Sophie N.
About me
| Sophie N. | |
| English and Related Literature | |
| English Literature | |
| Undergraduate | |
| 2013 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Graduate Management Trainee | |
| NHS | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Healthcare | |
| 2013 | |
| 2015 | |
| £22000 |
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A day in the life of a Graduate Management Trainee in the United Kingdom
NHS graduate scheme alumni, currently working as a hospital General Manager
Courses taken since graduation
Post Graduate Diploma in Healthcare Leadership
Where I hope to be in 5 years
The Graduate Scheme has a good reputation for training future senior managers in the NHS. I am confident that the qualifications and experience I gain on the scheme will enable me to progress through different levels and roles in NHS management.
My advice to students considering work
It is important to demonstrate that you are a well-rounded individual who proactively seeks out new challenges and learning opportunities. This will require making the most of the many activities and services available at university, including careers events, involvement in clubs/societies, and volunteering.
About this sector:
Stay up-to-date with the news - policies and structures change regularly in the NHS so it is important to keep informed. Read key reports and publications and, if possible, try to find some voluntary experience in the health sector so that you have an understanding of how the system works.
My advice about working in my industry
Stay up-to-date with the news - policies and structures change regularly in the NHS so it is important to keep informed. Read key reports and publications and, if possible, try to find some voluntary experience in the health sector so that you have an understanding of how the system works.
What I do
The NHS graduate management training scheme is a 2 year programme, comprising of work-based placements and postgraduate study.
In my first placement, I was managing the plastic surgery department of a large NHS Foundation Trust. This involved managing waiting lists and targets, modelling capacity and demand, identifying opportunities for service improvement and writing business cases to support that improvement, and making decisions on how to manage ward beds in the hospital.
Skills I use and how I developed them
Extracurricular skills:
My role requires a lot of negotiating and communicating with different stakeholders with competing interests so I have had to develop strong influencing skills. I also need to be able to process and assimilate large volumes of data to enable me to make informed decisions.
What I like most
Working for the NHS is incredibly rewarding and worthwhile. You get the opportunity to work with so many different people, both inside and outside the hospital. The work is varied, incredibly interesting and very challenging.
What I like least
It can sometimes be difficult working for an organisation which is under such a high level of public scrutiny and under high levels of pressure.
Next steps...
If you like the look of Sophie’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Sophie a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Sophie to be your mentor.