21 Tough NHS Interview Questions & Answers

To help you succeed at your NHS interview, Richard McMunn has collated five great tips that are designed give you the edge over the competition. Regardless of the NHS band job role you have applied for, make sure you implement each of the five tips during your pre-NHS interview preparation to increase your chances of success!

NHS INTERVIEW PREPARATION TIP #1

The NHS has a brilliant set of core values. The six NHS values are, working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, improving lives and everyone counts. Each value is just as important as the rest! At your NHS interview you will get asked to explain what each of the values are and to also provide an example of when you demonstrated one of them in a previous work-related situation. Make sure you have a great answer already prepared!

NHS INTERVIEW PREPARATION TIP #2

Respect and dignity are two very important qualities in the NHS. Do you know what respect and dignity in the workplace is? Could you give an example of a time when you demonstrated respect and dignity at work? Again, these are likely questions to feature during your NHS interview, so be sure to have answers ready.

NHS INTERVIEW PREPARATION TIP #3

The NHS is under immense pressure right now, and that pressure is likely to increase as the years go by. A common NHS interview question being asked right now across all band roles is, what are the different pressures facing the NHS right now? Your ability to handle the stress and pressure that comes with working in the NHS is crucial to your success at the interview.

NHS INTERVIEW PREPARATION TIP #4

One of the most important competencies required to work within the NHS is communication. How you communicate with patient’s, their carers, their families and your work colleagues is crucial. Be prepared for interview questions such as, how would you adapt your style of communication to a suit a patient and, how would you deal with a difficult or confrontational patient?

NHS INTERVIEW PREPARATION TIP #5

At the end of your NHS job interview, you will have the opportunity to ask the panel a number of questions of your own. Think of three smart questions to ask that put you across as a caring, conscientious and professional employee. Here are some examples to help you:

QUESTION: What advice would you give to the successful candidate who wants to come into the NHS team and make a positive impact?

QUESTION: What’s the culture like within this particular NHS team?

QUESTION: How has this NHS Trust adapted to the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges this has brought?

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