The doctors who say “I’ll do it next time” are the same people who end up panicking with two weeks to go. Tessa and Becky break down the reasons doctors give for putting their prep off, from “I haven’t got time” to “it’s too early to start,” and why none of them hold up. We also tackle a question we get all the time: is it OK to go to a consultant interview just for practice? The answer is a firm no, and we explain why it wastes the panel’s time and doesn’t even give you a fair test of your performance.
We also review a golden example for conflict with a colleague, a disagreement over antibiotics for an immunocompromised child, and ask the key question: is it actually a conflict? From there we look at a genuinely tough interview question, “what risks do you pose to the organisation if you’re appointed?”, and how to answer it without saying “none” or digging yourself a hole.
Finally, our tip of the week: stop scripting your answers. Writing everything down feels safe, but it isn’t preparing you for the real thing, where questions come in unexpected versions and you have to answer on the spot. We explain what to do instead.
What is Ace Your 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.