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Workforce and staff retention questions are showing up more and more in consultant interviews — and they catch people off guard because most candidates have never been "in charge" of retention. In this episode, Tessa and Becky reframe the whole thing: these questions aren't asking for HR expertise, they're asking whether you understand what makes people want to show up and stay.

They walk through a relatable Golden Example of a conflict with a patient — a frustrated person who'd been waiting too long and was taking it out on a nurse — and break down exactly how to de-escalate, protect your colleague, and still put your foot down professionally. Then they tackle a genuinely tough interview question: "We're in the lowest 10th percentile for staff who would recommend us as a place to work — what would you do to help address this?" They cover how to answer without panicking, how to show enthusiasm for a team that's clearly struggling, and why framing it as "what can we do together" is everything.

Their Tip and Trick of the Week is an underrated one: how to find and use your trust's staff survey results before your interview — because being able to reference specific findings in the room is the kind of preparation that genuinely sets candidates apart.

Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open

https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep45

AI keeps coming up in consultant interviews — and if the thought of being asked about it makes you nervous, this episode is essential listening. Tessa and Becky break down what the panel is actually looking for when they ask about AI (hint: it's not technical expertise), and how to build a confident, senior-level answer no matter what specialty you're in.

They also analyse a brilliant Golden Example from an academy student who used an AI-assisted patient follow-up system to boost appointment attendance from 55% to 70% — a standout MDT example with data, governance awareness, and a direct nod to the NHS 10-Year Plan all baked in. Plus, they tackle a curveball interview question of the week: "What is the biggest risk in your department and what would you do to tackle it?" — and reveal the one simple thing you can do in your pre-interview visit that turns this from a panic question into a winning answer.

To close, their Tip and Trick of the Week covers how to handle any tech-related question even if you don't consider yourself a tech person — because "that's not really my thing" is simply not an option in today's NHS.

Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1

Starting to think about your NHS Consultant Interview Prep? Join the waitlist for my Ace Your Consultant Interview Academy. I’ll let you know as soon as the Academy doors open

https://info.medicalinterviewprep.com/waitlist?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=transistor&utm_content=t-ep44

One of the biggest fears going into a consultant interview is repeating yourself — especially if panel members have already interviewed you before. In this episode, Tessa and Becky tackle this head-on and make the case clearly: your strongest examples should come up more than once, and here's exactly how to do it without it feeling repetitive.

They break down a fascinating Golden Example involving a lost amputated fingertip — and how the same incident can be used powerfully for both a duty of candour question and an MDT working question, as long as you know how to frame each angle correctly. They also dig into a tricky interview question of the week: "Tell me about the trust value that resonates most with you — and a time you couldn't meet it." Spoiler: it's a bit of a trap, and they share the safest way to navigate it.

To close, their Tip and Trick of the Week unpacks how to mine your USPs for multiple different angles — so the same project can land a clinical governance question, a change management question, and more — without ever sounding like a broken record.

Sign up for our free 5-day email course to give you ​a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview​: https://aceyourconsultantinterview.com/?utm_source=YTPod&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=1