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. 20h ago

    Stop Reading Reports 2 Days Before Your Interview, Do This Instead

    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 openhttps://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep49  The biggest mistake candidates make isn't not knowing enough, it's not knowing what to do when they don't know something. Tessa and Becky tackle the fear that keeps candidates up at night: getting asked about a specific policy or report they've never read. We explain exactly which reports you actually need to know (yes, the 10 Year Plan and the GIRFT report make the list) and, more importantly, what to say in the moment if you genuinely blank, because saying "I pass" is the one answer guaranteed to score zero. We also review a patient safety golden example that starts brilliantly and then falls apart, a great lesson in why nitpicking your examples before the interview is time well spent. From there we dig into a question that's becoming more common across every specialty: "How do you create a culture where people feel safe to speak up?" We explain why generic answers like "I have an open door policy" fall flat, and what panels actually want to hear instead. Finally, we cover what to do in the crucial few days before your interview, and it is not more reading. We talk through how to shift your focus to practising out loud, protecting your headspace, and building the kind of mindset that genuinely changes how you perform on the day, plus who you should (and shouldn't) be talking to in that final run-up. 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

  2. Jul 13

    The Interview Question You're Wasting (Plus the Clinical Governance Trick)

    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 openhttps://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep48  Most candidates spend weeks preparing for their hardest interview question and then completely waste the first one. Tessa and Becky break down why "tell me about yourself" is not the moment to recite your CV chronologically, and introduce the PERM structure that turns this question into an instant connection with your panel, one that sets the tone for your entire interview. We also look at a duty of candour example from an Academy student involving a delayed cancer diagnosis, and talk through what makes it work (and how to tighten it up so the story lands faster). From there we tackle clinical governance, a question that panics a lot of candidates because it feels so broad, but which is actually a golden opportunity to showcase the unique selling points you haven't had a chance to mention yet. Finally, we get into signposting: the simple habit of structuring your answers around three clear points that makes you sound polished, keeps the panel engaged, and genuinely calms your nerves in the room. We explain why it works even if you use it for almost every answer, and share a practical trick involving pen and paper that helps you never lose your place mid-response. 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

  3. Jul 6

    The Stopwatch Mistake (And the AI Question to Prep For)

    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-ep47  Think a stopwatch will save you from rambling in your consultant interview? Think again. Tessa and Becky break down why bringing one into the room can backfire (and the one situation where it's actually fine), plus a much better way to nail your timing without the added stress. We also unpack a real "golden example" submitted by an Academy student: a serious clinical mix-up over a patient's post-op nutrition, and have a genuinely useful debate about why it doesn't work as a "mistake" story but is perfect for duty of candour instead. Then we tackle a question popping up in more and more interviews across every specialty: "What do you think the impact of AI will be on your speciality, and how are you preparing for it?" If your gut answer is "AI isn't really used where I work," we explain why that won't fly anymore, and how tying your response to the NHS 10 Year Plan can set you apart. Finally, we go deep on structuring a five-minute presentation, including a real story of a slide deck failing mid-interview and the backup plan that saved it, plus our completely unfiltered rant about "any questions?" slides, thank-you slides, and unnecessary self-introductions that need to go. Whether you're prepping for your first consultant interview or your fifth, this one's packed with advice you can use right away. 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

  4. Jun 29

    Workforce Questions in Your Consultant Interview — You Don't Need to Be an HR Expert

    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-ep46  Workforce and staff retention questions are showing up more and more in consultant interviews — and they catch people off guard because most candidates have never been "in charge" of retention. In this episode, Tessa and Becky reframe the whole thing: these questions aren't asking for HR expertise, they're asking whether you understand what makes people want to show up and stay. They walk through a relatable Golden Example of a conflict with a patient — a frustrated person who'd been waiting too long and was taking it out on a nurse — and break down exactly how to de-escalate, protect your colleague, and still put your foot down professionally. Then they tackle a genuinely tough interview question: "We're in the lowest 10th percentile for staff who would recommend us as a place to work — what would you do to help address this?" They cover how to answer without panicking, how to show enthusiasm for a team that's clearly struggling, and why framing it as "what can we do together" is everything. Their Tip and Trick of the Week is an underrated one: how to find and use your trust's staff survey results before your interview — because being able to reference specific findings in the room is the kind of preparation that genuinely sets candidates apart. 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

  5. Jun 22

    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

  6. Jun 15

    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

  7. Jun 8

    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

  8. Jun 1

    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

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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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