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Work experience/volunteering for a degree/career in healthcare

Applying for a degree or job in healthcare can seem tricky, especially when you want to gain different experiences but have difficulty finding a clinical setting taking volunteers or offering work experience.

Therefore, if you are interested in completing some work experience and volunteering to support your application to university or job application, check out these links to help with building your personal statement and give you experiences to talk about at interviews 🙂

Springpod is great for virtual, on demand work experience that will take you through different industries, insights into professions and often gives you certificates of completion at the end. By having a full insight into your future career, you can build your application/personal statement with confidence and shape it in a way that demonstrates how you would align to that role with your skills, qualities and values.

NHS Volunteering is a good central point to look for volunteering opportunities near you. The starting age varies but is usually between 16-18. Some trusts open applications at set times, but others open them throughout the year, so it is worth registering your interest so that when an opportunity does become available, you will be the first to know.

If you are considering becoming an Operating Department Practitioner (or have never heard of it and want to find out more!), check out this free massive open online course which takes you through and introduction to the profession, the Health and Care Professions Council, and what it is like to study the course at CCCU!

Don’t forget, you probably have more transferrable skills than you realise that map across to the 6 C’s of Nursing and the NHS Constitution Values. For example, you likely communicate effectively with your peers, or provide compassion and care in your personal life. Working together, showing respect, and being inclusive are all examples of skills and values you may have developed in your part-time job.

If you are looking for advice on how to put your work experience and volunteering into your personal statement, check out this Personal Statement Tips thread.

What other useful ways have you found to gain experience or knowledge for your future career?