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The interviews I have done have usually had competancy/scenario-based questions. It's usually about your treatment programme/plan, perhaps choices of dressings etc. Something like "a 55 year old diabetic man is booked in for his first appointment and you discover an ulcer. What's your plan?" It's usually good if you can find out a bit about the dept set up before you go to the interview ie. do they have a diabetic specialist clinic with a senior clinician or specific paeds clinics etc, so that you can work these into your answers perhaps? If you can't find out beforehand, I would have thought it was acceptable to ask these questions when answering the scenario? It shows you have thought about the patient's pathway through the system?
Hope that helps you and good luck. Just out of interest - what country are you in? If UK, is this an NHS job?
im only 21 the only mistake i would say is that you have to be crazy to do podiatry. is humour not good in interviews?
have they given you any scernio ?s the what would u do if
thanks
Probably best not to mntion that! (although I think that was the first thing that crossed my mind) I think I tried to deflect the question somehow but I cant remember my response!!
Ellas response seems like good advice. I dont remember much about my first job interviews, and it is possible that things have changed a bit in 20 years, It might be good to have some stock answers to hand in terms of why did you want to do podiatry in the first place, why in the area you have applied (do a bit of research - have they got an interesting specialist department that you might be interested in) They might also want to know what you aspirations might be.
Conflict Management, with patients and other staff.
eg: you disagree with the treatment plan that has been put in place, what steps would you take to alter it?
Specific case type questions will depend upon the environment, but given you are a new grad, I wouldn't expect anything too difficult.
In new grads I am looking for someone who will fit into the team, is enthusiastic willing to continue to learn and develop etc.
The refferee checks are what I use to establish clinical competance
Good Luck.
PS: I have a new grad position here in Melbourne, a little far from the UK I know, but just in case
__________________ Stephen Tucker Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager
Also, other standbys are:
Why do you want to work here?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Why have you chosen to apply for a job in acute care / community health / private practice?
If you're applying to a public health organisation, you could be asked about the Social Model of Health, Health Promotion, utilising other professions as part of your treatment plans etc.
Also, know the demographics of the area you're applying to work in.
A lot of interviews currently use the STAR approach (google it) - have some scenarios thought out that you could apply to these questions.
We no longer ask this question, as given Gen Y, they are likely to have changed career by then, also can impact on Equal Opportunity if they answer, "married with a family".
__________________ Stephen Tucker Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager
Hi if it's an NHS job they'll ask you 10 scenario questions.
One about health and safety
One about conflict ie you over hear a heated discussion, or you see a colleague acting inappropriately what would you do?
One about equality
Then a few about treatment plans I had what would you do if someone comes into clinic with a diabetic ulcer at 5pm on a Friday? Name two differentials for pain in the metatarsal area? If it was a mortons neuroma what would you do tests etc? If you were applying a caustic what would you have to consider?
Oh and one about time management.
Have no idea what the right answers are just start at the beginning and try and be logical.
Hi if it's an NHS job they'll ask you 10 scenario questions.
One about health and safety
One about conflict ie you over hear a heated discussion, or you see a colleague acting inappropriately what would you do?
One about equality
Then a few about treatment plans I had what would you do if someone comes into clinic with a diabetic ulcer at 5pm on a Friday? Name two differentials for pain in the metatarsal area? If it was a mortons neuroma what would you do tests etc? If you were applying a caustic what would you have to consider?
Oh and one about time management.
Have no idea what the right answers are just start at the beginning and try and be logical.
My comment is an actual question that gets asked Emma. I would suggest that you have a shift in your attitude regarding this job interview and perhaps use your own logic. I will not entertain any futher responses.
One about conflict ie you over hear a heated discussion, or you see a colleague acting inappropriately what would you do?
Inappropriate actions: they could be reported to your line manager. Depends on the action but you want to get across that you are neither someone who sweeps stuff under the carpet, nor someone who runs to management when a matter can be settled between staff. Keep in mind however, that management are there to assist your function as a podiatrist. Don't be afraid to mention the word management. Other key words/phrases: "supporting decisions". Discuss communication also, but don't make it sound like you have swallowed a book of key management phrases. The key is to show them who you are. Keep in mind that it is one thing getting the job, another entirely different matter is working in an environment that suits your personality. While we all have to mould to our work environment to an extent, it is also necessary to have an environment that will not change the positive aspects of your personality. After all you were a complete person prior to coming to podiatry.
