Healthcare Work Experience during COVID-19
If you’re an Aspiring Healthcare Professional getting work experience can be challenging even when we’re not in the midst of a pandemic, but don’t worry, we’re here to help.
Work Experience Requirements During COVID-19
We know that many aspiring doctors, dentists, nurses and other healthcare professionals are really confused about work experience right now and your options for gaining it.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
This guide will walk you through your options – we recommend you check back often because this is a live project we’re working on and we’ll be linking to new bits and pieces whenever we can! 🤩
Let's get started by answering some of the most common questions we've had in
Given there's a global pandemic, will universities still expect me to have obtained work experience?
Universities appreciate that it is a difficult time to gain relevant experience in healthcare and medicine. Nearly all students will be in the same situation, and will be finding it hard to gain work/volunteer experience or paid employment in the health sector.
All medical schools are aware that the opportunities open to you have been affected and will take this into account when assessing your application.
There are plenty of ways you can learn more about what studying a healthcare course or embarking on a career in healthcare … you could mention these in your personal statement or discuss at interviews.
For example: Keep abreast of health research and current affairs.
St George’s, University of London
All experience is good work experience, you gain from speaking to other people, from hearing from medical students and doctors, from taking part in challenges etc.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Backtrack a second, what do you actually mean by 'work experience'? What counts?
This is a brilliant question because the term ‘work experience’, when used in relation to experiences that universities hope applicants will have prior to beginning a course, is actually broader than you might expect.
It’s more than just following a healthcare professional around in a clinical setting. Any activity or life experience that helps you to prepare for medical school can count as work experience.
Don’t just take our word for it – here’s what universities themselves say about work experience.
Gaining work experience can confirm career aspirations or, just as usefully, help you to realise that the career that you thought was right for you, is perhaps not.
One of the purposes of work experience is that it allows you to gain an insight into a career.
University of Durham
Applicants should have reflected on, and learnt from, life experiences (this may include work experience, paid employment and personal experience, both in and outside health and social care settings)
University of Southampton
So now we know that
'work experience'
is a broad term and that universities are understanding about the situation, let's get down to the detail.
What can I be doing right now?
There are lots of options available for ‘work experience’ you can be involved with right now so don’t lose hope!
Like we said, this guide is here to walk you through your options but we really recommend you check back often because this is a live project we’re working on and we’ll be linking to new bits and pieces whenever we can! 🤩
COVID-19 Medical and Healthcare Work Experience Opportunities
Insight Opportunities
Here are some opportunities that can help give you more insight into the world of medicine and healthcare!
👉🏿 GenMedX’s COVID-19 Virtual Work Experience –
Our Virtual Medical Work Experience programme will be open this summer allowing you to gain understanding and insight into a range of Medical and Healthcare careers. Students who successfully complete the programme will receive certificates.
We will update this page with details of how to sign-up shortly
👉🏿 Live Q&A’s with GenMedX – we are hosting regular Live Q&A sessions and talks with current students and professionals so you can find out more about these professions and what it’s like to study them.
To find out when the next one is happening make sure you’re following us on Twitter – @GenMedX and Instagram – @GenMedX, or if you’re a member check the forum here.
👉🏿 ⭐ COVID-19 Reflection Diary ⭐ – Medical Schools are recommending that you reflect on the pandemic and how it has affected yourself, your family and healthcare professionals. You can download your Covid19 reflection diary here. Our supportive community can help you with this, so make sure you sign-up!
👉🏿 Observe GP – a free online platform by the Royal College of GP’s providing insight into general practice.
👉🏿 BSMS Virtual Platform – Virtual Work Experience by Brighton and Sussex Medical School including a self-led reflection module.
** Generation Medics Scholarship Members – click here for more opportunities **
We're working on more opportunities
Check back soon for more here!