Sunday, February 9, 2014

Medical School Interview, Job Applications, and etc!

I was hoping to get a bit more free time to make some posts. I am either busy catching up with work, or dead tired. So I will be addressing many things in this post.

1) Medical School Interviews

I know I'm a bit late with this, but hopefully most of you have seen my older posts on tips for medical school interviews. Because I had my interviews back in 2008, I'm not as "updated" as others out there as I'm sure the system has changed. In regards to my particular medical school, we still run the standard panel of 3 interviewing 1 applicant. Each applicant has 20 minutes. Here are some quick tips, which I have mentioned before:

  • Reflect on your experiences. Integrate reflection of your past activities into your interview questions. It is one thing to answer the question with one word, but show us an example of when you had shown "this" particular skill or a particular experience where you learned something that helps you be a strong applicant
  • Dress smartly - I'm not kidding you...I have seen some applicants turn up in a wrinkled shirt and creased trousers. I guess I don't have the right to judge someone's dress, but this is an interview for a very competitive spot in medical school. You need to impress and the first thing the interviewer sees, is you and how you carry yourself and what you're wearing. Yes we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but why start an uphill battle before you have even sat down in front of the panel. 
  • Medical schools want to find out more about your personal qualities that they couldn't get from your personal statement. This is your time to shine in an interview. Some schools allow the interviewers to have read the applicant's personal statement before they come in for their interview. Expand on it.
  • Confidence. Yes it is very nervous time, but you need to put on your confident face. Deliver your answers confidently. Don't sound unsure as these are questions about yourself. You shouldn't be unsure of your own personal qualities/experiences/achievements.
  • Give succinct answers aka don't beat around the bush, yet try not to give very short answers as that means the interviewer will need to come up with more questions to ask you...
  • Think your answers through before answering. You don't lose any points sitting for 30 seconds to think over your answer. Think the interviewers appreciate it more if you gave a structured succinct answer. 
  • Back to basics: eye contact, try not to fidget while sat in your seat (trust me the interviewers notice it and it is quite distracting), and try to smile (it just makes the process seem so much less dreary and gloomy)
  • I remember before going into my interview I told myself it is just questions about myself. I know myself best and no one knows me better than me. Interviewers (from what I have experienced) aren't out there to catch you out. They honestly want to know more about you and see if that personal statement matches the applicant who sits in front of them. 20 minutes isn't a long time to make that judgement, so as an applicant you don't have much time to get your personality across.
2) Job Applications

Right this biggest pain up the backside you'll face in your final year. Why is it a pain? It is because you're trying to focus on passing your finals, then this FPAS application crops up a few months prior so you're trying to revise yet do your job application correctly. The first step of job applications is filling out your basic details, your degree details/any additional degrees, if you are going for an academic job you have to answer 3 questions where you have 250 (?) words to answer, and then rank your deaneries which are based on regions. You have to rank all 26 or so regions, so you cannot opt out of certain regions. That means doing it strategically as well. Obviously London will be extremely competitive and you'll need to be realistic about your score and whether you can keep up with the rest of the country to get that job. You'll need to have in mind your "backup" region in case things don't go so well. 

Once you submit your application, there are these exams called the "Situational Judgement Test". It is 2.5 hour exam on ethics and being a good doctor. They give you a bunch of scenarios and you have to rank in order or select the best 3 things you should do. It's not exactly an exam you can study for, but it is worth practising. There are lots of books for sale. I personally used MedGrad book "Situational Judgement Test for the Foundation Years Programme 2nd Edition" and found it to be really accurate and similar to the paper itself. It also has really good explanations with the GMC guidance alongside for your reference. It's not cheap, but I thought it really helped me prepare for the SJT. I started practising approximately 2 weeks prior to the exam so it's not something you need to spend a lot of time on. Think the main thing to keep in mind that this exam is about what you SHOULD do, not what you would do.

Once SJT is over, we don't get our results until we find out about our deanery allocation in March, but the wait isn't that painstaking since there are finals to think about! As usual this year jobs have been oversubscribed so we'll see how that goes - fingers crossed.

3) Other Things - Update

So like the title of my blog - life of a medical student is pretty crazy...and I should just rename it to "hectic". I'm now on my final run of placements before end of medical school. Pretty crazy to think about that. It's just now working on skills that are needed for an F1, so that means not going to clinic or theatre and spending majority of my time on the wards and doing jobs. Bit weird to be honest. I always have this temptation to go down to theatres for a nosy.

