The Interview

The anaesthetic interview carries a lot of weight in deciding who will go onto get a CT1 anaesthesia job. It allows interviewers to assess your knowledge and experience in a very short space of time, ultimately deciding whether they think you are suited to the job. For some people, it is their first interview since medical school. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that no matter how well prepared you are, adrenaline levels are likely to be high and you are likely to be nervous. This tutorial aims to help you manage anxiety as well as manage questions that haven’t gone to plan.

Prepare, prepare, prepare

Prior to the interview, think of scenarios that you’ve been involved in that demonstrate various traits, for instance teamworking, communication skills, situational awareness, a mistake that you’ve learned from etc. Even if you are asked about a question that you haven’t prepared an answer to, it is likely that many scenarios will demonstrate more than one skill. Practise speaking out loud prior to the interview. Scenarios often sound very different in your head but can be harder to vocalise concisely. Ask family members/ friends/ colleagues to ask you interview questions - all practise and feedback is valuable. Feeling prepared is likely to make you feel less anxious on the day.

On the day

On the day of the interview ensure that you are on time - the interviewers will want an anaesthetist that is reliable and punctual to work. Leaving late or rushing will activate your sympathetic nervous system and heighten stress levels. If your interview is online, make sure that you have a reliable internet connection and give yourself enough time to login to required portals and troubleshoot any issues.

Dress smartly and professionally and bring a bottle of water. Immediately prior to interview, some people find that box breathing reduces anxiety and power posing e.g. Superman/ Wonder Woman can improve confidence and self-belief. There are some TED Talks on these. Put the interview into perspective – you are having a conversation with real people who want you to get the job.

This post gives advice on non-verbal communication during virtual meetings. Framing yourself on the screen, ensuring good posture, looking at the camera, avoiding touching your face and smiling can be extrapolated to the interview.

The unprepared question

You are asked a question you haven’t got an answer to - take a deep breath and remember to breathe! The temptation is to rush in and list the first thing/ everything that comes into your head. However, this can make you appear flustered. Although easier said than done, try to stay calm and professional. Take a few slow seconds to think of an answer and try to calmly explain why you think this demonstrates the question. Even if you feel that you haven’t answered the question to the best of your ability, this will demonstrate that you can stay calm under pressure – a key ability of an anaesthetist!

It is good to have some structures memorised to approach your answers, e.g. the CAMP (Clinical, Academic, Management and Personal) structure for portfolio questions. A structured answer is what the interviewers will be expecting and, if you don’t have an answer prepared for the specific question, can help to give you time to think and remind you of things you could bring up. “I would divide my answer into x, y and z…” is a strategy that will come in useful all the way up to the Final FRCA and consultant interviews! For further examples of structures for your answers, see the resources below.

If you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest. The interviewers would much rather have an honest anaesthetist that demonstrates enthusiasm and a willingness to learn than one who makes things up. If you don’t understand the question or need clarification, apologise and ask the interviewer – they want you to do well!

Once the question is answered, move onto the next question. Dwelling on a poorly answered question is likely to have a negative effect on subsequent answers. The likelihood is that most candidates struggle with the same question. The difference is how you conduct yourself and move on. Think positively.

Remember, the interviewers are human!

Be polite and respectful throughout the interview. Smile, make eye contact and try not to fidget. A lot of time in anaesthetics is spent 1:1 and the interviewers will want to make sure that they hire someone who will not only make a good anaesthetist, but who they will get on with and enjoy working with. Even if the interview hasn’t gone to plan, try to end on a positive note and thank the interviewers for their time.

Further Reading

We have listed below some excellent resources available elsewhere to help you prepare for difficult questions in the interview. Please note, GAS have no affiliation with any of the resources below, these are just resources we think are helpful.

Olivier Picard, ‘Medical interviews. A comprehensive guide to CT, ST & Registrar Interview Skills’ (ISC Medical)

Royal College of Anaesthetists, Preparing for the Anaesthetics CT1 & ACCS (Anaesthetics) Interview

BMA, Specialty interview preparation for ST1 - recorded webinar (free for BMA members)

Koshy et al. How to succeed at medical interviews Int J Surg Oncol (N Y). 2017 Jul; 2(6): e21.