I am a diagnostic radiographer - AMA

Reply 40

1

Hi I’m currently doing a diagnostic radiography degree. I have a young child and am a single parent. How realistic would it be to not work nights straight from being qualified? I’m getting quite worried about how I would manage night shifts if I can’t find childcare. Many thanks

Reply 41

FXX

OP

19

Original post

by Camstar678

Hi I’m currently doing a diagnostic radiography degree. I have a young child and am a single parent. How realistic would it be to not work nights straight from being qualified? I’m getting quite worried about how I would manage night shifts if I can’t find childcare. Many thanks

You only work nights in acute hospitals. Smaller units (community hospitals, diagnostic hubs, minor injuries) and most private sector providers are days only.

Reply 42

LouyLou

11

Hi,
Im currently a diagnostic radiography student and I was wondering if you have advice around job interviews for radiography and specifically what questions they might ask and how to answer them.

Reply 43

pinkribbonscars

3

do you think radiographers are in demand? i live in scotland and am worried that i wouldn't be able to find job in either diagnostic/therapeutic radiography after graduating without needing to move. i have unconditional offers for both at the moment!

Reply 44

normaw

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

20

Original post

by pinkribbonscars

do you think radiographers are in demand? i live in scotland and am worried that i wouldn't be able to find job in either diagnostic/therapeutic radiography after graduating without needing to move. i have unconditional offers for both at the moment!

There is a national shortage of both types of radiographers so you won't be short of a job. With diagnostic you will have a greater choice of job location as there are imaging services in most hospitals. For therapeutic, job locations would be limited to cancer centres that offer radiotherapy treatment so you may have to travel further. However, the shifts for therapeutic radiographers are more attractive as they are usually between the hours of 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday.

Reply 45

FXX

OP

19

Original post

by LouyLou

Hi,
Im currently a diagnostic radiography student and I was wondering if you have advice around job interviews for radiography and specifically what questions they might ask and how to answer them.

Hi, band 5 job interviews will typically ask about workload management, basic patient care, health and safety, infection control, dose reduction techniques, when to ask for senior advice, your responsibilities under IRMER, conflict etc. As well as the usual tell me about yourself/why do you want to work here/Trust values questions.

Reply 46

angela4764

3

any tips on how to write a great personal statement? i'm applying for the pre-reg masters, hopefully at liverpool

Reply 47

saarah2018

4

Original post

by FXX

Hi all
I thought I'd open up a thread for any questions that anyone has about being a diagnostic radiographer.
About me: I have been qualified for over seven years now and recently got a job as an advanced practitioner in MRI and CT. I still occasionally work in x-ray as well.
I'm happy to answer any questions about the career, whether you are just looking into doing radiography, are currently a student, or perhaps recently qualified and have something on your mind.
This might include things like applying for jobs, Band 5/6/7 interview tips, career options, NHS vs private sector, and so on.
I'm probably less useful at helping with university applications but I'll do my best where I can and I'm sure others will chip in too.
I will try to be as objective and honest as possible as I've always found useful information can be difficult to come by, especially when I was originally applying for the course. I won't just be selling the job onto everyone!
Fire away!

Hi there,

I'm due to qualify soon however after hours and hours on applications I have not been successful for band 5 positions as a diagnostic radiographer. I have had one interview and not successful I keep feeling stressed that I am behind as everyone has already jobs lined up after qualifying in the summer. Is this universal and is it because they rather recruit as a newly qualified person or do I need to improve my CV and personal statement more🧐

Reply 48

normaw

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

20

Original post

by saarah2018

Hi there,

I'm due to qualify soon however after hours and hours on applications I have not been successful for band 5 positions as a diagnostic radiographer. I have had one interview and not successful I keep feeling stressed that I am behind as everyone has already jobs lined up after qualifying in the summer. Is this universal and is it because they rather recruit as a newly qualified person or do I need to improve my CV and personal statement more🧐

If you are still at uni, got to the careers advice service and ask the staff to have a look through your CV and covering letter. Also ask if they can give you any interview advice or even a mock interview. :smile:

Reply 49

Mild life crisis

1

Hi, I am an alevel student and i wanted to do medicine but due to the stress i have decided to take a step back. I know you have answered this before but i was wondering if you could go into more detail. I really struggle with physics and it is my weakest science i got a 4 which is equivalent to about a D or a C in the past grading. where as in my Bio and Chem i achieved a 9 which is equivalent to an A*. How much physics it required at the university level even if you don't use it much in the actual day to gay job. Multiple places i have looked have said they dropped out due to physics and it's making me worried that made diagnostic radiography isn't for me

Reply 50

FXX

OP

19

Original post

by angela4764

any tips on how to write a great personal statement? i'm applying for the pre-reg masters, hopefully at liverpool

Hi there, sorry for the late reply.

I'm probably not best placed to help with personal statements, but I would expect that if you can show you know what a radiographer does (drawing on work or personal experience), what qualities make a good radiographer, and show that you have at least some of those qualities, then that would put you in good standing.

