MEDEV

School of Medical Sciences Education Development

As the number of applicants for foundation and specialist training posts increases the need to prepare for interview has never been greater. This study sampled opinions and advice from successful F2 applicants to highlight preparation for the interview.

Introduction

The specialist training interview is one of the most feared institutions on the road to becoming a specialist trainee. The 30 minutes or so spent in the interview room are ultimately more important than anything that has come before. How you present yourself will differentiate you from your counterparts and reveal your strengths and weaknesses.

With Modernising Medical Careers (MMC)¹ being introduced in 2003 there instituted a reform of the selection criteria for entry into foundation and specialist training. Entry into specialist training is competitive, drawing on evidence derived from the candidate’s past performance, as recorded by a portfolio, allowing ranking of candidates for interview.² However, the ability to differentiate candidates on their paper applications is difficult. This is especially true in general practice training posts where candidates are offered an interview only if they pass an exam.Many trusts have also abolished the house officer interview, resulting in a decrease in interview experience.

Evidence has emerged that the traditional ‘one panel interview’ is not reliable³ and a new process of multiple mini, or OSCE interview has been adopted in some trusts, comprising several ‘stations,’ each with a different interviewer, which test different aspects of the candidate’s knowledge and ability.⁴ An increase in the number of stations, limited only by the trust’s imagination and resources, increases the reliability of the interview and reduces potential sources of bias.⁵ The result is a fairer but more drawn out interview process which has received positive feedback from both candidates and interviewers.⁶

Aim

Our aim was to establish how to prepare for specialist training interviews based on the opinions of recently successful candidates.

Methods

We invited 15 F2 doctors, all of whom had secured specialist training posts, to attend a focus group. Each doctor was asked about their preparation, what structure their interview took, what guidance they received prior to interview and any changes they would make were they to repeat the process. The group then set out guidelines (Table 1) and recommendations (Table 2) for prospective foundation candidates applying to specialist training.

Results

Of the 15 doctors invited, ten attended the focus group. Of the ten present, give were successful applicants to surgical ST posts, four were successful GP applicants and one was a successful obstetrics and gynaecology applicant.

Preparation

Table 1: What candidates did to prepare

Speak to previous and current candidates:

• types of questions asked;
• format in particular Deaneries;
• sharing of recent research topics;
• ideas for audit and research;
• common questions;

Familiarised with portfolio and CV:

• built over the 2 years;
• CBD /miniCEX / reflection;
• ‘re-shuffled’ ensuring everything was in place and annotated for quick reference when questioned.

Studied:

• recent changes to practice in area of speciality and training;
• what was involved in the programme applied for;
• recent research in area of speciality;
• Identify, if possible, the type of interview and familiarise with the process.

DOPS for surgery.

Speciality logbooks e.g. surgical logbook for theatre time.

Audit in area of interest.

Participated in research or publications in speciality or area of interest.

Presente at educational meetings.

Teaching involvement.

Attended relevant courses e.g. ATLS, basic surgical skills, CRISP.

Covered as many areas of the person specification as possible.

Discussion/conclusions

Whether a foundation doctor applying for higher specialist training or an SpR applying for a consultant post there were several basic generic principles that applied when preparing for interview.⁷, ⁸

Differences in preparation for an OSCE style vs. a traditional panel interview were not clear at the end of the focus group. While the format had changed, the overall content and aims of the interview remained the same, and therefore so did the preparation.

Preparation for interview began on the first day of F1. Building of the portfolio and CV was the gateway to interview, but the ability to discuss and reflect what had been achieved in a critical manner was paramount. The ability to do this came from being familiar with the CV and portfolio, allowing the interviewee to guide questioning onto topics which they were familiar with and discuss important areas of their CV, which they felt was relevant to the job.

Mock interviews were viewed as an important step, but the best ‘practice’ was the interview itself.Many of the successful applicants had had previous unsuccessful interviews fromwhich they were able to draw experience. Even well prepared candidates had little idea what to expect in their interviews. Deaneries should train foundation doctors better to prepare.

Ultimately a candidate is selling themself as someone who has to work closely within a team. It is important to come across as professional and enthusiastic about your chosen area, and a good way to demonstrate this is being abreast of key areas of recent research.

Recommendations

Table 2. Recommendations from recently successful candidates

• Apply to as many posts as possible – the more interviews you attend, themore confident you will become.
• Start preparing early – portfolio and CV preparation takes longer than you think, and it is important that the first time you see your CV in three months is not in the interview room.
• Try not to plan other commitments around the time of interview e.g. exams.
• Start preparation for interview at the beginning of F1.
• Increase the number of mock interviews.
• Answer the question put to you.
• Be able to guide the interview onto topics you want to talk about.
• Have questions for the interviewers.
• Keep your answers succinct.
• Present yourself in a professional manner.

Limitations

The number of participants in the focus group was a limiting factor on the outcomes, with not all specialities being represented within the group, most notably core medical training applicants.

Preparation for interview following these simple principles remains as vital today as it was before the advent of MMC.

Mock Interviews

Table 3. Mock interviews were important

• With friends/colleagues.
• With tutors and seniors.
• Who has provided guidance to you about the interviews you would face?
• Consultants.
• Seniors.
• Recently successful peers.