Introduction

You can begin your self-assessment by using the exercises and assessment tools suggested on this website. Each of the assessment areas has a tool for you to use for self-assessment. Some of them are specific to a medical field and some are more general, but each tool will contribute to the overall picture of yourself and can be used for career planning.  

Self-assessment tools can be useful when considering your future career, but remember that no set of results can tell you what specialty to choose. Sound career planning takes time, and it’s advisable to acquaint yourself with all aspects of the NHS Medical Careers website as early as possible to help ensure good decisions about your future working life.

Self-assessment tools

NHS Medical Careers provides activities and exercises across a range of areas.

Personal influences

Reviewing both why you chose to train as a doctor, and the influences of key figures in your life, may provide vital clues as to how your career should move forward.

Career values

Values are core principles that guide you and your decisions. Becoming clearer about your work values can help steer your career choice.

Personality

Personality measures identify your personal characteristics, such as sociability, emotional stability, organisational skills, compassion and so on. Becoming clearer about your personality can help you identify working environments and tasks you might enjoy, and also those areas in which you might find it harder to succeed.

Environmental factors

Choosing the right working environment contributes to your career satisfaction, so it’s important to identify your preferences and factor these into decision making.

Interests

These are the things you enjoy doing and find rewarding. Understanding you own interests is key to knowing what motivates you, and should be integral to choosing a career. 

Skills

Here you will find some practical exercises to help you identify your clinical and practical skills. Focusing on these can really help you in your career decision-making. 

Reflections on the foundation programme

Reviewing areas you enjoyed, or found less enjoyable, during your foundation placements (and tasters), can provide useful pointers as to specialties you might wish to pursue.