Band 5 NHS admin manager interview coming up...Ideas please

[chocobaby]

Hello all,

I have an interview for the post of an admin manager in an NHS trust next week. I am quite anxious about it as I don't know how to prepare. The person spec and JD are the normal, basic admin manager type.

Does anyone have any ideas please?

[JeanSeberg]

Hi choco I'm afraid I don't know anything about nhs posts but if it's an admin manager role presume it will also include general interview questions?

I swear by this book:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0749435526?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Marraskuu]

I used to be an HR manager in the NHS. For general prep maybe you could make sure you know a bit about any big issues or specialities around the hospital (it's always nice to be able to say something positive about the hospital as a reason why you want to work there). If the admin role is in a particular department, think about whether it will be facing the public or not. If yes, think about the sort of situations you might experience, and how you would handle them calmly and professionally.

The NHS can be quite fond of situational questions, i.e. "can you tell me about a time you had to do x, and how you handled it?" These might be things like work with a difficult colleague, or get something done at short notice etc.

Be yourself, stay as calm and friendly as you can, and good luck!

[joanofarchitrave]

Talk a lot. NHS interviews are done with a checklist of things they want you to say, and they basically wait until you say them and then tick them off. So just keep talking, you don't get marked down for rambling on. So everything you say, make sure you back it up with an example from your experience.

Think about a prioritisation question - so, for example, anything involving patient safety would have to go to the top of the list at least for the interview.

[ginmakesitallok]

Sorry, disagree with previous poster. Nhs interviewing is just like any other, and you will be marked down for rambling pointlessly

[Tiredemma]

I have interviewed loads for NHS posts and never down marked for rambling (ive never given extra marks, but certainly never marked down)

[Ubik1]

I've just had a band 5 non clinical interview - waiting to hear. Was given the NHS competency questions. Ones I can remember:

Can you take us through your CV highlights

Can you tell us a time you had to manage a big project (this is relevant to the riole which will include project management)

Can you tell me a bout a time you had a difficult relationship with a colleague? What did you learn about yourself from that?

Other Q's were more specific for the role.

I found I got quite tired toward the end, don't be scared to ask them to repeat the question

Good luck!

[WebbysMotto]

I work in the NHS and all the interviews in our trust include a question about the trust values eg choose one of the values and tell us how you incorporate it in your work, so I'd recommend checking the trust website to find out what their values are. Also we use competency based questions such as 'tell me about a time when you made a mistake and how you dealt with it'. There's loads of resources on the internet about competency based questions. Agree with previous poster about ticking off when you say certain things. We have a list of words / phrases we are looking for eg ownership of problem, escalated to manager, learnt from mistake, used it to look at processes and how they could be improved, etc.
Have you contacted the person named in the job advert as we are always happy to speak to applicants and give a bit of advice about type of questions, whether there will be a presentation etc. It will give you a better idea of what to expect and will also show that you're interested and with luck they'll remember you when you are interviewed.

[SirChenjin]

Can't offer much as I don't interview for that specialty in the NHS, but you will be probably marked against a checklist which will (to a large extent) mirror the job spec. We tend to ask questions based around the essential and non-essential criteria, and 'wait' for you to mention key words or phrases that support your understanding of that criteria - backed up with examples - so that we can score you (3/2/1/0). Whilst we don't want you to ramble, we do want you to come up with that phrase - and won't mark you down if you talk too much!

Good luck!

[joanofarchitrave]

OK, 'rambling on' was an unfortunate phrase but never hold back from explaining another example of something because you think you are talking too much.

[chocobaby]

????????????you are all lovely people! Many thanks. I will get to work immediately and let you all know how it went. I will also post the questions on here for people who may be prepping for interviews in the future!
Big hugs and kisses xx

[SirChenjin]

Oh - and if there are any national/local strategies or policies which are particularly relevant to the role then make sure you refer to them, and demonstrate how you see them linking to the role - it shows an awareness of the wider NHS context and how your role within the organisation contributes to the local context

[chocobaby]

Hello all,
Just to say thanks to everyone on here...I got the job...

Here are the interview questions:

• Tell us about yourself

-tell us about a time when you relied on a team member to get something done
-tell us about a project you have seen to fruition-the challenges you faced and what you did to overcome them
-what sort of manager would you be?
-you are in a big meeting and you have just presented your ideas on a project you would be taking off the ground in the next week. the consultant tells you that everything you have done is rubbish. What would you do?
-what would your colleagues say about you?
-Are you confident and assertive?
-any questions for us?
I hope someone else finds these useful. Anyone who wants can PM me for the answers.
Thanks sweeties...

[joanofarchitrave]

Congratulations :)

[chocobaby]

Many thanks Joan

[rendevouz]

Hi, I have an interview for the post of employee services administrator in nhs. What question can I expect. Although I already work in nhs but not in hr department. Feeling nervous but very much this is my dream job as it's an entry to HR. They might ask for excel and acess but don't have much knowledge. Confused

[asmitasedhai]

Hi,

I have an interview for this exact role! Could you please advise what answers you gave for the questions you've mentioned..

Thanks
A

[Unicorn1992]

Hi was curious what answer you gave to the Q about the project being rubbished by the consultant??? Ta

[Krobinson75]

Hi chocobaby

Congrats on getting the job. I have an interview on Monday for the same job role. Please could you give me the answers to the questions you were asked. I am really scared and worried about my interview. Thanks

[daisychain01]

Although this thread is over 2 years old, krobinson, wouldn't you be best thinking about how you would answer the questions?

If you can't give examples related to your career, the interviewers will see through that and may not consider you favourably, if they don't see evidence of your experience

[Anna987]

Hi chocobaby
I wondered if you still could remember the answers you gave for your interview. I have one coming up and came across this chat thread... Please help!

[Bubblezz]

Hi,

I have an interview on Monday for this role and wondering if the same questions are still asked 2 years on - Daisychain01 and Anna987 are you able to help at all? Thanks!..

[cheriec21]

Hi chocobaby
Congrats on getting the job! Do you still remember the answers you gave for your interview? I have one coming up for a similar role and I’m now anxious and worried!
Thank you
C

[CarpetDiem]

Her interview was 5 years ago! A lot has changed in the NHS since then....

[joirelan]

Hi. Thank you for posting these questions. Could you share the answers with me possibly? Thanks

[CarpetDiem]

Bit weird to ask for ‘the answers’ 🤔 not only was this original post from 9 years ago but ‘what would your colleagues say about you?’ Requires an individual response.