PHST Recruitment - Full, comprehensive guidance on applying to HST posts

Interview

Interview preparation

Before you attend interview it is very important that you have prepared properly. Preparation areas include:

Documentation - unless requested otherwise, the only documentation you will need to bring is proof of your identity. This must be one form of photographic identification, and you should bring your passport where possible. If you do not hold a passport, then you should provide a photo-card driving licence. If you hold neither, please see the NHS employers website for further guidance. Your identification will be checked prior to the interview starting and if this does not meet the requirements you may not be interviewed.
Structure, content and scoring framework for the interview - which can be found in the general format section of the website with specialty-specific details within each specialty's section. Familiarising yourself with the format and the areas covered is advisable; some specialties require you to prepare an oral presentation prior to the day and therefore it is very important to check whether or not this applies to you.
Interview question preparation - although it is not really possible to 'revise' before the interview, it is always sensible to review your application form, experience and skills to date, achievements, etc. in advance, and to prepare yourself more generally as you would for any interview.
Probity - ensuring your application meets GMC Good Medical Practice guidelines - there is a separate tab in this section covering this area.

Interview environment and technical requirements

All interviews will be held online and so it is important to ensure that you have the right technical set up and a good environment free from distraction. There is a declaration which you will sign up to when you apply that covers agreement around the technical requirements and your responsibilities. Things to consider include:

Microphone and camera - check these are working and will present you to interviewers clearly. Consider the position of the camera and microphone and test this with another person. Your camera and microphone should be on at all times once you have logged into Qpercom Recruit. Panel members will also have their cameras on at all times unless specified not to, or due to technical difficulties.
Internet connectivity - as far as possible ensure your interview takes place somewhere with good and stable internet connection.
Background - be aware of your background and avoid things which could be distracting. There is currently not a 'blur background' feature on Qpercom recruit.
Environment - ensure your interview is in a well-lit and quiet place which will be free from interruptions.

Application form claims

Please bear in mind the GMC's Good Medical Practice guidelines on probity (point 66), as below:

'You must always be honest about your experience, qualifications and current role.'

( http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/20462.asp )

Although evidence of the achievements claimed in the point-scoring domains on your application form are checked before interview, interviewers may ask you questions about anything from your application to ascertain your achievements. If there are any concerns about the veracity of any of your claims made in the application form, this could be followed up by the clinical lead for the interview centre.

Whilst most cases will not likely be treated as serious offences, any instances of candidates blatantly or persistently trying to gain an unfair advantage by over-claiming and/or exaggerating their achievements will be taken extremely seriously.

This could lead to an application being deemed not appointable, or, in very serious cases, could be reported as a probity matter to the GMC; however, this is a very rare outcome and only in cases of overt cheating.

Interview

At interview you must not have the assistance of anyone else and must be alone in your interview room. You will be required show the room where you are being interviewed to the administrative team before your interview starts. In addition, it is not permissible to be in contact with anyone once you have registered with the interview team and started your interview, including being given any scenarios to review; this includes using reference materials, e.g. text books or online resources, to assist answering questions.

It is not permitted to record the interview or to take any notes about the questions asked and pass on any information about the content of the interview outside that which is published on this website. When you apply you will complete an application declaration confirming requirements for the interview.

Where possible, reasonable adjustments will be made at interview to meet the needs of applicants with disabilities. You must ensure that you detail any adjustments required on your application form, as well as uploading documetary evidence; failure to provide information and documentation, may result in adjustments not being met.

Additional reading time

The most common form of adjustment made is for applicants who are neurodivergent and require additional reading time. This is most frequently seen in the case of dyslexia where an educational psychologist report recommends 25% extra time.

Where this comes into play for IMT interviews is for the clinical scenario, where candidates are given a written scenario prior to the start of that question and three minutes to review it. Upon arrival in the interview room, you will be asked questions relating to this scenario.

The actual text in the scenario is quite short - usually two/three sentences at most - and so the bulk of preparation time is to allow you to consider the scenario and the next steps you would take (e.g. diagnosis, treatment, further questions, etc.), rather than it being 'reading time' as such.

However, extra time will be granted in accordance with the recommendations of the evidence supplied. The time for scenario consideration can vary between specialties and is usually between three and five minutes. In an interview where the the reading time is three minutes, a 25% extra adjustment would see the time would be adjusted to three minutes 45 seconds. The exact adjustments will depend on: the recommendation, whether it can be considered a reasonable adjustment and documentary evidence of your circumstances.