Yalda Alam: You won’t be the first to be surprised!

Could you briefly tell us about your time at Radboud University? What did you study and how did you find that period?

My academic background is, of course, a bit unusual. I studied Medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences with a cohort of 350 students in a single year. The bachelor’s programme was fairly straightforward, with the only freedom of choice coming in the final half-year. After that, there’s a waiting period before you can start your clinical rotations. Once you start your clinical rotations (= the three-year Master’s in Medicine), you also follow a standard pathway. The structure of this programme, in my day, focused on: acquiring and applying medical knowledge, gaining a grounding in medical science, dealing with lots of employers and new colleagues every four to eight weeks, long days and a hectic pace, and switching quickly between the various clinical rotations. It’s an enjoyable time for every student because you finally get to practise ‘being a doctor’ a bit; you’re given your own patients and gain increasing independence in making your own decisions. But it also comes with its fair share of pressure and responsibility. Fortunately, those years fly by, but it is a period that demands a lot from you.

In the meantime, I completed my second degree in Conflict Studies and, after my clinical rotations, also a Master’s in Human Geography. That was a real breath of fresh air. The Master’s programme, for example, had only 40 students. Although it was less focused on acquiring theoretical knowledge, there was plenty of time for in-depth study, reflection, debate, practising skills and ethics. It was a completely different approach to academia, and so, as a ‘doctor trained in quantitative science’, I had to switch gears to become a ‘context-dependent, qualitative and socio-psychological conflict analyst’. That really opened my eyes and gave me entirely new insights and perspectives. In fact, the social sciences should really exchange ideas with the natural sciences, so that we can better understand each other’s worlds and learn from one another.

What were some of the challenges you faced after graduating, and how did you deal with them?

After graduating, a very exciting time lies ahead. You don’t just start thinking about and exploring what sort of work you want to do, but also where you want to do it and through which organisation or company. Junior professionals from the social sciences can find work in various sectors: research, policy, education, the business world, and so on. For example, I knew quite early on that I wanted to work for an NGO first. However, in recent years there have been really significant cuts to development aid and cooperation. This sector is under severe pressure at national, European and global levels. This makes it particularly difficult for recent graduates to get a foot in the door. The same applies to the academic world, where research positions, for example, are very scarce. This means you have to be flexible with your initial plans and timeline. And you need to realise that the perfect job, placement or internship doesn’t exist, and that everything has its pros and cons. You might end up in a different role than you’d imagined, at a different organisation, or you might start with an internship that pays less. Fortunately, I had my background in medicine to fall back on and could actually work anywhere as a doctor. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do this at an NGO, so I had to adapt in that regard. Other fellow students had to apply for jobs frequently and for a long time (sometimes as long as six months) before they found something. So bear this in mind and start early!

Which experience or project has left a lasting impression on you?

I carried out my Master’s thesis in Human Geography on the West Bank. Apart from the security considerations, and of course the ‘standard’ differences involved in working abroad (including cultural differences, but also climate, religion and infrastructure), there was an additional layer to contend with. You’re dealing with people who live under long-term oppression and persistent violence. This means you have to be constantly mindful of your choice of words and language, your tone of voice, showing respect for someone’s past, and not dismissing their experience. At the same time, you have to assess in which situations it is appropriate to ask critical questions whilst maintaining your academic integrity. When writing your thesis, you also need to place the information and stories in the ‘correct’ (if such a thing exists) context. In terms of personal and professional development, this experience has been incredibly enriching for me.

What does your average working day look like?

At 08:00 am there’s a handover. Between 09:00 am and 12:00 pm I see acute patients in the Cardiac A&E or Critical Care Unit. At 12:00 pm I have lunch and teach. Between 12.30 pm and 5.00 pm, I'm receiving supervision, give clinical teaching to nurses and resuscitation training. I also arrange additional diagnostic tests and patient handovers, and attend multidisciplinary consultations and team meetings, etc. The evening handover takes place between 5.00 pm and 5.30 pm. At 7.30 pm, I regularly have a meeting for projects with ‘Artsen voor Vrede’ (Doctors for Peace), attend a conference or webinar, write articles or carry out consultancy work.

What advice would you give to current students or graduates of Nijmegen School of Management?

Life goes the way it goes. Despite the difficulty of perhaps finding that first job that really sets your heart racing, jobs that weren’t immediately at the top of your list can also offer you a lot and teach you a great deal. It might even lead to a career change. You won’t be the first to be surprised! It’s certainly worth trying to land your preferred role, but don’t stress if it doesn’t work out or takes longer than expected. Every experience counts.