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NHS Interview scoring

27 replies

LaLaLaLaLolaaa · 30/03/2022 12:39

Hi Mumsnetters Smile

I had an NHS interview early this week, I felt like it went well in general and I got on really well with the interview panel, however I was nervous and could have answered some of the questions a bit more comprehensively Sad

NHS interviews are done on a score basis I think? But are there any NHS recruiters on here who know if they would ever hire someone who hadn't necessary scored the highest during interview?

Thanks in advance from an anxious MNer!

OP posts:
maxelly · 09/02/2024 09:55

Anxiousandfrazzle · 09/02/2024 01:58

Hi all! Sorry for intruding on this thread.
Me and my boss are both 8b locums (but he joined the trust a couple of years before me and I only moved into the same dept under him 7 months ago). The role for one 8b has been released on trac and we both applied and got interviews (i had to keep reminding him to apply, up until deadline day). Then when we got the interviews, they kept forgetting and putting off accepting claiming to be too busy. And we had a week to prep for the interview, he kept saying it's not enough time and is busy and then on the week of the interview, called in sick every day, probably got sick from work... anyhow, day of the interview, it's chaos, opening a new ward, patient surge, I'm by myself, new doctor in and needs help using the systems so i was asked to assist closely all day and do some of their jobs to help. Then jumped straight into the interview- i had prepared, but became totally nervous and blank and didn't give the best answers/was fumbling my words a little and visibly nervous throughout. But I did answer everything and I think I didn't answer badly, but not as optimally as I knew I could because I'vedone the role and experienced every scenario listed. i know they also have 2 other external applicants so added nerves.

In relation to me and the other internal, I do all the leg work at work, everything operational to clinical, also, end up having to redo his work and fix errors and efficiently. I am also doing uni part time and come in early and stay late to get the work done so I can slot in clinical uni work around it and ensure I attain the minimum hours of work to get a pass in my degree.
I have good relations with everyone in the panel, but in the interview that definitely did not show across because i was too nervous and not as confident and bubbly as normal.
Also, tasks and development projects that have been asked of him for years, i implemented within my first few weeks-months on the role.

Problem is, no one seems to see it in the director team, management do, staff do, but the directors interviewed.. and once in the past mentioned "he is the lead, you have done well to help him deliver" and "he is very efficient" when LITERALLY took my work and claimed it as his own and said with my help we will do xyz.. and then fudged all the details and numbers and i had to correct and explain. I even sent all the data and info via email for further info as requested.

Sorry, long story short, i know they need to apply a fair objective process when interviewing and scoring, but will they consider the fact that, I had a hectic day and have been managing a hectic week of work, alone without the team, and have not struggled, complained or delayed and he has postponed by a week.

If he performs well verbally in the interview.. is that it for me? Or do you think they MAY think about other work, efforts we've made and efficiency and feedback from others across the directors and teams etc? Will they also, consider how no datixes have ever been related to me, but have to him..

Or
Shall I cut my losses and be prepared to leave? Because the interview is marked independently and objectively...

Thanks again,

TotallyNervousAndDemoralised

X

Hi, I would consider starting your own thread, people will probably add to this one with advice for the previous posters and it will get a bit confusing.

I suppose really you've just got to wait and see the outcome, I wish I could say plausible bullshitters never ever get given jobs in preference to genuinely well qualified and hard working people with integrity but sadly it does happen. That being said (a) I'd be surprised if he's that chaotic and ill prepared if he managed to pull a genuinely top notch interview with correct answers to technical questions/scenarios out of his arse (b) at least one person has likely seen through his bullshit in the last few months, senior people aren't (usually) stupid, they may feel obliged in public to praise the 'lead' for work that has blatantly been done by their team and not by them but they know the score (c) your interview likely wasn't as bad as you think, honestly it's so, so common for people to be flustered and nervous, particularly in internal interviews which are just awkward all round really, people that are stuttery and wobbly and shaky voiced get jobs every day of the week if the actual content of their answers is good. So while obviously don't pop the champagne just yet, it could go either way but it's definitely not a given you've lost out - is there just the one job on offer or could they theoretically offer to you both?

Also, the whole 'he's your boss' situation sounds very iffy, if they're proposing to continue having 2 8Bs in the team that is something I would clarify urgently on appointment - it's really not normal to have a line manager on the same grade and clearly the situation has already caused some issues with who is leading on what doing all the actual work (I'd frame it faux-naively as 'confusion' though rather than bastard colleague taking all the credit). If you take the job I think it should be on the basis you and he (or anyone else in the same role) are peers, one doesn't get to be the boss of the other on the basis of having been there longer...

Anxiousandfrazzle · 09/02/2024 20:29

Thanks for the response and advice
New thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/work/5003959-internal-nhs-interview-anxiety

Yeah it is sadly true, re; plausible bs-ers. But at the same time, they will pull things off when push comes to shove, so hoping the service doesn't suffer and he pulls his socks up.

a). He is ill prepared, I wouldn't say chaotic, more overly complex and also, misunderstands a fair amount or forgets.. so it's like that is why the issues often arise, I think his overly complex thinking whereby for example a patient is diagnosed with x and prescribed y, he will be like okay makes sense because someone else did it. But then it's like, we need to research the rationale for xyz and how to address and present it and he will spend (no lie - 4 months) thinking about things, typing out a paper and then ask me to review and rewrite it.. at which point I'm like... you've gone down a completely incorrect path and just do the work and give it to him

But I can admit, sometimes the overthinking MAY play in their favour because in an interview, it could come across as "okay, they've considered every possible avenue" when in reality it's like, the answer is a to c via B and you just did a - b... from z backwards through the alphabet and made a patient wait 3 months for something critical.

b) i hope so. The seniors are very intuitive and aware. However, my fear/understanding is that, this interview must be objective and determined on the merit of the interview. External factors and knowledge shouldn'tbe taken into considerationas it will create bias. So the fact that all the environmental factors for me (and some personal ones at the moment- that haven't been made known) may have played into my poor performance, and the fact that he has had an extra week off to prep and what not, will not be considered is kind of disheartening.. also, knowing that he also said throughout the week it was too short notice to prepare and then on Sunday saying he still hasn't prepared or even accepted the invite
Then happened to call in sick.. all just sounds a bit odd to me. Then also asked me what I prepared.. I struggle to lie or be helpful but know I can't share questions from the interview, so just said, look you know what you do, you know what you want and what the role needs, so just put it down, to which he basically said, I think ill just 3 slides together and talk and see... plus added knowledge that he doesn't want this role, but can't find anything better atm, and owns a side business with colleagues and takes time during work to do his side biz

It's just disheartening that I will most likely be against all odds but once I go, the place may not progress positively.

c). I'm praying you're right, but I was literally not myself. I am usually quite confident in my knowledge and able to convince others with my data and info. I just didn't do that at all. I wasn't myself.. but I appreciate your thoughts and experience and hope this is one of those cases!

It's a long story but we were both locums diff areas, him where he is still, me elsewhere- covering various posts across the hosp, then I worked covering an area he does and saw the potential and how it could be amazing

So I basically said, you need me on your team
My vision is x y z and it'll happen
Then he fought to get me in, (we were both on the same banding, but I was earning more and helped him negotiate a better rate).
Also, I recognise banding isn't often the experience or skills you have when a locum, it's more pascale unlike permanent (he's almost 2 decades my senior)

Anyhow same place same band he was there longer therefore "lead" eventually same rate.. but not the same respect.

Hence why 2 8bs one is boss one not.. and when the posts were made substantial, it was "we can justify 1 8b and 1 8a" and it was assumed by him and I that 8b was his
. Until I finally asked if I could try for the 8b because I didn't wanna drop to an 8a.. but also, I wanted the interview experience and desperately want that role, to make a positive impact
Atm my impact gets stopped at him because he will be like "can you do this piece of work.. deadline is 5 weeks and I am busy" I say yes, do it in 1 week to account for any time needed to review/amendments/ considerations etc

Then after 4 months it comes back to me like " ah we should really get on sorting that thing. Have you looked into it? And I'm like.. i did it months ago and I reminded you like 4 times" and hes like oh yeah, where is it? Then struggles to find it and I have to find it for him, and he will be like "i think I trust you, add his name as the reviewer/checked by" and approved and send it off...

Or he will just bench it pending something that he needs to do first that never gets done..

Anyhow yeah it's just an odd scenario I agree

but ultimately, he has been there longer and in all the leadership meetings and he sent me the links to all the other recurrent meetings he's in, but never the "directorate" ones. Hence this unilateral sense of power.

Anyhow, I am not toxic about it all
If i don't get it, it's fine, I got the experience I will grow and I will learn
I am more just kicking myself for not just being who I am and turning into a babbling nervous idiot that I'm not usually. And that being the cause of my downfall

I also, just did love the role so much and to see it go to someone that has continually asked me the same questions daily, needed to remind him to attend his meetings, needed to remind him of basic patient safety things, correct mistakes he makes and cover for him and sometimes will come in and not do any clinical work, but be bogged down typing one email and then in his own business meetings... is just so sad

Regardless upwards

..

Internal NHS interview anxiety | Mumsnet

Hi all! Sorry for intruding on this thread. Me and my boss are both 8b locums (but he joined the trust a couple of years before me and I only moved in...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/work/5003959-internal-nhs-interview-anxiety

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