Tips for Kickstarting Your Career as a GP (2015-07-23)

Making your mark in the medical profession can take years of study, hard work and dedication. While many graduates veer towards working in hospitals, plenty of young medical professionals are discovering that a career as a general practitioner can be incredibly fulfilling. If you are looking for a career as a GP, here are a few tips to help you along the way.

Start while you’re studying

Start planning your career as a GP while you’re still studying. Utilise these years to learn about the industry and build contacts with fellow students (you never know where they’ll end up), lecturers and the professionals you encounter during the course of any placements. It goes without saying that doing the best you can in your studies will give the best foundation on which to build a career.

Make the most of industry organisations

Industry organisations such as General Practice Registrars Australia can be valuable places in which to source information, make contacts and extend your knowledge of the industry. Make a point to read newsletters, journals and other provided information to keep abreast of industry news, events and key developments. Being alert to industry movements is essential for any practitioner.

Network at events

Industry seminars, conferences and other events can provide you with valuable learning opportunities, including the chance to hear peer opinions in feedback sessions and group discussions. Always make the most of meet and greets to speak to others both in your immediate community and further afield. Building a network of colleagues in the medical industry can help keep you alert to upcoming vacancies.

Make placements count

Use any hospital or clinic placements to fine-tune your skills, and not just from the doctors. Seek assistance from the nurses for instance, to learn how best to dress wounds, give injections or other day-to-day tasks which may be essential skills for any good GP. Use this time also to observe and broaden your knowledge in other areas, such as how the referral process works, when to order tests and who’s who in the hospital or clinic.

Develop additional skills

A good GP often benefits from being a good communicator. Try and develop the skills to communicate clearly and effectively at all times with patients, medical staff and others. Good writing is particularly useful, both in everyday practice and should you be interested in contributing medical articles in the future to build on your reputation. Whether you’re a student or starting out as a locum doctor, read reports very carefully so you can see how best to write up comprehensive, concise and clear summaries.

Sign up to a medical recruitment agency

The best jobs aren’t always easy to find, and are not always widely advertised. Signing up to a medical recruitment agency is an effective way to tap into the job market in your particular area of interest, keep abreast of current vacancies, and put your resume out there to potential employers.

Become a locum doctor

Working as a locum doctor gives you the chance to experience a variety of workplaces, extend your network and it helps you narrow your focus in terms of potential areas of speciality. Locum work can also help you gain experience, often in new places or even areas of medicine that you may never have worked in previously. Very importantly, working as a locum can help you build a reputation in the wider medical community, and get noticed by those you might want to work for in the future.

And while you are gaining skills and building a reputation, consider also some of the other benefits that locum doctors enjoy. For starters, there’s freedom and flexibility. When you work as a locum, you are able to choose to work exactly when you want and there’s opportunity to take a break as needed and hop back on board as soon as you like. There may even be the chance to travel and experience new destinations while you work.

Stay focused

A great doctor never stops learning. If you want to be a committed, trusted and exceptional GP, stay focused on the goal. While it may take some time to get there, you can use that time to develop skills and knowledge, and build a network of like-minded colleagues.

How Best Practice Medical can help

Best Practice Medical can provide you with a one-on-one service to help you find short or long-term work, while also looking after wage negotiation and even invoicing. We also offer exposure to both leading private hospitals and a range of public healthcare facilities. So feel free to get in touch if you’re looking to take another step towards your career as a GP.

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