The Secrets to Success in an NHS Interview

Picture this: it's a slow morning on a Thursday, you check your WhatsApp to see your recruiter has scheduled an interview for next Friday!....at 5am. Great. Wonderful. As a nurse your weeks are filled with early mornings and you only get 4 of them to yourself. How do you prepare? You know for a fact you're getting up 30 minutes before, throwing on a sweater and sitting in that Teams waiting room and NOT doing any prep work at 4am. You have one week, what's your strategy?

This is what I want to talk about today. So far I have attended two NHS interviews, so I'm basically a pro. Kidding. But I did receive offers from both so at least hear me out.

Mindset: This is so important when going into a job interview, especially if you're afraid of not being seen as competent due to being from another country. Go into this interview with an open mind/ready to learn about a whole new system, but also be prepared to show them that your experience of U.S. nursing is invaluable to their Trust. Being calm and confident is the best way foreward. It is going to be easier said than done, but the less stakes you put on this interview, the better you will do. The mindset that you're just having a conversation between two people (that might become your future employer) is going to make you more calm and look more prepared. Nervous energy is so easily transmittable, even though a Zoom meeting. Even just PRETENDING to be calm is going to put you, AND your interviewers at ease.

Trigger words: This is like a cheat code for interviews, especially NHS interviews. There are certain words/categories of words that make you look oh so good to employers, and I call these trigger words. Trigger words include but are not limited to:

• Professional development

• Safeguarding

• The Trust's specific values

• Clinical governance

• Desired criteria on the job posting

• Patient safety

• 6 C's of NMC code (care, compassion, courage, communication, commitment, competence)

• Therapeutic communication

Strengths & Weaknesses: If you have attended a single interview anywhere in the world, there is about a 101% chance you've answered this question. It seems unassuming, but it's the WAY you answer it that counts. It's one thing to say you are adaptable, but it's another to say you show you adaptability by immersing yourself to new jobs by taking initiative in patient care (STAR method). Weaknesses should always be paired with one or two ways that you are improving. For example: I struggle with asking for help because I am focused on proving myself as a newer nurse but I have learned that doing everything on my own for the sake of my own ego is not always safe for the patient, so I have learned humility in asking for help when I need it. Did you catch that trigger word? Mentioning patient safety is so important when discussing overcoming weakness. Hospitals want nurses who prioritize patient safety, so show them that's who you are.

Skills and Stories: I suggest having 5-10 different stories about various aspects of patient care. Be sure you pick ones that are relevant to the position you are interviewing for. Try to find stories that fit these parameters:

• 1-2 stories about mistakes you make and how you fixed it

• 1 story about you being a good team member

• 1 story about an assessment you made that impacted a patient's care

• 1 stories about you going above and beyond for a patient

• 1 story about you going through a tough situation and how you handled it

• 1 story about a time you disagreed with a senior staff member and how you handled it

Also, keep your position-specific skills in the back of your mind to sneak in there when you can. Having the knowledge that UK nurses have to undergo training to draw labs/start IV's can aid you in sprinkling those skills into interview questions so you look more impressive with a wider skill set.

Questions:

Tell us about yourself.

To be totally honest, this question has always been the hardest for me to answer. Like, what do you even want to know? The first time I was asked this question during an interview in the States, I straight up said "I love nursing". HOW GROUNDBREAKING. This question is usually the first one employers ask, and it's your opportunity to really let them know what you're about, You really should tailor it to the position you apply for and each job. This is also a GREAT opportunity to drop some of those trigger words that NHS employers drool over. Using words like "professional development"and "team worker" is going to help you stand out from the idiots saying they "love nursing" when asked this question. (This really is an underdog story, huh?) Avoid sounding too rehearsed, but this is loosely my answer to this question.

"I am someone who takes great pride in being a nurse. I consider it a huge responsibility and believe myself to have all the necessary qualities that make a great nurse: I set high standards for myself, am dedicated to patient's success, and am very organized. I take care of my own professional development, am a team worker in that I take extra shifts if necessary, and I am able to remain calm and composed under pressure."

Boom. You've officially blown their minds. Watching interviewers hear this answer is the best feeling ever; their eyes widen and they get this really excited look on their face, its great. Of course, be sure what you're saying is true. If you maybe have to work on being organized, replace that word for something else, like adaptable. And don't say you're willing to pick up extra shifts if necessary if you actually aren't! Also feel free to give some examples of you doing the things you say in that answer (STAR method), they eat this up and it makes you look very thorough, because sometimes talk is just talk.

Why NHS/UK/this specific hospital?

Everyone and their mom has the same answer for the question "Why NHS?". The easiest answer to think of is "job stability", "it's a great system", and "convenient travel". True story, I told a recruiter that my reasoning for wanting to work for the NHS was to work in a system that prioritizes people over profit and he straight up went silent for a whole 15 seconds. He sad that most people go with the answers I mentioned before, but he had never heard anyone say that the healthcare system they're coming from puts anything over patient care, and that meant something to him. It is so easy to say the first thing that pops into your mind, but if you take the time to come up with a creative answer, you're more likely to stand out and be seen as a better candidate.

Your reasoning to move to the UK is going to be very personal. Opening up and being honest is going to be the best route for this question. For me, I wanted to work in a hospital system that values patients over profit. Working in America taught me a lot, but mostly just affirmed my belief that healthcare is a human right, and shouldn't be a luxury granted to the highest bidder. I digress, stating accessible travel as your reason for immigrating (despite how true it is), might not make you look the best. Focus on things that you maybe can't find in the States, like walkable cities, etc.

