School Student
What's surgery like?
Is it for me?
Do I want to be a surgeon?
There are many benefits you will gain from being a surgeon: it is rewarding career, it offers a high level of job security and a comfortable income. Surgeons constantly learn new skills and are able to develop throughout their careers.
However, you will need to be sure that you are going to be suited to surgery and that you want to be a surgeon and the training can be lengthy and requires commitment.
It is important that you research any career you wish to undertake so that you are sure that you are clear in your goals. In medicine this is especially true as changing career paths can be tricky and re-starting training can be a lengthy undertaking.
This site will help you form a general understanding of what a career in surgery entails and what your life as a surgeon might be like. We also recommend that you take a look at the careers stories to help further explore what the life of a surgeon is like and the options available to you.
Who becomes a surgeon?
You will find a vast array of personality types within surgery and you will encounter many different backgrounds and genders as each sub-specialty holds it own appeal. Anyone can become a surgeon if they are willing to work hard towards their career.
Settings in which surgeons work
Obviously, most of a surgeon’s work takes place in a hospital setting, either in the NHS or in the private sector. Surgeons’ time is planned and divided into sessions. (One session is approximately half a day’s work.) In addition to performing operations, surgeons also have to undertake ward rounds, outpatient clinics, administrative work and teaching.
Many surgeons also engage in additional professional activities such as teaching, research or medical politics. For all of these activities you can expect to travel, both within the UK and internationally. The proportion of a surgeon’s time taken up with each of these activities will vary according their grade and specialty.
