Application to specialty Workshop

1. Application to specialty Workshop

2. Overview- Talk on the recruitment process - Review of the 4 stage career planning model- Help with decision-making- Preparing a medical CV- How forms are scored & what the panel looks for- How to make a strong application- Dos and don’ts in the application process- Looking at person specifications

3. The Four Stage Career Planning model • Introduction to the 4 stage planning model • Make sure you have done an adequate and robust self-assessment and career exploration (this will help in the application and in the interview). • ROADs and www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk

4. Help with decision-making • Decision making in the 4 stage planning model • You must take responsibility for your own decisions.  Good decisions come from examining the reasons that underpin them • Different ways of making a decision. These include: logical, talking, intuitive, hesitant, testing ideas • Take note of the competition ratios in the specialties you are considering • Important to also have a plan B, and even a plan C!

5. Different types of Decision-making • Strong • A sense of proportion & pragmatism 2. Anticipating potential outcomes 3. Making decisions under pressure/ in appropriate time frame 4. Based on sound logic 5. Consulting with others at a relevant level 6. Reviewing all relevant info 7. Taking responsibility for own decision • Weak • Not discriminating, discerning or prioritising 2. Not considering consequences 3. Taking too long / being too hasty/ dithering when making a decision 4. Skewed emotional biased thinking 5. Not taking others views into account or “over consulting” 6. Ignoring / discarding info 7. Unwilling to make decision in case it is wrong / asking others to decide Based on work done by The Careers Group, University of London

6. Help with decision-making • Timeline Exercise • Swot analysis • Pros and Cons analysis

7. Preparing a medical CV Something you can look to do now to help with your application- CV = Life Story- CV is a VERY important document- CVs will change over time- CVs can be tailored for specific purposes- CV is a MARKETING tool

8. Preparing a medical CV This is one suggested format:- Personal details- Career Plan- Personal information- Professional Qualifications- Education- Professional Expertise- Practical Skills- Additional Courses- Research- Teaching and Audit- Other relevant skills- Interests- References From ROADs to Success, Elton and Reid

9. Preparing a medical CV DO:- Remember that there’s no limit on page length but good layout is important; get the most relevant information on page 1- Use quality white paper if possible- Use bullet points/headings. Use bold to make it easier to read- Get a “fresh” pair of eyes to look over CV- ENSURE there are NO spelling/grammatical errors

10. Preparing a medical CV DON’T:- Tell untruths or anything you cannot back up at interview - Use an email address that you can’t easily access- Use underlining – it looks old-fashioned- Leave any gaps in your CV. Make sure each year is accounted for

11. Organise your learning portfolio Your portfolio should include: • A front page entitled ‘Commitment to Specialty’ • A contents page • Your medical CV • A list of competences required to successfully complete the foundation programme • Example forms to record meetings with your educational supervisor, reflective practice and self-appraisal • Educational agreement • Assessment forms • A Personal Development Plan (PDP)

12. Organise your learning portfolio Your portfolio should be: • Neat, handwriting legible • Easy to follow (e.g. contents page etc) • Not missing anything • Well structured and organised.

13. Preparing a medical CV Questions?Further Help –Books:How to get a job in medicine: Adam Poole. Elsevier Health Services. 2005Writing the Medical CV: Effective Professional Communication: Sam McErin. Edukom 2004www.medicalcareers.nhs.ukROADs to success has an appendix on medical CVs

14. Specialty Application Forms • Key points about application forms: • They take longer than you think to complete • Competency questions are key to shortlisting decisions • Accuracy and attention to detail are essential • On-line applications should be completed in more than one sitting; and checked before you send.

15. Specialty Application Forms How forms are scored:- Forms are scored against nationally agreed person specification- Scoring varies from deanery to deanery, but most forms are scored verticallyWhat the panel looks for: You will score poorly if:- You do not meet the essential criteria- You do not follow the instructions provided- You do not answer the questions, waffle or leave blank spaces- Your spelling or grammar is poor- Those short-listing will be looking for evidence that you can do the job and have motivation for and understanding of your desired specialty.

16. Specialty Application Forms Use STAR S – Situation (what was happening) T – Task (the goal you set yourself) A - Action (what you did) R – Result (the outcome of your action)

17. Presenting your evidence: • Read the question and get an understanding of what is being asked, NOT what you think is being asked. • Where there are defined sections for you to present information, check for word counts; draft first. • If a general ‘supporting statement’ is requested, don’t ramble; list your evidence against specific competences. • Think about specific examples to showcase personal skills e.g. teamwork, communication, ethics etc • Vary your examples to match specialty • Describe not just an experience, but what you learnt from it

18. Specialty Application Forms Skills Skills need to be EVIDENCED – How did you get the skills?Exercise- discuss in pairs for 5-6 minutes how you would evidence these skills:- Teamwork- Communication- Problem Solving

19. Specialty Application Forms • DO: • Do complete a CV – now! • Do organise your learning portfolio • Do start considering likely questions, and thinking of clinical scenarios that are applicable • Do read the questions very carefully when the forms come out • Do think about your non-medical interests/experiences • Do keep it simple – pick examples that clearly answer the question (e.g. audit)

20. Specialty Application Forms • DON’T: • book a holiday for when the applications come out (if you have already, make sure you take extra time to prepare before you go) • be tempted to do anything other than answer the question • leave submitting your form till the last minute • go over the word count • lie or mislead the markers of your form • plagiarise your answers – people have been caught out by anti-plagiarism software

21. Person Specifications • IMPORTANT: You should have the person • specification beside you when you fill in your application • Exercise in Groups: • Divide into groups • Looking at the person specifications provided, • take turns to discuss what evidence you can • provide for each of the selection criteria

22. Specialty Application Forms • Moving towards interviews. Remember: • The preparation that you do for your form will help • Keep up-to-date with current affairs in medicine • Have a good understanding of the basics – research, audit, clinical governance • Approach people for help – tips or interview practice

23. Action Plan • Organise ‘hard evidence‘ • Organise ‘soft evidence’ – stories/experiences • Get portfolio in shape • Update CV • Rehearse / anticipate difficult questions • Talk to those who have been through the process (candidates/panel members)

24. Some useful resources Book: • Ward, Christopher and Eccles, Simon; Edited by Stephan Sandler (2008) ‘ So you want to be a brain surgeon?: A medical careers guide ’ Oxford University Press DVD • South West Peninsula Deanery/AGCAS ’Selection centres for speciality training’ - available through your Trust library or foundation school. Alternatively, contact http://www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/. Websites: www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk www.mmc.nhs.uk www.gprecruitment.org.uk