Ace Your NHS Consultant Interview

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky walk through three areas that reliably trip candidates up: teaching examples, conflict scenarios, and gaps in your CV.
​
They start with a common student question: “Can I just talk about my day‑to‑day ward teaching?” and explain why that won’t cut it if you want to stand out at consultant level. You’ll hear how to turn your education work into specific, high‑impact examples, including simulation programmes, curriculum planning and measured outcomes that actually tell the panel who you are as an educator.

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Platt dig into three of the most uncomfortable areas of NHS consultant interview prep: negative CQC reports, duty of candour examples, and talking about your own mistakes.
​

They cover:

In this episode, Tessa and Becky tackle a common fear for many final‑year trainees and locum consultants: how to handle a non‑linear training path at consultant interview, especially if you have trained overseas or stepped off programme.

They cover:

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky dive into three questions that almost every final‑year trainee and locum consultant worries about.​

They cover:

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky answer a real Academy student question about a panel member who complained that candidates “reel off their CV highlights.” 

They then dig into a golden duty of candour example involving incorrect bowel prep and an enema for a child.

Next up is a common but unsettling question: “What is the value of having diversity in your leadership?” Tessa and Becky talk through how to pause, think it through, and discuss why these examples are worth preparing in advance rather than trying to improv...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky unpack three deceptively simple but high‑stakes questions that come up again and again in NHS consultant interviews. They start with whether you can reuse the same USP or golden example more than once.

They then dissect a real “biggest weakness” example from an Academy student and explain why some weaknesses are simply too risky. You’ll hear how to choose a safer, more senior weakness, how to road‑test it out loud, and why this is one answer you should never improvise on the day.​<...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky tackle three themes that keep coming up for final year trainees and locum consultants: KPIs, consultant‑level examples, and psychological safety.​

They start with a real Academy question: where on earth do you find meaningful KPIs for your speciality beyond the generic “time to clinic” and “readmission rates”? You’ll hear a clear explanation of what KPIs actually are, where to look for them, and how to pick the ones that let you talk confidently about both national standards and your own projects.​

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky answer a real student question about a 10‑minute presentation titled “Challenges in my specialty in the next five years”. They walk through how to narrow your content down to three clear themes, link them to the NHS long‑term plan, and weave in your USPs so your talk sounds like a presentation only you could give, not a generic specialty lecture.

They then dissect a proposed “conflict with a colleague” example from clinic, showing how to decide if it’s safe enough, how to demonstrate de...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky tackle three areas that commonly derail otherwise strong candidates: GMC documents, weakness questions, and CQC reports. 

Next, they pull apart a real “biggest weakness” example – clinics always running over time – and show how to reshape a risky answer into a specific, contained story with clear impact and practical strategies that demonstrate insight rather than poor time management. They also unpack an unusual question recently asked at consultant interview about “types of consultations you find difficult”, using it to show how to demonstrate vulnerability, learning, and...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky tackle a problem more common than you might think: what to do when you end up with two NHS consultant interviews in the same week. 

They walk through how to treat this as an opportunity rather than a crisis, including managing twice the number of pre-interview visits.

They also explore how (and when) to tell panels that you have more than one interview, how to make each job sound like your genuine first choice in the room, and how to plan t...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky tackle a brutally common scenario: you’ve failed several consultant interviews in a row and it feels like you’ll never get the job. They break down how to stop telling yourself the “I’m just terrible at interviews” story, how to ask for specific, question‑by‑question feedback, and how to spot themes such as missing senior‑level thinking rather than chasing yet another audit or QI project.​

You’ll also hear a live critique of a “tell me about a mistake” example involving safegu...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky tackle a question almost every final‑year trainee asks: “When should I actually start preparing for my consultant interview?” They unpack why last‑minute, two‑week prep creates panic, how early, light‑touch preparation in your final year protects you from surprise adverts, and how it frees up headspace for pre‑interview meetings and presentations when the job you really want finally appears.​

They then walk through a real “mistake” example from an Academy student – a malpositioned syndesmosis fixation requiring revision – and use it to show why some clinica...

Join Tessa and Becky as they dive into the reality of stakeholder panels for NHS consultant job interviews. 

This episode lays out exactly what to expect, who’s in the room, and how to pivot your answers to fit the panel’s unique interests. 

You’ll hear candid discussion about the pitfalls of using complex conflict scenarios, the dangers of leaning too heavily on MSF feedback, and how to craft honest responses to those tricky ‘three words’ questions. 

Plus, actionable tips on timing your answers for impact - so you can walk into your intervie...

In this episode, Tessa and Becky answer a core question from Academy trainees: 

“How do I deal with interview nerves just days before facing the panel?” 

Practical advice dominates - consolidate your knowledge, avoid last-minute cramming, and find your personal strategies to relax, whether it’s a bath, a walk, or a power pose. 

