Ace Your NHS Consultant Interview

Tessa Davis + Becky Platt
  • 4.5 (4)
  • How To

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.

  1. 4 days ago

    AI Questions in Your Consultant Interview — Here's Exactly What the Panel Wants to Hear

    Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep45  AI keeps coming up in consultant interviews — and if the thought of being asked about it makes you nervous, this episode is essential listening. Tessa and Becky break down what the panel is actually looking for when they ask about AI (hint: it's not technical expertise), and how to build a confident, senior-level answer no matter what specialty you're in. They also analyse a brilliant Golden Example from an academy student who used an AI-assisted patient follow-up system to boost appointment attendance from 55% to 70% — a standout MDT example with data, governance awareness, and a direct nod to the NHS 10-Year Plan all baked in. Plus, they tackle a curveball interview question of the week: "What is the biggest risk in your department and what would you do to tackle it?" — and reveal the one simple thing you can do in your pre-interview visit that turns this from a panic question into a winning answer. To close, their Tip and Trick of the Week covers how to handle any tech-related question even if you don't consider yourself a tech person — because "that's not really my thing" is simply not an option in today's NHS. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

    17 min

  2. 15 Jun

    The Interview Panel Already Knows You — Does That Help or Hurt You?

    Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open  https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep44  One of the biggest fears going into a consultant interview is repeating yourself — especially if panel members have already interviewed you before. In this episode, Tessa and Becky tackle this head-on and make the case clearly: your strongest examples should come up more than once, and here's exactly how to do it without it feeling repetitive. They break down a fascinating Golden Example involving a lost amputated fingertip — and how the same incident can be used powerfully for both a duty of candour question and an MDT working question, as long as you know how to frame each angle correctly. They also dig into a tricky interview question of the week: "Tell me about the trust value that resonates most with you — and a time you couldn't meet it." Spoiler: it's a bit of a trap, and they share the safest way to navigate it. To close, their Tip and Trick of the Week unpacks how to mine your USPs for multiple different angles — so the same project can land a clinical governance question, a change management question, and more — without ever sounding like a broken record. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

    19 min

  3. 8 Jun

    NHS 10-Year Plan: How to Answer 'Care Closer to Home' Questions in Your Consultant Interview

    Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open  https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep43  Dreading the NHS 10-Year Plan question in your consultant interview — especially if you work in an acute specialty and don't have a community project? In this episode, Tessa and Becky tackle the "hospital to community" theme head-on, explaining why almost every specialty has relevant examples hiding in plain sight, from hospital-at-home services and virtual clinics to patient-initiated follow-up and GP pathway work. They break down a real Golden Example from one of their academy students — a virtual review clinic set up with primary care to reduce re-attendances — and explain exactly why service-level MDT examples crush single case studies every time. Plus, there's a brilliant story about a student who walked over hot coals the night before her interview and went on to land the job. Finally, they share their Tip and Trick of the Week: how to naturally weave the three key NHS 10-Year Plan themes — hospital to community, treatment to prevention, and analogue to digital — into your answers without it feeling forced, including how to use it in your interview presentation. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

    24 min

  4. 1 Jun

    How to Stay Focused in Your Consultant Interview

    Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open  https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep42  Consultant interviews can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to give structured answers under pressure. In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky explain how using a blank piece of paper and pen can help you pause, gather your thoughts, and keep your answers focused from start to finish. They also discuss reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent doctors, including how to think about what would actually help you perform at your best in the interview. From asking for written questions to needing a quieter space before the interview, this episode encourages candidates to be clear about what they need and not let stigma hold them back from requesting support. Finally, Tessa and Becky break down what makes a strong duty of candour example and how to answer difficult questions about trust values. If you are preparing for a consultant interview and want to sound calm, structured, thoughtful, and ready for senior level practice, this episode will help you approach your preparation with more clarity and confidence. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

    18 min

  5. 25 May

    Consultant Interview Scenarios: What Panels Really Want to Hear

    Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open  https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep41  Hypothetical scenarios come up often in consultant interviews, but many candidates make the mistake of turning them into one specific story instead of showing broad, senior level thinking. In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky explain how to approach scenario based questions, how to frame your experience briefly, and how to show the panel that you can manage conflict, difficult behaviours, and sensitive situations with confidence. They also break down how to answer the common interview question, “How would you support a trainee in difficulty?” You’ll learn how to balance pastoral support with formal escalation, including recognising when a trainee is struggling, offering structured support, involving supervisors, understanding escalation routes, and showing the educational leadership expected at consultant level. Finally, this episode covers why knowing who is on your interview panel can transform your preparation. From pre interview visits to understanding what different panel members may care about, this discussion will help you tailor your answers, anticipate likely questions, and walk into your consultant interview feeling more prepared, strategic, and confident. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

    17 min

  6. 18 May

    How to End Your Consultant Interview Answers with Confidence

    Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open  https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep40  One of the biggest mistakes candidates make in consultant interviews is not having a clear ending to their answers. In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky explain why your final sentence matters, how it affects the panel’s impression of you, and why a polished ending can make your answers sound more confident, structured, and easy to follow. They also discuss whether you should bring up something you forgot to say at the end of the interview, how to choose a strong mistake example, and what makes an example land well with the panel. You’ll learn why ownership, clarity, and concise storytelling are so important when answering questions about mistakes, reflection, and professional learning. Finally, this episode breaks down how to answer service improvement questions, especially around outpatient backlogs, waiting lists, flow, efficiency, and quality care. If you are preparing for a consultant interview and want to sound more senior, more strategic, and more confident in your answers, this episode will help you refine both your structure and delivery. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

    21 min

  7. 11 May

    How to Prove You’re a Safe Doctor in a Consultant Interview

    Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open  https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep39 Should you talk about a complaint made against you in your consultant interview? In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky break down how to approach tricky interview questions around complaints, mistakes, duty of candour, and patient safety without accidentally throwing yourself under the bus. They also explain how to answer the common question, “How do you know you’re a safe doctor?” in a way that goes beyond saying you have had no complaints or serious incidents. You’ll learn how to talk about appraisal, reflection, CPD, feedback, evidence based practice, clinical learning, and personal responsibility in a way that shows senior level thinking. Finally, this episode covers why asking for feedback after an unsuccessful consultant interview can be one of the most valuable parts of your preparation. If you want to improve your consultant interview answers, avoid common mistakes, and feel more confident discussing patient safety and complaints, this episode is for you. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

    23 min

  8. 4 May

    How to Stand Out in a Competitive Consultant Interview

    Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open  https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep38  Worried that there are loads of strong applicants for the same consultant job and you will struggle to stand out? In this episode, we break down what actually makes a candidate memorable in a competitive consultant interview, including how to connect your experience to the role, how to talk about your skills in a way that feels specific and credible, and how to show the panel that you understand exactly what their trust or department needs right now. We also cover how to keep your examples concise so you do not get lost in too much detail, how to answer questions about the challenges facing the trust, and how to sound more like a consultant by showing senior level thinking, not just focusing on the patient in front of you but on the wider system, pathways, and service. If you want to sound sharper, more strategic, and more appointable on interview day, this episode will give you practical advice to help you rise above the competition. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

    16 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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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