Careers Guidance

STFS trainees now have access to a password-protected area on this site and this area now gives trainees access to some videos which will help trainees to understand the processes they may go through in selection centres into ST1/CT1. An email with the password and log-in details was sent to STFS trainees' email accounts on 31st August 2011.

STFS trainees can now log-in and access this area by clicking here.

1. Introduction
2. How to access careers support within STFS
3. The ROADS to Success
4. London Deanery Coaching & Mentoring
5. Medical Careers website
6. Trainee career planning and support models
7. Interactive Medical Careers map
8. Specialty training
9. London Deanery webinars
10. Tips for application forms and example interview questions for F2s

1. Introduction

The provision of careers advice is a central tenet of MMC (Modernising Medical Careers). One of the 18 key principles underpinning MMC states that “Rigorous counselling and career advice should be available throughout training” (Modernising Medical Careers, Department of Health, 2003). Within STFS, trusts provide workshops to introduce foundation doctors to career planning tools, linked into a four stage career planning framework:

• Stage 1 - self-assessment e.g. skills, interests, values
• Stage 2 - career exploration e.g. how to research different career options
• Stage 3 - decision making e.g. look at how you have made decisions
• Stage 4 - implementation e.g. application forms, CVs and interview preparation

A Careers Interviews and Specialty Selection Centres Presentation is available for you to download at the bottom of this page.

2. How to access careers support within STFS

For specific one-to-one advice the first point of contact for foundation doctors is their educational supervisor. Educational supervisors are able to call on other resources both locally and from the deanery. A careers lead is also available in each Trust. The Foundation School careers team do also visit trusts from time to time to run drop-in sessions where you can book a half hour appointment with one of the careers advisers.

What you choose for the next stage of your career should be a personal decision, but you should ensure that you plan your approach and investigate career options fully before deciding.

A guide to career planning for Foundation Year One Doctors is available for you to download at the bottom of this page.

3. The ROADS to Success

Choosing the right specialty is a critical decision that all junior doctors face each year. Until now most trainees have had to fight their own way through the multiple labyrinths of opportunities, choices, written applications and interviews. Dr Caroline Elton and Joan Reid have structured a handbook (now in its third edition) to support both trainees and their supervisors throughout the career planning process. This is a practical handbook packed with essential information, self-assessment exercises and insightful tips to ensure that every junior doctor is headed on ‘The ROADS to Success’.

ROADS is provided free to all STFS trainees via trusts, often at induction – please ask in the postgraduate centre if you do not receive one.

For further information see the careers website at http://www.kssdeanery.org/careers.

4. London Deanery Coaching & Mentoring

Foundation doctors based in London Deanery trusts have access to the London Deanery coaching and mentoring facilities.

Full details are available at: http://www.mentoring.londondeanery.ac.uk/

5. Medical Careers website

The Medical Careers website contains a wealth of helpful information on planning your medical career. It includes detailed specialty information, a four-step career planning tool to help you understand your options, a guide to making the most of foundation training plus video case studies. The website can be acessed at: http://www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk/.

A calendar of medical careers events is also available on the website at: http://www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk/career_planning/career_exploration/medical_careers_events_calend.aspx

6. Trainee career planning and support models

A document detailing the trainee career planning and support models is available for download at the bottom of this page.

7. Interactive Medical Careers map

This useful interactive tool illustrates the links between different stages in the medical careers pathway. It has been produced by the Wales Deanery but is relevant to and can be accessed by anyone in the UK: http://careers.walesdeanery.org/map/.

8. Specialty training

Information regarding specialty training is available at: http://www.stfs.org.uk/student/specialty-training.

9. London Deanery webinars

The Careers Unit at the London Deanery is now providing webinars for foundation trainees.  A poster with further information is available to download at the bottom of this page.

10. Tips for application forms and example interview questions for F2s

A list of tips for completing application forms and a list of example interview questions for F2s applying to specialty training are available to download at the bottom of this page.