. I'm currenly at the top of my profession, work for an investment bank and I earn a higher salary than your average GP. My job can be fairly stressful and obviously takes up a lot of my time. I'm not saying all this to show off (not really my style), it's to show you my predicament.

It would be foolish of me to give this up to get hospital exerience just on the hope that it may benefit my application and hence increase my chances of a successful application. I also don't have much free time for volunteer work and the little free time I do have I spend studying for GAMSAT.

I have a mortgage and all the other bills etc and as I'm not qualified for anything else, I could not live on the huge earnings drop that a move in to healthcare (unqualified) would mean. Also, I'm saving like crazy at the moment so I can support myself through 4 or 5 years of med school and so I need a decent income.

I plan on using my holiday time to get work experience at a GP practice. Will this be enough? Will interviewers understand that other professions can be demanding and I can't simply give everything up on the chance that "my devotion to medicine can be seen as unquestionable" and that I JUST MIGHT get into medicine if I do?

Thanks for reading. I hope this comes across the way I intended.

NJ

**the_slob** · 23-01-2006, 05:27 PM

You are clearly in a very difficult position. I have been lucky in a way in that I did not travel too far down another route though I have already spent 6 years at university.

I think there are plenty of things you could do without having to immediately give up everything. I have started volunteering with the Red Cross. The first aid certificate only took 4 days over 2 weekends but the experience this will hopefully give me will be invaluable in terms of pre-medical experience but also shows both a commitment to caring and also demonstrates an interest in the general well-being of the community. I am hoping to become a first-responder which will give me great experience of being "on-call."

I think this point has been highlighted many times previously but the application process should not be a matter of just ticking boxes but should instead be about developing skills in a caring setting and showing to yourself that you really are sure about the career change.

I personally have been wokring as an auxiliary nurse for the last 6 months. However, i'm still unsure as to how this looks to admissions tutors as I haven't recieved any interviews yet (tho no rejections either!). So I would say you must do something to gain experience but there are so many things you could do that only entail one or two days in a month or a few hours a week. Try your local volunteering centre who should be able to help. There are usually roles with elderly people that organisations are only too happy to let you volunteer.

Hope this helps..

**Meg01** · 23-01-2006, 05:39 PM

Hi! I have to agree with what you've said! The greatest diffuclty I have found has been taking on voluntary work at the expense of time I could spend working for money. On my UCAS form it says from Jan I will be working as a clinical assistant - this was true at the time of writing, but then a full time (much) better paid position in research came along ... plus I have to invest time in other options so to speak!

Anyway, what I found really good was a programme at my local children's hospital for vounteers. I personally was a mobile librarian, but I know of people that read to children in the evenings after work - this is a good option, as well as weekends - hospitals and care homes need support 24 hours a day!

In an interivew I had last Nov I explained that I would not be doing clinical assistant as much as I claimed on the UCAS form, and they were extremly understanding that the job I accepted was a better personal option for me. Not for a second did they think anyone should give up a current job (with a mortgage and children etc). Any effort to squeeze in what you can do will be impressive, and perhaps illustrating what your current job can give you (public contact ...?). Hats off to anyone who can fit in loads and loads of W/e!!

Good luck - you'll easily find some good options I'm sure!

**AtheJ** · 23-01-2006, 05:56 PM

I was strongly advised to develop my awareness through a 'continued' period of voluntary work (as opposed to the odd bit of tourism).

I too have a big job and heavy workload and can sympathise emphatically. I found my local hospice and hospital were only too keen to have me in at the weekends. Most hospitals have shifts that vary between a couple of hours to a whole day, so chances are you'll find something to suit.

Experiences offered by voluntary work have been important to me in confirming that this is the path for me. Best of Luck and if you decide that the price of leaving what you have (to follow medicine) is too high, then don't worry - the world could do with a few more compassionate finance whizzkids.

**wanabanana** · 23-01-2006, 06:27 PM

It's mentioned a lot on this site, but it's really not how much work experience you have but rather what you get out of it. It terms of work experience, all I've done is a week shadowing a consultant surgeon around and I've managed to get 4 interviews! All you need to do is mention on your UCAS form exactly how it has helped you decide that your future lies in medicine.

