Volunteering at Oxfam

Hey future medics / applicants, I'm just enquiring on how I could relate volunteering at Oxfam in tune with my personal statement and interview discussions when I apply for medicine in 2009. I've had a lot of criticism from some students saying that they're entirely opposite (slight exaggeration) but if I wanted to volunteer somewhere it should be at somewhere like MENCAP, old peoples home, peace hospice...etc.

I've enjoyed volunteering at Oxfam for the past month and I don't intend on stopping for quite a while. It's early to be thinking about this at AS but I realise my GCSEs aren't as strong as a lot of other medical applicants after joining the young medics society at my school. I have had a week's work experience at BUPA's x-ray department in Year 11 so that's a start, though so will have most applicants too, if not done more so during the holidays.

Anyway, I'd appreciate a lot of advice on how I should relate volunteering at Oxfam when applying for medicine. I haven't done anything major such as go abroad and help others. I just help in the back and on the till.

Thanks in advance.

Reply 1

Democracy

21

I volunteered there for five months...here's basically what I wrote:

I have volunteered for four months at an Oxfam shop and this experience has given me good responsibility and organisational abilities for example, by working the till.

Reply 2

rahmed

You need to mention how it has strengthened your teamworking skills, how it has helped with your communication skills when interacting with fellow colleagues and customers as well. And then mention the other stuff in your sentence. But don't necessarily say till...just working there as a whole. They will then ask you at the interview about how you found working there...so be ready.

Reply 3

Renal

17

And to think, you could have had a real job and got paid.

Reply 4

jinglepupskye

14

I worked at the PDSA charity shop in my town. These are some of the skills I gained in working there.

I gained experience in teamworking with people who were substantially older than me, as well as those who were close to my own age. This is so important, especially if you want to be a doctor. You must be able to relate to all kninds of people young and old.

I learnt to take responsibility for doing jobs that needed doing without having to be told to do things. This shows initiative and willingness to work without needig constant supervision.

I also supervised other people who had just begun working there and trained them in the shop procedures. This gave confidence in explaining and demonstrating tasks to others.

I had to know about the health and safety legislation and ensure that it was followed. You will obviously need to be aware of these issues anywhere that you work.

I also helped with cleaning the shop as necessary. Keeping your working area clean and safe is very important.

I learnt to deal with customers who were unpleasant and offhand and to be professional in my handling of them. Some customers could be miserable old so and so's but you need to handle them with curtesy at all times. As a doctor you will see people at their worst when they are in pain or distressed and are not necessarily behaving as they would normally.

I was also trusted to take the daily takings to the bank. This showed that I was trustworthy and honest, which hopefully most doctors are.

There are a lot of things that you could add to this from your own experience. For me this voluntary work helped me as much as, if not more than I did the shop! I gained so much confidence in my communication skills and it helped me enormously when I had to meet clients on my Foundation Degree.

Reply 5

i'm no superman

OP

15

Could I merge the motive behind my reason for volunteering which primarily was to try and actively contribute to helping people suffering from poverty (and suffering in general) with the motive behind applying for medicine to do my bit to try and regain people's lives and help accomodate and fulfill their physical (and pyschological) state. I'm skeptical because it really sounds 'corny' / 'cheesy' and very typical by the sounds of things but it's genuine.

Reply 6

i'm no superman

OP

15

Thank you so much jinglepupskye for your response. A lot of stemmed factors to expand on from the areas you've talked about so thanks again. How many words/space would you recommend I spend on this factor in my personal statement?

+rep btw.

Edit - Sorry about the double post! :frown:

Reply 7

jinglepupskye

14

!MEna

Thank you so much jinglepupskye for your response. A lot of stemmed factors to expand on from the areas you've talked about so thanks again. How many words/space would you recommend I spend on this factor in my personal statement?

+rep btw.

Edit - Sorry about the double post! :frown:

It depends on what else you want to put in and how much importance you want to give it. Perhaps ten to fifteen per cent of the word count. You need to also address why you want to be a doctor and what makes you a good applicant, so rather than setting it off by itself you need to integrate it into why you are such a good applicant!

I chose working for the PDSA because I love animals especially dogs and wanted to do something to help with their care. I had also used the PDSA'a services when my dog was knocked down by a car so wanted to pay something back. I mentioned that in my statement so you could give a few words to 'why Oxfam?'

Thanks for the rep.

Reply 8

Wangers

16

The thing is - you don't want to put down a daily itinary, you have to make them think - I want to talk to this person to find out more (interview invite for you). Be wide ranging, confident in your language, at the same time don't make out you know more then you do (ie don't say you have a fascination for something complex like Parkinsons just because you've heard the word on the idiot box). Be compelling, but honest, and leave them wanting more.

Reply 9

bright star

1

i kno it's good to be organised, but worrying about how to fit this into your ps at this stage is a bit pointless, you won't have gotton most of your experience yet. the key is that you can make almost anything sound valuable, however, a ps that is overflowing with different things is far more impressive than a couple of plumped up things. i'd focus on getting more experience, and worry about writing my ps later.

Volunteering at Oxfam

Related discussions

Articles for you