NHS Interviews

sunflower1283

I've been for 2 interviews this week. Ididnt get either. I learnt the questions and got maybe two wrong in the first interview. The feedback i got back was that the person who got the job answered the questions better. I've not got a lot of confidence and I've been to a few interviews. Is it that hard to get a permanent job in the NHS? I think I may look outside the NHS mind you I never do too well in them either.

LannieDuck

I've known people who need to do an interview or two before they start to perform well in interviews. It's a skill, and you'll almost certainly be improving as you go. If it's a simple matter of answering the questions better, then hopefully you'll do better in the next couple of interviews now you've had a bit of practice

Person_one

sunflower1283 wrote: »

I've been for 2 interviews this week. Ididnt get either. I learnt the questions and got maybe two wrong in the first interview. The feedback i got back was that the person who got the job answered the questions better. I've not got a lot of confidence and I've been to a few interviews. Is it that hard to get a permanent job in the NHS? I think I may look outside the NHS mind you I never do too well in them either.

Are you applying for HCA positions?

When I applied for mine, over 200 people submitted forms in one afternoon. Unfortunately, the numbers just aren't good at the moment, and competition is fierce. Don't give up, practice makes perfect!

Croatoan

Another thing with NHS job interviews, try and relate every answer you give to patient care.
A simplistic example - Why do some people have sleeping tablets? To help them sleep is not a good answer. Better would be that it's important patients have a good sleep pattern because often healing goes on whilst asleep, it helps make the patient feel better to be well rested, it means they are awake and fresh to take part in therapeutic activities during the day and so on.
Patients come first and your answers need to reflect that point. Everything you do in work is designed to be for a patient's benefit.

kizdeb

Hi I also get really nervous during interviews, feeling flustered going blank etc.. But luckily enough got a job offer last week...only worked as an HCA for about a year so thought my lack of experience would go against me. The thing that swung it for me was examples of patient care linked to questions and the research I had done into new position. Hope this helps and good luck with the interview.

gk1980

Look at the competency list in the person spec and then think of examples in previous work that demonstrate that compentcy.

Structure your answers using the STAR model (situation, task, action & result) so that you cover all bases. Do some good preparation and you'll be fine!

Good luck:-)

debrag

NHS jobs are horrible to get unless you already work for them.

My first interview had blocks of maths & English tests on over 2 days and you needed to get 100%. You found out a week or so later if you were successful and to go for an interview, only 6 were employed. I got the job and moved within 6 months to a better one within the same trust.

I had an interview for a different trust and there were like 30 people in the room doing the tests, needing 90% to pass, you had to wait around to find out and have your interview there and then, this was for 5 roles. I lost out as funding wasn't available for all roles but got asked to interview for another position which I got but didn't accept.

I suggest forgetting about the NHS for now try care homes or community care, now that isn't an interview more of a 'when can you start'

debrag

kizdeb wrote: »

Hi I also get really nervous during interviews, feeling flustered going blank etc.. But luckily enough got a job offer last week...only worked as an HCA for about a year so thought my lack of experience would go against me. The thing that swung it for me was examples of patient care linked to questions and the research I had done into new position. Hope this helps and good luck with the interview.

Where are you going to be working?

I started as band 2 elderly ward moved to band 3 neuro ward and now have an interview for band 3 AAU.

sunflower1283

I currently work as a bank support secretary and work two days a week. I'm going to look for jobs externally in medicine.

Debrag - good luck with the interview. Fingers crossed for you.

Kizdeb well done. Good luck with the new job.

debrag

sunflower1283 wrote: »

I currently work as a bank support secretary and work two days a week. I've seen another bank admin assistant and may apply for that. Its in a different department is I may be able to get more experience. I'm going to look for jobs externally in medicine.

Debrag - good luck with the interview. Fingers crossed for you.

Kizdeb well done. Good luck with the new job.

Thank you, the bad thing is its in between 2 night shifts and only 1 hr after I finish work.