Often times we think about being a doctor and graduating from medical school but not always beyond that. Some of us want to become doctors to pursue a certain specialty; the majority of us, though, have a certain idea of what specialties may suit us but are not entirely certain. It's difficult to decide what you would like to spend the rest of your life doing after two years of training. The application and competition rates for your desired career also adds another layer of complexity and stress.
If you haven't thought about your career, perhaps it's time to dig deep and ask yourself. How do people decide what careers they would want? Here's a few things to consider to help you get going:
- What placements have you enjoyed in your training?
- What placements do you think you will enjoy but haven't had a chance to experience?
- What is your personality like?
- What sort of lifestyle and finances would suit you?
- How important is work life balance for you?
- Can you see yourself doing this everyday for the next 2-3 decades?
If you have arrived at an answer, that's excellent. If you haven't, not to worry but continue thinking about these. What we often forget is that careers beyond medicine are also an option - for example, the very funny Dr Ken Jeong who is now a comedian/actor.
Our personalities and life priorities change as we grow. What we had wanted five years ago may be so different from our current aspirations; be flexible, or be like water - as how the legendary Bruce Lee puts it.
