So there’s maybe a few things that you’ve always wanted to ask about Consultant interview questions but never quite found someone to speak to … or perhaps found someone who you could ask but feel too daft to do so … well.
Once again we’ve got Ian, Vin & Helen to rescue you.
This refers to questions you may ask about the interview; we’re not covering questions asked in interview.
| Question | Answer |
| If the chief exec isn’t on the panel, should I arrange to visit them before the interview? | A consultant is typically in post for 20 to 30 years, and will cost at least £100k to employ. During this time they will be responsible for spending easily ten times this; remember that clinicians control most spending in the NHS. Therefore, the appointment of someone to a consultant post is a lifetime investment of up to £30 million. So, you tell us; do you think this is worth 30 minutes of a chief executive’s time? |
| If I have to do a presentation, what are your top three tips? | 1. Don’t run over time.
2. Limit the number of slides 3. Allow time for questions. |
| What are the answers to the questions I’ll get asked? | If we told you that it wouldn’t be an interview. If you have to ask, you haven’t been paying attention so far. |
| Should I ask a question at the end of the interview? | Entirely up to you. You don’t have to. If something has come up, then do go ahead and ask. But don’t ask a daft question just for the sake of it. If you can’t spot a daft question, you’re on your own. Hint: if you turn up so poorly prepared that you ask about the rota or something else basic about the job, you won’t make a good impression. |
| What do I need to know about the broader context of the NHS etc? | |
| Is it better to go first, last or middle? | Two answers.
1. You’ve got not choice, so don’t worry. 2. It really doesn’t make a difference |
| There don’t seem to be many medics on the panel. In fact, there seem to be hardly any – mostly managers. | Yes. Well spotted. See here. |
| What’s a non-executive director? | There isn’t really space to describe this in full here, but in short they are members of the board who do not have a specific employment to deliver any of the services – ie they do not execute anything, ie they are non-executive – but do have a statutory duty to ensure that the trust is properly run. |
- Ian Wacogne, Vin Diwakar, Helen Jenkinson
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