Becoming a GP may be easier, but being successful at it takes a lot of hard work, determination and sacrifice. Just getting a degree simply isn't enough with the number of practitioners out there. You need to get patients to trust you, but that happens only after you get them to walk through your doors in the first place. Here are some steps to help you with a successful GP career from scratch.
1. Build Contacts From The Beginning
A successful career doesn't mean you start only once you're ready to practice. It's important that you find ways to build contacts from the beginning. This means that you need to start when you are still studying for your medical degree. For example, getting involved with student events or networking with professors in your university could give you access to a range of professionals who may be valuable to you when you start practicing medicine. You may want to consider participating in industry conferences and seminars to give you an opportunity to learn from professionals while enabling you to meet with people who can keep you informed of any vacancies in fields you're interested in taking on as specialties.
2. Become Part Of Organisations That Bring Doctors Together
While your intention is to become a GP, it's important that you connect with different types of doctors because the more connections you have, the more you will be viewed as a valuable professional – by both peers and patients. Some organisations you may want to consider joining in Australia include the Australian Medical Association, the General Practice Registrars Australia and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. These organisations enable you to get in touch with fellow professionals and extend your industry knowledge, which can prove to be valuable as you look to enhance your GP career.
3. Consider Getting In Touch With Recruiters Who Specialise In GP Job Placements
It isn't always easy getting your job of choice when you first start out, so it makes sense to get in touch with recruiters who specialise in GP job placements. This will enable you to explore job opportunities in your areas of specialty. A recruiter will get in touch with different medical consultancies to find placements that you may not be able to do on your own. Get in touch with recruiters from before you're ready to look for a job, so they have your details on file. This enables them to grab GP job opportunities on your behalf as quickly as possible.
You can save a lot of lives as a GP in Australia. Start a successful career from the beginning with these steps. For more information on general practitioner jobs near you, check out your local jobs board.
