Preparing For a Consultant Post Chris Till Consultant Anaesthetist Head of the NW School of Anaesthesia Deputy Regional Advisor NW Region

Aims and Objectives ► Choosing a post ► Making yourself suitable for that post ► Preparing your application ► Applying for that post ► The interview

Choosing a post Once upon a time………

Reasons for choosing a post ► Have worked there previously ► Good department ► Good place to live ► Family/relationships ► Good schools ► No need to do private practice or can do lots of it! ► Sub speciality interest ► Teaching Hospital kudos ► It is the only post going!

Making yourself suitable ► Look around, but don’t commit at this point ► Show interest ► What posts have they got coming up, that you can tailor your CV towards? ► Speak to the clinical director, department head or other consultants there ► 6 months prior to CCT

Preparing your Application ► Person specification ► Your CV/application form is your passport to an interview ► Sell yourself ► Make it easy to read ► Long or short? ► Include EVERYTHING that is good about you

The Application Form ► ► Prepare your CV first ► ► Use your CV as a template ► ► Word limit is a problem ► ► Give yourself plenty of time ► ► Write it multiple times ► ► Show it to somebody you trust ► ► Don’t lie

Short Listing ► All the panel members short list independently ► Once you are short listed, then you can go and see individual persons ► Medical Director, Clinical Director and especially the CHIEF EXECUTIVE ► What do you ask? ► If stuck, ask about the finances and future of the trust

The Interview Who is on it?

Panel members ► Lay Chairman ► College Rep ► Chief Executive ► Medical Director ► University Rep ► Clinical Director ► Other consultants

Interview ► Do your homework ► Practise ► Local issues ► National issues ► Speciality issues ► Some topics are HOT ► QIPP & finance constraints ► Clinical Governance ► White Paper ► Relaxing of targets ► EWTD/lack of juniors ► Changes to Commissioning/GP Consortia

Some Questions

► What’s your experience of Governance within the last six months? ► How does the change in Government change your practice? ► How should the Trust spend a £1m windfall? ► How could we improve the delivery of our service? ► How well does the Clinical Incident system work and how could it be improved? ► How do you see the NHS developing in the future? ► How can the Trust deal with the move to 7 day working in your department?

► Give us an example of something you have done badly and the lessons you learned ► Give us an example of something someone else has done badly and the lessons learned ► Give us an example of something you have done well ► Give us an example of how you have resolved conflict in your department ► What would you as an individual bring to the Trust ► What could you do to reduce stress in trainees? ► What is the Consultant’s role as an Educator?

► Suppose we appoint 2 of you today and in a year need to lose a post – how would you persuade us to keep you? ► Tell us about an audit you’ve done and what it changed ► Who’s been a role model for you and why? ► What are the dis/advantges of being a FT? ► What qualities make a good leader? ► What changes have you made where you work in the last 18 months or so? ► How could we resolve the problems we currently have here?

Interview Techniques ► Look the part ► Want the job ► Focus your nerves ► Answer the question! ► Express YOUR views in a considered way ► Use CAR or STAR techniques ► Know your CV ► Do some home work ► Practise

Selling yourself ► ► Teamwork ► ► Leadership ► ► Communication ► ► Experience ► ► Motivation ► ► Teaching ► ► Management ► ► Credibility

Examples ► ► Good/bad team ► ► Critical incident ► ► Change ► ► Leadership ► ► Motivation ► ► Stress ► ► Good/bad communication ► ► Strengths/weaknesses

How is the decision made? ► Everyone expresses their views and ranking ► College Rep first ► Lay Chair last ► A decision is made with the whole panel present ► References ► You are informed ► Feedback offered

Any Questions ?