Looking to boost your career prospects? Careers Adviser Jennifer Connell has got you covered. Tick these off this term and you’ll be flying!
1. Join a society (preferably as a committee member)
Liverpool Guild of Students offers a wide range of societies (medical and more) to choose from. Not only are they a great way to meet people but, as part of a committee, you will improve your leadership skills. Since all doctors work in a multi-disciplinary team, they are expected both to act as a leader and to accept the leadership of others with more experience and expertise, as the situation demands. Doing something to develop leadership skills now signals to any future employer that you have understood early on in your training the importance of this skill to life as a medic.
2. Get involved in teaching and mentoring activities
Doctors are expected to contribute to the education and training not only of other doctors, but of medical students and other healthcare professionals. Getting experience in this now, for example through society-led teaching sessions, is a real bonus.
Doctors are also expected to act as a mentor to others, which includes giving feedback to colleagues, and contributing to their appraisals.
Supporting first year students as they settle into the course and university life through the School's Peer Mentor scheme is a great way for you to contribute to the development of another student, as well as to your own.
3. Enter essay or other competitions to win an award
A little-known fact is that for some competitions surprisingly few applications are received. And yet, winning a prize is a means of setting yourself apart from your peers.
Having school-based, local, regional - and particularly national - prizes will distinguish you from your peers throughout your medical career.
Keep an eye on the weekly Student Bulletin and social accounts you follow for opportunities to submit an entry for a prize - the annual round of School Prizes is a good example.
4. Join a Royal College
Follow up any interests you may already have in a particular specialty by joining a Royal College and attending their events, conferences or summer schools. Undecided on a specialty? As a student doctor studying at Liverpool, you have exclusive access to 50+ careers videos in which consultants and resident doctors discuss openly the rewards and challenges of their specialty, and advise what you can be doing now to increase your chances of getting in.
5. Use your network
If you have outstanding questions about a specialty, take the opportunity to connect with one of our Specialty Leads. The Specialty Leads are experts in their field who are both University of Liverpool lecturers and consultants outside of the university.
Thanks Jennifer! Be sure to make full use of the resources available to you on the Careers Support section of the student intranet. You can also book a 1-2-1 careers appointment with Ms Connell, the School's dedicated Careers Adviser, via the University's Careers and Employability portal Handshake.