Jobs and Work Experience on gap year

[No Future]

What is the best approach to this?

Is it better to have done a range of diverse jobs or to have done one or two for a long period that you can reflect on in greater depth? I read somebody comment that diverse work experience is better, but it occurred to me that the Personal Statement is short and a long list would hinder your ability to comment properly on each one. What do you guys think?

Also - has anyone had experience as a HCA? I am applying for some posts but I wonder how competitive it is to get such jobs being 18 and of limited hospital experience?

Any thoughts on work experience suggestions, gap years and applying would be very welcome. Thanks.

[~...arzoo...~]

iv applied as a HCA too 4 my gap yr n am only 18. gt an interview lst wk bt didnt gt job coz sum1 else had mre exp dan me bt dat was in A/E. gt 1 comin up in a couple of weeks for the paedriatic spinal injuries unit. quite a few ppl apply bt dn u gt comp everywhere.

[latestarter]

Hi, I'm 36 so maybe not the same, but it took 30 applications and 8 interviews (over 4 months) before I finally got a job as an HCA with no previous experience... I don't want to put you off but you may find a few hours in a nursing home paid or as a volunteer may help your application - I have been volunteering in a hospice for 8 months, once a week for 2 hours and have also recently started a volunteer position in another hospital in the medical imaging dept.... contact your local hospital volunteer dept and speak to them honestly about what you would like to do, mine were very helpful and have even asked me if it is challenging enough for what I need!
imo, longer term work experience is better than lots as this shows you have commitment, which would be important at 18. This doesn't stop you shadowing doctors as a top up.
Good luck!

[No Future]

Thank you both. Well, I've applied for one. Hope to apply for three more but now I'm worried as to whether I can even get a job. :S

[nicnac84]

I really wouldn't hold much hope of getting a HCA position if you have no previous care experience. I worked as a community carer for 6 months before I got a HCA job, to be honest if you've got no experience you prob wouldn't get an interview, its very hands on and the only way you can prove you have the skills is if you've already done it. Try getting a job as a carer in a nursing home, they're always under staffed so its sooo easy and its just as good for experience.

[algy_lacey]

I'm currently a HCA, and applied with no caring experience and an Oxford degree (which I think probably put a few potential employers off!) I sent off about 50 applications over 3 months - basically I applied for every HCA job that came up on the NHS website in England except for ones in London and further south. I got shortlisted for three interviews - and luckily got the first job that I actually interviewed for.

I'm not trying to put you off - being a HCA is an absolutely fantastic experience, and (I think) a great preparation for a career in Medicine. But full-time positions are very difficult to get. And I was four years older than you when I was applying - I don't know any 18 year old HCAs. You might get lucky though, as long as you're flexible about where you end up (i.e. you are willing to move to a new city that you may not have even visited before, which is what I did) - a HCA's wages are certainly liveable on as long as you don't have a family to support, or grand ideas about the lifestyle that you are going to have! I've even managed to save a few thousand towards university, although rent, bills and food costs definitely take their toll

You could try applying to your local hospital's nurse bank (or NHS Professionals) if they have one. However, (as a full-time HCA, I am certainly biased) I don't think working bank shifts is as valuable experience as being full-time in one place. But you do get to see a greater variety of specialities. It must be terrifying to do your first few bank shifts though - most wards expect bank staff to be experienced, and HCAs often work without much supervision, so picking up the skills you need may not be easy.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do!

[No Future]

nicnac: Thanks, I've got an interview for a care home this week

algy: Thanks very much for all the information, it was very helpful I am sorry to sound so ignorant but what does 'bank' mean in this context?

---

Well, I've applied for more HCA posts and a care home. I did a little work experience in a hospice so maybe that'll help? :S

[algy_lacey]

No Future - it doesn't make you sound ignorant at all

Many hospitals have a "bank" of nurses and HCAs working for them, who don't belong to a particular ward. The nurses and HCAs let the bank know what shifts they are available for during the next couple of weeks, and then the bank matches them to wards where there are staff shortages (e.g. due to sickness) or where a "special" is needed (for one-on-one care of a patient, perhaps because they are very sick and need constant observation, or because they are confused and wandering, or because they are a danger to themselves or others).

There are pros: 1) you get to see a lot of different specialties, because you could end up anywhere on any shift 2) you get to meet a wide variety of staff 3) if you come across a ward that you hate, you can refuse to work there again 4) if you come across a patient that you really dislike, you can rest assured that you probably won't be working with them again tomorrow 5) the pay is slightly better than people employed by a particular ward 6) it's very flexible - you can do as many shifts as you want a week (if they are available) and pick and choose what kind of shifts you do.

But there are also cons: 1) you aren't guaranteed work - if there are no shifts available, you don't work - and hospitals often cut back the number of bank staff deployed to the wards as a way of saving money. Towards the end of the financial year, bank shifts can be very scarce indeed. 2) you will arrive on the ward and everyone will expect you to be experienced and competent - you won't get the training period that you would get if you were on a ward full-time, and the staff may resent the fact that they have to show you what to do 3) if you end up working as a "special" you may be working with people who can be quite frightening and aggressive - even sweet old ladies can punch you hard if they are confused and think you have broken into their house 4) you won't develop the long-term relationship with your patients that I consider so valuable - you learn an awful lot from having to maintain a pleasant and professional relationship with "difficult" patients. And forging a relationship with the nice patients is also extremely educational and rewarding. The better you know your patients, the more you can do for them - sometimes it's the little things like knowing how to make them smile, and sometimes it's bigger things like knowing that their pressure areas have deteriorated from the day before. You miss out on all that if you just do one shift on a ward and then move to another ward the next day.

I'm sure there's more - but I've rambled on enough already!

[No Future]

Ahhh, I see. That's interesting to know, I just didn't really know how that worked. Thanks. Now I know what they mean by a 'bank' vacancy.

Did you have any training at all as a bank HCA or was it a case of learn as you go?

Would part time HCA positions possibly be easier to get? I've just been applying for all types in my area.


xx

[algy_lacey]

I'm not a bank HCA, but as far as I know, at my hospital bank HCAs don't get any training at all. I didn't receive any training before I started on my ward - but obviously everyone knew that I was new, so I got on the job training. You probably miss out on a lot of that if you work on the bank.

I doubt part time jobs would be much easier to get - but they're definitely worth a shot