I help you deliver better presentations and more effective education so you build a solid connection with your audience.
Forget about a short drive to work, have this instead
I was ecstatic when I got my substantive NHS Consultant job. If you've ever spent years dreaming of something, you'll appreciate just how stressful the thought of failing is. But I'm surprised about what's made the biggest difference since I got the job... I thought it would be staying in one place. As a trainee I'd worked in over 30 different jobs. That feeling of having to prove yourself over and over again is....urghhh. The thing is… I thought staying in the same place would be the best thing about having a substantive post. No moving around, no rearranging childcare, no unexpected commutes. And, I'm not gonna lie Reader, that part is pretty awesome. I've actually got to know the people in my hospital. I love them. And I can even remember the route to work without my satnav.* But I've realised location isn't the best thing about finally getting a consultant job. Not if you want to develop as a clinician and build a sustainable career. Why? Because moving around the country (or the world) is only part of the stress of being a trainee. What you get from having a consultant job goes well beyond that. It's about your family, your life, your future. It's about helping your family take control of your own lives. And I don’t mean that you'll actually be able to leave the house exactly when you want to. I can't promise that. I mean freedom to plan. Plan your leave. Plan your holidays. Plan your. wedding (I know, right?) That’s why getting that substantive job means so much. To build a relationship with your team, have colleagues that have your back, and be able to plan your life outside of work too. So sure, location might help with route planning. But having control and stability is the best part. In medicine, the clinicians who are happiest enjoy both their work and their non-work lives. But wanting to get your dream job and getting that phone call to say you've got it are two separate battles. And unfortunately it’s only getting harder to achieve. Competition has never been more fierce for substantive posts. Every post has multiple applicants… More and more people are prepping properly now as they realise how important securing that dream job is. So the chance of getting a specific post shrinks by the year. Trust me: It’s a whole different world out there in 2023 compared to 2020. It’s why people who found it easy in previous interviews are now struggling. The nature of substantive interviews has changed. What’s more, we’ve barely scratched the surface of the new types of questions and scenarios being asked in interviews. Different worlds require different approaches. So tomorrow, I’ll explain the major hurdles you face - and what you might do to adapt. Talk then, Tessa P.S. Watch out for my emails over the next 2 days to hear more. *that part may not be entirely true due to my poor spatial awareness |
Simply Connect
by Tessa Davis
I help you deliver better presentations and more effective education so you build a solid connection with your audience.
This is a special 3 part email series. If you missed the previous you can catch up by reading part 1 and part 2 here (they’re a 2 minute read). Yesterday I promised to tell you how to stand out from the pack as an interview candidate in 2023. Now I’ll be honest. It’s rather strange writing this because, not that long ago, I was stuck being the interview candidate who never got THAT call. My years as a trainee were anything but ‘standing out from the pack’. Every interview I did I seemed to...
This is a special 3 part email series. If you missed yesterday’s, we discussed why geography ISN’T the most important benefit of securing your consultant job. You read it here. I grew up in Glasgow. Which might sound pretty cool, but I was NOT one of the cool kids. I was in the Debating Society and was ALWAYS in the chorus in the school musical. I think you get the picture. It was a rugby school and it was full of smart people. In spite of being a Debating Nerd, I coped well. Me and my sister...
Hey Reader, I once went to a job interview where I’d done no prep. It was early in my career. I thought I’d just ‘be myself’. I had no idea what I was doing. I dread to think how bad I was. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job. The harsh truth? You’re unlikely to be a natural interview legend either. This is where frameworks come in. Frameworks are something to fall back on so you perform your best at interview. Without frameworks, what happens when you get asked an unexpected question....?...