What has been happening right after exams? I had another rotation in Orthopaedics as we all know you can't get enough of Orthopaedics. It was a really good attachment. Got a lot of theatre time and clinics peppered in between. Scrubbed loads of times and got to work on my surgical skills. Still got all my fingers as well - that's always a bonus. Now in my final year, I've finally really grasped this "pro-active" concept of things and think it has really helped. Instead of waiting to be asked to do something, I offer to do it first or just go off and get it done. Seems to go down well and I've gotten a lot more opportunities to do things and be more involved. Think it helps with gaining trust from the registrar/consultants. Also still managed to stay true to myself and continue to be really personable with the other team members (e.g. consultant, registrar, SHOs, etc). We are all human at the end of the day and no one likes to talk about work all the time. Gotten to know a few more registrars and a few consultants while sat in the coffee room in between cases and just makes the experience more enjoyable. Of course this is after gauging the other person's personality and how open they are. I know when to keep my beak shut and just be really quiet. So far the consultants I have encountered are pretty talkative and really laid back so quite lucky in that sense.

I shall give you all a break! Long enough post I believe! Sorry again for lack of updates...final year just seems to be that much more hectic...somehow.

61 comments:

  1. It's good to have some tips from someone who is on the side where the grass is greener. I will be needing these for later on this year (if all goes to plan!)

    Kathryn
    thegirlwhofainted.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  2. We are Medical Staffing Consultants providing start-up services for medical staffing agencies (www.alstarconsulting.com). We provide one-on-one start-up services and training for medical staffing agencies. Contact us at 213-258-9236/ 855-520-2222 or, email: info@alstarconsulting.com. We will be happy to assist you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad that you shared this post. I am also a student and these tips will really help me as a guide for a medical school interview.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for this excellent & thoughtful post, so full of ideas that I have printed it out so i can read again & your post motivated me.

    Goljan Rapid Review Pathology

    ReplyDelete
  5. How was your year. ? We havent heard from you in a w while,

    Thanks for inspiring me to start my own medschool blog
    If you want to read it its here: http://landofsoap.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was glad that you shared this guide for an interview job. These tips will surely be a big help for those aspiring applicants. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. i goona know very important things from here.

    Bentham Science Publisher

    ReplyDelete
  8. ¡Hi!

    I'm a Spanish Med Student who owns a blog too.
    I just discovered your blog, and I actually like it very much :D

    I was wondering if you'd like to read and follow mine (it's written in Spanish, that's where I live, but you can translate it and read it in English using the Google translation tool under the blogs I follow list. Thank you, and I wish we could read each other.
    My blog is called "Diario de una estudiante de Medicina" (Diary of a Med Student) and the adress is: primerasexperienciasymas.blogspot.com

    I hope I see you son around :P

    ReplyDelete
  9. peluang perniagaan Dalam bisnes top up semakin meluas dan berpotensi berkembang maju dari masa ke semasa. Peluang perniagaan nie terbuka kepada siapa sahaja tanpa mengira had umur, kedudukan status, tidak kira anda bekerja tetap atau tidak. Ianya terbuka kepada sesiapa yang ingin mencari pendapatan secara kecil-kecilan atau besar-besaran. Boleh jadi suatu hari bisnes topup menjadi pekerjaan tetap anda.. dengan income yang anda puas hati.. IN SHAA ALLAH.. dengan usaha anda..Daftarlah sekarang !

    sesuai untuk :
    # pelajar IPT. Sebab apa ?. saya juga pernah menjadi seorang student IPT. Duit PTPTN memang tak cukup. Kita sebagai student juga mempunya keinginan untuk berbelanja . BETUL ATAU TIDAK ?
    # peniaga kedai runcit(TAK PERLU CHARGE RM 0.50 KEPADA PELANGGAN SEBAB DARI TOPUP YANG ANDA RELOADKAN KEPADA PELANGGAN ANDA SUDAH DIBERI KOMISYEN) disini anda mungkin mempunyai kelebihan. sebab apa ?. dari apa yang saya perhati dan telah saya survey. kebanyakkan penjual topup dari kedai2 runcit mengenakan charge tambahan 0.40/0.50 dan sebagainya kepada setiap pelanggan yang membeli topup sedangkan anda tidak.
    # penjawat sektor kerajaan dan swasta yang menginginkan income tambahan
    # penganggur terhormat yang tidak mempunyai sebarang income/pendapatan

    MEMPERKENALKAN !!!
    Part Time Bisnes (Topup) - Pakej Agen..

    Pakej Agen Topup Paling GEMPAK..
    Yuran Terendah, Profit @ Keuntungan Tertinggi Di Pasaran..


