Transcript Interviews & Specialty Selection Centres

Interviews & Specialty
Selection Centres
What are we going to cover
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Talk on the Specialty Recruitment Process
Interviews & Selection Centres:
 Purpose
 Overview
 Preparation
 Performance – STAR
 Portfolios – portfolio DVD
 Presentations
 Simulation station
 Practice exercise
 Selection Centre DVD – panel interview
Purpose: Why interview?
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Simply:
“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 applicants guide 2009
Overview: How panels run
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Will be variations between Deaneries HOWEVER:
Minimum of 3 x 10 min interviews (some may have 4
– you will be made aware prior to interview)
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Could include stations assessing:
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Clinical skills
Portfolio
Presentation skills
Patient interaction – simulation
Personal skills e.g empathy and sensitivity
Overview: Who’s on the panel
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Panels will include a mix of people and could
include:
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Lay chair or lay representative
Regional college adviser or nominated deputy
A university representative or nominated deputy
Training programme director or chair of specialty training
committee
Consultant representation from the training programme
Senior management representative
Representation from human resources
Preparation: The basics
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You will be advised what documentation you will be
required to bring to interview – will include:
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Portfolio (including CV)
Original proof of identity (passport / photo-ID)
Original & photocopy of GMC certificate
Original & photocopies of qualifications on your form
Evidence of nationality / immigration status
This is not an exhaustive list – CHECK WITH THE
DEANERY YOU WILL BE ATTENDING INTERVIEW
Preparation: The basics
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Date / Time / Location
Get a good nights sleep the night before
Eat breakfast, lunch etc
Appropriate dress
55% of first impressions visual – shoes, nails,
hair etc
Body language important
Eye contact
What does a Panel want to
know about you?
There are four basic questions :
 Why have you applied for this job/speciality?
 What can you do for us? (what skills, knowledge,
intellectual ability can you offer?)
 What kind of person are you? (what are your
attitudes, values, motivation levels? Do you have
the ability to get on with others, work in a team?)
 What distinguishes you from all the other
applications?
Performance: How to succeed
“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”
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Preparation is everything
Job description / person specifications
What skills are required for the specialty
Evidence is the key
Research crucial
 Why that specialty
 Have you spoken to those already training at that
level?
 What can you bring to that specialty
 Keep up to date with current affairs in medicine
Performance: How to succeed
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Person specifications crucial
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Demonstrate the skills required
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Try to anticipate the types of questions you
maybe asked – think about a variety of
examples you could use to EVIDENCE that
you match the person specification
Performance: STAR
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STAR – framework to answer questions
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S = Situation – be concise & informative
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T = Task – brief outline
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A = Action – what exactly did YOU do
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R = Result – what was the outcome of YOUR action
Portfolios
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CV / Portfolio interview
Portfolio a vital document for your career
Organised evidence of your personal /
professional achievements
A confidential document
Is a reflection on YOU
First impressions count
Portfolios: Layouts
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Many ways to structure a portfolio
Common structures:
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Expanded CV
or
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GMC Good Medical Practice Guide
Make the information easily available
Have a copy of CV at front (summary/full)
Portfolios: sell yourself
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What does your portfolio say about you
What key skills / experiences does it highlight
What was the purpose in developing it
How has it helped with:
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Professional performance
Skills
Knowledge
Interest
Portfolios: sell yourself
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Know your portfolio inside out
Know your portfolio upside down – literally
Re-read job descriptions / person specs
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Awareness of what you maybe assessed against
– can you evidence this in portfolio
Portfolio will chart your development
Provides EVIDENCE of competency and
enthusiasm for specialty
Presentations
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Maybe asked to write & deliver presentation
in a limited amount of time – DON’T PANIC
Flip-chart / OHP / transparencies provided
Will be time bound – DON’T OVERRUN
Communication / pressure / structure / well
thought out response – all being assessed
Skills needed when dealing with patients
Presentations
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Read brief carefully
Produce a rough structure
Consider use of diagrams – if comfortable
Use a clear structure
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What will be covered
Delivery
Summary / conclusion
Care with humour
Speak clearly & adhere to time
Simulation stations:
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Some assessment centres use simulation
Introduce yourself to those involved
Polite & courteous
Monitor the situation
Communication is VITAL – patient / nurses
Review patients condition
Ask for help if / when needed
Try to stay calm
Exercise: Interviews
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In group of 3
1 interviewer / 1 interviewee / 1 observer
Each take a turn to be interviewee and
change roles after 5 mins
Observer give feedback for 2 mins
Feedback
Selection centre DVD
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Produced by Peninsula Deanery /AGCAS
Real candidates
Real consultants
Available in postgraduate centres
Covers:
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Structured interview
Portfolio interview
Presentation
Simulation station
Mock GP consultation
If you have no offers…
…there are other options:
 Some Deaneries have an interim round
 Unfilled posts are released to Trusts so that
service needs can be met
 Watch for vacancies in early summer
 Locum post (may be a LAT/LAS)
 Time for an overseas opportunity?
Remember:
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You can always apply again
You can make any experience add value to
your CV/portfolio and give you more to offer
It is not impossible to change path if you try a
specialty and it doesn’t work for you
Not all training posts get filled, so opportunity
can arise sooner than you think
Stay employed to be employable
Resources
www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk
www.mmc.nhs.uk
www.bmjcareers.com
www.gmc-uk.org
The Roads to success: Caroline Elton and
Joan Reid
Thank you
&
Questions
GOOD LUCK