A week at a GP's practice is good experience, but you should almost certainly get some in a hospital too as this is where you will be spending all of your early career. Also if you don't have much time for volutary work, you should definitely look into becoming a 1st aid volunteer for the British Red Cross. You can give as much or as little time as you like and will look great on your UCAS form. Even once a month would be sufficent for this.

As a graduate who is currently in a well paid job, I can relate to your situation. I will be making huge sacrificies when I (hopefillly) start my medical degree but because medicine is what I want to do more than anything else, I am more than willing to make them. So if you really think you couldn't live on the drop in income then I would have to say a career in medicine probably isn't for you. You should want to medicine for the many other amazing things it can bring to your life; the sacrifice of expensive comforts should not be an obstacle, in my opinion.

**miss spontaneous** · 23-01-2006, 06:28 PM

I have had a similar pridicament to you. I am in the second year of my biomedical science degree and my time table is biweekly so i dont have regular time of. i also have no free days. but i managed to find voluntary work in a hospital which i have to call them and tell them what day i will be available this week. so it is very flexible.

I have also just got a job as a bank nursing assistant so there is not a weekly commitment. ill only go when i have the time. this is pretty good because i might need to study or go home etc. so you could try this out. i dont even have any experience so you dont have to worry about that.

if you cant find a hospital find a nursing home. this is equally as good.

**hellybelly1** · 23-01-2006, 08:08 PM

It my also be worth looking into volunteering through the WRVS. They run a Good Neighbour scheme in which volunteers can do things like driving people to hospital appointments, collecting shopping or doing odd jobs for house-bound people, reading to blind people and the like.

OK, so it's not hospital experience, but it can give you another perspective on healthcare. You aren't expected to give a regular amount of time, but if there's a job that comes up in your area they'll ring you and see if you can do it, so it's idea for someone with a busy job. And it's not just for women either these days.

I'm currently visiting someone who's housebound because of serious COPD. I do odd things for her that she can't physically manage herself and bring up the Sunday papers to her. Fairly trivial, but makes a big difference to her. I've found it an invaluable insight into the life and experiences of someone who's ill, but not in hospital. She also knows I'm applying to medical school, and we've had some interesting chats about her experiences as a patient.

**Cuba81** · 23-01-2006, 08:14 PM

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I plan on using my holiday time to get work experience at a GP practice. Will this be enough? Will interviewers understand that other professions can be demanding and I can't simply give everything up on the chance that "my devotion to medicine can be seen as unquestionable" and that I JUST MIGHT get into medicine if I do?

I honestly think that the interviewers will understand your situation. Being a doctor does not mean that other professions do not count. As for having time to volunteer... I work in a hospice once a month for three hours in the Bereavement Support Team. Try and find something that it is not so time consuming and it will be enough.

Buena Suerte!!!!

**nj.medic** · 23-01-2006, 11:38 PM

Thanks guys, lots of good info and advice.

I honestly think that the interviewers will understand your situation. Being a doctor does not mean that other professions do not count. As for having time to volunteer... I work in a hospice once a month for three hours in the Bereavement Support Team. Try and find something that it is not so time consuming and it will be enough.

I didn't realise that you could voulenteer so sporadically. It's definitely an option now. Even I can manage a few hours a month!

**northwill100** · 01-02-2006, 01:06 PM

Hi Nj.medic, I too had similiar issues when applying to med school, worked long hrs in a v demanding job, in an area totally unrelated to healthcare. However voluntary work I would say is a must. You are contemplating a major career change, so need to be able to demonstrate that you have made efforts to understand what its all about. Your personal statement on the UCAS form will need to address the reasons for career change to health care & cover what you have learnt from your 'experiences' etc

Don't think there is a need to chuck your job in yet!! Most hospitals will have a voluntary program of some sort. I spent about 9mths volunteering at my local hospital, one evening a week, usually 7.30pm - 9pm. Was actually good fun! I did some nursing hme wrk over holidays, but no shadowing as such. Start contacting the hospitals asap as it takes a while to get it all sorted out.

Obviously you will have lots of skills that are transferable to med, but just need to get healthcare experience. It can be difficult juggling everything at times, but its all part of the admissions experience! I am now at med school & v much enjoying it all. Even getting used to the little money bit!

Good luck.