    Produk Yang Disediakan :-
    * Maxis
    * Digi
    * Celcom
    * Umobile
    * Tunetalk
    * Xox
    * Merchantrade
    * Digissocial
    * Digisidd
    * Digibroadband
    * Molpin
    * Tron
    * Italk
    * Cib-Mall Pin
    * A-Cash Pin
    * Mcoins Pin
    * Njoi Flexi
    * Celcom Bill
    * Maxis Bill
    * Digi Bill
    * Umobile Bill

    Utility Bill :-
    * Telekom Bill
    * Astro Bill
    * Syabas Bill
    * Tnb Bill
    * Water Bill (Johor, Kelantan, Kuching, Melaka, Pulau Pinang, Pahang, Perak, Sibu)
    * Electricity Bill (Sabah & Sarawak)
    * Indah Water Bill
    * Unifi Bill
    * Sada Bill

    UNTUK INFO LANJUT BOLEH SMS/WECHAT/WHATSAPP 0177259260 24 JAM. PANGGILAN TELEFON TIDAK DI GALAKKAN KERANA TERIKAT DENGAN KERJA
    ATAU
    BOLEH LIHAT TERUS DI LAMAN WEB BERIKUT
    http://i2isyah92.wix.com/bisnestopupgempak

    ReplyDelete
  10. How To Get a Good Memory
    http://treatment-and-medicine.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Buy medical books via my ig @medic4ushoppe

    ReplyDelete
  12. catch out some of amazing bowflex treadclimber review. You can also get useful health product from us.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love your blog!! So interesting to read what I have coming up in future years :)

    Isabelle
    Thelifeofagemstudent@blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lots of student get information to read this blog .
    i am lucky to find this blog for more great solution of student accommodation check this link .


    Manchester University student accommodation | The Castle Manchester

    ReplyDelete
  15. Very nice and informative article. I really liked it

    ReplyDelete
  16. Its really true medical student working hard for their future ,
    its too difficult study .best of luck guys for your future .
    If any student want accommodation they can see this link we have great offers and discount thanks


    Warehouse apartments | Best student accommodation in Preston
    Cheapest student accommodation in Preston | Liberty Living Preston

    ReplyDelete
  17. thank you. I'm so glad that Max is okay and that I'll get to meet you at BlogHer!

    Cheap Essay Writing Service

    ReplyDelete
  18. Good advice provided to the college students for creating essays in their examinations. Our writing documents are given strong conclusion. The custom essay writing service document are fully supporting to the students development.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I was glad that you shared this guide for an interview for medical school. These tips will surely be a big help for those aspiring applicants. Thanks for sharing.


    Where is the best place to live close to UCLAN | Leighton Hall Preston

    ReplyDelete
  20. شركة تنظيف بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف شقق بالاحساء
    شركة تسليك مجاري بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف موكيت بالاحساء
    شركة شفط بيارات بالاحساء
    شركة عزل اسطح بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف فلل بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف مجالس بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف منازل بالاحساء
    شركة تنظيف بيوت بالاحساء
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالاحساء
    شركة رش مبيدات بالاحساء
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالاحساء
    شركة مكافحة البق بالاحساء
    شركة عزل خزانات بالاحساء
    شركة نقل اثاث بالاحساء
    شركة نقل عفش بالاحساء
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالاحساء
    ---------------------
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بالجبيل
    شركة تنظيف بيوت بالجبيل
    شركة تنظيف بالجبيل
    شركة تسليك مجاري بالجبيل
    شركة تنظيف موكيت بالجبيل
    شركة تنظيف مجالس بالجبيل
    شركة تنظيف فلل بالجبيل
    شركة تنظيف منازل بالجبيل
    شركة رش مبيدات بالجبيل
    شركة شفط بيارات بالجبيل
    شركة مكافحة البق بالجبيل
    شركة عزل اسطح بالجبيل
    شركة عزل خزانات بالجبيل
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالجبيل
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالجبيل
    شركة نقل عفش بالجبيل
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالجبيل
    شركة تنظيف شقق بالجبيل
    شركة نقل اثاث بالجبيل
    ------------------------------------
    شركة تسليك مجاري بالخبر
    شركة تنظيف بالخبر
    شركة تنظيف بيوت بالخبر
    شركة تنظيف موكيت بالخبر
    شركة تنظيف شقق بالخبر

