Course Description
Overview of the Oxford Medical Consultant Interview Course
Why should you attend a Consultant Interview course? Well, securing the consultant position of your choice may define your career for years to come. The interview which you face is the culmination of your many years of dedicated development. To be successful you must be ready to effectively present your broad range of skills, experiences and opinions with relevance. We have specialised in Consultant Interview preparation since 2004. Our experience has led us to develop the current interactive format of this course so you can be confident you will be ready to face the challenge.
Where do the courses take place?
We regularly run courses most weekends in our Virtual Classrooms.
What will I learn?
We start by ensuring that you have a clear understanding of the interview process and who is involved. The Advisory Appointments Committee, or AAC, who conduct your interview are looking for more than a doctor with technical expertise. In fact, this technical skill level is all but taken for granted for any doctor shortlisted for interview. We therefore clarify what each member of the panel wants to know about you and why. Next we share the best structures and strategies for responding to the type of questions you will face. Along the way we investigate current NHS hot topics and offer plenty of opportunity to practice your interview technique.
What is the format?
The course is designed by NHS Consultants from our Faculty with direct experience of the AAC panel. Your course tutor is a member of this Faculty so you can be confident in their support. Experience has shown that there’s great value in preparing interactively with your peers. We keep our group sizes to a maximum of 6 delegates per course. This arrangement enables quality interaction so that you can learn from both your tutor and your fellow delegates.
Through a mix of discussion and practice we build your confidence and abilities to respond to the interviewers’ questions. A cornerstone of our course is the mock ACC panel interview. This is followed by feedback and coaching. We also let you experience the role of interviewer so you can observe your fellow delegates in action. Such observation helps you to further identify the best techniques. And it also helps you identify what to avoid!
Your mock interview will be videoed with an AAC-panel-eye-view camera. You can decline the video if you like but our experience shows this to be a very useful feature of our course. This video will be available for you to download in the week following the course. So you can then watch yourself in action from the comfort of your own home to continue your learning. You also receive a copy of our Consultant Medical Interview Guide 2023-24 (retail price £49.99) as part of your delegate package. This is the print edition when you attend the course in-person and the digital version when you book a Virtual Classroom. Your mock interview video and your guidebook provide useful reference resources during the time leading up to your interview.
You receive a certificate for 6 CPD points once you have completed your 1-day course.
What’s the format for courses in the Virtual Classroom?
Courses in our Virtual Classrooms interactively cover the same content as our face-to-face courses. We use secure video meeting software for this format. This enables your tutor to lead group interaction where you learn together with other doctors. It’s an ideal format if you are expecting your interview to take place online. It’s also an effective way to prepare if you expect to appear in person in front of the interview panel. You receive the same CPD certificate as you would at any of our other venues. When you book this course in the Virtual Classroom, we provide you with the digital format of the Consultant Medical Interview Guide 2023-24, rather than the print version. As an added bonus, you also have complimentary access to our Consultant Interview Online Course (normal retail price £180). With this popular interactive resource, you will see actors recreating interview scenarios and there are mock interview video clips. Please note. This additional online course is only provided as part of your package when your course takes place in our Virtual Classroom.
Supporting you from the start
We realise that time may be tight between today and the date of your interview. To help, our support begins as soon as you register for the course. You have instant access to our Consultant Interview Preparation Pack for one month from the date you book. This includes 2 hours of our online NHS & UK Medical Regulation video tutorials. You gain a further 2 CPD points for completing this part of your package. In addition, you have immediate access to an online read-only copy of the guidebook and our Medical Interview Preparation Online Library of useful resources. It saves you both time and effort, pulling together a wealth of information to support your preparations. You will also have the option to extend this period if required. And remember, if you book your course for our Virtual Classroom, then you also have access to our Consultant Interview Online Course which includes critique of interview videos recreated by our actors.
How do I book my Consultant Interview Course?
The list further up this page shows live availability for all dates and locations. We accept bookings for courses right up to one hour before the start time, subject to availability. So, simply choose your preferred event, click ‘Select’ and enter your information. Click here to read about the flexible payment options that are available to you.
What additions or Consultant interview preparation alternatives are available?
To see our full range of dedicated Consultant Interview preparation options, click here. Alternatively, if you are not quite ready to book your place then have a look at our Consultant Medical Interview free advice. It gives you an overview of what to expect and helps you to start thinking about how to prepare effectively. Or, if all you need a little light-hearted relief from the pressure then visit our Insights page: Preparing for your Consultant Interview – Moving on from The Apprentice.
