Providing Effective Career Counseling: Moving Beyond "You Will Figure It Out"

Most medical education institutions lack structured career counseling. Physicians are often left with the task to fulfill this role for learners with little to no training. When encountered with these scenarios, the default is often to try to convince the learner how great the career is and why they should choose our specialty or career path. There is also the time honored phrase "you will figure it out." Learners seek out these conversations not necessarily because of who we are or what we do but because they trust us to aid them in this decision. But learners will often feel embarrassed to ask about other career options, leaving them feeling more confused after the conversation with no true reflection on the matter. It can also lead to disillusionment when asked about career guidance satisfaction on program surveys. In this workshop, presenters will take the audience through the ins and outs of guiding learners through specialty or career indecision. Presenters will teach the audience how to properly lay the groundwork for the discussion, maintain objectivity, remove judgment, and help the learner resolve internal conflict by first introducing career guidance principles and resources followed with an interactive case-based discussion using examples from experiences as a career counselor. The audience will have a chance to critique cases and ask questions.