Theme | Trajectory | Service
TTS
The time-tested model of TTS (theme - trajectory – service) framing of career growth is used by Dave and our team to help guide your decision making for prioritizing the most important next steps for you to achieve your goals. This TTS concept works for college students looking to make themselves attractive candidates or medical schools, as well as senior physicians positioning themselves for their next leadership job.
Turning to theme as the first “T”; it really identifies that to be an attractive candidate there should be a theme you bring to your interview or application. It might be - I have special skills coding that I want to bring to my medical career; or, I have military experience as a medic, so trauma will be my theme in choosing a specialty. A more senior physician might have developed special expertise in complex pediatrics care, making her attractive for a larger pediatric practice looking at someone to lead their value-based care team.
The second “T” stands for trajectory. Every career should build upon itself, and review of the individual’s curriculum vitae should show evidence that career growth is continuing. For emphasis, successful ongoing career development demands that early career productivity, perhaps while in a mentor relationship, does not plateau, rather continued professional growth is evident. Examination of the CV should show an upward slope to career development.
The third letter, “S”, stands for service to someone other than yourself. A hallmark of successful service is it often aligns with the theme of a career. It also is easy for an outsider to see authenticity of interest in giving back. Frequently, the giving back may be presentations to lay people on a career focus. Conversely, it may be that an individual with specific nonmedical skill donates time on a regular basis to use that skill to benefit members of the community.
Making TTS work for your career is a proven construct. It works across the continuum of medical school application, to residency planning, and to early to later practicing physician growth.