Everyone wants to feel special, even NHS hospitals. It's important to do your research on the hospital you're interviewing for. I always try to have three things in the back of my mind: mission statement, Trust values, and one thing that the Trust/hospital is doing (can be new buildings, new research, new advancements, or even them being a successful teaching hospital!) Let's say the hospital you are interviewing for values ambition and respect, and they are currently working on becoming carbon neutral in 5 years. Saying something along the lines of:

I want to work at a Hospital that holds values similar to my own. I prioritize respect because I believe all patients deserve equally excellent care. I know that this Trust values ambition, and what is more ambitious than moving across the country from career development? *cue laughter*. _*Insert Trust Name Here*_'s goal to become carbon neutral by _*Insert Year*_ is extremely inspiring. It is important to me that where I work is having a positive effect on their community, as well as the globe.

Incredible, you just blew their minds! Keep in mind that everyone they're interviewing is going to be saying stuff like "I have great respect for the NHS as a system" or "this hospital is in a great location", so set yourself apart by diving deeper into what you say and show a little extra interest in the Trust.

What is a piece of research you've read recently that has impacted your practice?

Before going into an NHS interview, always have a relevant piece of research in your back pocket. You don't have to send them the URL, just know some facts and relate it to your practice. I was only asked this once, but I just know I got brownie points for bringing research/an article up unprompted in an interview. This falls under the umbrella of "professional development" and really makes you look like a well rounded candidate.

Scenarios:

Many interview questions can be anticipated, but others cannot. The scenario questions are maybe the most important ones you'll answer, so don't be afraid to ask for a minute to think about your answer. The interviewers understand. Be sure you are thorough in your answers and remember: PRIORITIZE PATIENT SAFETY. Here are a few I can recall. Keep in mind, these are all for paediatric positions, so the questions are geared toward that, but questions about topics like safeguarding are universal. Read over these questions and think about how you would answer.

• A child in your care states his mom has struck him. What are your next actions?

• A 16 year old female patient in your care discloses a romantic relationship with a 25 year old man. What are your priority concerns and what actions do you take to address those concerns?

• How would you respond to a safeguarding incident?

I'm gonna help with this one. If you don't do your own research, you may miss a key component of this answer. Something interesting about NHS hospitals is that most, if not all, have a safeguarding team. Being from the US where healthcare is a business, the idea of spending money on patient safety is kind of an enigma to us (I'M KIDDING, but am I?) Mentioning that you would rope in a head nurse and a member from the safeguarding team is vital to you receiving marks for this question. Also be sure to say you would report an incident to the police PER HOSPITAL PROTOCOL. That gives you enough wiggle room just in case you don't answer the question exactly as they want. If you want brownie points, talk about the NHS Safeguarding App! If you're in the States still, maybe even mention you tried to download it to check it out but you couldn't because of your location (this is true, i tried to download it but it wouldn't let me.. RUDE)

• You walk onto your ward and see two senior staff members in a verbal altercation, how do you respond?

• How do you go about disagreeing with a senior staff member/physician/etc?

• What would you do if a patient is abusive towards you?

I want to take a second to remind you to USE YOUR RESOURCES. In my deep dive search for interview questions to practice before my first interview, I found this video that teaches you how to answer interview questions in the way NHS employers want.

Questions To Ask Your Interviewer

This is arguably your make or break moment of the interview. It is the last interaction they have with you and will probably be how they remember you most. Not asking questions at the end of an interview is like administering potassium IV push: CONTRAINDICATED. Ask questions that make you sound as interested in the position as you are. As an overseas nurse, there are questions that we actually need answered before we decide to accept a job, as they're related to relocation. These are:

• Does this trust certify maintenance on visas/provide temporary accommodation?

• Is there an overseas nursing package offered, and if so, what is included?

• How long of a visa will the CoS cover?

• What is the success rate of your OSCE prep course?

• What kind of support is offered for overseas nurses?

(I would be careful about asking these during the interview, though. Yes, the financial logistics are important, but it's important to focus this time on the job and Trust. They haven't even given you the job yet, don't start asking for their money right out of the gate!)

Other questions are ones that you should ask in an interview for ANY country. I suggest asking these:

• What is the nurse to patient ratio? Is acuity taken into account?

• How long of a commitment is required for this position?

• Is the rota self-rostering?

  • This is British speak for "do nurses make their own schedule?"

• How many weekend shifts per rota/schedule are required per nurse?

• What are some options offered for professional development?

• Describe _*insert name of city/town this Trust is in*_ as though you were selling it to someone who has never been (if this applies) and is planning on moving.

  • I think this is a very important question to ask. Not only does it make you seem less desperate for this job (because let's be real, we often are), but it shifts the perspective of the interviewer from "do I want this person to work here?" to "does THIS person even want to work here?". Because even though you may really be prepared to work anywhere for that visa, it is important to think about whether you would even be a good fit. Don't forget that not only are you interviewing for a job, but you're interviewing for your new LIFE. Ask questions that get you the answers you need. moving to a new city/country is a big deal! Try to stay as informed as you possibly can.

Finally, I will leave you with one thing: take. notes. I say this for multiple reasons. One, you will likely black out and forget most of what they said. Second, this makes you look even more interested. Who would you want to hire? Someone who looks like their zoning out while you're explaining all the free stuff you're about to offer them, or someone who is engaging with your answers and is taking your responses seriously.

Now you're prepared for your NHS interviews! Practice answering questions so you don't stumble over your words during the actual thing. You got this!

And with that...

Go Travel!

TRN