Part 2: fractional roles and working across multiple health services – the upsides!
 

It is often the reality that junior (and senior consultants) work across multiple workplaces in fractional roles. This approach can provide unique opportunities to shape your career intentionally. Here is why this may be beneficial and how to reflect on and plan for such a career path.

Why work fractional roles or across multiple health services?
 

1. Out of necessity:
    
   • Early in your consultant career, larger fractional roles might not be readily available in one location.
      
   • Starting in multiple roles helps establish your presence across different settings.
      
2. Develop a broader skill set:
    
   • Each role offers the chance to refine distinct skills.
      
   • Exposure to varied patient cohorts, clinical approaches, and team dynamics enhances adaptability and expertise.
      
3. Diverse experiences:
    
   • Working in locations such as rural, regional, metro, or private practices can bring richness to your professional journey.
      
   • This diversity may shape your long-term preferences and career goals.
      
4. Expanded network:
    
   • Working across multiple locations allows you to build connections with a broader range of colleagues, administrators, and leaders.
      
   • This expanded network can provide opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and career development.
      
5. Lifestyle flexibility:
    
   • Combining roles in different areas (e.g., metro and regional) allows balance between personal and professional priorities.
      
6. Discover your ideal role:
    
   • Working across settings helps clarify which practice type, patient group, and workplace culture best align with your values and goals.
      
7. Financial opportunities:
    
   • Working across multiple workplaces can offer financial advantages, such as accessing higher rates for locum work, salary packaging or diversifying income streams.
      
   • We will explore this further in a future instalment of Stepping Up to Consultant.
      

Reflection questions
 

• Your vision:
   
  • What is your ideal work-life balance?
     
  • What types of patients and clinical environments excite you the most?
     
• Skill development:
   
  • Are there specific skills or experiences you want to gain?
     
  • How might varied roles contribute to your professional growth?
     
• Exploring diversity:
   
  • Have you considered working in different geographic locations?
     
  • How might exposure to diverse health services impact your career trajectory?
     

Planning steps to implement this approach
 

1. Research opportunities:
    
   • Explore available roles in public, private, and community health services.
      
   • Consider locum work to gain short-term experience in different settings.
      
2. Set clear goals:
    
   • Identify what you hope to learn or achieve in each location.
      
   • Align roles with your long-term career aspirations.
      
3. Build networks:
    
   • Connect with consultants who have taken similar paths.
      
   • Seek mentors to guide you through decisions about work locations. (AMA Victoria has a mentoring program – contact us if you would like more information)
      
   • Building and leveraging professional networks will be expanded upon in a future instalment of Stepping Up to Consultant.
      
4. Evaluate regularly:
    
   • Reflect on what you enjoy or find challenging about each role.
      
   • Adjust your career strategy based on new insights and preferences.
      
5. How we can support you to step up
    
   • If you are ready to start planning, book a complimentary 15-minute career call with a member of our Development & Career team. This valuable member benefit is designed to help you kickstart your career planning.
      
   • For more in-depth support, explore our 1-1 professional career coaching programs or book a single coaching session to gain clarity and confidence in your career journey.

Take the next step toward your consultant career with our expert support!