Working with members of the public

• Volunteering or part time work are great opportunities to gain experience working with members of the public, which is a huge aspect of a medical career.

• Doctors must be able to work well with others, interact with members of the public, respond to challenges, and defuse heated situations, you may experience something similar in a part time job, reflecting on your ability to do this reflects on your interpersonal skills.

• This is also a good time to reflect on your communication skills and your ability to behave in a professional manner. It is the responsibility of medical students and doctors to maintain trust in the profession and always present themselves in a professional manner, reflecting on your ability to do so demonstrates you would be well suited to the career.

Vulnerable groups

• Volunteering or part time work may involve working with vulnerable adults or children, it is beneficial to have experience working with these groups and reflect on your experience doing so.

How does a ward work

• Volunteering on a hospital ward provides a great opportunity to see how a ward works without organising formal work experience in a clinical environment.

• You may also have worked on a ward before and be able to talk about your experience as a member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT).