Ace Your NHS Consultant Interview

Tessa Davis + Becky Platt
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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. 1D AGO

    Mastering Consultant Interviews: Answering Tough Questions and Owning Your Role

    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-ep34 In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky dive into key strategies for acing your interview, starting with a common yet tricky question: "Why this trust?" They emphasize the importance of presenting your enthusiasm for the job and the trust, even if it’s not your absolute dream role. The duo stresses the need to stay focused during the interview, conveying your passion for the position to the panel. The conversation also explores the tricky "financial crisis" question, offering insights into how consultants can contribute to cost-saving without being bogged down in numbers. They suggest framing it through the lens of improving patient flow and efficiency. The episode also offers practical advice on handling challenging situations like duty of candour, sharing a real example of a delay in patient care and the steps to take when addressing such incidents. Tessa and Becky underscore the importance of taking ownership and reflecting on your role in these situations, ensuring the panel understands the personal impact you've made. Lastly, they share an essential tip for interview success: using "I" instead of "we" to clearly communicate your individual contributions. This episode is a must-listen for any trainee or low-income consultant preparing for interviews with confidence and clarity. 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

  2. MAR 30

    How to Sell Yourself Without Feeling Arrogant: Secrets to Nailing 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-ep33 In this episode of Ace Your Consultant Interview, Tessa and Becky tackle the challenge of selling yourself during a job interview without feeling like you're bragging. They emphasize the importance of being authentic and using specific, measurable examples to demonstrate your skills and accomplishments. The key is to focus on facts and impact, not persuasion, so you can confidently talk about your achievements without feeling arrogant. Practicing your responses out loud is also a crucial part of the preparation process, as it helps reduce the "cringe factor" and makes your answers sound natural in the interview. The hosts also share their insights on handling interview questions about mistakes, stressing the importance of owning your errors and reflecting on how you handled them. They highlight the value of using these moments to demonstrate growth and senior-level thinking. Additionally, they discuss how to approach background research on a trust, advising not to overdo it. Instead, a broad understanding of the trust's issues will allow you to integrate relevant information into your answers without getting bogged down in excessive details. 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

  3. MAR 23

    Beyond the Publication List: Nail Your Research USP and Dodge Interview Traps

    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-ep32 Join Tessa and Becky on Ace Your Consultant Interview Podcast Ep 32 as they unpack game-changing advice for final-year trainees and aspiring consultants prepping for high-stakes interviews. Dive into transforming a bland list of publications into a standout research USP by spotlighting your top project—think patient recruitment numbers, clinical impacts, and hard-earned skills like ethics approvals and stats analysis (skip the PhD title flex; sell what you did). They rip apart a messy "conflict with a junior colleague" example, revealing why over-detailing clinical drama and "I was right" endings kill your conflict resolution story—focus on de-escalation, team support, and that magic cup of tea instead. Tackle the curveball question "Which trust value do you embody the least?" with savvy: pick a challenging one like "collaborative," share a USP-tied hurdle you overcame, and stay far from red flags like "caring." Master 5-minute presentations by ditching slide overload (max 3, or go slide-free) and structuring like an extended interview answer: intro, 3 key points, summary.  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. MAR 16

    Elevate Reg-Level Stories to Consultant Superstar Status – Without Faking It

    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=youtube&utm_content=y-ep31 In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, hosts Tessa and Becky dive into real-world strategies for final-year trainees and new consultants prepping for interviews. They unpack a student's burning question: "My examples feel too registrar-level – how do I amp them up to consultant caliber without fabricating?" Discover how to spotlight system-wide impacts, committee advocacy, and cross-departmental wins from your reg days to showcase senior thinking. They dissect a "golden example" of colleague conflict – a gynae reg refusing an ED referral for pyelonephritis in pregnancy, turning tension into a relatable resolution story (with tips to avoid sounding grumpy). Tackle the tricky "gaps in your training" question by framing minor, fixable weaknesses (like governance skills) and proactive steps you've taken. Plus, transform everyday teaching gigs into killer USPs by breaking down curriculum mapping, speaker wrangling, evaluations, and overcoming attendance hurdles – ditching vague "local/regional/national" boasts for vivid, panel-impressing details. Tune in to prep smarter, not harder. 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