One about equality
It is not enough to tell them that you believe "all men were created equal". Perhaps have an idea of the equity and access policies of the organisation. Again make sure that you don't appear to have just learnt them for the purposes of quoting slabs of information. Make your points relevant to the healthcare environment and podiatry while giving your potential employers an impression of your ideas. Do not focus on political points.
Then a few about treatment plans I had what would you do if someone comes into clinic with a diabetic ulcer at 5pm on a Friday?
The key is to highlight how you would provide appropriate care to the individual within the contraints and resources of your service. It may be pointless to say you would stay there all night to ensure that care was given. Depends on your service. I presume what the interviewer wants to see is a willingness to take the steps necessary to get the assistance required. Consider referring to other services, with appropriate documentation and so on.
Name two differentials for pain in the metatarsal area? If it was a mortons neuroma what would you do tests etc? If you were applying a caustic what would you have to consider?
These clinical answers you can get from a text book. Keep in mind that the interviewer wants to know about your clinical reasoning. Why is it that you would undertake the tests? What would the tests give you and so on. Don't think that you must have the ultimate answer. Sometimes clnically that is not possible straight away. What is important is to indicate the level of your clinical reasoning. The aim of the question is for them to determine how you would deal with any situation clinically, not just met pain.
Oh and one about time management.
This is interesting in that often time management is discussed in the absence of reality. The reality being that you have a full waiting room or waiting list on one hand and an obligation to provide timely, appropriate and comprehensive care on the other. Keep in mind that your time management has to be appropriate so discuss perhaps criteria that you use to manage your time. It may be appointment based, it may be based on severity of condition. It may depend on factors such as do you need an interpreter, it may be based on your skills as a podiatrist. Use external examples as well if possible to indicate that you have time management skills that are transferrable to the health care environment. Always remember that you more than likely achieved in many areas prior to coming to podiatry that required skills in time management. Be relevant, be concise, be modest, but do not undersell yourself. False modesty is transparent.
Above all make sure that your communication style conveys to the interviewer the necessary message. Keep in mind body language also.
Good luck with the interview I wish you every success.
NIKO
I understand where Nicola is coming from with all her concerns about the interviewing. Currently I am podering about the same thing. Soon we will be finished with our training and then go out into the "big" world, that is both scary and exciting. One of my biggest fears, is not knowing what to expect.
but hey, its like they say...grab the bull by the horns.
Thanks for all the insight.
I ask prospective doctors if they have an area of special interest within the practice of Podiatry. I also want to know what their long term practice goals are. I'd liketo know where they see themselves in five years. In general be prepare to discuss your professional goals.
Well I was recently asked what i understood about Clinical Governance (and i have been asked this one before too).
I was also asked what interested me in the field of podiatry i went for ie Diabetes.
How would you cope if you got stressed at work or you had an awkward patient.
Hope some of these examples help.
We are in the process of interviewing as we speak for a podiatrist to take my place. I have spent many years developing this practice even though it is part of a large multispecialty clinic and will retire this spring. We have had a fair number of applicants and all have good training and some have long experience. We ask a pretty standard set of questions... I usually ask a person how they would define success in a podiatry practice... The responses have been interesting.
One fellow said that he considered success to be doing an average of 5 elective surgeries a week.
One woman said she would consider herself successful if she made over $200,000 a year
Another defined success in the number of RVU's per month
One said he wanted to earn the respect and trust of the other specialists in the clinic. He wanted to be treated as an equal among the other physicians.
No one, not one person defined success as making patients more comfortable or as providing a needed service to our community, or as service to fellow man in general.
I am a bit disappointed that our profession has evolved away from this objective.
We are still interviewing, the first person who mentions this little bit of altruism is going to get my support for the job (which, by the way, is a very lucrative position).
Why are you a podiatrist? To get rich? To do surgery? Or to help people? If the last is your objective, then the others will likely follow. If you believe this I would suggest you get this point across in your interview.
Hey guys!
Ive had 3 interviews over the last day!here is what i was asked!
Why do you want to work for this pct?
wht do you know about this pct?
What papers have you been reading and which one has stuck out the most and why?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What do you understand by the term diversity?
What do you understand by the phrasr equal opportunites?
Give us an example of when you have used your initiative?
HOw would you manage conflict in the workplace?
i was given 2-3 scenarios which can involve anything!
Thing is ive noticed that the more interviews you go to the more confident you will be. You kinda get similar questions at all interviews. Its a good idea to reserach the area and the pct/trust see what they are doing at the mo etc..
Hope this helps!
Podiatry job interview questions
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