Work Experience
Getting work experience can set your application apart. It also provides useful content for the portfolio station in the multiple mini interview and is commonly raised in traditional interviews. Work experience allows you to understand what a doctor does on a day-to-day basis. You should aim to do at least 2 weeks of work experience.
How do I get work experience?
Work experience is difficult to get. In order to secure a work experience placement you need to be persistent. We recommend that you:
- Ask friends and family: Someone you know may have a friend in healthcare who will be able to organise a placement for you at their place of work.
- Discuss with your school: Your school may have a work experience programme with local hospitals.
- Contact hospitals directly: There is normally a work experience coordinator working at hospitals. They will likely receive a lot of requests for work experience so try multiple hospitals and apply early.
- Contact GP surgeries directly: The practice manager is the best contact. You could try dropping off your CV at the reception desk.
- Use your community: Try posting on apps like “Nextdoor” or putting up a flyer in your local place of worship/community centre.
- Volunteer: If you can’t get work experience volunteer work is also highly regarded.
- Go overseas: Contact hospitals abroad. This allows you to compare and contrast different healthcare systems.
How old do I need to be to get work experience?
Hospitals will normally only take those that are over 16 for work experience.
What do I do if I can’t get any experience?
If you cannot get any work experience of volunteer work in person, there are a number of online or virtual alternatives:
- Observe GP is a free interactive video platform providing insights into the role of a GP.
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School ‘Virtual Work Experience’ is an online platform that introduces users to six different medical specialties.
Download the free guide on medical school applications
https://medschoolmmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Medical-School-Admissions-Guide.pdf