Career workbook - the hub!

The workbook is at the heart of all the personalised career support offered at MedicalForum. It is the starting point and must be completed for entry into the Career Review (which in turn is the only way to join a face to face programme with us) and we also recommend completing it before signing up for a telecareerclinic appointment.

The workbook comes in a variety of formats (all of which can be ordered online or using the application form in the brochure and returning this by post)......

• FREE  etext (unformatted and precis version for taster only) by emailing workbook @ medicalforum.com
• free 2006 version by pdf when you register in the guest reception
• hard copy 2007 version  34 pages  (please see order section)
  Posted to you by mail. Please allow up to five working days for delivery.
• by pdf instant download available  Needs free Adobe Acrobat Reader download
  Print the 34 pages complete by hand and return by post.
• online /fully electronic version
  Due to be launched in the Summer 2007 - complete and return it electronically

Commonly asked questions about the workbook

How will it help me?

The main ways in which the workbook can assist you in your career development are....

• putting structure to otherwise rambling or procrastinating career thoughts (by encouraging these to go down on paper using varying techniques)
• helping you to explore what you really want from your career
• enabling you to identify much more clearly what your best skills are (and which might need a touch more attention!)
• giving you a clear starting point on where to begin on career planning, change or decision making if you are stuck
• showing you what you most need from career guidance (whoever you choose to seek it from)
• giving us - should you decide to join a programme with us - invaluable information (in a standardised yet free flowing and creative format ) about you that the average CV never even gets close to . This means that we are advising only when we have all relevant details and are not in danger of the clinical equivalent of "prescribing without first having taken a history" 

In other words - it gets you started on something that can be very difficult to start entirely on your own . It is therefore an empowering catalyst for your future career direction and success and takes a more holistic  and comprehensive approach than the average career discussion can be expected to do at work.

What is it?

Hard work!!!.... and thirty four pages. Most people take several hours to complete it - a challenge in itself for those with a busy career or lifestyle. Even for those who are not working, the questions and exercises are searching and thought provoking and it may not be possible to answer some immediately. We find most people complete it in sections over a period of one to two weeks.

Why is the workbook so important?

When we launched Medical Forum in 1990 we started with workshops. It soon became obvious that while these were enough for some people a good proportion needed something much more tailored to them personally. We started to offer one to one meetings - BUT - there was a problem.... neither the guidee nor the guidor were sufficiently prepared to make the best of the allotted time together - with the guidee having a lot of difficulty answering some basic questions about their career. There was clearly a need for them to do some "homework" and self study BEFORE any career discussion could be truly useful.

This is where the workbook emerged and its gestation has taken it from the initial conception of a couple of pages to its current 34 page searching, innovative and creative format.

Why can't I just send you a copy of my CV?

This is because CVs are usually very dry and dull documents that do not say much about an individual's "career factors" - these include things like motivating forces, dreams, personality, values, strengths, fears, social situation, ambition levels etc. These are all things that one needs to address.... you - because until you start to acknowledge the influence of all sixteen "career factors" on your career and us - because should you wish to return the workbook for our input we need to know about these career factors before we can offer realistic and unbiased but also well informed feedback.

How does the workbook integrate with your other facilities?

The workbook represents a simple starting points for any career re-appraisal and planning with Medical Forum.

The workbook and the career guide - when combined together with the audiotape - form the core materials that are essential reading and "homework" before we can offer any personalised feedback. These three materials can be obtained separately or together. They are each useful as stand alone career development materials and compliment each other. However, they really come into their own when the workbook is fully completed and returned to us as part of a full Career Review Programme.

Why do I have to fill it in before any discussion with you?

Attempting to give careers support or advice to anyone without first knowing a lot about them is like trying to make a diagnosis without first taking a history, doing an examination and ordering investigations (ie inexcusable). However it is quite astounding just how many people will proffer careers advice without doing this basic preparation work. CVs in general are rather bland and soul-less documents that do not reveal that much about an individual. As our approach to career management and careers support is very much a "holistic" one - we need to know what makes you tick, what your skills and ambitions are, what your values are, your personality, your current situation and how you got there as well as family or health influences.

Why do I need the guide and audiotape too?

You can choose to use just the workbook on its own. Some people find that merely allocating some protected time to their career thoughts and writing these down in a  structured way - gives them a whole new perspective. However most people find that filling in the workbook provokes more questions than it immediately solves and then wish to return it to us in an upgrade to a Career Review Programme.

There are two pages in the workbook that relate to the Guide and audiotape respectively. The reason these pages are included is to ensure that you have digested both the tape and Guide contents should you wish to join a Career Review Programme (CRP). The Guide is important for the CRP as it offers vital background information for anyone starting out on career re-evaluation. The audiotape is important as it offers a number of crucial observations on things like goal setting and planning, vision and positive mental attitude - all things that impinge dramatically on all forms of career and personal development. If you do not wish to return the workbook and are merely filling it in for your own benefit - the Guide and tape are not essential (though they may still be very useful - even as stand alone tools).