Preparing for a consultant interview

Preparing and applying for consultant posts requires careful thought and planning. Organised your curriculum vitae in advance, considering all aspects; clinical, academic, management and leadership, and your personal qualities with equal importance. Give careful consideration to advertised jobs, taking into account your personal requirements. Choose posts that are best suited to you. When completing an application, tailor your application form to the personal specification without overstating your capabilities. Once you are shortlisted, you will be told the format of the interview and who will be on the panel. It is important to use pre-interview visits to gain insights to the department and Trust which will further inform your approach to the interview. Read around current healthcare issues and policies. Try to predict what questions might be asked, develop answers for these and practice your answers.