Climbing the ladder
Progression in your career
International medical graduates are not the first to be considered when you apply for post graduate posts. I think this is fair, because every country has the right to offer its jobs to its own citizens. So for each job, you will be considered only if there are no UK or EU candidates. This might look unfair because you might be the best qualified at interview.
However there is nothing preventing you from applying. You will not be discriminated based on your race, colour or creed. There are no special categories who get preference. You will get into any post provided there are no EU/ UK candidate applying. This applies to deanery posts as well. Often there are many post graduate posts vacant because they could not fill the posts.
Deanery posts attract Tier 2 Visa. The rules for Tier 2 are that they are subject to the Labour Market Test. the Job needs to be advertised for 28 days and there must be no UK/EU candidate with the qualifications for the Job. That does not mean that they have to be better than you. They just need to have minimum qualifications. this rule will be no different in your home country, if a British Citizen applies for a job.
How do I improve my chances?
- ePortfolio – Ensure that you have completed and signed off the competencies required for the post
- Commitment – Demonstrate in your CV your commitment to the post you are applying for eg audit, research, clinic attendance
- Make yourself known – meet different consultants from your specialty in different hospitals. When it comes to choosing they will choose a familiar person than an unknown one. A known devil is better than an unknown one!
- Show that you are keen. – If you pass your exam, make sure your supervisor knows, If you have gone for a course, advertise it. Step in when things are difficult (eg you colleague goes on sick leave, and you cover the shift.)
- Prepare for the interview – Like professional athletes who have once chance in 4 years to show how good they are (Olympics). you have to prepare hard for the interview. it is your once chance to show your skills. Most questions are standard. Stand in front of the mirror and practice. Knock off unnecessary words (eg “Basically what I meant”, “Like I am Trying so hard”, ) display your linguistic skills without making it artificial, exclude grammatical errors
Be realistic with your goals
- Are you keen on surgery How long are you willing to work towards it.
- Life is a compromise and will you only be happy if you become a neurosurgeon
- Dont tie yourself down buying a house or any fixed commitments before you get a number
- Focus on your goal
- Do you have sufficient support systems in place
A doctor in this country takes 10 years of academic training before becoming consultant. This is often longer due to research or pursuing special areas of interest (e.g. teaching, management, IT skills). these special interests make the difference between candidates when you apply for consultant interviews.
- It takes 2 -3 years of training before you complete MRCP (ST1/ST2 level).
- You can then move into a specialty post (ST3+ level) and build up towards your deanery interviews (involvement in research, audit, complex cases, OPD/ theatre experience)
- You can apply for posts and if there are posts you will be offered a post. The deanery will then sponsor your visa.
- You are likely to get into areas of need (e.g. GP, Diabetes endocrinology, Care of elderly, respiratory paediatrics etc)
- If you apply for cardiology, it is very likely that there will be no vacant posts.
- A colorectal deanery post will often require published papers, 2 -3 years of research experience (MD/ PhD) even for local graduates.