NHS Interview Questions & Answers

As a new manager in charge of a small team, what will be your priorities for the first week?

Interview panel of 2 members, consisted of two sections. First was devoted to why I wanted to the NHS, here i had to prove that I knew a lot about the current issues the NHS are facing and show that I was passionate about improving NHS standards, focusing on the patient. The second was experience based, for example "give me an example of a time when you demonstrated the ability to work well in a team".

"Describe a situation when you had to make a difficult decision, what was the outcome of this decision?"

Show passion for the NHS and show that you have a lot of knowledge on the current issues that the NHS faces. Throughout the whole process it was essential to always focus on the patient when undertaking any task, each decision made should benefit the patient.

Had to role play as a NHS manager for the day, had to write various reports, attend a 1-1 meeting with a colleague, a group meeting and another 1-1 which a superior asked you to attend on their behalf.

I submitted an application for the position via the NHS jobs website, I later received an email inviting me to attend an interview at the hospital pathology department. The interview was at 9am and lasted for 30 minutes.

The interviewers were the Laboratory Medicine Ops Manager and the Chief Biomedical Scientist of the Histology department.
I was firstly asked to confirm my I.D by providing a drivers license and proof of address. There was an initial chat about my application, and discussion of how I had used my time at university and about the relevant work experience that I already had. I was then asked questions about why I wanted the job, and why I believed I was a good fit for the job. In addition I was also asked about my understanding of data confidentiality and about health and safety and risk assessments. We also discussed support that would be available for career development, and for relocation.

After this, I was asked to submit a handwriting sample, and was also given some basic maths problems to solve with no time restrictions.

I was then given a tour of the lab by a member of staff, who had previously held the role I was applying for which gave me ample opportunity to ask more questions about the job role.

What qualities do you have that make you a good fit for the position?

If going for a pathology based role, be prepared to answer questions on what you understand by data confidentiality and about health and safety risks.

I would also ask if you can have a tour of the lab, if they don't offer it in the beginning. This can give you a greater perspective of what the job role entails, and it gives you a chance to be reminded to raise more job specific questions about your daily working tasks.

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The interview for all STP trainee positions take place in Birmingham. They include 4 interviews/assessments, in a 'speed-dating' type setting.

You have 10 minutes at each station, where you are interviewed by 2 people at each. 2 are based on your specialism (Medical Physics in my case), one was general Science and Maths, and the fourth was more questions you'd typically get for any job interview, about your aspirations and motivation to apply for the job as well as a chance to get your personality across.

Some in depth medical physics questions, which without my MSc in Medical Physics would have been very hard (it is not required that you have medical physics experience, only Physics and Maths).

Before the assessment/interview day, numerical, logical and verbal reasoning tests were carried out online, these were very difficult.

Read around the subject you are to specialise in, as well as general scientific knowledge.

Read journal articles / magazines such as New Scientist.

Join up to IPEM / other relevant professional body if offered before/after the interview takes place.

It was very well organised, with each interviewee being given a starting table, and a way to move around to the other 3. Also a bell is rung to identify when each 10 minute interview should be finished. The trainee is then given a 2 minute break while the interviewers make notes.