1. Applying for Specialty training
How to do it, what to expect

2. 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

3. 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?

4. 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

5. What’s happening in ?
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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. Information for applicants
for Applicant Guidelines, Person Specs, comp ratios (from early Nov)
Lead Deaneries and Royal College websites
for all Specialty Training Wales information. Enquiries to
– quick links to GP and ST recruitment in Wales and to specialty video clips
for GP
The Gold Guide (how training works, TOOP, LTFT etc)

9. Other planning resources
Our e-learning module on PLATO:
Where to look
Application tips
Practice Interview questions
Also BMJ Careers and BMA

10. 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

11. 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!

12. 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

13. 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

14. Medical CVs can include:
Personal details:
Career plan: your career aim how this job will fit into the plan
Professional qualifications: 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
Research: plus any related publications and presentations
Teaching: to who and in what topics
Audit: include your role, the outcome and quantifiable improvements
Management/Organisational roles: include roles outside work
Other relevant skills: You can mention language and particular IT skills
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

15. Speciality Selection Selection Centres involve:
Several stations, 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

16. Specialty Selection Stations
Could include:
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

17. GP Selection Selection Centres involve: Longer stations, up to 30 mins
Also includes written and group work
Half day
See:

18. 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

19. 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?

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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
The specialty training round is highly competitive. There will be competition with Foundation doctors from other Deaneries but also doctors who are applying at a later stage in their career, doctors from the EU, Foundation doctors who have taken a year out etc.
Not everyone will get their first choice and some may not be successful in this round. This is common in the wider field of job hunting and part of your career development will be learning how to deal with rejection, adapt your plan and regroup for the next opportunity.
Not securing a role is not necessarily a reflection of your potential or capability. Your potential for success runs in relation to the nature of supply and demand in your chosen field at a given time, plus the level of competition at that time. Sometimes all factors work in your favour, at other times they don’t.
So, if the unthinkable happens, remember, there are plenty of employment options for enthusiastic, talented and committed doctors. If a training post is a realistic goal then stay with it, but make good use of the intervening time to build experience, even if in your mind it is an interim step. Think career bridges rather than career ladders; we sometimes need to take one or more lateral steps before the next vertical step and this is not unusual in a typical career pathway.

26. 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)