Transcript Applying for Specialties 2011 - 12

Applying for Specialty
training
How to do it, what to expect
Learning outcomes
You will:
• Understand the processes and timescales for
specialty applications
• Be able to refine your CV and complete
competency-based applications
• Recognise the range of selection methods which
you may encounter
• Know how to prepare and present yourself
professionally at interview
Things to pin down
• Am I applying in Round 1 or later?
• Is specialty more important than location or vice versa?
• What about any dual career issues – who takes priority?
• Core or run-through programme?
• Am I ready/good enough? Where can I explore for longer?
• What is my 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice?
• What is my Plan B?
• Should I go abroad now or during specialty training?
• If I go now, how will I keep in touch?
Myths about specialty
applications
• You only get one chance a year to apply for specialty
training
• Working in a fixed term specialty post or locum will count
against me in the future
• Once in a specialty it is well nigh impossible to change
• Applications to change specialty will be unfavourably
viewed later on
• If I apply to more than one specialty the others will find out
• If a consultant expresses a view on a career route it is the
absolute truth
What’s happening in 2011-12?
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Application and interviews will be even earlier!
Posts advertised for 4 weeks, applications during 2 weeks
All processes national and on-line; WCAT the exception
Can apply to unlimited specialties but not unlimited
locations – check each specialty
Fewer posts in England/Wales this year – expect tougher
competition
Expect one or two interviews per specialty
Some specialties will run clearing, others will rely on Round
2/3 to fill remaining posts
Once accepted, out of the process for that round (If national
offers system goes ahead)
Key dates (indicative)
• Adverts during November- see NHS Jobs and BMJ
website for Wales
• Applications from 12th November (check for variation
between specialties)
• GP from 14th Nov with MMT in w/c 14 January 2011
• Round 1 offers all out by 9th March 2011, from 9th
for GP
• Round 1 acceptances by mid March
• There will be a new round opening after this
• Check individual specialties for clearing dates
Indicative Posts in Wales
NATIONAL
Core Surgical Training CT1 (c30)
Paediatrics ST1 (c25)
Core Medical Training CT1 (c65)
Obs & Gynae ST1 (c14)
Core Psychiatry Training CT1 (c25)
Public Health Medicine ST1 (c2)
Anaesthetics CT1 (c24)
Radiology ST1 (c5)
ACCS CT1 (c16)
Histopathology ST1 (c5)
Medical Microbiology/Virology ST1(tbc)
General Practice ST1 ( c121)
Plus
Ophthalmology ST1 (c2 plus possible FTSTA1)
It is likely that CT2 posts will be recruited to locally but NOT
CT1
Information for applicants
• www.mmc.nhs.uk for Applicant Guidelines,
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Person Specs, comp ratios (from early Nov)
Lead Deaneries and Royal College websites
www.specialty.walesdeanery.org for all
Specialty Training Wales information. Enquiries
to [email protected]
www.walesthesmartchoice.co.uk – quick links
to GP and ST recruitment in Wales and to
specialty video clips
http://www.gprecruitment.org.uk for GP
The Gold Guide (how training works, TOOP, LTFT
etc)
Other planning resources
• Our e-learning module on PLATO:
http://www.mle.wales.nhs.uk/login/signup.php
http://www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk/career_pla
nning/plan_implementation.aspx
• Where to look
• Application tips
• Practice Interview questions
• Also BMJ Careers and BMA
Competition ratios – a word of
warning!
• Numbers look an attractive way of planning or
justifying decisions BUT
• Still no common way of collecting/presenting
data
• Posts are based on NHS service need; this
changes from year to year
• The recruitment process has changed so much
that the previous year’s data is incomparable to
current year
• Using ratios to determine choice is like driving
whilst looking in the rear view mirror
• Try http://www.cfwi.org.uk
Specialty Applications
• They focus on information selectors rather than
what you think you’d like to provide
• 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
• Many applicants wait until the last minute to
submit, for no good reason, then some miss the
deadline – so hit “send” well before the closing
date!
Presenting your Evidence
• Where there are defined sections for you to present
information, check for word counts; draft first.
• Think about specific examples to showcase personal
skills e.g. teamwork, communication, ethics
• Vary your examples to match specialty
• When giving examples, think STAR (Situation, Task,
Action, Result) to structure your response
• Describe not just on an experience, but what you
learnt from it
Key Points for your CV
• Have a summary version for portfolio (2 3 pages)
• Good layout important; get the most
relevant information on early pages
• Different versions for different specialities
• This is an advertisement for YOU!
