3 Interviews in 6 days - feeling nervous!

natley

So after months of applying for jobs and the 'regret to inform you' emails I have managed to bag myself 3 interviews.
All 3 jobs are of similar duties. 1 is for civil service (internal) the other for NHS working mainly weekends and the the third for a primary school.
I'm completely terrified and have not had an interview in almost 6 years. How can I make myself stand out from the rest? I am also terrified of practical tests. I get so nervous and usually end up mucking them up - hence why I probably don't drive!:o
Any tips/advice?

Helpfulone

Well done - best advice I can give is prepare, prepare, prepare. Write down exactly what is required of each job and practice typical interview questions. Find out what you can about the departments you are applying to and be yourself - you never know you might get offered all 3.

I know how you feel I had 4 interviews once - 2 on the Friday and 2 on the Monday. I was a wreck all week, all weekend and the relief when it was all over was amazing.

I did get one of the jobs so it was worth it!

Good luck.

[Deleted User]

natley wrote: »

How can I make myself stand out from the rest? I am also terrified of practical tests. I get so nervous and usually end up mucking them up!:o
Any tips/advice?

Well done be yourself, remember it is a 2 way process you are also interviewing them, have some questions prepared for them and expect the unexpected

Me to on the practical tests! only this Saturday I had a psychometric test... okay when I thought I was having a competency based interview! hey ho :cool:
best advise in hindsight I can give is google and find a practise site for 'interview tests' as much as reading up on interview techniques - brush up on english and maths, typing speed

Standing out: send a thank you after the interview, dress as smart as you can and only because I once overheard this you should try and talk about all jobs/experience you've had not just concentrate on one particular position

Good luck

nottslass_2

Congratulations - Practice inteview questions and answers - go through the job descriptions and person spec and try to think of an example of how you meet the criteria eg team work - think of how you've worked well within a team,what was your role,what makes a good team ?

I work for the NHS - what role is your interview for ? NHS inteviews tend to be competency based - in a rush at the moment but I'll try to help if I can.

natley

The NHS role is for ward receptionist. Would there be a practical test for this? Does anyone know what the practical test for a school clerical assistant involves? I remember applying for a school job years ago and I had to do something with a computer but it was so long ago i have forgotten and that was for a high school.

nottslass_2

I'm NHS hospital Receptionist (until next week when I start another role:))

No test that I can think of.

NHS interviews tend to be competency based ie "give me an example of when".............

Read the Person spec and job description very carefully - write down examples of how you meet the criteria.

What sort of ward is it ? do some research - dealing with day case patients having routine surgery,will be very different to ITU.

Can you show empathy and defuse difficult situations ? Can you give an example of how you've dealt with a potentially volatile situation - what would you do if a relative was demanding to visit a patient outside visiting times ?

How would you deal with someone who came to visit a patient that had expressed that they didn't want any visitors?

As you'll be central point of contact they'll be wanting to know how you
deal with people in general,are you comfortable communicating with senior consultants and other HCP's , members of the public with a variety of communication difficulties - how would you overcome any barriers to communication ?

Depending on protocol you'll probably be updating relatives with information on a patients condition - how would you ensure that the information is conveyed accurately when the patient is one of several dozen ?

A favourite question is how would you prioritise the following : You are on the telephone to a relative,the other phone starts ringing,then a Doctor comes hurrying in wanting you attention...........

You'll most certainly be asked a question re patient confidentiality /governance.

Hope this helps a bit - I love my job and will be sad to leave (believe me you'll never be bored)
Feel free to ask anything and i'll do my best to help

Good luck

cannyscot_2

Hi#
Well done!

I have 2 "tips"

Firstly I interview people quite a lot . We don't ask people for interview unless we think from their application they can do the job. Nearly every job- we get someone who comes whom we think sounds really good on paper and they talk themselves out of it.

Be positive/learn your application of by heart/get a job q book and practice hard. If you have not got much experience for a particular job think of examples of how your current experience demonstrates you have that skill.

Nervousness can be difficult- there are lots of good hypnotherapy downloads online -I usually recommend Roseanna Leaton but there are loads more good ones . Download either a job interview one or a confidence one and listen before bed every night -if you start this process now you will be amazed how sharp at interviews you can become and if one or two do not go exactly how you plan /or they are rotten jobs you will soon have the confidence to get something else. Job interviews are a learnt practice thing like riding a bike!

Good Luck!

natley

nottslass wrote: »

I'm NHS hospital Receptionist (until next week when I start another role:))

No test that I can think of.

NHS interviews tend to be competency based ie "give me an example of when".............

Read the Person spec and job description very carefully - write down examples of how you meet the criteria.

What sort of ward is it ? do some research - dealing with day case patients having routine surgery,will be very different to ITU.

Can you show empathy and defuse difficult situations ? Can you give an example of how you've dealt with a potentially volatile situation - what would you do if a relative was demanding to visit a patient outside visiting times ?

How would you deal with someone who came to visit a patient that had expressed that they didn't want any visitors?

As you'll be central point of contact they'll be wanting to know how you
deal with people in general,are you comfortable communicating with senior consultants and other HCP's , members of the public with a variety of communication difficulties - how would you overcome any barriers to communication ?

Depending on protocol you'll probably be updating relatives with information on a patients condition - how would you ensure that the information is conveyed accurately when the patient is one of several dozen ?

A favourite question is how would you prioritise the following : You are on the telephone to a relative,the other phone starts ringing,then a Doctor comes hurrying in wanting you attention...........

You'll most certainly be asked a question re patient confidentiality /governance.

Hope this helps a bit - I love my job and will be sad to leave (believe me you'll never be bored)
Feel free to ask anything and i'll do my best to help

Good luck

Thanks for the info. Gosh never thought about some of these questions.
I have re read the job spec and it sounds amazing. I work in an office just now where there is hardly any work and the boss is never there:mad: so nice to know it'll be a busy role but then with it being in a hospital I kind of thought that. I have an interview on Wednesday and one on Thursday then my NHS one the following week. Excited and nervous. Hopefully I can update next week with a "I got the job" thread:D

mshappy

I have just got the same job.

I was asked what would you do if someone demanded someones notes etc. Really basic stuff nothing too tricky!

mshappy

P.S good luck.

londonTiger

good thing is if all three jobs are similar then you can spring off the first interview onto the 2nd and 3rd interviews. I always find that when I have interviews bunched up I perform very well on the latter interviews. I'm mopre relaxed and also come across less needy as I have options.