With good preparation you should be able to overcome any nerves that you may be feeling about interview. If you have carried out thorough research for the role that you are applying for and are clear about the person specification you should be able to shine at interview. Try to be yourself on the day, but be your positive self. You should be encouraged by the fact you have been called for interview and that your application form was of interest and that your prospective employer wants to meet you face to face to find out more about you. The more you prepare (and practice), your interview technique will get stronger and stronger. Our tools and resources section contains further information that you may find helpful when planning your medical career.

The South West Peninsula Deanery in conjunction with The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) have commissioned the DVD ’Selection centres for speciality training’ which looks at interview and assessment processes. This should be available through your medical school or via your Trust library or foundation school. Alternatively, contact http://www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/.

“interview panels main aim is to find out whether you meet the requirements of the person specification for the post for which you are applying and to make sure that only the best candidates are selected in this highly competitive process”

DoH – MMC, An applicant’s guide 2011

Recruitment and selection to General Practice differs from other specialties. For more information on the process and what to expect you can find detailed information on the National Recruitment Office for General Practice Training website which has a detailed page within the recruitment section.

What does the interview panel want to know about you?

As the purpose of any interview is to select the best candidate for the job it is useful to be mindful of what the interview panel will be looking for from you during the interview. Essentially the panel will be looking for evidence that you meet the person specification for the post that you have applied for. They may also look for further evidence of your commitment to your chosen specialty so you could consider other aspects of your experience to date prior to interview that you feel makes you a strong candidate. Certainly you should be prepared to talk about why you have applied for this specialty?

There will be variations between different Deaneries and Royal Colleges on the exact process for interview however generally you should expect a minimum of three ten minute interviews. Some Deaneries and Royal Colleges may use four or five stations, however you will be made aware of this prior to your interview. Each section or station throughout the process will be held in a separate room or private confidential area and will be strictly timed and a bell may be sounded once your time is up. The interview could include sections or stations that will be assessing:

You will be advised what documentation you will be required to bring to your interview. It is crucial that you are fully aware of what is required and that you adhere to the instructions provided for your particular interview. There may be variations between different Deaneries and Royal Colleges so do not assume that all interviews will require the same documents. The panel may need sight of various documentation in both original format and copy. You will be expected to have copies of the requested documentation prior to interview as these will be required by HR to enable them to carry out employment checks if you are successful. Do not expect to make copies on the day at interview. Examples of the type of documentation required will include (and this is not an exhaustive list):

• Your portfolio (which should include a copy of your CV)
• Original proof of identity (passport / photo-ID)
• Original and photocopy of GMC certificate
• Original and photocopies of qualifications listed on your application form
• Evidence of nationality / immigration status

There is further detailed information available on the MMC website.

The key to being successful at interview is preparation:

“To fail to prepare is to prepare to fail”

There are some very simple and common sense actions that you should take to make what can be a stressful experience as easy on yourself as possible. Ensure that you are aware of the following:

• The date of interview. Recheck your notification of interview to ensure that the interview will be taking place when you think it is.
• The time and location are important. If you are not familiar with the geography of the area where the interview is taking place you should ensure you leave adequate time to get there. If you are driving do you know if there is ample car parking available? If you are using public transport have you checked what trains and buses you will need to get? You should allow yourself plenty of time to find the venue for your interview. This all sounds very simple but there is nothing worse than getting caught up in traffic or a bus breaking down and you have not factored in extra time for your journey. Incidents such as these are stressful enough without the added pressure of having to attend interview. It is always better to be early than late, and you can always go for a coffee prior to your interview if you are early. As first impressions really do count, being late for your interview is not a good start.
• It is also helpful to get a good nights sleep before your interview and eat breakfast, lunch etc as you would on any other day.
• Ensure that you wear appropriate dress. First impressions are very important so do not underestimate the importance of this. Research (Mehrabian, 1971) has shown that first impressions are made up of:

• Interviews are stressful, however with preparation you can overcome the nerves that you will experience by considering some interview techniques.
• You should re-read the person specification for the role that you have applied for. This will form the basis of the interview and you will be able to think about some of the types of questions the interview panel may ask you prior to interview. There is a current list of person specifications available on the MMC website. What sort of skills and qualities are required for the post to which you have applied?
• Key to answering questions is to provide solid evidence of your actual skills and experience and relate these to the role that you are applying. You will have carried out detailed research into the specialty that you are being interviewed for so should be able to clearly and enthusiastically talk about why you have applied. If you have carried out a full and robust career planning strategy that is advocated on this site then this should come fairly easily to you. You should have in your mind clear examples from your experience to date that will clearly demonstrate to the panel that you possess the correct attributes that they are selecting for.
• You may find it helpful to use the STAR technique when answering questions. The STAR framework for answering interview questions is one commonly used for responding to competency based questions. It provides a logical framework:

• Don’t generalise. Try to give concrete examples that demonstrate your skills, qualities and experience.
• If you do not understand a question, it is fine to ask for clarification.
• You should also be aware of your body language and avoid fiddling with jewellery and clothes. Try to sit upright and make good eye contact with each assessor. It is also fine to show that you are a human being and it is ok to smile if appropriate.

Also see our sections on:

• Portfolio Interviews
• Presentations
• Simulation Stations

http://www.mmc.nhs.uk/

http://www.bmjcareers.com/ - BMJ careers have written a New for 2012! article.

http://www.gmc-uk.org/

http://www.gprecruitment.org.uk/

http://www.ct1recruitment.org.uk/

http://www.surgeryrecruitment.nhs.uk/

Also look at Royal College websites and Deanery websites for recruitment information.

• Elton, C and Reid, J. (2010): The Roads to success, Published by KSS Deanery
• Lim, D (2011). How to get a Specialty Training Post: the insider’s guide,  Published by Oxford University Press
• Picard, Oliver, Wood, Dan and Yuen, Sebastian (2008) 'Medical Interviews: a comprehensive guide to CT, ST and Registrar interview skills'  Published by ISC Medical