Alternative Careers / GP Portfolio Plus
Increasing number of doctors are looking at alternative income streams to provide variety and additional skills however the process can feel overwhelming and it can be difficult to know where to start or where to look. |
GP Portfolio Plus – Notts-based programme
GP Portfolio Plus is an innovative programme brought to you from Nottinghamshire LMC designed to support and guide local GPs wishing to explore a portfolio career. We can provide a FREE bespoke package of support, coaching, training and development and help identify and match your skills and interests to the available opportunities.
Email contact@gp-s.org for more information
What Are Your Goals, Values and Skills?
Many doctors find themselves considering alternative or portfolio careers when they are unhappy in their current role. It is helpful to help guide you in moving forward to take some time to consider what your true values and goals are.
- GOALS AND VALUES
A useful exercise is to list the 10 most important things you want in your ‘ideal job’ and then highlight your top three. For example, your list may include items such as salary of at least 40k, working hours of maximum 8 hours per day, colleagues you get on with, short commute, utilises your mental health or gynaecological interests etc.
This will help you focus on things that are important to you. Then ask yourself ‘where do you want to be in five years’ time?’ and ‘how will you feel in five years if nothing changes?’, ‘What needs to happen to move you towards these goals?’
Take a look at our section on setting goals link to section above, developing an action plan and identifying your values – get advice on this in our Time Management section.
Mindtools has some excellent resources for thinking about your career direction and identifying your goals, skills and values. - SKILLS
Take the test to analyse your skill set here
Mindtools also has some excellent resources for thinking about your career direction and identifying your skills and values.
In her blog, Dr Kate White advocates utilising a model that divides your skills into four key areas to help identify exactly what you want from your career:- Motivated skills – skills that you enjoy and are good at
- Developmental skills – skills you enjoy but need improving
- Burn out skills – skills you are good at but do not enjoy
- Irrelevant skills – skills you do not enjoy and are not good at
Useful Reading
Useful Resources
- The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund has produced a series of useful articles for doctors considering alternative careers, including guidance for application and interviews outside of medicine and specific careers such as media doctor, finance, consultancy and law.
- Medical Forum
This offers careers support via telephone and useful online resources. - Other options for doctors
- Medicine options
- Medical Careers
- BMJ Careers
- Support 4 Doctors
- London Deanery
Useful resources – not just for London doctors! - BMA Careers Resources
- Careers in smaller and less known specialities
- Advice for switching specialities from NHS careers
- BMA Guide to working abroad
- Alternative career options for medical students
- Start up options
- Alternative career paths for doctors
- Medical entrepreneurship
- Other options for doctors
- BMJ advice on moving on from clinical practice
- Non clinical opportunities
- The Medical Portal – alternative careers
- Medical Law
The MDOs (MDU, MPS, MDDUS)
SoDiL
BMA Law - Pharmaceutical Medicine
- Medical Journalism
- Medical Consultancy
Social Media and Blogs
- Doctor-turned-career coach Evgenia Galinskaya has a series of excellent and inspiring blogs covering alternative careers for doctors here.
- Dr Kate White talks about alternative careers on her blog and website here
- Facebook – alternative careers for doctors
- Medic footprints
- Inspiredmedics
- Uplifting GP
- Melissa and Will’s portfolio GP group