Hints and tips
Like any application process, we’re looking for candidates to demonstrate their skills and knowledge, present themselves well and make an impression. It’s not easy, which is why we’ve designed a series of master classes to help support you when applying for the Top Talent Programme and see you succeed in your NHS career.
The classes will be held in Coventry and London in September and October 2009. They’ll cover topics such as numerical & verbal reasoning, personal presence, presentation skills, interview skills, plus strategies to improve performance at our assessment and development centres.
To join the classes, you need to meet the following criteria:
- You are AfC Grade 8 or above (or hold a recognised equivalent to AfC grade 8)
- You have the support of your manager
- You hold a substantive post within the NHS
- You have strong aspirations to become a Director
For further information or to book a place on any of the classes please visit www.institute.nhs.uk/breakingthrough
Put yourself in the lead
There are also a few things you can do yourself to ensure that you’re well prepared for an interview or assessment centre, and most bookshops will have a whole shelf devoted to this subject. However, what we want to do here is go beyond the practical advice on interview etiquette and offer you some mental tools and techniques that will enable you to demonstrate your full potential during our assessment process.
The approaches that we’re describing here are often gathered together under the heading of ‘Neuro Linguistic Programming’ – you may have seen people like Derren Brown or Paul McKenna using them on television shows. They fall into two categories:
- Ways of preparing in advance so that you perform the way you want to on the day.
- Techniques for getting rid of any previous negative assessment experiences that may still be haunting you.
When you’re learning these tools we recommend that you:
- Begin early. Don’t wait for the night before your interview.
- Practise regularly – every day if you can.
- Set aside some quality time.. Choose a time when you can have 30 minutes on your own in a place where you feel relaxed and comfortable.
If you practise diligently, these techniques will set you up to feel confident and positive when you attend an interview or assessment centre.