Many doctors rely on reputation, competition ratios or strong opinions when considering training pathways. While these factors can be informative, they rarely capture what training or working as a consultant is actually like or how well it may suit you. A more structured approach to research can help you move beyond myths and build your own understanding.
Start with the facts
Begin by reviewing official, reliable sources. College websites and training handbooks are the best place to clarify:
Entry requirements and selection criteria
The length and stages of training
Examination and assessment requirements
Mandatory rotations or geographic movement
Expectations around research, audits or additional courses
At this stage, your aim is to understand what is required, not to judge whether it is achievable or right for you. Having a clear picture of the structure helps to ground later conversations and reflections.
Add context through conversations
Once you understand how training is structured, conversations help fill in the gaps.
Speaking with current registrars can provide insight into:
How they prepared for the application and selection process
Day to day workload and on‑call patterns
Levels of supervision and support
What trainees find most challenging or rewarding
Try to speak with more than one person if possible, and notice common themes rather than focusing on individual experiences.
It can also be helpful to briefly speak with a recently qualified specialist to understand how training connects to practice. This does not need to be a deep dive, but asking how well training prepared them for work after fellowship can add useful context.
Ask questions that invite reflection
The way you frame your questions matters. Open, reflective questions tend to be more informative than questions that seek a simple yes or no.
You might ask:
What surprised you most about training?
What skills or attributes seem most important to progress well?
What aspects of training are hardest to sustain over time?
These responses often reveal more than lists of requirements.
Reflect on what you learn
Research becomes meaningful when you link it back to your own reflections.
After gathering information, consider:
What aspects of this training align with what energises me?
What feels manageable or misaligned?
What patterns am I noticing across different sources?
What do I need to do in the coming year/s to prepare for a successful application?
Recording these insights in your reflection diary helps turn information into clarity rather than overload.