Thinking ahead - Foundation years

[Spencer Wells]

But in terms of a medical career, how likely is it that you never have to move geographical areas??

Very unlikely. In order to get a varied training experience, you'll be expected to move at the very least around a deanery, and you might not get a job in your preferred area so have to take a job wherever you can get it (wherever in the country that may be). Then, when it comes to a consultant position/GP partner, you have to go where the jobs are. If there are no consultancy posts available where you've trained as a reg, you'll have to move to where the jobs are.

[clemette]

What about if you are not particularly ambitious

[Spencer Wells]

What about if you are not particularly ambitious

Well I suppose you could take a non-training post, but then you'd have the uncertainty of reapplying for jobs every 6 to 12 months as the short-term contracts expire, and again, you have to go where needed.

[Emzeebubs]

It is unlikely. However, depends on your decision of specialty. GP current competition ratios are nationally 3:1 so you have a good chance of getting onto a VTS programme....but whether that'd still be in trent is another thing. Having said that I know lots of nottingham trained GP registrars....still kicking about in nottingham. Basically its impossible to say. You could end up staying within same/similar county (def not same place within county though, as you have to move around the region you train in) but I definitely wouldn't count on it...especially if you don't want to do GP (competition ratios are a lot higher - basically go where the job is)

[Emzeebubs]

ooh i'm too slow in this conversation! If you want long term career progression I agree you definitely have to take chances as they come up. Unless you dont mind being potentially stuck in a non training grade and hence not progressing, then yes, you will have to move if there are no opportunities for you locally

[yazoo]

What about if you are not particularly ambitious

Actually, if you are good and not ambitious (a fairly rare combination), the prospects are currently excellent! You will be welcomed with opened arms to a range of specialty jobs. Some are permanent. I'm talking about staff grade jobs in A&E, aneasthetics, acute medicine, paeds, or the GP equivalent of salaried posts (edit - but these are getting much harder...).

[clemette]

Thank you.
I am over-thinking - just need it to be September and to get started!