To think this should last 15 minutes not 1?!!

[user1489943514]

I've got my first competency based interview tomorrow and my manager told me I really need to show my knowledge of legislation, processes and showcase my practical skills.

So I prepared an answer to 'what's your skills and experience' that shows the different reports and legislation I've worked with and different skills I've acquired.

My Manager then said 'don't try and memorise it, just make bullet points and try and remember the main points for the interview. It's only a minute long anyway. One guy spoke for 20 mins once. I was brain dead'.

Now I'm so nervous. Mine is 15 mins long when I've practiced.

Is this too long? There's no way I could say anything with substance in under 5 mins although I'm sure my nerves will cut out most of what I say.

The skills I need to evidence are:

Communication
Planning and organisation
Good knowledge of legislation
Analytical thought

So I not need to give examples for all of these?

Argh! Hell.

Would I be unreasonable to do my 15 minutes answer?

[catkind]

What's your skills and experience? Given your boss's steer, I would tend to take that as an overview question. Broadly what qualifies you for a this role, what's your relevant background. I studied at x, have been working in y for z years, most recently specialising in abc. Then pull out one or two specific areas in the job spec to demonstrate experience in? (Also not in nursing so prepared to be corrected.) I think it's also fine to ask the interviewers would you like more detail of my experience with ABC?

[FruitCider]

I'm a nurse, all of my interviews have had broad questions at the beginning e.g. "Why do you want this job/tell me why you are a good match for this job" followed by competency based questions e.g. "Tell us about a time you dealt with a difficult situation. What was the outcome? What could you have done better?" These answers need to be 2 minutes MAX, as they will generate further discussion.

And of course you need to leave time at the end to interview your interviewer!

[Hulder]

OK for nurse I would expect an answer something like (and completely guessing at your role so put something better in):

I am a good communicator with experience of having challenging conversations with patients and relatives. I am able to provide clear and concise handover focussing on individual patient needs. I am familiar with communication and safety tools such as SBAR.

I am good at planning and organization. I manage my time on my shift by planning across the day. I have recently organized x, y and z.

I am familiar with legislation relevant to this role such as the Mental Capacity Act, DOLS, any other act or legislation you want to mention.

I am signed off on giving iv drugs, using this that and the other pumps, male and female catheterization, any thing else you want to mention.


I've interviewed nurses and if you spoke for 15 minutes without a break I might kill you. It suggests also that you can't make a decision or identify what issue is really important.

[Hulder]

Demonstrating you are a reflective practitioner is easy.

I am a reflective practitioner. I recently experienced incident or patient x. I found this situation challenging because y make sure this reason doesn't make you look incompetent I have subsequently reflected on it and this made me read in more detail/sign up to a study day/learn more about whatever skill/realise there were several approaches to the issue/make something up.

If faced with the same situation again I would tackle it differently by doing z due to the way I have reflected on it.