Coaching can be a key part of career decision making and we are lucky in Nottinghamshire to be able to access a variety of coaching opportunities:

• GP-S is a free mentoring, coaching and signposting service for general practice which supports you to make the best decisions for you and allows you to create your own positive change within your career and personal life. GP-S can support GP trainees (ST3 only) and GPs across Nottinghamshire.
• RCGP coaching: coaching provided by the RCGP for both members and non-members.

Part of the process of coaching involves getting to know yourself – there are a variety of personality profiling/strength finding tools out there:

• Myers Briggs style personality test – free online version
• Clifton Strengths – often done as part of attending Next Generation

• You Are Not a Frog with Dr Rachel Morris – podcasts for those working in high-stakes, high-stress jobs who want to thrive rather than just survive.
• Next Gen Cast – inspiring and eye-opening podcasts with prominent NHS leaders
• Boggled Dogs with Dr Nik Kendrew – podcasts about current health-related media issues that patients may bring to your attention.
• Unlocking Us podcast with Brené Brown – a podcast about human connection, leadership and many other topics.
• The Nottinghamshire LMC podcast – a podcast led by our very own LMC that will help you to better understand the local landscape.
• eGPlearning Podblast – a podcast on health technology by Nottingham based GPs Dr Hussain Ghandi and Dr Andrew Foster.

• eGPlearning – useful practical resources to help with efficiency at work, YouTube videos and much more created by local Nottinghamshire GP Dr Hussain Ghandi
• Sign up to the NHSEI Appraisal and Revalidation GP newsletter for useful updates on appraisal via this email.
• Dr Kate White talks about alternative careers on her blog and website
• Health Education England lists alternative career options for medical students
• Rebecca Ghani explores alternative careers for qualified doctors
• Dr Zaid Al-Najjar explains what his role as a medico-legal adviser involves and how he still practices as a GP.
• The Wellbeing GP is a great Facebook page run by Dr Helen Garr for general wellbeing for GPs
• Dr Caroline Walker helps doctors to embrace their strengths and take better care of themselves and each other through the Joyful Doctor.

See the portfolio working section of the website for more detailed ideas on this here. Other options not already mentioned on the portfolio working area include:

• GP Appraiser
• Medical Journalism – you could consider submitting an article to BMJ/BJGP/Pulse
• Local Public Health Department – University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Council and Public Health England.
• Aviation Medicine – article on ‘Life as an aviation doctor
• Police Surgeon – BMJ article on ‘becoming a police surgeon’
• Tropical Disease Medicine – other universities across the country also offer this course
• Mountain Rescue
• Private GP
• Online GP
• OOH work – in Nottinghamshire you could consider working in extended hours usually provided by the PCN or via NEMS.
• Occupational Health

See this link for more detail on:

• Time management
• Difficult patients
• Assertiveness and saying no
• GMC referral and complaints
• Burnout

• Alternative careers for doctors NHS website
• 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.
• Medicine options – an article written by Sheffield University regarding alternative career options for doctors
• BMJ Careers – BMJ site regarding many types of jobs for medics
• BMA Careers Resources – BMA guide to career progress, including a guide to working abroad
• Advice for switching specialities from NHS careers
• Medic footprints – a website signposting to a range of other careers for doctors
• Medical entrepreneurship – ‘doctorpreneurs’ – global community of healthcare innovators and entrepreneurs, interesting interviews with the medic founders of various companies
• BMJ advice on moving on from clinical practice – article on those who have changed careers from clinical practice
• Pharmaceutical Medicine – working at GSK
• Medical Consultancy – Deloitte, KPMG, McKinsey, Accenture, PWC and EY.
• Facebook ‘Alternative Careers for Doctors group