I Got Hired: Anthonia
Posted on: 8 November 2024 by Richard Finch in Class of 2023
Anthonia Adefolaju is a Class of 2023 Medicine and Surgery MBChB graduate who is now a Resident Doctor in the NHS.
How did you hear about your role and decide to apply for it?
All medical students in the UK are invited to apply for the Foundation Programme in order to start working as a Resident Doctor following graduation through Oriel.
The UK is split into several groups which you have to rank in order of where you would like to work. When I was applying positions were allocated according to your academic decile and an SJT exam, but nowadays positions are allocated via the preference-informed allocation systems.
How did you get to where you are now?
The year I applied we all sent off applications in September/October, and found out the area of the country and departments we'd be working in March/April time. My main aim was to work in departments that would help me become as well-rounded a doctor as possible and to work in a supportive hospital; I was quite happy with my outcome!
Your favourite experience as part of your role?
Definitely going on clinical placement! It felt nice to actually put my skills and knowledge to the test, and getting to contribute to patient care (even if it’s in a small way) is always exciting and a great privilege.
The most challenging part of your graduate journey?
Adjusting to the responsibilities that being a doctor entails - it took some time to get used to the fact that I held some of the clinical responsibility for patients. But it’s been an honour!
Top 3 Tips for current students and graduates:
- Look after your mental health! Uni can be so stressful! Make sure to take good care of yourself - practice mindfulness, exercise when you can, and make sure you see your friends and loved ones! If things are getting too much to handle, make sure to reach out to the uni/loved ones/mental health services.
- Don’t feel you have to take the well-beaten path. Whilst most people I knew opted to take the conventional post-graduation route, I know plenty of people who chose to go down different routes after getting their degrees. People on my course have gone on to go into consulting, research, or even accounting! The world is your oyster - explore your options!
- Reflect on the experiences you have in university (and beyond)! Reflective practice is a key part of time spent in medical school and a career in medicine. Though it can sometimes feel tedious, reflections can not only help you understand how these moments have affected you personally but also shape how you'll approach similar scenarios in the future. Regular reflection can really help with the development of self-awareness and adaptability - traits that are really important for everyone!
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Keywords: Graduate, Class of 2023, I Got Hired, Case Study, Graduate Outcomes.