NHS interview preparation

[sidesalad]

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie so I apologise if this is posted in the wrong thread!

I have an interview on Friday morning for an NHS Band 2 Pharmacy Assistant role in the inpatients dispensary. I have been a qualified dispenser working in community pharmacy for five years.

I have interviewed for the NHS before but it was about 6 months after I had qualified so I cannot for the life of me remember any of the questions they asked me other than the usual 'strengths' and 'weaknesses'.
I was just wondering if anybody had any insights into what kind of questions they might ask me? The interview will be over Microsoft Teams so I'm not sure whether to expect any calculations, numeracy or literacy tests.

Thank you :).

Look up the values and vision of the hospital.

Many NHS interviews I've had have 'moulded' the questions around these.

Confidentiality and team playing are big ones as well.

@Gingernaut

Look up the values and vision of the hospital.

Many NHS interviews I've had have 'moulded' the questions around these.

Confidentiality and team playing are big ones as well.

I will definitely brush up on the values. I can't find much interview prep online but from what I can see, the values seem to be a common theme!

Thank you for your response, very helpful :) x

Use the STAR technique to structure your answers.. Situation, Task, Action and Result. Good luck!

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice#getting-a-job Loads of help here too..

@greenjojocat thank you! 😊

give examples, plenty of transferable skills, though it sounds like you have the skills, so plenty of examples

Expect to be asked about diversity, dealing with difficult people and safeguarding.

Good luck.

Bit of an update -

I actually got a phone call at 9 o'clock this morning asking if I was able to do the interview this afternoon at 2pm instead of tomorrow morning.

Did the interview and I thought it went appallingly although I felt like I was quite well prepared. The lady and gentleman interviewing me were giving positive affirmations after each question but I kept catching them glancing at each other (to me it looked to be a 'wtf' kind of way 😂) and their expressions were very blank which threw me a little bit. I was a bit waffly with my answers because I was so nervous and my darling dog decided it would be a great time to start running around the dining room (we're in the middle of renovations so currently don't have any doors to close the rooms off). He had some booster injections this morning and was very lethargic up until that moment! They did laugh at him but I felt so embarrassed

Anyway, I felt very deflated after the interview but I just got a call back and they offered me the job!

Thank you all for your advice! It definitely helped me feel more prepared :) x

Well done!!

It is weird interviewing on TEAMs. Earlier in the year I had to give a presentation as part of an interview. I couldnt see or hear the panel because of tech issues at their end. I didn't get the job as they said I hasn't built up a rapport!!!!
I hope that makes you feel better.

Oh congratulations! Well done. Now for the appallingly long occ health and DBS checks

@Mangozesty thank you! :)

@NellietheNumpty oh my goodness that’s terrible I’m so sorry! I tell you what, I am sick to death of Teams. If I have to tell my Nan that she’s muted her mic one more time I am deleting the app.

@FanOnCurtainsClosed thank you! Hahaha, I’m really excited and want to start ASAP so waiting for that is going to be hell! The gentleman said on the phone “whatever you do, don’t hand your notice in yet! It’s a long, long process, but I promise the job will be worth it!”

Congratulations on getting the job!!!!
Do you remember what sort of questions they asked you?