Rhona MacDonald highlights some of the topics relevant to medical students at this year's BMJ Careers fair

Most UK medical students get anxious whenever they hear the phrase "preregistration house officer matching schemes." Many myths and unanswered questions are floating around about these schemes. Can you only apply for one? Why do they not all come out at the same time? Why is it still such a lottery? If you relate to this, I can point you in the direction of something which might help--the BMJ Careers fair on the 29 and 30 November 2002.

This year's fair--our third--is bigger and better then ever before with a wider range of seminars relevant to medical students, such as one on preregistration matching schemes. Also especially for medical students is a session on how to choose the right career path from the start.

If you are a regular reader of the studentBMJ, you should recognise some of the names of our seminar leaders. Andy Goldberg is leading a session on innovation and creativity in medicine,¹ Mohammed Al-Ubaydli on improving your computer skills,² and Mark Wilson (author of the factual part of all our elective reports) on how working abroad can enhance your career. Nathan Ford has also told you about how to get involved in humanitarian work and someone from his organisation (Médecins Sans Frontières),³ will be leading a discussion on the challenges and rewards of humanitarian aid. If all this whets your appetite, why not have a look at the seminar programme for yourself (www.bmjcareers.com/careersfair/ programme.html)?

In addition to the seminars, we also have workshops on medical writing, writing and interview skills and the writer of our statistics series and multi-talented expert, Wai-Ching Leung, will be one of our agony uncles, on hand to answer your individual career queries.

It will also be fun. We are having a scenario planning seminar called My Beautiful Career which helps you to cope with all that life throws at you and what you can do if all your carefully thought out plans go pear shaped.⁴ BBC Radio 4's Round Midnight Theatre Group will be acting out the first instalment of our BMJ Careers soap opera which launches that week in Career Focus. They will also be doing some sketches on what not to say and do at interviews.

London is a long trek for most of you, but I hope some of you will be able to make it. Admission is free and although we prefer you to register before attending (for this go to www.bmjcareers.com/careersfair/reg_form.html), we will still welcome you with open arms if you just turn up on the day. I hope to see you there.

The careers fair is on 29 and 30 November at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1 0QH; admission is free.

1. Goldberg A. What shall I do with my idea? studentBMJ 2002;10:360. (September.) www.studentbmj.com/back_issues/0902/careers/320.html
2. Al-Ubaydli M. A career in medical informatics. studentBMJ 2002;10:279. (August.) www.studentbmj.com/back_issues/0802/careers/279.html
3. Ford N. Humanitarian aid. studentBMJ 2002;10:356. (August.) www.studentbmj.com/back_issues/1002/editorials/356.html
4. Hadridge P, MacDonald R. My beautiful career. BMJ 2002;325:S115. (12 October.) www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/325/7368/S115