• Stefanie Croghan and Tom Baker.
• Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, Ireland. stefaniecroghan@rcsi.ie.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Apr 1; 191 (2): 597-602.

BackgroundVery limited research has investigated the extent or the impact of career guidance provided to medical students.AimsWe aimed to explore the perceptions of recent graduates of Irish medical schools of the availability, accessibility and utility of both formal and informal career advice resources during their university experience.MethodsThe study population was junior doctors in their first postgraduate year. Both an online questionnaire, distributed nationally, and a focus group were conducted to explore the topic via mixed-methods research methodology. Findings were synthesised, with quantitative and qualitative analysis applied as appropriate.ResultsGraduates of all medical schools within Ireland were invited to participate in the survey. Questionnaire responses were received from 117 junior doctors enrolled in intern networks across the country, from a potential population of 580 (response rate 20.2%). Five interns participated in the focus group discussion. The existence of a formal career advice programme at medical school was reported by 10.3% of questionnaire participants (12/117). Fifty-three per cent (62/117) did not recall any career advice sessions being organised by their university. Only 7.7% (9/117) perceived that adequate career advice had been available at medical school. Focus group participants reiterated a lack of career guidance but highlighted the importance of authentic clinical exposure to a specialty to complement guidance programmes.ConclusionsCareer guidance at medical school is sparse, and recent graduates feel this should be improved upon.© 2021. Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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