Positive

• Rewarding –their actions really making a difference to people’s lives
• Challenging – new cases and situations every day
• Well Paid – at the higher levels especially, pay levels are competitive with those in industry
• Intellectually taxing – they have to think on their feet; things are never routine
• Job security – there is a structured career progression
• Work with people – they work as part of a team and meet new patients every day
• Make a difference – their actions may mean the difference between life and death for someone

Negative

• Highly competitive – there are often more applicants than places at all levels
• Long hours – especially as a junior doctor, they will be expected to work night shifts and be “on call” regularly
• Long career path – it takes many years to get to GP/consultant level
• Stressful – there is a lot of pressure to meet time limits and standards; many cases may need dealing with at once; all may be emergencies
• Responsibility – mistakes may impact the lives or health of others
• Hard work – there are no “easy” days
• Emotionally draining - they confront many people who are upset and quite often have to communicate devastating news