Interviews

Preparing for your interview.

Interview booking and interview process

You will need to book an interview slot using your Oriel account. Slots are offered on a first come first served basis and will need to be booked by the deadline stated in the invitation to interview. Upon logging in to your Oriel account you will be able to access the remaining vacant slots to make your choice.

All interviews will be undertaken online using QPERCOM Video Platform between Tuesday 1 April and Wednesday 2 April 2025. 

At the time of application submission, you will have agreed to complying with the 2025 Applicant declaration. The Declaration also contains a list of vital steps you must undertake before the day of interview.

Before the interview

As soon as the link to join the online interview has been received, you should ensure that you test this from the device you plan to use for your interview as you may need to source an alternative device to ensure connectivity. If you are unable to connect, you should contact the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity.  When testing the link, you should reach a screen that states that the host will commence the meeting shortly or similar wording. If you are unable to connect directly from the link, try pasting the URL link into the browser, or try using an incognito browser. 

Interview day

On the day of the interview, you should click on the link and join the call 5 minutes prior to your allocated time. Before the interview commences, you will be briefed on the interview process and will be required to confirm your identity (ID) with the interview administrator. It is therefore important that you have suitable photographic ID available (passport or UK photo driving license). You will also be required to move your camera to show the entire room where you are undertaking the interview, to confirm that nobody else is present. Once identity has been confirmed, the administrator will advise the interview panel that the interview process can commence.

You should ensure that your camera and microphone are turned on and working correctly prior to joining the call. Interviews will be terminated if the panel cannot see you.

The interview must not be recorded by either the applicant, the administrator or the panel members.

On completion of the interview, you should terminate the connection to the call and the interview process is complete.

Interviews

Further information on how to book an interview slot can be found in Oriel Applicant User Guide. You can book a slot subject to availability. Interview centre dates and venue information are available on the timeline above. Once you book a slot, you will receive an email confirming your booking and will be able to see details of this in your Oriel account.

If you encounter any difficulty booking your interview slot, please contact us via the applicant support portal as soon as possible and before the deadline.

In the event you are not able to attend your interview at the scheduled date/time, you should cancel the booking via Oriel as soon as possible. If you no longer wish your application to be considered, you should also withdraw your application on Oriel. This may allow your interview place to be offered to another candidate.

Interview format

The interview will consist of one 30-minute interview station with multiple panel members and possibly a lay representative with 3 sections. There is no break in between the questions, and they are asked by the panel members conducting the interview. The three sections will be completed in the following order and contain the following components:

OSCE  and communications (10 minutes)

• OSCE - Consent (5 minutes)
• OSCE  - Communication (5 minutes)

Clinical Scenario (10 minutes)

• Within the station you will be made aware of two clinical scenarios for discussion.

Structured interview (10 minutes)

3 of the following areas will be covered in this station.

• Audit
• Research
• Teaching
• Risk and safety
• Management
• Consent
• Ethics

Scoring

The scoring range for all sections is as follows.

• 4 - Poor
• 5 - Below average
• 6 - Average
• 7 - Good
• 8 - Outstanding

OCSE – Consent (Criterion)

• Operative environment and anaesthesia
• Operative technique
• Postoperative regime
• Risks and complications
• Overall communication

OCSE – Communication (Criterion)

• Introduction
• History
• Examination
• Investigations planned
• Management plan

Clinical scenario

2 cases will be discussed in this station, the same criteria will be used to score.

• 4 - Poor
• 5 - Below average
• 6 - Average
• 7 - Good
• 8 - Outstanding

Structured interview

Any 3 of the following areas may be asked in the structured interview station.

• Audit
• Research
• Teaching
• Risk and safety
• Management
• Consent
• Ethics

Ranking, outcomes and sub-preferencing

If you are eligible, you will be invited to preference available posts on Oriel prior to offers being made. The preferencing window will be confirmed in an email from the recruitment team. For guidance on how to rank/submit your preferences please refer to the Oriel Applicant User Guide.

Your ranking will be based on your overall interview score and the individual station scores. Scores will be collated from the interviews to generate one national ranking from which offers will be made to all available posts. Following interview and ranking, applicants will either be deemed successful or unsuccessful and will be informed of this via Oriel.

Each station is calculated to give a percentage. The final overall weighted percentage score is calculated by taking the percentage scores of each station and combining them with the following weightings: 

Station     

Structured interview

Contribution to final weighted score (%) - 20

Clinical scenario

Contribution to final weighted score (%) - 25 

OSCE

Contribution to final weighted score (%) - 30

Portfolio

Contribution to final weighted score (%) - 25

Offers, references and scoresheet

Offers will be made to successful candidates based on their interview scores/rank and availability of programme preferences selected. The first ranked candidate will be offered their first preference. Following initial offers being released, further offers will be made in subsequent iterations until there are no appointable candidates to offer to. Applicants have 48 hours from the time of offer (excluding weekends) to confirm via Oriel whether they wish to accept, reject or hold their offer.

Reference reports are not used at eligibility checking or at the selection centre but will be reviewed by the perspective employing Trust after offers have been made and prior to confirmation of appointment for successful applicants. This will only be requested electronically via Oriel when an offer has been accepted. Guidance on completing references is available via the Oriel resource bank.

Scoresheets will be released to all applicants (date to be confirmed). Therefore, you do not need to request your scoresheets after interview.

Allocation

Once offers has been accepted, appointee’s details will be passed on to the local training boards/programme director around 14 weeks prior to your start date and to the first Trust you have been appointed to 12 weeks prior to your start date. Therefore, you should not expect to receive any communication prior to this time.

Further information on how to request a deferred start date or training less than full time (LTFT) can be found on the Medical Specialty Recruitment pages.