Consultants are expected to speak up even when it's uncomfortable, but choosing the wrong example to prove it can make you look difficult to work with instead. Tessa and Becky tackle a common Academy question: is it okay to use a story about disagreeing with a senior decision in your interview? The answer is more nuanced than you'd think, and we explain why it's rarely the flex candidates believe it is, plus what to use instead.
We also break down a golden example built around a real clinical conflict with an ED colleague, and why leaning on "my consultant told me to" quietly signals seniority you don't have yet. We explain why the best conflict examples strip out the clinical detail entirely and focus purely on how you de-escalated things on your own, because in these answers, being right is almost irrelevant. From there we look at a tricky interview question about handling a colleague who isn't performing as expected, and how to answer it even if you don't have a perfect example ready.
Finally, we get into body language: eye contact, hand gestures, speech pacing, and one surprisingly distracting habit (hint: it involves jewellery) that can quietly cost you points without you realising it. We explain what's actually worth thinking about before you walk into the room, and what's just noise that will distract you from giving your best answer.
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.