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The best mistake examples are the things that could have happened to anyone. If you're talking about a crisis, you've picked the wrong thing. Tessa and Becky tackle a question that trips up a lot of candidates: what if your mistake example doesn't feel serious enough? The answer might surprise you, because too serious is actually the bigger risk, and we explain exactly how to spot when an example belongs in what we call the "how the hell did that happen" bin.
We also break down a golden example about a missed lipid profile that led to a delayed blood test, and use it to show the fine line between a mistake that's too minor to demonstrate any real impact and one that's too big to be relatable. From there we look at a great interview question, "how would you handle receiving a verbal complaint from a patient or relative", and why so many candidates accidentally answer a completely different question by assuming it's about a complaint against them personally.
Finally, our tip of the week: find yourself a prep partner. We share a genuinely lovely real example (hint: it involves someone's mum, a phone camera, and a very disapproving eyebrow raise) of why having someone to keep you accountable, even if they know nothing about consultant interviews, can make all the difference to how consistently you actually practise.
What is Ace Your NHS Consultant Interview?
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.