My understanding is that despite the limited number of training posts each year, there are still a large number of students who drop out or fail, which effects funding for universities. Most drop out because the job isn't what they expected. They want students they are confident will complete the course so you show you can do this in your application

Reply 51

FXX

OP

19

Original post

by saarah2018

Hi there,
I'm due to qualify soon however after hours and hours on applications I have not been successful for band 5 positions as a diagnostic radiographer. I have had one interview and not successful I keep feeling stressed that I am behind as everyone has already jobs lined up after qualifying in the summer. Is this universal and is it because they rather recruit as a newly qualified person or do I need to improve my CV and personal statement more🧐

Hi there

For the interview you had, make sure you get feedback as to what you could have improved in your interview, otherwise you won't know where you went wrong.

If you are applying and not getting interviews, then your supporting statement needs work. The key thing to know with applications is that they are anonymous. There are usually hundreds of applicants to each post, and shortlisting, at least in NHS hospitals, will be done by an administrator of some description, rather than a clinical member of staff. They check your supporting statement against the personal specification at the bottom of the job description. If your supporting statement doesn't demonstrate that you meet the minimum required standard, then you won't be short listed.

Good luck

Reply 52

FXX

OP

19

Original post

by Mild life crisis

Hi, I am an alevel student and i wanted to do medicine but due to the stress i have decided to take a step back. I know you have answered this before but i was wondering if you could go into more detail. I really struggle with physics and it is my weakest science i got a 4 which is equivalent to about a D or a C in the past grading. where as in my Bio and Chem i achieved a 9 which is equivalent to an A*. How much physics it required at the university level even if you don't use it much in the actual day to gay job. Multiple places i have looked have said they dropped out due to physics and it's making me worried that made diagnostic radiography isn't for me

Hi there. It probably differs from uni to uni but the physics alone won't be a barrier to anyone who wants to do radiography, IMO. The level you need to know to get a passing grade isn't very high - maybe AS-level, and a very small, focused part of it at that. A lot of students can barely hold a conversation about x-ray physics and they all get through at the end.

Again, though, I'm sure some universities will place greater emphasis on physics than others, and I suspect how it is assessed will be the greatest differentiator. An essay where you can read up and reference as you write will be much easier than answering questions in an exam or at the end of a presentation.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 53

Elizabeth200

9

Is radiography more physics or biology based? Would it be classed as a scientific career? Are there any research based areas that you could go into? What is career progression like? What are the options when it comes to postgraduate study that could further your career in radiography? Are there any health implications that come with working with radiation on a daily basis, e.g increased risk of cancer?

Reply 54

aaaankle

2

Original post

by FXX

Hi all
I thought I'd open up a thread for any questions that anyone has about being a diagnostic radiographer.
About me: I have been qualified for over seven years now and recently got a job as an advanced practitioner in MRI and CT. I still occasionally work in x-ray as well.
I'm happy to answer any questions about the career, whether you are just looking into doing radiography, are currently a student, or perhaps recently qualified and have something on your mind.
This might include things like applying for jobs, Band 5/6/7 interview tips, career options, NHS vs private sector, and so on.
I'm probably less useful at helping with university applications but I'll do my best where I can and I'm sure others will chip in too.
I will try to be as objective and honest as possible as I've always found useful information can be difficult to come by, especially when I was originally applying for the course. I won't just be selling the job onto everyone!
Fire away!

What is some work experience or volunteering opportunities that would be useful to do before going to uni? Also, do you have to be a confident person to go into this career because i'm quite an anxious and shy person

Reply 55

FXX

OP

19

Original post

by Elizabeth200

Is radiography more physics or biology based? Would it be classed as a scientific career? Are there any research based areas that you could go into? What is career progression like? What are the options when it comes to postgraduate study that could further your career in radiography? Are there any health implications that come with working with radiation on a daily basis, e.g increased risk of cancer?

1.

Biology

2.

It's healthcare rather than science

3.

There are research posts but they are in big cities generally

4.

Band 6 after two years is standard, after that career progression depends what area you want to work in - clinical specialist, management, reporting, sales, apps, etc

5.

Some modalities require postgraduate study. Others have postgraduate options but you can progress your career successfully without them

6.

Radiographers are monitored for radiation exposure. You won't have any problems even in the very long term that you can reliably track to working with radiation. Lifetime cancer risk is 1 in 2, any additional risk will be very small compared to this

Reply 56

FXX

OP

19

Original post

by aaaankle

What is some work experience or volunteering opportunities that would be useful to do before going to uni? Also, do you have to be a confident person to go into this career because i'm quite an anxious and shy person

You need to spend at least a day in a radiology department to see what the job is really like. Volunteering is unnecessary. You need to be confident but it's something you can work on. Patients have to trust you and if you aren't confident it can be hard to build that rapport within the crucial first 10 seconds of meeting them.

Reply 57

berrybeom

11

Hii, is it hard to get into IR radiography straight after qualifying? This is something I’m quite interested in but I’ve seen it’s more of a band 6 post x

Reply 58

FXX

OP

19

Original post

by berrybeom

Hii, is it hard to get into IR radiography straight after qualifying? This is something I’m quite interested in but I’ve seen it’s more of a band 6 post x

Hi there. It will depend where you work. Where I am, moving into IR doesn't take long at all, but they don't do many complex procedures. In other places it may be more specialist. An experienced IR radiographer should be band 6.

Reply 59

angela4764

3

Any resources on how to ace uni interviews?

I am a diagnostic radiographer - AMA

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