    22 min

  5. MAR 9

    The Heart‑Stopping “One Negative Word” Interview Question – And How to Answer It

    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-ep30 In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky walk through three areas that reliably trip candidates up: teaching examples, conflict scenarios, and gaps in your CV.​They start with a common student question: “Can I just talk about my day‑to‑day ward teaching?” and explain why that won’t cut it if you want to stand out at consultant level. You’ll hear how to turn your education work into specific, high‑impact examples, including simulation programmes, curriculum planning and measured outcomes that actually tell the panel who you are as an educator. Next, they unpack a “golden example” about refusing a neonatal transfer and show why some conflict stories are high‑risk if you don’t frame them carefully. They cover how to avoid sounding obstructive, how to show de‑escalation and support for stressed colleagues, and why recording yourself talking through tricky conflicts is worth the discomfort. Tessa and Becky then tackle a deliciously awkward wildcard question one student faced: “Three positive words your colleagues would use for you – and one negative word they’d use when you weren’t listening.”​Finally, they dive into career gaps: health, family, unemployment, GMC issues and more.  Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com

    25 min

  6. MAR 2

    Inside the Panel’s Mind When You Talk About CQC, Safety and Speaking Up

    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-ep29 In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Platt dig into three of the most uncomfortable areas of NHS consultant interview prep: negative CQC reports, duty of candour examples, and talking about your own mistakes.​ They cover: Negative CQC feedback – when to bring it up, when to stay quiet, and how to be honest without being brutally critical of the very team you want to join.Pre‑interview meetings and risk registers – how to use them to understand a department’s real challenges and to frame your answers around quality, safety, and speaking up.Duty of candour examples – why the best examples often aren’t “your” mistake, and how to walk through the conversation, investigation, and system learning in a structured way.Owning your mistake – how to stop over‑justifying, state the error clearly in the first sentence, and then focus on reflection, actions, and what you do differently now.If you’re a final-year trainee or locum consultant worrying about how to talk about CQC, safety concerns, or past errors without torpedoing your chances, this episode shows you exactly how to do it with confidence and senior-level judgement. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com

    20 min

  7. FEB 23

    What to Say About Non‑Linear Training When You’re Asked “Tell Me About Yourself”

    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-ep28 In this episode, Tessa and Becky tackle a common fear for many final‑year trainees and locum consultants: how to handle a non‑linear training path at consultant interview, especially if you have trained overseas or stepped off programme. They cover: Non‑linear training – why it is a strength, not a red flag, and how to shift from apologising to owning the value you bring.Describing overseas experience – how to use numbers, volume, and clear outcomes so the panel really understands your clinical exposure rather than guessing.Avoiding dull chronology – how to move away from “first I did this job, then that job” towards “these are the skills I’ve developed and what I can do for you now”.Mistake questions – a real example about emailing a trainee about a complaint, and how to use it to show reflection, empathy, and learning without choosing a disastrous case.​​Plus how one pair of Academy students used daily 6–6.45 am practice sessions to secure a dream post. If you have a non‑standard path, trained overseas, or simply worry that your route into consultancy looks “different”, this episode will show you how to talk about it clearly and confidently in your NHS consultant interview. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com

    17 min

  8. FEB 16

    How to Answer “Tell Me About a Mistake” Without Throwing Yourself Under the Bus

    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-ep27 In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky dive into three questions that almost every final‑year trainee and locum consultant worries about.​ They cover: The “tell me about a mistake” question – whether your example needs to be clinical, how to use non‑clinical mistakes safely, and how to avoid oversharing the kind of catastrophic story that makes a panel nervous.​What makes a strong MDT example – using a project to show the difference between registrar‑level storytelling and consultant‑level, system‑focused thinking.​“How has your project changed your department?” – why this question is a gift if you’ve prepared, how to choose the right project to showcase your USPs, and how to use concrete data and outcomes to demonstrate real service change.​If you’re ready to move from “I managed a sick patient really well” to “I improved the whole service for all our patients,” this episode will show you how to zoom out, think like a consultant, and turn your everyday work into golden interview examples. Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com

    19 min
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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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