    ReplyDelete
  21. شركة تنظيف منازل بالقطيف
    شركة رش مبيدات بالقطيف
    شركة شفط بيارات بالقطيف
    شركة عزل اسطح بالقطيف
    شركة عزل خزانات بالقطيف
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالقطيف
    شركة مكافحة البق بالقطيف
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالقطيف
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالقطيف
    شركة نقل اثاث بالقطيف
    شركة نقل عفش بالقطيف
    ---------------------------------------------------
    شركة تسليك مجاري ببقيق
    شركة تنظيف ببقيق
    شركة تنظيف بيوت ببقيق
    شركة تنظيف خزانات ببقيق
    شركة تنظيف موكيت ببقيق
    شركة تنظيف شقق ببقيق
    شركة تنظيف فلل ببقيق
    شركة تنظيف مجالس ببقيق
    شركة تنظيف منازل ببقيق
    شركة رش مبيدات ببقيق
    شركة شفط بيارات ببقيق
    شركة عزل اسطح ببقيق
    شركة عزل خزانات ببقيق
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه ببقيق
    شركة مكافحة البق ببقيق
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض ببقيق
    شركة مكافحة حشرات ببقيق
    شركة نقل اثاث ببقيق
    شركة نقل عفش ببقيق
    -----------------------------------------
    شركة تسليك مجاري راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف بيوت راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف خزانات راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف موكيت راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف شقق راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف فلل راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف مجالس راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف منازل راس التنورة
    شركة رش مبيدات راس التنورة

    ReplyDelete
  22. شركة تنظيف بيوت راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف خزانات راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف موكيت راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف شقق راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف فلل راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف مجالس راس التنورة
    شركة تنظيف منازل راس التنورة
    شركة رش مبيدات راس التنورة
    شركة شفط بيارات راس التنورة
    شركة عزل اسطح راس التنورة
    شركة عزل خزانات راس التنورة
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه راس التنورة
    شركة مكافحة البق راس التنورة
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض راس التنورة
    شركة مكافحة حشرات راس التنورة
    شركة نقل اثاث راس التنورة
    شركة نقل عفش راس التنورة
    -------------------------------------------------
    شركة تنظيف بالدمام
    شركة تنظيف شقق بالدمام
    شركة رش مبيدات بالدمام
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بالدمام
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالدمام
    شركة شفط بيارات بالدمام
    شركة تسليك مجاري بالدمام
    شركة نقل اثاث بالدمام
    شركة عزل خزانات بالدمام
    شركة عزل اسطح بالدمام
    شركة مكافحة البق بالدمام
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالدمام
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالدمام
    شركة تنظيف مجالس بالدمام
    شركة تنظيف سجاد بالدمام
    شركة تنظيف فلل بالدمام
    شركة تنظيف منازل بالدمام
    شركة تنظيف بيوت بالدمام
    شركة نقل عفش بالدمام

    ReplyDelete

  23. شركة عزل خزانات بمكة


    اذا اردت شركة عزل خزانات بمكة فحلك الامثل شركة المنزل التي تقدم افضل خدمات الخزانات تنظيف خزانات بمكة , عزل خزانات بمكة بافضل الطرق العلمية و الحديثة و بافضل مواد للعزل و التنظيف التي لا تتفاعل مع المياة و لا تضر الخزان و لكنها تعمل علي بناء جدار عازل بين المياة و الاتربة و الاوساخ من جدران الخزان
    شركة المنزل شركة عزل خزانات بمكة و تنظيف خزانات بمكة تعيد الي خزانك بافضل نظافة و احسن مياة نقية باقل الاسعار التي تناسب الجميع


    تنظيف خزانات بمكة


    http://elmnzel.com/cleaning-tanks-makkah

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dear writer,

    I am writing from Medic Mind. We are a newly launched organization who are trying to make a difference by helping medical applicants up and down the UK. We are running 3 main initiatives:

    1) Free talks- we are doing free talks at over 40 UK schools to the medical applicants

    2) Free resources / blogs- we are working hard to write free UKCAT mocks for applicants, and have compiled 1000s of documents for A-level revision

    3) Cost price courses- we are running UKCAT courses around the UK as well as in Singapore. However, we are not profit motivated but instead want to help as many students as possible, so have priced them at £25 for a full UKCAT Course Day.

    We are looking to work with a medicine blog in a dual relationship. We can help you by:
    1) Advertising your blog on our website. We have thousands of visitors each week, so I am sure it will help direct many medical applicants to your blog.
    2) Advertising your blog at the 40+ schools we are speaking at in the coming months.
    3) Giving you 10% commission on any UKCAT Course sales via your website. On the checkout for our course, we will have a tick box option for users to select how they found Medic Mind, so we can have your blog there (another form of advertising!).

    In return, we would love it if you could advertise or recommend our UKCAT Course on your blog and to your followers. I believe that we have very similar incentives in the sense that we are not looking to rip students off or make money, we are trying to help as much as possible because we can both relate to the difficult journey medical applicants face.

    I look forward to hearing from you soon!

