12 real NHS interview questions for doctors
Research the trust's specialties, teaching status, and values. Mention specific services or opportunities.
I'm impressed by your trauma centre status and research opportunities in emergency medicine. Your focus on teaching aligns with my career goals...
Show honesty, learning, and patient safety focus. Never hide mistakes.
As an F1, I prescribed incorrect antibiotic dose. I immediately informed my senior, apologised to patient, completed incident form, and now always double-check BNF dosing...
Demonstrate clinical acuity assessment, delegation, and knowing when to escalate.
I use ABCDE to assess urgency, prioritise life-threatening conditions, delegate bloods/cannulas to nurses, communicate with seniors early, and ensure handover is thorough...
Show empathy, communication skills, and adherence to breaking bad news frameworks.
I used the SPIKES protocol to tell a patient about cancer diagnosis. I ensured privacy, assessed understanding, gave information in chunks, and arranged follow-up support...
Show professionalism, communication skills, and willingness to escalate if needed.
I address concerns directly but professionally, seek to understand their perspective, focus on patient safety, and escalate to clinical supervisor if unresolved...
Present clear problem, intervention, results, and learning. Show understanding of quality improvement.
I audited antibiotic prescribing, found 30% didn't follow guidelines, implemented teaching sessions and prompts, re-audit showed 85% compliance...
Show self-awareness and healthy coping strategies without appearing uncommitted.
I protect time for exercise and family, debrief difficult cases with colleagues, attend Schwartz rounds, and recognise when I need support...
Show enthusiasm for education, examples of formal/informal teaching, and feedback received.
I regularly teach medical students on ward rounds, delivered presentation on ECG interpretation, and mentor F1s. Student feedback praised my clarity...
Show clear direction but flexibility. Mention how this post fits your progression.
I want to become a respiratory consultant. This post offers excellent training opportunities in complex respiratory cases and research, which aligns with my goals...
Show resilience, self-awareness, and healthy strategies. Acknowledge challenges of medical career.
I maintain fitness routine, talk to colleagues, use clinical supervision, practice mindfulness, and recognise signs I need support from occupational health...
Describe projects, your role, outcomes, and what you learned about scientific method.
I contributed to study on sepsis outcomes, collected data, co-authored abstract for conference. Learned importance of robust methodology and ethical approval...
Summarise your strengths, values fit, and specific contribution you'll make to the team.
I bring strong clinical skills, enthusiasm for teaching, commitment to quality improvement, and alignment with your trust values. I'll be a reliable team member...