The pair break down a golden example of handling conflict with a colleague, revealing what makes an answer authentic and safe for interview. 

They go deep into tackling the dreaded “biggest weakness” question and offer a bulletproof framework for...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview Podcast, Tessa and Becky tackle the biggest worries for trainees with overseas backgrounds facing NHS consultant interviews.

They break down:

In this episode, Tessa and Becky discuss:

In this episode, Tessa and Becky tackle the misunderstood territory of contacting College reps before your NHS consultant interview. They answer a student’s pressing question and share insider advice on reaching out to panel members without crossing boundaries. 

The conversation moves to demystifying how to answer the “conflict with a colleague” question - breaking down a listener’s real-life example and highlighting the pitfalls of over-complicating answers with clinical detail. 

You’ll learn why simplicity, honesty, and a focus on senior-level conflict resolution skills will elevate your interview performance. 

They also reveal why old proje...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky break down the essential strategies for thriving in online interviews and explain how the best candidates stand out - digitally and in person. They cover:

This episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview Podcast brings clarity to some of the most awkward or misunderstood elements of NHS consultant interviews. 

Tessa and Becky open with advice for those nervously navigating references when applying for a new post - offering practical, honest ways to approach the conversation with your current employer. 

They unpack what makes for a great “duty of candour” example. 

When facing emotionally charged questions like “Tell me about your worst day,” they guide you on showing vulnerability without oversharing. 

They also break down how to choose a con...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa and Becky get into the specifics of interview and application preparation, focusing on the nuanced realities that candidates face right now. 

They tackle whether you should have notes at hand - explaining why preparation trumps paperwork and when bullet points might be your friend in an online interview. 

Listen for their step-by-step approach to structuring the perfect "conflict with a patient" answer and their advice on using appraisal questions as a vehicle to communicate your real value. 

Finally, they break down what’s cha...

Tessa and Becky answer the Academy’s toughest question: How personal is too personal in your NHS consultant interview? 

Drawing on candid examples from real trainees, they break down what you do - and don’t - need to share, including periods of sick leave, career detours, and GMC restrictions. 

The episode digs into the art of crafting mistake stories - not too big, not too bland - showing how to strike that balance between vulnerability and professionalism that panels look for. 

They unpack the need for senior-level, systems thinking and demonstrate why your an...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa Davis and Becky Platt break down how to handle common obstacles in preparing for NHS consultant interviews. 

They address whether to use earlier or cross-speciality projects to showcase skills, share advice on managing examples of conflict - especially where there’s a power imbalance - and provide practical steps for responding to broad governance questions. 

The discussion centres around making the most of transferable skills, shaping compelling unique selling points, and using intentional pauses for higher-impact, measured answers.

Sign up for our free...

This episode delves into the real-world challenges of last-minute NHS consultant interview invites, with Tessa and Becky guiding listeners through the dos and don’ts of interviews during your holidays. 

They tackle how to handle requests for virtual interviews, share hard-won lessons about ensuring tech reliability, and spell out why face-to-face presence often matters. 

You’ll hear examples of answers to Trust values, tips to make responses specific and memorable, and candid debate on the infamous “any questions for us?” moment. 

Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course...

This episode covers the toughest scenarios every aspiring substantive consultant fears - but few talk about openly. Tessa Davis and Becky Platt dig into what really happens when you land two interviews at once, and how to play it straight with panels without closing doors for yourself or your family.

They unpack why common “conflict” examples can set you back, and outline what the panel really looks for - using safe, effective situations that show off your communication rather than your regrets. For those dreading questions about integrity, the hosts reveal how to keep your answers focu...

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa Davis and Becky Platt break down some of the most frequent stumbling blocks for final-year trainees and locum consultants facing NHS consultant interviews.

They cover:

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa Davis and Becky Platt answer practical questions from senior trainees and locum consultants wrestling with their NHS interview prep. They explore:

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa Davis and Becky Platt break down the real-world differences between substantive and locum NHS consultant interviews.

They discuss:

In this episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa Davis and Becky Platt dissect what it takes to excel in NHS consultant interviews - especially when time and nerves are against you. Tackling the realities of last-minute presentation prep, they share step-by-step strategies for structuring answers, drawing from pre-interview meetings, and tailoring content to panel expectations.

The episode features a deep dive into the Duty of Candour: how to select meaningful clinical examples, deal with mistakes (even serious ones), and communicate both professional process and human response. The new Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF...

Tessa Davis and Becky Platt decode the trickiest NHS consultant interview questions - from metrics and KPIs to mistake stories and leadership challenges.

You’ll learn:

In this first episode of the Ace Your Consultant Interview podcast, Tessa Davis and Becky Platt tackle the core challenges facing final-year trainees and locum consultants getting interview-ready.

They cover: