How do we interview

• A large part o your success on the day will be determined by how well you prepare beforehand. It is worth considering the following tips to ensure that you are fully prepared.
• Research: make sure you are familiar with the job role, the department, the organisation, and our values. If you are applying for a role in a particular speciality, ensure that you have a thorough understanding of this.
• Anticipate the interview questions: the advert, job description, and person specification, will give you a lot of clues to the interview questions we'll be using. It would be worthwhile revising for any tests and preparing answers for expected interview questions.
• Consider your appearance: make sure you are dressed smartly for your interview. The way you present yourself at an interview is important, so regardless of whether you're coming to an interview or an assessment centre please arrive in smart business attire.
• Plan your journey: aim to arrive early as this will give you time to settle down before the interview. Check where your interview is being held, so you know where to go when you arrive, find out more information about finding our hospital. If you do get delayed for whatever reason, make sure you call ahead to let your interviewers know.

We can easily accommodate special requirements (e.g. disability) so please let us know, so we can make any necessary adjustments or arrangements. If you are taking a written assessment, and have dyslexia. Please let us know as soon as possible prior to the assessment, so we can make the necessary adjustments. We will not be able to adjust the timetable on the day.

The invitation that we will send to you should outline the ID documents that we will need you to bring to your interview. We will not be able to interview you unless you bring these with you as it is essential that we have proof of your identify.

For further information on identity checks, visit NHS Employers.

• We use structured interviews where each interviewer will ask you a number of competency questions or questions based on your values. These questions are designed to allow you to demonstrate your skills and abilities inline with the job role.
  It is worth considering how you answer the questions; so provide examples of how you have demonstrated particular skills and behaviours in the past. Try to keep your answers structured and concise, but don't be so brief in your answers that the interviewer has to prompt you for further information.
• It is important that you keep to the point and provide direct answers to the interview questions.
• You could suggest what you would do in a particular situation in the hospital, or think of another way you could demonstrate a skill or ability that we are looking for in potential candidates.
• An interview with us at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust also gives you the opportunity to find out if your chosen role is right for you. Please don't hesitate to ask us questions about the job, the department it is in, and our organisation as a whole.
• Even with good preparation, it's likely that you'll be nervous on the day. However, it's important to remember to be friendly and professional, as this gives a good impression in your interview. 

• We can organise assessment centres for a variety of posts, these range in duration from a couple of hours to a full day.
• Each of our assessment centres will be different. This is because we design them around our values and the specific requirements of the role. Assessment centres will usually comprise of at least three elements, which will be explained in your interview invitation.

Situational judgement tests - are designed to assess how you would behave in situations that you could encounter in the role you applied for.

Group exercises - are designed to assess your communication and team working skills whilst working through a work-based scenario.

Presentations - assess your ability to research, present and communicate information effectively on a specific topic.

Simulation exercise - is designed to simulate certain aspects of the role. Examples include: mock lectures, phone tasks, leading MDT meetings.

Written tests - provides an assessment of your written ability in certain areas. Examples include: numeracy, literacy, IT skills and clinical skills tests.

Psycho-metrics - helps identify working-style strengths based on key competencies. Results help focus interview questions or exercises.