MEGATHREAD - Work Experience and Voluntary Work [Part 2 of 2]

I was wondering if anybody knew of any medical care work experience or how to find some, i'm thinking about going into midwifery, but any kind of work experience to do with medicine would help. thanks

Look at springpod website, it has a massive variety, ik nursing and medicine work experience is on there, so im guessing midwifery will be too.

Reply 61

PPP170903

18

I have done:
BSMS
Observe GP
Springpod work experience
and a course on future learn

Reply 62

Rara345

17

Original post by PPP170903

I have done:
BSMS
Observe GP
Springpod work experience
and a course on future learn

Nice, pretty similar to me. Which springpod one did you do? I only just found the website and i've applied to one, and waiting to see if i get a place -fingers crossed!

Reply 63

Bazookaboobs

14

Hi! Applying for grad. medicine.

This is my planned work experience:

Managed to secure a role as a Covid-19 vaccinator (yay, can apply to Warwick now!).
Work as a medical receptionist.
Going to observe: 5 sessions of dermatology clinics (including minor ops); 5 sessions of G.P. clinics; one full session of circumcisions.
Luckily, I get on with the G.Ps as we specialise in ENT, Rheutomatology, etc etc - so I can ask doctors for this - so might spend the entire of August (provided I get a good UKCAT and don't study for GAMSAT) and shadow different specialities.

Would this be decent for my work experience? Also going to ask my fav. G.P. (infamous urologist) to be my referee.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 64

PPP170903

18

Original post by Rara345

Nice, pretty similar to me. Which springpod one did you do? I only just found the website and i've applied to one, and waiting to see if i get a place -fingers crossed!

i did the medicine virtual work experience

Reply 65

Medic Mind

11

Original post by Ami_Ami

Guys, I have an opportunity to shadow an internal medicine consultant for a week from tomorrow. Do you know if med schools require some kind of proof or log of hours of shadowing? Should I ask for some kind of record?

Hey there,

Med schools are not in the game of trying to catch you out, however some will ask for evidence to ensure the validity of your work experience so it's best to keep an accurate record of it.

The key is that you can talk about what you learned about the profession from your shadowing. Here's a link to a load of articles that might help with that. https://www.medicmind.co.uk/medicine-ucas-guide/topic/work-experience/.

You might pick up some examples in here that you can talk about at interview.

Hope this helped!
James 😊
Y2 Oxford Medical Student

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 66

GANFYD

18

Original post by Medic Mind

Hey there,

I wouldn't worry too much about this. Med schools are not in the game of trying to catch you out. They won't ask you for evidence, but they will ask you questions that will establish whether you took anything away from your experience. The key is that you can talk about what you learned about the profession from your shadowing. Here's a link to a load of articles that might help with that. https://www.medicmind.co.uk/medicine-ucas-guide/topic/work-experience/. You might pick up some examples in here that you can talk about at interview.

Hope this helped!
James 😊
Y2 Oxford Medical Student
Register for our free webinars: https://www.medicmind.co.uk/medicine...mind-webinars/ (First one on Sun 14 March)

Some med schools do ask for evidence of work experience. They are not trying to catch people out, but they do want to make sure that the content of a PS or UCAS form is accurate
@Ami_Ami as you have been advised, it is always best to try and get evidence of dates you attended and briefly what you did, if you can, in case somebody does ask for it. Sometimes sending a email saying something along the lines of “could you please confirm I attended my work experience from x to y and was lucky enough to shadow a Dr/help out with a role/etc” is helpful, as they can just reply confirming it. Otherwise, type out what you want to be said and ask if they would mind signing and stamping it.
It is best to forewarn them that occasionally they may be contacted by a medical school to confirm what you have done, and to get details of the best way for this to be done at the time, if you can

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 67

tptp123

15

I decided to do medicine this January so i’ll have to take a gap year and apply in October. I heard a few people say if you don’t have work experience u get rejected automatically (unless you applied in 2020). My question is, is this true? Should I bother applying to medicine with no actual experience?
Most roles have been cancelled due to Covid

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 68

2mb

10

Original post by tptp123

I decided to do medicine this January so i’ll have to take a gap year and apply in October. I heard a few people say if you don’t have work experience u get rejected automatically (unless you applied in 2020). My question is, is this true? Should I bother applying to medicine with no actual experience?

