Hello Reader,

​

I was chatting to Hannah recently during one of our coaching sessions. She's finishing her training in September and her Educational Supervisor has been putting gentle pressure on her about applications.

When I asked about her interview preparation, she admitted feeling overwhelmed.

"I feel like there is lots of stress ahead of me," she confessed.

Despite not having submitted her application yet, Hannah wisely decided to start preparing early. She has worked in three different healthcare systems throughout her career and has accumulated impressive clinical experience including with complex airway management - over 200 fibreoptic intubations.

But when I asked about her Unique Selling Points (USPs), she struggled to articulate them specifically. She mentioned being "enthusiastic" and "dedicated" - personality traits that don't differentiate her from other candidates.

This conversation highlighted three critical timeline issues that many consultant candidates face:

​

1: Starting Too Late Leaves You Scrambling

Most doctors severely underestimate how long proper interview preparation takes. They think they can cram it all into the 2-3 weeks between shortlisting and interview day.

Starting your interview prep the week before is like deciding to train for a marathon the day before the race. You might finish, but you'll be crawling across the line in pain while others sprint past you looking fresh.

This approach is a recipe for stress and underperformance.

The reality is that developing compelling USPs, crafting structured answers, and practising delivery takes time.

When you start too late, you're forced to rush through this process, and you end up with answers that don't showcase your unique value.

One trainee I met had an interview before joining the Academy where she started preparing just one week before her interview.

Despite being exceptionally qualified, she struggled to articulate her achievements clearly and lost out to candidates who had clearly spent more time prepping.

The most successful candidates begin their preparation whenever they first start thinking about consultant applications.

This gives them ample time to identify their strongest examples, develop specific details (like Hannah's 200+ fibreoptic intubations), and practice until their delivery feels natural.

Remember: The interview is won through the prep.

​

​

2: Developing USPs Takes Time and Reflection

Your Unique Selling Points aren't just bullet points on your CV - they're specific projects, skills, and experiences that differentiate you from other candidates.

As I explained to Hannah, saying you're "enthusiastic" or "dedicated" isn't a USP - these are personality traits that every candidate will say they have. It's also really hard to prove 'enthusaism'.

Instead, you need to identify concrete examples that show your unique value.

When Hannah dug deeper, she revealed she'd led an audit that changed practice in her previous hospital, implemented an enhanced recovery protocol, and created a checklist system for epidural trolleys. These were genuine USPs - but she needed time to develop them with specific details:

• How many patients were involved?
• What measurable improvements resulted?
• What was her specific role in implementation?

Developing these details doesn't happen overnight. It requires reflection on your career achievements and consideration of how to present them effectively.

Your USPs are your interview currency - start banking them early.

​

​

3: Practice Makes Permanent, Not Perfect

When I asked Hannah to answer a practice question about how she stays up to date, her first attempt was under 2 mins - far too short to be able to score high points for this answer.

This is a common thing that happens the first time people practice out loud. They:

• Rush their responses
• Focus too narrowly on clinical aspects
• Fail to develop points fully
• Miss opportunities to showcase their USPs

Effective interview practice is about developing the ability to structure your thoughts quickly, speak confidently for 3-4 minutes, and incorporate your USPs into various question types.

This skill comes with consistent practice over time.

The most successful candidates practice daily for short periods (even just 10 minutes a day) rather than cramming marathon sessions right before the interview, or putting prep off waiting for the 'perfect clear afternoon'.

Regular practice builds interview muscles that perform under pressure.

​

The timeline for consultant interview preparation isn't measured in days or weeks - it's measured in milestones.

You need time to:

1. Identify and develop your five key USPs with specific details
2. Craft a compelling "Tell Me About Yourself" answer using the PERM structure
3. Prepare solid examples for common questions
4. Practice regularly until your delivery feels natural
5. Research the specific department and tailor your approach

Starting early gives you the luxury of time to work through these milestones methodically, without the panic that comes from last-minute preparation.

The consultant interview is too important to leave to chance.

It is the culmination of years of training and will shape the next phase of your career. Give it the preparation time it deserves.

The AYCI Academy doors are going to be opening up VERY soon, and I cannot wait!

​

Talk soon,

​

Tessa

P.S. If you haven't yet, check out my free 5-day email course to give you a Crash Course To Ace Your Consultant Interview.

​

​