1st Edition

Get Through Postgraduate Medical Interviews

By Kaji Sritharan, Nigel Standfield Copyright 2008

    Get Through Postgraduate Medical Interviews aims to forearm candidates with practical advice on how to maximise their chances of success in the postgraduate medical interview. Following short-listing, the interview is the final and often the toughest hurdle standing between a candidate and their career path of choice. For many candidates there will only be 'one shot' and competition is likely to be fierce.

    Formatted in a style that lends itself to easy reading and information access, this book systematically and logically examines the entire interview process from start to finish, dispelling common myths and advising the candidate on how to prepare, what to expect and what will be expected of them. It gives guidance on commonly encountered 'hot interview topics' and advice on ways to approach the 'awkward' interview question. It also gives guidance on constructing a portfolio as well as a CV and tips on how to sell your best attributes and maximise your chances of success.

    Get Through Postgraduate Medical Interviews is an essential text for all junior doctors to help them through this very stressful time.

    Preface
    1. INTRODUCTION
    The purpose of the interview
    What is MMC?
    The application process
    Recruitment in 2008
    Run-through training and the transition
    Closed versus open interviews National selection
    What are speciality schools?
    What is the National Recruitment Office for general practice training?
    Assessing the competition
    Overseas graduates
    Academic clinical fellowships
    Deferred entry
    Flexible training
    2. BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
    Deciding level of entry into speciality training
    Your application form
    The process of selection
    Getting ahead
    3. YOUR PORTFOLIO
    What is a portfolio?
    Your curriculum vitae
    Logbooks
    Exam certificates
    Presentations and posters presented at learned meetings
    Abstracts, papers and audit projects
    Your personal development plan or educational contract
    A statement of personal values and aims
    Records of in-training assessment
    Work place based assessments
    Reflective logs of activities and experience
    4. THE INTERVIEW
    What to take
    What to expect and interview styles
    General interview tips for on the day
    Common interview myths
    5. HOT INTERVIEW TOPICS
    Academic research, publications and teaching
    Clinical governance, audit and management
    Clinical experience, motivation and personality
    6. Difficult interview questions
    7. OTHER TYPES OF INTERVIEW
    Portfolio-based interviews
    Assessment of communication skills at interview
    Assessment of practical skills at interview
    Assessing presentation skills at interview
    8. AFTER THE INTERVIEW
    So you got the job …
    So you didn’t get the job …
    Index

    Biography

    Kaji Sritharan MBBS BSc MRCS (Eng)
    Specialist Registrar in General Surgery, Northwest Thames Rotation, London & Honorary Clinical Research Fellow, Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics, Imperial College London

    Nigel Standfield MBBS FRCS FRCS (Ed.)
    Head of the London School of Surgical Specialties, London Deanery; and Consultant Vascular Surgeon & Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, Imperial Academic Health Sciences Centre, London