Personally I'd say you need to at least try volunteering in a healthcare related role e.g. care home/hospice/work with adults/children with disabilities for a period of time ie not just 2 days for example. Things will probably be on the path to normal later this year so they probably wont accept medicine without any experience. (From my understanding is work shadow is desirable but not necessary, volunteering in a healthcare related setting long term is more important and allows you to show your commitment and something to talk about during the interviews)!
any more tips for this buddy?

Reply 69

tptp123

15

Original post by 2mb

Personally I'd say you need to at least try volunteering in a healthcare related role e.g. care home/hospice/work with adults/children with disabilities for a period of time ie not just 2 days for example. Things will probably be on the path to normal later this year so they probably wont accept medicine without any experience. (From my understanding is work shadow is desirable but not necessary, volunteering in a healthcare related setting long term is more important and allows you to show your commitment and something to talk about during the interviews)!
@ecolier any more tips for this buddy?

IF volunteering and work experience roles are running again this summer, i’ll only have around 2 months to search for places, apply and work enough hours. U think this would be enough? I’d prefer doing all this after i’ve finished my A levels

Reply 70

way2med

12

Original post by tptp123

I decided to do medicine this January so i’ll have to take a gap year and apply in October. I heard a few people say if you don’t have work experience u get rejected automatically (unless you applied in 2020). My question is, is this true? Should I bother applying to medicine with no actual experience?

It depends on the medical school but it is very highly recommended as most medical schools do strongly prefer work experience. Even if it is not required, you will be in competition with students who do have it.

I won't say it's impossible to get in without work experience especially now with COVID as many others would be in the same position but it will definitely weaken your application to some extent. Universities will be hopefully understanding of the whole corona situation.

Use your gap year to find work experience in hospitals, GPs, care homes etc. You can also get a job such as a carer, HCA, care assistant etc. And your other option is to volunteer. Healthcare related is obviously preferred but if that's impossible, get any sort of volunteering such as in a charity shop to show how you've developed communication/teamwork skills etc.

Doing something is definitely better than nothing. Goodluck.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 71

becausethenight

19

Original post by tptp123

I decided to do medicine this January so i’ll have to take a gap year and apply in October. I heard a few people say if you don’t have work experience u get rejected automatically (unless you applied in 2020). My question is, is this true? Should I bother applying to medicine with no actual experience?
Most roles have been cancelled due to Covid

Just to add to what everyone's said - you should still apply.
You won't be rejected pre-interview for lack of work experience (except at Keele or Sunderland who select based on a Roles and Responsibilities form) and there are lots of ways to show an understanding of medicine as a career at interview other than in person work experience (virtual work experience, work in a healthcare setting, reading, watching documentaries etc)

Reply 72

rolla01

11

Do you guys think vaccinating and COVID testing be considered work experience?

Reply 73

becausethenight

19

Original post by rolla01

Do you guys think vaccinating and COVID testing be considered work experience?

It's not really "work experience" since you're not shadowing a doctor, but it's definitely a good experience you could discuss at interview!
I think Warwick would count it towards their hours if you're a grad but you should check.

Reply 74

kfc7

11

will you be disadvantaged if you're applying for medicine next October for entry Sept 2022 if you don't have work experience? Or will it be required?

Reply 75

kfc7

11

Would you be disadvantaged if you don't get work experience if you're applying for entry 2022? Or is it required?

Original post by Khalid Al-Raisi

will you be disadvantaged if you're applying for medicine next October for entry Sept 2022 if you don't have work experience? Or will it be required?

No you won’t. Medical schools understand the situation this year. Also there is a thread for applying applicants.

Ecolier could this be moved to the correct thread please

(edited 3 years ago)

Original post by _Mia101

No you won’t. Medical schools understand the situation this year.

écolier could this please be moved to the correct thread.

Post edited automatically

Reply 78

dinomedic

18

Original post by Khalid Al-Raisi

Would you be disadvantaged if you don't get work experience if you're applying for entry 2022? Or is it required?

med schools will probably be more understanding this year but you really need to try and find a volunteering placement, especially now that things are opening up. and i would say still apply for work experience because it doesnt hurt to try, hopefully in a few months they will start taking us again as covid eases :smile:

Reply 79

kfc7

11

Original post by dinomedic

med schools will probably be more understanding this year but you really need to try and find a volunteering placement, especially now that things are opening up. and i would say still apply for work experience because it doesnt hurt to try, hopefully in a few months they will start taking us again as covid eases :smile:

I contacted my local hospitals and haven't heard anything back (yet, hopefully) and the thing is that it's getting worse (COVID) in my country