NHS Band 4 interview - any last minute advice?

[anervousinterviewee]

I have an interview for a Band 4 position tomorrow morning and I am quiteeee nervous. It's my first interview in 6 years! It's over the phone with three interviewers.

I have read a lot about how the NHS uses a points system to evaluate interview answers, but I am not sure how it works? How do you make sure your answer scores highly?

Thank you

[PrincessTilly]

I have no words of wisdom. They know you are good from your application, they just want to hear it from you. All the best

[DiabeticFirstBaby]

I presume you have spoken to all of the interviewers about what the job is what sort things would be expected of you? that's always a start. I have interviewed people who don't even really understand the job and hadn't bothered to contact me. to ask. Big no no.
You should get some idea from that about the sort of things they may ask - is it team working - what would you bring to a team? what qualities for you have? Depending on what the role is they may ask you prev experience doing something similar, give you scenarios to work through and ask for examples when you have been in a similar situ. Always have an answer for why you want the job.
The nhs is points based but based on how well you answer the questions- preparation is key for the role you are applying for (not the NHS in general). Good luck!

[AnotherVice]

Brush up on Equality and Diversity and protected characteristics. Good Luck!

[Fishingforhapiness]

I interviewed for band 4s recently but may vary for different posts.
Have a basic understanding Confidentiality.
Have examples for each questions eg prioritising tasks.
Learn the trust values (they will be on their webpage) and have examples of when you have illustrated each of them.
How would you deal with a highly stressed/anxious/ demanding patient or colleague?
I always ask a question about something they would have no idea about... I want to hear that that you would ask for help.

[hillarypcof]

As what PPs have said, brush up on the Trust's values, have examples about working well as a Team, an example of coping mechanisms/resilience, an understanding of the wider responsibilities of the organisation and how they tie in with the role you're going for x

[anervousinterviewee]

Thank you all, that was helpful!

I haven't managed to contact the interviewers as there are no contact details available and I only had four days notice for the interview. It's a COVID-19 related role so the process has been quite fast-paced. However I have managed to speak to someone with a similar role which has helped me a lot.

[EgonSpengler2020]

Google "competency based interview/questions)" all my interviews within the NHS have taken this format.

[DiabeticFirstBaby]

@anervousinterviewee Did you get the job?

[anervousinterviewee]

@DiabeticFirstBaby Unfortunately I don't think so. I was supposed to hear back today whether I was successful or not but haven't heard anything.

I was very nervous when answering questions and spoke very quickly so not sure I came across very well.

[DiabeticFirstBaby]

Ahh you never know! Hope you hear soon!

[hillarypcof]

Hi @anervousinterviewee I currently work in a Band 4 NHS role and I was the successful candidate out of 12 interviews. They told me at interview I would hear by the end of the week, and it was near on 2 weeks before I was contacted that I had been successful! They said that staff sickness and urgent pressing matters within the job had caused some unexpected and unavoidable delays. Basically what I'm saying is try not to read too much into it! The NHS will always communicate if you have been both successful and unsuccessful so hearing nothing doesn't mean anything! Good luck :-)

[ThreeTwoOneGoo]

Hope you hear soon op. I think it's so rude when they don't let you know either way.

[ThreeTwoOneGoo]

I'm a band 4 NHS and when I was offered job I waited over a week. In the end I phoned them and they said they were still decided between myself and another candidate. They were waiting for both references and were going to decide from them.

[jhghfgrthst]

Thank you, hopefully I'll hear soon.

I just had a rejection for a band 2 position I also applied to in the same department so I expect I'll hear soon.

Just feeling so sad and demoralised at the moment.

[Layoverlife]

Good luck op, I hope you hear soon, I remember applying for a job at the hospital quite some time ago, I was told I would hear from them by the end of week, this wasn't the case and I did a lot of the chasing 🙄

[Criticalfoxhat]

I'm a band 4 who also recruits, we always call our successful candidates and our HR team contact the unsuccessful candidates by email which usually happens the following day. Fingers crossed though! I think different departments do it differently even within our trust.

[jhghfgrthst]

I know they are recruiting basically a whole new department with multiple roles from entry-level right up to management in a very short space of time so I am not surprised that there are delays in hearing back. I don't think that I have got it but it would be nice to know so I can put it fully behind me.

I am a bit confused why I was rejected for the band 2 role and not invited to interview but was interviewed for the band 4 role. They are both similar but the band 4 obviously has more responsibility and uses more technical equipment. My personal statements were very similar for both. I think I may have been overqualified for the band 2 and underqualified for the band 4.

Does anyone know if they make a decision based solely on the interview or if they also take into consideration the application form? Or is the application form only used to determine whether you will be interviewed?

[Criticalfoxhat]

I use application forms to decide who I would like to interview, then generally make a decision based on interview, taking into account team fit as well as answers. Each recruiting manager in our trust decides on the weighting of each question so it really isn't consistent across different departments. You could score high and low giving the same answers in two different interviews if that makes sense!

[jhghfgrthst]

Oh I see! I think I presumed they would use the application form as well so next time I know to treat the interview as a blank state and mention everything again.

Both positions I applied for (band 2 and band 4) were readvertised a couple of weeks ago, can I reapply for the same roles in the same hospital after receiving a rejection or not? I am not sure on what's allowed.

[Criticalfoxhat]

I think that depends on the recruiting manager, we have the option to add 'previous applicants need not apply' so check the advert. I wish I had added this last time I recruited as I had 7 people apply for the second time who were just not appropriate for the position, so I had to score all of their applications again. Recruiting is so time consuming

[anervousinterviewee]

I've still not heard back, obviously I know I haven't got the job but do you think I should I still email them for feedback or just let it go?

[DiabeticFirstBaby]

You should ask for feedback, gives you an idea of what you need to work on and improve for next time. You can always apply again for same job unless is PP said, it says 'prev applicants need not apply'. Yes as someone else said, the application is to get you to interview, if you don't sell yourself and think they have remembered what you put on you application then that may be where you are missing out.

[Criticalfoxhat]

Definitely ask for feedback, I am always willing to provide it when asked.

[anervousinterviewee]

I got the job!

[DiabeticFirstBaby]

Amazing news!! well done!! 🥳