Do NHS interviewers see application form before interview?

[Implosion85]

Hi,
Just as the title asks really. Do the interviewers read the application form, particularly the personal statement prior to interviewing the applicant?

I had an interview not long ago, and they had no idea about some of the things I referenced that had been in my personal statement.

I sometimes wonder as I often find there is a lack of opportunity to discuss many things in interview due to their set questions

Thanks in advance

It's been a while since I've interviewed in the NHS, but the paperwork gets you to interview, it's unlikely people remember all the details on your application so it's always important to verbally highlight your achievements whilst in the interview

Yep. You go through shortlisting before you make it to interview. The shortlisting criteria is pretty strict, and if you haven’t included the main scoring criteria in your application and supporting statement, you won’t score points and therefore won’t be shortlisted. I always have the application in front of me when interviewing and if I think something in the application has been copied and pasted from the job description/person specification (happens every time!), I will ask specific questions about it in the interview and expect the candidate to be able to provide an example on how they’ve met that particular requirement.

However, some Trusts might have different people to shortlist and interview, we tend to have the same 2-3 shortlisters and interviewers, so we can highlight anything we suspect has been copied from the advert (as technically it’ll score if it matches the criteria) and bring it up at interview. The last time I interviewed, a candidate scored 60/60 on the shortlisting because they’d copied and pasted, and then 20/60 at interview because they couldn’t explain what they’d put on the application! The successful candidate gave specific evidence in their application and then it gave us some interesting talking points for their interview, and it was clear that they had actually done what they said they had! 🙂

Yes but for the vacancy I’m recruiting to at the moment I have 45 to read so unlikely to remember details I’m afraid.

Application gets you through to interview then interview is a separate thing. Even more the case with so many using chat gpt.

Yes but realistically often don't remember much more than odd bits here and there that really stick out to you as an interviewer

Yes they do….I will be interviewing next week….i shortlisted by reading the application forms first

Posted too soon….
the questions we ask are values based….they don’t correspond to an individual application form….we ask the applicants the same questions and score them on each answer…..highest score gets job

@Implosion85 one of the interviewers will have read the form as part of shortlisting but possibly not everyone on the panel.
Everyone interviewed is asked the same questions and you are scored in your responses, not on what you've written already. If the information you've used in your PS is relevant to the questions asked, you need to need to explain those details again in the interview.

I can't quite understand what you mean, though. Did you say "please refer to my person statement"? How did you know the interviewers didn't know / understand what you'd written?

The personal statement gets you an interview ….then you have the same chance as anyone else to score points from the questions….no point waffling on about stuff on your statement…that won’t get you points

Yes whenever I interview I have the application form of the interviewee in front of me

@WetBandits I'm interested in how this works? Is it that a criterion is 'significant experience of x'... they state 'I have significant experience of x' so they get full score? Don't they have to say something more to get scored? Some sort of evidence e.g. I have significant experience of diary management, having done this for over 5 years for the managing director within my role of administrator at the best company.

Or did they do the 2nd version but essentially lied?

Thanks so much, these answers are SO helpful.

I'm a band 6 physio by the way, relocating so looking for a new post.

I was just interested as to whether I should try and bring up all the things I have on my application form or if they know it already. The questions often seem very unrelated and more values based like someone said.

When you are choosing who to hire, so you look at the application form again AND the interview results?

I often have hundreds to shortlist, whittle down for interview. For interview, I whizz through the night before and just jot down anything that stands out-for good or bad reasons- and may ask about those things or expect them to be brought up.

No. It is entirely on the interview officially. Though the scoring is subjective to a point. And the interviewers don't always agree, then the score has to be negotiated between them. As a physio, you would expect at least one physio on the panel. Their opinion would likely hold more sway. Also if there was something in you personal statement that they really liked but you are not referencing it at interview they (I) would say ' Isn't it right that you have experience of blah blah? Could you talk us through that and how it might help in this role?' It's not allowed, but hey we want the best person and once you've said it we will use it as an example of your high level of experience if we like you. Also if you seem great we will say something at the end like 'Are there any of the questions that we've asked that you'd like to elaborate on?'
Tbh the points system is kind of rubbish but it can be worked.

What is value based questioning?

Public service roles often have 100's of applicants so it can be quite tricky to remember the specifics for each person

Thanks so much, so helpful.

Kind of! For example, the last role I recruited for required strong IT skills and experience in XYZ software, the candidate copied and pasted the exact software listed in the job description, in the same format so I knew it had been copied, plus their work history meant they wouldn’t have used that particular software in any of their roles, so I knew they were fibbing!

However, I had to score them on the shortlisting as they’d put that they had that experience, and then when it came to interview it turned out they didn’t have the experience they claimed to have, although it wasn’t scored in the interview, just something I asked them in addition to the set questions. However, they had already proved themselves dishonest so not someone I’d want to recruit or manage! They interviewed dreadfully too, the answer they gave to the equality and diversity question was absolutely shocking and proved that they were not someone you’d want to have looking after vulnerable service users.

I just can't imagine having the audacity to lie like that!
I'm quite excited to be on an interview panel one day as my current manager always has so many stories 🤣

I’m a therapy manager and have interviewed many physios and OT’s. At our trust, the application form is used for shortlisting you for an interview. We don’t recall details on applications as you can get so many.
everyine that makes it through to interview then gets scored in the same set of questions.
these questions are usually a mix of competency, leadership and questions based on the trust values.

We try and include a variety of questions that would allow a candidate to share their experience and skills and give opportunity to ask any questions at the end. If you’ve not had chance to share something in one of the questions then this could always be mentioned at the end, for example “thank you for taking the time to interview me, I hope I answered the questions thoroughly enough but would also like to share x, y and z as I feel these are essential skills I posses for this role that I’ve not yet had chance to share with you”

Yep.

Summer 2021.. I’m sorry yes.