On Wednesday 23 September, I ran the first session of my Planning Your Next Career Move webinar series, “What’s Next? Clarifying Your Career Direction”. The questions we worked through were deliberately simple. What do you want more of? What do you want less of? What do you want to keep? And what are you prepared to change? After the session, I spoke with one of the participants, a senior clinician who had been thinking carefully about the next stage of their career. The conversation after the webinar has stayed with me. This doctor was not planning to leave clinical work. ...

As we move into the final months of the year, I have started planning for 2027. That includes reviewing what has worked well this year, considering where I want to focus next, and making decisions now that will help me move into the new year with greater clarity and direction. It is also a useful time for doctors to think about their own next career move. January can feel like the natural time to start planning a change. However, if you are hoping to progress, move sideways or explore a different career direction in 2027, there is considerable value in ...

Medical interviews can take many different forms. You may be invited to a conventional panel interview that includes “Tell us about yourself”, behavioural questions, conflict scenarios, leadership examples, career goals and a small number of clinical questions. You may attend a multiple mini interview, with a series of timed stations. Or you may face a structured interview based closely on the role’s selection criteria. Then there is another possibility: a 40-minute interview consisting of four detailed clinical questions. This can come as a surprise, particularly if you have spent most of your preparation developing examples about teamwork, leadership, teaching, communication ...

Clinical governance is often described as the framework that supports safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement in healthcare. In practice, however, it is much more than policy documents, accreditation standards, or committee meetings. It is the culture, leadership, and systems that shape how healthcare organisations deliver safe and effective care every day. For senior clinicians and healthcare leaders, understanding clinical governance is no longer optional. It influences patient outcomes, workforce culture, service delivery, risk management, and organisational reputation. Whether you are leading a department, supervising trainees, contributing to quality improvement projects, or preparing for a consultant interview panel, governance literacy ...

Understanding your specialty’s core competencies is essential for career progression. It’s important that you assess where you currently sit, and learn to recognise these competencies in interview questions so you can communicate clearly and respond with confidence. In this article, we’ll look at why competencies matter, how they show up in interviews, and how you can start thinking about your own experience in a more structured way. Why Competencies Matter Medical training and selection processes are increasingly competency-based. Whether explicitly stated or not, colleges are assessing you across key domains such as clinical expertise, communication, teamwork, leadership, and professionalism. Many ...

Medical interviews can feel like a high-stakes exam, but instead of only demonstrating your knowledge, you’re expected to articulate your experience, judgment, and professionalism with clarity and confidence. One way to stand out is to elevate your language. That doesn’t mean over-rehearsing or sounding overly polished – it means choosing words and phrases that clearly align with the selection criteria and reflect your readiness for the role. In this article, we’ll explore how to do that naturally, using professional vocabulary that reflects what interviewers are listening for while keeping your answers authentic and easy to follow. Why Language Matters When ...

The start of the year is the perfect time to pause and take stock. For many doctors, this reflection brings a mix of pride and uncertainty. You’ve achieved a lot, but there may be lingering questions about what’s next or how to move forward in a sustainable way. One powerful way to create clarity is to ask: What do I want to be celebrating this time next year? This simple question shifts your focus from reacting to circumstances to intentionally shaping your professional development. Whether you’re a prevocational trainee preparing for a competitive training application or a senior medical officer ...

As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself taking a quiet moment to reflect. It’s been a year of meaningful progress, creative problem-solving, and everyday wins that deserve recognition. While the challenges in healthcare remain real, I’ve seen just as many reasons to feel hopeful and proud of the work happening across the system. I’ve watched doctors take important steps in their careers – gaining confidence, improving communication skills, leading education projects, and securing roles that align with their long-term goals. Even in highly competitive specialties like anaesthesia, I’ve seen candidates support each other, build on feedback, and grow ...