The biggest mistake people make in consultant interviews is thinking the job is already decided before anyone walks into the room. Tessa and Becky bust the four myths they hear from students week after week, that the job is earmarked for someone else, that being a good interviewee is something you're born with, that your CV isn't good enough, and that prep will take over your life, and explain why none of them actually hold up.
We also review a golden example about working within an MDT that the student almost didn't use because she felt like it wasn't a success, and explain why changing your original plan based on team feedback is actually a stronger, more senior story than pushing a plan through unchanged. From there we tackle a genuinely tricky interview question, "tell us about a time you were uncivil", and how to find the balance between oversharing something awful and pretending you've never been anything but perfect.
Finally, our most commonly delivered tip: take a pause before you start answering. We explain why that split-second silence, even though it feels excruciating in the moment, changes the entire quality of your answer, and why saying "thank you for the question" is not the same thing.
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.