You don't need a villain in your conflict with a colleague example. This is about a disagreement that could have happened to anyone on any day. Tessa and Becky tackle a really common worry: how do you talk about a conflict without sounding like you're badmouthing someone? The answer isn't to prove you were right, it's to show you can de-escalate, and we explain exactly why calling in your boss to fight your battle for you is one of the biggest traps candidates fall into.
We also break down a golden example centred on a rota dispute that dragged on for weeks and eventually escalated to HR, and use it to unpack several red flags at once: an ongoing feud rather than a one-off moment, a conflict within your own team rather than another one, and a story where you come across as the one who was annoyed rather than the one being asked to fix things. From there we look at a trickier interview question, "how would you handle a disagreement between two members of your team", including why an oddly specific question late in an interview can sometimes hint at something going on behind the scenes.
Finally, our tip of the week covers reasonable adjustments: what they actually look like in practice, from written questions to extra time, and why asking for something that will genuinely help you perform your best is never going to count against you.
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.