coresurgeryinterview1 - Tumblr blog

[coresurgeryinterview1]

Preparing for The Core Surgery Interview? Here Are Some Tips

There are several requirements to becoming a full-fledged surgeon, and one of these is passing the core surgery interview. This will determine who among the thousands of applicants can proceed to specialise in the field of surgery. However, many fail to advance in the training due to lack of practice and knowledge about the questions. Because of the competitive nature of this interview, those who pursue a career in surgery need to prepare well.

For those who plan to specialise in the field of surgery, your preparation for the interview will be crucial. To help you succeed in this endeavour, listed below are tips to help you prepare for the core surgery interview.

Know the job

For many medical jobs (especially academic foundation/speciality training posts) there are clear person specifications and requirements matrices available online. For this reason, it would be smart to anticipate questions based on the traits and characteristics employers look for. For example, if they want people who are future leaders, a reasonable question would be “tell us what makes you a good leader?”

There are many ways to find out about a post such as checking the organisation’s website, speaking to the regional adviser in the speciality where possible, obtaining and reading carefully the job description, person specification, and all other data that may be sent to you. Also, you will learn its importance and implications when you enrol in a CST online course. Do this comprehensive research, and you will start to see which parts of your past are particularly relevant to the post and how you can specifically contribute to the department.

Scheduling the Interview

After you’ve taken enough time to prepare and complete your CST interview course, make sure not to delay scheduling your appointment for an interview. This may give the appearance that you are not interested in. Do not arrange an appointment for a post-call day. Make sure you are as well-rested as possible. If the interview is in a city or town you have never visited, double-check the address and find out about parking or airport transportation. If the practice is offering the interview, it is considerate of them to arrange your transportation if out of town. Confirm your travel arrangements with the practice administrator/recruiter/office manager. Make certain you have left adequate time for travel delays or traffic.

Dress for Success

When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you project yourself well. No matter what the size or location of the practise or hospital, dress professionally. This is a place of business. You wish to portray confidence and professionalism. If you are a man, wear a suit and tie. If you are a woman, wear a suit or dress. Carry a briefcase containing extra copies of your CV, interview questions, papers needed for the interview, and pens. These details are clearly and practically brought out together with other important tips through a CST interview course. Dressing professionally during interviews has also impact; as what people say, “The first impression lasts.”

Practice

This is of course crucial. You must put in the time to develop any skill, and interviewing is no different. Start by reciting answers to common questions. Move on to having others practice with you and perform mock interviews. That said, it’s also worth looking at a CST online course that offers this kind of support and training.

Finally, one very helpful resource is your university’s career centre (or analogous service). These centres generally offer mock interviews which can be scheduled. Do this. You will not regret it. Treat it like a formal interview. It will help come interview day to have gone through the motions and practised interviewing with a stranger who is experienced with the process.

If possible, be sure to practice mock interviews with real doctors who have already conducted hundreds of medical school and residency interviews – it’s as real as it gets.

Prepare a few examples of experiences

When it comes to an interview, your experiences will play a crucial part in your success. If you have a few key experiences—adversity you have faced, challenges in school or the workplace, instances of personal growth, times when you were pushed to make a difficult decision—these can be applied to a multitude of questions. A general key for interviews is to provide examples/experiences for questions rather than giving vague or abstract answers. By keeping a mental note of all your relevant and significant experiences in the field, you can better deal with unexpected questions during the core surgery interview.

Without a doubt, one of the earliest challenges an aspiring surgeon will need to face is passing the core surgery interview. While this, in itself, is a lot of work, considering the number of competitors vying for limited spots will make it even more challenging. That said, proper preparation and using all the tips listed in this guide will be your key to succeed in the interview. The interview proper is divided into three sections: clinical, portfolio, and management – all of which, you need to master. For this reason, preparation for this interview will last for at least several months. And to increase your chances of passing the interview, enrolling in a course designed for taking the interview will prove to be crucial for your selection.