Medical Gap Year: Becoming a Healthcare Assistant

Gracias
Cool any advice with coping with resits? I pretty certain I may have retake a whole AS or two ;/

Thanks once again. Oh cool. I'm going start volunteering at Kings in a few days

Hey do you mind me PMing later for advice etc?

They are scenario based questions, ie what would you do in this situation? That kind of stuff. You do need SOME experience in caring for others so you might want to take this time to get that out of the way. I personally was a mentor for students for a while and did my 2 week work experience at a kids club. As for the elderly, I used to look after my grandmother.

Yeah, you won't find a better paid job which is as enjoyable or relevant. Although don't expect too much, you won't be a medical student getting teaching, you'll be at work - and its much more to do with nursing than medicine. But imo, understanding nursing is an important part of being a doctor.

Volunteer during medschool if you want - but (to my knowledge) there aren't that many volunteering jobs (certainly in UK) which bring you close to doctors or particularly help you to learn medicine. Which is more of the angle of experience you may be looking for once you are actually a medical student. Ofc - there may be other things to get out of volunteering.

Change how you work, something has to be different this time around in order for you to improve your grades, this might mean just revising in the same way but working for longer or not working in front of the tv or making sure you stay calm.
Work hard, start to revise earlier, make a plan and stick to it so you don't neglect your AS modules instead. It will be painful and horrible but it's worth it, it's a tiny time in your life for a huge longterm gain.
Do some resits in Jan, don't leave them all to June.
Really think about which you should resit as no one can do 100 exams haha.
Do past papers! And talk to your teachers about where you're going wrong.

Don't give up, most people don't improve their grades but plenty do and there's no reason why you shouldn't be one of them .

It's probably a bit different for me on the bank because I work at quite a small District General so actually people do remember me! I did one shift in August on a ward and didn't go back there until April and they remembered me which was nice. But actually it's very good for your confidence if you're a bit shy because you're forced to step out of your comfort zone and just get involved.
Also if you're resitting modules (which I am) bank is good because you can simply say I'm not doing any shifts until after exams and then make up the hours later. It means you aren't trying to do too much at once.
Good luck

Hey can I ask how you got to volunteer at Kings? I'm going to be taking a gap year and I'm sooo worried that I'm going to waste the year :/

Now is the time to apply! They are looking for about 1000 volunteers at the moment as they a creating an extensive volunteer programme

I just applied to be a ward visitor through the careers website here:

http://jobs.kch.nhs.uk/job/v247036

The application form is quite long but worth it. You then get short listed for a group interview - mine was quite informal luckily, just make sure you speak up as you get lost in the crowd etc. If you want more info just ask

(I haven't started yet as their just doing my CRB check, I'll tell you what it's like when I start if you want)

Thank you so much! They got back to me really quickly so now I'm just waiting for a date to become available for the group interviews. I'm kinda nervous about that now :/
Thanks a lot for letting me know and yh it would be great if you keep me posted and I'll let you know how the interview goes.

****, ****, ****!!!

Managed to get 2 HCA job interview invitations today, both of which are on days on which I have exams!

Have sent an apologetic email to the HR departments saying I won't be able to attend them and if there is anyway of switching the days, but I'm pretty confident that they won't do that

Sorry to hear that.

They should let you change the interview date after all you didn't choose to have your exams on the same day as your interview and they obviously know you can't change the dates. I'm pretty sure they will appreciate the fact you're a student, if not, it's their loss :P

Well done in getting the interviews and good luck in your exams

****, ****, ****!!!

Managed to get 2 HCA job interview invitations today, both of which are on days on which I have exams!

Have sent an apologetic email to the HR departments saying I won't be able to attend them and if there is anyway of switching the days, but I'm pretty confident that they won't do that

I was allowed to do my training across two months as I had my final AS on the first day of the training so you never know!

I was allowed to do my training across two months as I had my final AS on the first day of the training so you never know!

Mine was condensed into what was possibly the most tedious weekend of my life.

Mine probably wasn't as relevant as jennaz77's experience (which sounds incredible but tough).

Took a gap year because I got ABC after year 12, retook during year 13 and applied on my gap year.
Didn't really justify it as such. Started off by picking up rowing, carried on with volunteering 2 or 3 times a week (this was hard for me to fit in at times due to work) and I had 2 jobs, they were very customer facing but NOT at all medical. I also did a short course open uni course. Could show that I could manage my time, had outside interests, could get on with people that I worked with, could work in a team in a busy environment.

Then did a ski season, a goal I've always wanted to complete, met so many people, very hard work, you learn tons about working with other people and dealing with peoples expectations. Taught me independence etc.

I saved money on my ski season but I think I'll just break even for America, you have to pay for flights, visa, police check, health check, you have a month on your visa at the end for travelling. I've got really interested in special needs so I'm going to a special needs camp over summer, very excited but daunted!

I had a few weeks of work experience and loads of volunteering, you don't need more than a couple and I was struggling for more. It's better to be a HCA on a gap year than spend 4 weeks shadowing a cardiologist etc.

My gap year isn't super medical but I still got 4 offers, and didn't outright get asked about it at interview, but I used my experiences for loads of questions.

My "thing" has probably been travelling, I did World Challenge, raised money to do work experience in India and will have spent 7 months away this year in France and America working, you've got to turn your "thing" into a pro on your application.

Well done

Don't let the nerves get the better of you. My interview was quite informal, they just really want to check if you're 'normal'. Be prepared to speak to other applicants and introduce them to the rest of the group - first test. Also there are some scenarios given and you are asked what will you do ~ there's no right or wrong, just be able to justify yourself. You must speak up or they won't take you even if you have the most amazing application I mean you don't have be overly confident - be yourself and smile.

Hope that helped


And yeah tell how it goes

That, is, very impressive. I'm starting to think that perhaps there's more to my gap year than fighting in for a HCA post in the job market! 7 Months you say? Well the challenge has been set, I'll try for 8! (: This post as truly turned my frown upside down (no offers no interviews). Thank you ^_^