The Recruitment Process

Interviews & Assessment Centres

Being prepared for your interview will help you to perform well on the day and feel more confident. Here's some handy tips to help you feel fully prepared:

• Research – make sure you are familiar with the job role, the department, the Trust and our values.
• Prepare potential answers to the interview questions – the person specification will provide some clues to the type of questions that you may be asked. Think about the questions that could be asked and your responses. Think of examples that you can use to show the interviewers how you have used your skills, what you've learnt, and how you can bring them to this role.
• Be on time – check that you know where the interview/assessment centre is taking place. Download our location map. Practice getting to the venue or check out the route and timing online. On the day ensure that you leave plenty of time so that you arrive early.
• Image – wear something smart and appropriate that makes you feel comfortable. Remember to be confident, professional and polite.

Reasonable Adjustments

Your invite email will ask you whether you require any specific requirements (eg. any reasonable adjustments for a If you need any reasonable adjustments in place to support you at this stage, please just let us know. We will need to know in advance so that arrangements can be made as not always possible to make adjustments on the day.

The Interview

Interviews generally focus on the competencies for the role, but may also include other knowledge-based essential criteria, for example leadership, teamwork, conflict, motivation, creativity and technical skills related to the person specification.

We use structured interviews, where you will be asked a number of competency questions which are designed to focus on past situations and your behaviour in those situations. Competency questions are likely to start with 'please give me an example of when….'

Consider how you answer these questions – provide examples of how you have demonstrated these skills and behaviours. Keep your answered structured and concise and focus on your actions and the outcome/results of these actions.

As part of the interview process you may also undertake role specific selection tests such as a typing or Excel test, an in-tray exercise, literacy or numeracy or a drugs calculation test. You will be advised of any tests in your invite to interview email.

Assessment Centres

We organise assessment centres for a range of roles and you will be advised of this in your invite email. Our assessment centres can range in duration from a few hours to a full day and will be designed to measure the specific competencies for the role. Examples of the types of exercise that you may undertake in addition to the competency interview are:

• Presentations
• Group Exercises
• In-Tray Activities
• Focus groups
• Case studies

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