This episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview Podcast brings clarity to some of the most awkward or misunderstood elements of NHS consultant interviews. Tessa and Becky open with advice for those nervously navigating references when applying for a new post - offering practical, honest ways to approach the conversation with your current employer. They unpack what makes for a great “duty of candour” example. When facing emotionally charged questions like “Tell me about your worst day,” they guide you on showing vulnerability without oversharing. They also break down how to choose a conflict-resolution story that demonstrates judgement and senior-level thinking, steering clear of unsafe answers that could raise red flags.Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/
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Struggling to Get Shortlisted? Avoid These Application Pitfalls
In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky get into the specifics of interview and application preparation, focusing on the nuanced realities that candidates face right now. They tackle whether you should have notes at hand - explaining why preparation trumps paperwork and when bullet points might be your friend in an online interview. Listen for their step-by-step approach to structuring the perfect "conflict with a patient" answer and their advice on using appraisal questions as a vehicle to communicate your real value. Finally, they break down what’s changed in the increasingly competitive NHS consultant job market, sharing hard-won strategies for making your application impossible to ignore while maintaining resilience through setbacks.Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/
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The Emotional Challenge of Owning Mistakes in NHS Interviews
Tessa and Becky answer the Academy’s toughest question: How personal is too personal in your NHS consultant interview? Drawing on candid examples from real trainees, they break down what you do - and don’t - need to share, including periods of sick leave, career detours, and GMC restrictions. The episode digs into the art of crafting mistake stories - not too big, not too bland - showing how to strike that balance between vulnerability and professionalism that panels look for. They unpack the need for senior-level, systems thinking and demonstrate why your answer isn’t about clinical brilliance, but about changing practice across teams. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/
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The Pause: A Game-Changer for Sharper Interview Responses
In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa Davis and Becky Platt break down how to handle common obstacles in preparing for NHS consultant interviews. They address whether to use earlier or cross-speciality projects to showcase skills, share advice on managing examples of conflict - especially where there’s a power imbalance - and provide practical steps for responding to broad governance questions. The discussion centres around making the most of transferable skills, shaping compelling unique selling points, and using intentional pauses for higher-impact, measured answers.Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/
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The One Thing Not to Do at the End of Your Consultant Interview
This episode delves into the real-world challenges of last-minute NHS consultant interview invites, with Tessa and Becky guiding listeners through the dos and don’ts of interviews during your holidays. They tackle how to handle requests for virtual interviews, share hard-won lessons about ensuring tech reliability, and spell out why face-to-face presence often matters. You’ll hear examples of answers to Trust values, tips to make responses specific and memorable, and candid debate on the infamous “any questions for us?” moment. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/
Welcome to Ace Your NHS Consultant Interview - the podcast for doctors who want to take the stress and guesswork out of their NHS consultant interview prep.
We know how overwhelming it can feel to prep for your consultant interviews when you’re already stretched thin.
Each episode, we’ll break down what actually works - no fluff, no endless reading, just practical steps you can fit into a hectic week. You’ll hear honest advice, real stories, and the frameworks we use with our own students inside the Academy to help you show up confident, prepped, and ready to secure the job you want.
If you’re a final year trainee or locum consultant and you want to prepare, not panic, you’re in the right place.
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