Frequently asked questions for career planning
Careers FAQs
Here is some outline guidance for some frequently-encountered career challenges through the medical career lifecycle.
I should never have started the Foundation Programme!
The transition from medical student to working doctor is profound and some new doctors experience doubts or second thoughts. If you have any concerns about starting your post, contact the Foundation School to talk through your questions and ask for help. There will be an induction period "off the job" for you to familiarise yourself with your new place of work before you start.
Apprehensions can arise in the early weeks and months, when getting used to working life and the challenge of translating theory to practice as a working doctor can feel overwhelming. This is a common transition so take your time and don't expect too much of yourself; don't make any panic decisions. Talk to Education Centre staff, your Foundation Programme Director or the Deanery Foundation Team if you are feeling out of your depth. Or call/contact us.
Can I go abroad during Foundation Training?
The current BMA advice states:
“UK medical graduates are strongly advised to complete foundation years one and two sequentially before going to work abroad.”
Wales Foundation School, unlike many others, allows a limited number of doctors to take a year out between F1 and F2 but remember that you would not be matched in the first round for F2 rotations and so would need to be flexible about your options. Educational approval for an F2 year abroad cannot be awarded retrospectively and a submission has to be made well in advance. See Wales Foundation Policies and Procedures for information :
Going abroad after F2 means thinking about when you intend to apply for specialist training. Applications in the first available round can be made online from anywhere in the world but would mean being available for interviews in the UK. Don’t forget that you can also consider taking Time Out Of Programme to work abroad during specialty training programmes – see The Gold Guide for information. The BMA also have useful downloads on Working Abroad .
I didn’t get a Specialty Training Offer
So you did your best with researching specialties, completing applications, attending several selection centres, but didn’t get a job offer. Perhaps your talent did not come across as well as it could on your application, CV or during interviews. You can ask for feedback from recruiting centres to find out which aspects of the process you did well or less well in, compared to other applicants. See How do I Apply? for help with different aspects of recruitment and selection.
There are other job options to think about:
- A fixed term locum post to build your experience in a specialty before applying in the next competition round. Note that LAT posts are recognised for training and recruited by the Deanery, LAS posts are service posts recruited by Local Health Boards along with other locum vacancies.
- There are second and third specialty recruitment rounds before August to fill remaining posts so look out for these via national specialty and individual Deanery recruitment sites.
- Service or non-training grade posts can be a good way of gaining clinical experience and increasing the likelihood that you have more confidence and experience to offer in subsequent applications for specialty training.
- Could this be time for an overseas opportunity?
Use our interactive Career Planning Map to see the full range of options which may be open to you.
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