As a newly qualified GP , the feeling of relief at having finished a gruelling year of study to complete your ST3 can quickly be replaced with the daunting task of looking for your first GP job. We aim to help by giving you access to this Newly Qualified GP checklist.
“Working with newly qualified GPs is a big part of what we do here at Prospect Health. My team and I work incredibly hard to help people find their perfect GP Job; we’re here to guide you through the next chapter of your career and support you in making that big decision as to where you’re going next. It’s a really intense period for many of the people we work with but I always hope that with our help they come away excited and eager to start their new venture,” says Jason Dunn, Divisional Manager of GP Recruitment for Prospect Health.
So, if you’re now you’re a newly qualified GP or are about to qualify, we’ve put a newly qualified GP checklist together, to recommend things to think about whilst preparing to make your move into general practice. The tips on this list come from our own team of specialist recruiters as well as GPs we have worked with either helping them find the perfect role or the perfect doctor for their practice.
Newly Qualified GP Checklist
Before you apply…
Before applying for any roles take some time to think about:
Location – where do you want to work? Do you want to stay in the area where you trained or are you looking to move somewhere new? How far and for how long are you willing to travel? The impact of travel time can have positive or negative consequences for your work/life balance so think about long term what you will be content with.
What kind of practice are you looking for? – are you looking for an independent practice that runs a traditional morning and afternoon session and home visits? Or would you prefer a larger practice that is perhaps part of group that may work more via phone and Skype calls? Would you be most comfortable in a training practice, giving you extra support in your first role? Think about how you like to work and what kind of environment you want to be part of.
Continuing Professional Development – what are you aiming for? No one will expect you to have your plan for development in place straight away but it is important to consider your areas of interest so that you can weigh up whether the practice you apply to will be able to support you.
You’ve got an interview…
It can be hard to make a decision on a new GP job based just on the interview experience, try and think about…
Getting an honest impression – visit the surgery you’re applying to, observe the layout and information they provide for their patients, try and witness members of the team interacting with patients so that you can get a real feel for the environment to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Use your network – ask around and use your network to see if you can get feedback about the practice you’ve applied to.
What is the turnover of staff like and what are they interested in? Investigate how long on average members of the team have worked there for – if turnaround is quick that might lead to further questions. Does the practice have an interest in research? Do they run any particular clinics for their area? Do they engage with their local community? Answers to these questions will give you a rounded impression of the practice.
Prepare for the interview – Download our Competency Interview Guide to give you some hints and tips to perform and excel at the interview. DOWNLOAD NOW
You’re offered the role…
No one doubts how fantastic it feels to be offered a new job but before rushing to accept the offer on the table take some time to consider a few points first…
A manageable workload – Be proactive and discuss how you intend to integrate into the team. It would be incredibly unfair to expect you to pick up the same workload as a GP Partner with 10 years’ experience under their belt, however show that you are planning on how to get up to speed. Think about acceptable periods for review so that you have the opportunity to discuss your workload.
The package – Salary, your contracted hours, place of work and your medical indemnity insurance are all factors that go into creating your package. Negotiating these assets and coming to an agreement that everyone is happy with can feel awkward at times but is an essential discussion and is a key area where having a recruitment consultant working with you can be incredibly helpful.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we work and how we can help you please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call the office and speak to one of the GP team on our direct GP line 01423 813 454 or email [email protected]