Private practice podiatrist Rachael Bradhurst recently wrote an article in the Australian Podiatry Council’s Podiatry Bulletin, giving tips for new graduates. These included:
1.    It’s rare to know which area of podiatry you will like best until you’ve tried them (e.g. sports/paediatrics/procedures).
2.    The first job you have might not be the ‘perfect job’, but imperfect jobs can teach you more powerful lessons.

AND WHAT ABOUT WORKING IN THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR?

Ms Bradhurst also outlined a number of pros and cons of working in private practice. In private practice:
1.    You are able to help individuals, which can be personally satisfying
2.    You answer to patients, who can be more demanding than a lecturer, colleague or bureaucrat.
3.    You can build skills and expertise in the particular area that is of interest to you.
4.    There may be less opportunity for mentoring compared with working in a podiatry department in a hospital.
5.    You may find that in your quest to become a better practitioner, you focus too much on yourself, and not on how you need to work with other members of the practice team.