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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for NHS admin interview tips?

11 replies

Morgan12 · 18/12/2019 14:41

The interview is competency based. Hate them!

I'm trying to think what will be asked to have my answers ready. Perhaps something like these?

Tell us about a time you used your own initiative?

  • worked as part of a team?
  • dealt with a difficult customer?

Anyone any tips? Or can you think of another typical question?

The job spec states 'aggressive and violent patients, relatives and carers' about three times so I'm guessing that will be important.

Any advice welcome!

OP posts:
JingleBelle27 · 18/12/2019 16:35

Have you got the competencies for that NHs Trust from their website? If not, print them off as this will help you see what might form the questions.

There will likely be something about being organised or time management.

I work in NHS recruitment and a lot of admin jobs ask about when you’ve had to change the way you worked to complete a piece of work.

Examples of good customer service (if patient facing or over phone/email).

Team work and difficult customer/patients have got to be on there! I’d put money on it.

Hope this helps.

Also, when giving your examples, thoroughly explain everything, people miss out on points so easily because they often presume we know how they got from A to B.

NHS Admin roles are massively competitive! So you’ve done good getting an interview as I’ll bet hundreds (at the very least!) applied.

Original poster
Morgan12 · 18/12/2019 17:53

That's very helpful! Thanks so much.

OP posts:
Sandaled · 18/12/2019 17:58

Use the STAR method- Situation, Task, Action, and Result. So make sure you cover all bases in the above format, and make sure you focus on what you did, rather than keep saying the team did x. Intergrate elements of the job descriptions into your answers, so if it states that you need to be competent in the use of ICT, for example, try to think of an example where you have utilised ICT such as creating a new database to interrogate data easier, or something. Most of all be honest, if your example isn't 'wow' then really make sure to point out how it relates to the job.

CherryPavlova · 18/12/2019 18:03

I think the questions may be around
-working under pressure or dealing with a difficult person.
-changing priorities and time management

  • team working
  • learning from mistakes or feedback

STAR method is good but to boost it I would google the trust Values and answer based on these - so if the value is about making difficult decisions and the values are integrity and caring you might say you fully support the trust values and as an everyday part of your working life you make decisions based on the values. This means you consider how your decisions affect others and think what is kind and you try to do the right thing rather than the easiest thing.

CherryPavlova · 18/12/2019 18:04

Sorry should say if the question is about....

Crispsandchocolate4 · 18/12/2019 18:24

Always mention GDPR and Safeguarding its two of the main things NHS based roles look for. Make sure you are keeping the patients confidentiality at all times even if they are close relatives they may not want anyone knowing medical history ect.

When I used to interview potential candidates we did tend to ask what you have thought so they are likely to come up.

In regards to handling difficult situations say how you would handle it but also mention that would ask management if you need help and unable to deal with it(we like to know that you know when to ask for help if needed)

Working as a team: make sure you discuss communication, understanding everyone have different ideas and opinions to you but you must work together.

If you can, always give examples but don't go on to much make it short and sweet.

Also look up about the company we would ask questions to see if you prepared and did your research I worked in a GP surgery and we would ask what they knew about the practice (we were quite different to others in the area) and often people had no idea which wasn't a great thing to us.

And make sure you have some questions at the end (I know this can be hard sometimes but it shows you are interested)

Also relate to the Job Spec so it shows you read it.

Sorry that was so long but good luck and I hope it helps!

Original poster
Morgan12 · 18/12/2019 19:38

Thanks everyone.

It sounds really hard!
I'll just try and pre prepare as many answers as I can think of.

Thanks for the help!

OP posts:
Belfastbird · 18/12/2019 19:47

Agree with lots of the above.
Trust values is one that often catches people out "give an eg of when you've demonstrated one of the trust values" so make sure you know what they are in case and have an eg to back up.
Communication key.
Do you know what systems you'd be expected to use?
If you have time see if you can make contact with the current postholder or live manager to get more info about day to day aspects of job, structure of team etc. Shows you're interested and you can get more helpful info
(I work in nhs - non clinical and have recruited and managed admin staff)

Belfastbird · 18/12/2019 19:48

*line!

ViaSacra · 18/12/2019 23:15

Maybe:

  • A time you identified and acted upon a development need
  • A time things didn’t go to plan and how you coped
  • A time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it
Emm97 · 10/10/2021 09:46

Does anyone know what they will ask band 2 admin interview nhs apprenticeship please. My interview is coming up soon and it’s 30 minutes long. How many questions do they ask. Any help is appreciated

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