    Best wishes,

    Kunal Dasani
    Co-founder
    Medic Mind
    07838391792

    Regards,
    Kunal | info@medicmind.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  25. Absolutely agree with you. im student of 3rd year MBBS and migrate to Australia base on student Visa with help of Permits and Visas consultant.

    ReplyDelete
  26. تخلصك من الحشرات المنزل بانواعها و القوارض نهائيا ؛ و عمل الكشف الدورى من ضمن خدماتها لضمان مستوى الخدمة و التاكد من بيئة صحية ,
    شركة المثالية لمكافحة الحشرات القيام باعمال المكافحة الشامله على اعلى مستوى من الحرفيه فى مكافحة الحشرات فى جميع الاوقات هي افضل ما يمكن الحصول علية تقدم خدمة سريعةمبيدات ذات فاعليةاسعار مناسبةلا شك ان الحشرات تثير الذعر عند شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالرياض

    شركة تسليك مجارى ببقيق
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه ببقيق

    ReplyDelete
  27. Nice Post!!!Thank you for this excellent & thoughtful post.It's a very nice tips.Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  28. The life of a medical student really is crazy, i have learnt very many things that i didn't know about students on that doctrine. This is a very informative post, and maybe of this kind of information could help us define people on a much more explicit manner. With quality and Cheap Canadian Dissertation Writing Help, you can put your worries about any kind of assignment aside since there are experts who are always ready to assist you. Kindly check the link and find out more on the same.

    ReplyDelete
  29. The company is specialized in all types of cleaning, such as cleaning the house, roofs, villas, reservoirs and all kinds of cleaning. It works on the customer's comfort and win the trust of the customers by Quality of service provided by our company in this field.

    Cleaning is one of the things that give great importance to the place, regardless of the house or the company and the size and leave them and neglect whatever the furniture in them will be alienated from them, especially if some guests came to your home or hold meetings in your company will notice question marks on the faces of all those in disarray and disgust from the public landscape So the company's cleanliness and the company show the furniture in it and make your home or your company attractive to you and your guests, making yourself a milestone in the field of your job and make respect for you other than the duty of cleaning your home and arrange your priorities so our dear customer cleaning the house or the company on A great amount of inspiration that must be made in Zahnk and works to implement and the company of excellence is the best solution to this problem and will make you proud of yourself and your guests with the service that we carry out for you.

    Cleaning company in Al-Kharj
    It offers cleaning services to all its customers because it knows the importance of cleanliness and its impact on the family in terms of high energy positive when they look at their home is at the highest level of cleanliness Vtzad joy and positive energy for work while neglecting the house and not arrange and clean makes the house an example of the gathering of negative energy and many Problems that occur as a result of negligence We are well aware that the housewife can not alone do all these burdens, especially if they have a special work in this case must be used by our company, which works to solve all problems of cleaning easily and with high quality As well as after the completion of our periodic maintenance of a clean place sedulity always.
    افضل شركة نقل اثاث بالخرج
    افضل شركة تنظيف خزانات بالخرج
    افضل شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخرج
    افضل شركة تنظيف موكيت بالخرج
    افضل شركة تنظيف منازل بالخرج
    افضل شركة تنظيف بالخرج

    ReplyDelete
  30. nice article published in the blog...
    write more articles...
    pleasure to read those

    ReplyDelete
  31. informative articles and i specially like for Job interview. i believe this article definitely help me and to others as well. Migration and Visas

    ReplyDelete
  32. لكثير من ربات المنزل ياعنو من البقع
    الموجوده فى الكنب لكن معانه لا تعانى من شى
    شركة تنظيف كنب بالاحساء
    شركتنه من افضل الشركات فى غسيل الكنب
    بامدينة الاحساء لانها تمتلك الكثير
    من افضل الادوات التى تزيل جميع البقع

    ReplyDelete
  33. Los comentarios de este blog están limitados a los miembros del equipo.

    ReplyDelete
  34. A very awesome blog post. We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. Healgen Antibody test

    ReplyDelete
  35. This particular is usually apparently essential and moreover outstanding truth along with for sure fair-minded and moreover admittedly useful My business is looking to find in advance designed for this specific useful stuffs… Free Covid Test, Free Covid-19 Test

    ReplyDelete
  36. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. Big thanks for the useful info. Free Covid Test

    ReplyDelete

  38. I started on COPD Herbal treatment from Ultimate Health Home, the treatment worked incredibly for my lungs condition. I used the herbal treatment for almost 4 months, it reversed my COPD. My severe shortness of breath, dry cough, chest tightness gradually disappeared. Reach Ultimate Health Home via their website www.ultimatelifeclinic.com I can breath much better and It feels comfortable!

    ReplyDelete