We have been working on updating the BGS careers page on the BGS website (our work is almost finished and will be on the website very soon).

As part of this work, we designed a simple questionnaire which we circulated to medical students. Our aim was to find out a little more about where students would go in order to get advice on their future careers. We administered the questionnaire to 45 2nd year (Newcastle) and 23 4th year (Liverpool) medical students at hospital based careers fairs.

The results of the survey (summarised on the right) suggested that both a brochure and a website would be useful, but that those organising careers fairs would need ready access to a brochure. It would be useful if such a facility could be available on the website. Also, we need to keep medical schools informed, and link to the BMA careers website, as well as the RCP website.

It would be helpful if you could feed your comments to Cath (c.j.church@newcastle.ac.uk). The more we hear from you, the more useful we can make the website.

Cath Church and Chris Turnbull

At a careers fair Yes – 56 No – 12
By contacting a specialist society Yes – 14 No – 54
By contacting a Royal College by phone Yes – 18 No – 50
By contacting the BMA by phone Yes – 16 No – 52
By speaking to a friend Yes – 60 No – 8
By speaking to a tutor/supervisor Yes – 66 No – 2
By use of a website Yes – 62 No – 6

Question: If you use the Internet, which website/s would you use to find information on a specialist career?

Unsure - 35 Hospital/NHS - 4
BMA - 13 University - 2
Royal College - 4 GMC - 1
Specialist society - 7 Deanery - 1 DoctorsNet - 1

Question: Would you like to receive a brochure…?

Yes – 62 No – 6

What sort of info would you like a brochure/website to tell you?

Job availability/competitiveness/prospects - 25
Salary - 22
Training structure - 25
Job hours - 20
Training length - 15
Exams/Qualifications - 17
Best hospital/place to work in - 11
Application info/how to get into the specialty - 19
Part-time opportunities - 9
Opportunities for women in the specialty - 5
Opportunities for research - 2
Adv/Disadvantages of the specialty - 1
Type of character suited to the job - 1

Question: Any other suggestions regarding sources of careers information for undergraduates?

Don’t know - 21
Med school lectures/seminars - 20
Library/books - 5
Named contacts/hospitals - 4
Brochure - 3
Med school website - 2
Other websites - 3
Student/Careers BMJ - 4
Career choice computer programme - 0
Overseas Doctors information - 0
Meet junior doctors - 1