Although community service is a compulsory step of a doctor’s career, it provides a great opportunity to grow your clinical skills and set your CV up for a fruitful career. Don’t find yourself exiting community service without a plan for employment in your first month as an independent practitioner!

Whether you have been allocated to a rural/district level hospital or an academic hospital, it is always a great idea to find out early on which diplomas your facility is accredited for. If, however, your facility is not accredited for any diplomas, it’s never too early to start studying for the primaries of whatever field you are interested in.

If none of these options excite you, don’t worry. You can always improve your skills and your CV by doing various short courses. The point remains: don’t waste this year!