• Ensure your CV does not contain any
Patient Identifiable Data
Medical CVs can include:
• Personal details:
• Research: plus any related
publications and presentations
• Career plan: your career aim
how this job will fit into the plan
• Teaching: to who and in what topics
• Professional qualifications: • Audit: include your role, the outcome
usually in reverse chronological
order
• Education: mention prizes,
distinctions, electives, special
study assignments
• Professional expertise:
Include job title and location
• Practical skills: Summarise
specialty experience and also
technical skills
• Additional courses
and quantifiable improvements
• Management/Organisational
roles: include roles outside work
• Other relevant skills: You can
mention language and particular
skills
IT
• Interests: Include a couple of your
interests that add value to your
application
• Referees: At least two and make
sure that you have asked them first
Speciality Selection
Selection Centres involve:
• Several stations, 10-15 mins each (3 or 4 the norm)
• Assessment on a number of dimensions (e.g. clinical,
communications, career)
• A range of assessment techniques
• A number of assessors or observers
• Multiple candidates, parallel activities
• Structured/formal environment
• Often interviewed by people you will never work with:
completely impartial
• Standardised scoring system against nationally agreed
criteria
Specialty Selection Stations
Could include:
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CV/Portfolio
Clinical interview/case
Patient role-play/communication scenario
Incident management
Structured interview/scenario-based
Presentation
Watch the streamed DVD in the E learning
module to see what happens
GP Selection
Selection Centres involve:
• Longer stations, up to 30 mins
• Also includes written and group work
• Half day
• See:
http://www.gprecruitment.org.uk/recruitme
nt/assessment_process.htm
First Impressions
In the first 5 minutes of an interview you will
convey information by:
• 55% - body language
• 38% - tone and pace of voice
• 7% - the words you say
What does a Panel want to know
about you?
There are four basic questions :
• Why have you applied for this job/speciality?
• What can you do for us? (what skills, knowledge,
intellectual ability can you offer?)
• What kind of person are you? (what are your
attitudes, values, motivation levels? Do you have the
ability to get on with others, work in a team?)
• What distinguishes you from all the other
applications?
Case Study Interviews
Hints:
• Make sure you spend enough time looking at the
information before you indicate you are ready
• Be aware that some of the information will be less
relevant; focus on key facts
• Ensure that you make definite recommendations,
don’t be vague and don’t be afraid of saying you don’t
know or would refer to a senior
Presentations
Hints:
• Make sure your presentation has a clear structure to
it. Introduce it by explaining what you will be
covering, deliver the talk and then summarise your
main points.
• Keep it simple, avoid lots of pages/slides, use
diagrams
• Speak clearly and stick to the time limit.
Patient Communication
• Sometimes explicit (e.g. an actor) sometimes
implicit (e.g. explain to the panel what you’d
say to a patient)
• Don’t overact – try to appear realistic
• Think about soft skills e.g. showing empathy,
giving bad news, directing a treatment plan,
handling emotion or resistance
• Show listening skills as well as talking skills.
Applicant etiquette
• If you decide not to attend or to withdraw from an
interview, please notify the recruiters
• Be on standby – you may receive an interview invitation at
short notice if applicants have declined to attend
• Arrive with all requested documents and your portfolio
• Schedules on the day can be unpredictable, so arrive in
plenty of time in case you can have an earlier slot, or take
water/snacks and materials to use up waiting time
• Accept only what you intend to do – don’t hedge bets by
accepting a post with the intention of dropping out
(unprofessional behaviour). Some don’t receive offers
because others have accepted something they don’t
intend to follow through
Receiving offers (if national
system)
• Offers are not all made at the same time
but will come from the same place
• You can hold one offer at any time pending
other interviews
• If you hold an offer rather than accept it,
location/rotations are not guaranteed
• Once you accept an offer, you will be
withdrawn from the process
• Accepted offers will be upgraded as held
offers are declined/withdrawn
If you have no initial offers…
• Some specialties will run clearing so you may still
receive an offer, based on your applicant score and
remaining places
• Try in Round 2 – plenty of time until August
• Consider other locum/LAT/LAS opportunities in
specialties you want to pursue or explore further
• Build experience in a Career Grade/SAS post
• Time for an overseas opportunity?
• Caution – check experience allowed for future entry
at CT/ST 1. Several short posts doing different
things may be a safer bet than a year or more in one
thing
Action plan
• Organise ‘hard evidence‘ – assessments/certificates
etc
• Organise ‘soft evidence’ – stories/experiences
• Bookmark key job sites (e.g. NHSJobs, BMJ,
Deaneries)
• Get portfolio in shape
• Update CV
• Rehearse / anticipate difficult questions
• Talk to those who have been through the process
(candidates/panel members)