Hard times--hard choices: positive decision-making for part-time women doctors

In an increasingly competitive medical market-place, one of the authors had observed that women applying for training posts often appear lacking in self-confidence and unclear in decisions concerning their career plans. A successful workshop was held for women training part time which provided a forum for individuals to identify and explore their career dilemmas and an opportunity to make some quantitative assessment of their attitudes. Questionnaires completed by the 22 attenders and a further 16 returned by post showed that the majority of this group had realistically thought out career plans, had resolved the dilemmas posed by combining career and family commitments and were clear that their eventual career goal was to become a Consultant in the National Health Service. A much smaller group of women who tended to be both older and occupying more junior grades emerged as being confused about how the career/children conflict could be resolved and unclear as to their career aims. The oft-stated assumption that 'most women prefer a job with less responsibility than a Consultant' was not supported but it is clear that if women are not to be nudged into career cul-de-sacs they need clear advice and information so that they can complete their training and compete successfully with their male colleagues for career posts.