NHS Junior Doctor Interview: Top 10 Questions and How to Prepare for Success

Whether you’re a UK graduate applying for Foundation Year (FY1/FY2), or an international medical graduate (IMG) applying for a junior doctor post in the NHS, interview performance matters. This post will guide you through the most commonly asked interview questions, the qualities panel members look for, and how to prepare to secure your first (or next) NHS role confidently.

🔟 Top 10 NHS Junior Doctor Interview Questions (and How to Answer Them)

1. Why do you want to work in the NHS/in this role?

What they assess:

• Your motivation
• Commitment to patient care
• Understanding of the NHS values

How to answer:

• Refer to the NHS Constitution (especially values like compassion, respect, and teamwork)
• Mention your personal and career motivations
• Align your answer with your desire to develop professionally in the NHS

✅ Example:
“I admire the NHS commitment to equality and comprehensive care. I want to grow in an environment where evidence-based practice and teamwork are at the core.”

2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What they assess:

• Self-awareness
• Honesty
• Commitment to improvement

How to answer:

• Choose a real, non-critical weakness (e.g., time management) and describe how you’re improving it
• For strengths, focus on teamwork, communication, and resilience

✅ Use feedback or appraisals to support your points.

3. Tell us about a time you worked in a team.

What they assess:

• Teamworking ability
• Communication
• Role clarity

How to answer:

Use the STAR method:

• Situation: Team on ward/clinic
• Task: Delivering patient care
• Action: Listening, coordinating, supporting
• Result: Improved safety/patient experience

✅ Emphasise multi-disciplinary collaboration (nurses, pharmacists, therapists).

4. How do you deal with stress or pressure?

What they assess:

• Emotional resilience
• Self-care and patient safety

How to answer:

• Talk about strategies like seeking help early, staying organised, or debriefing
• Reference times you managed a heavy workload or challenging shift

✅ Show you can cope without compromising safety.

5. What would you do if a senior asked you to do something you weren’t confident about?

What they assess:

• Patient safety awareness
• Assertiveness and professionalism

How to answer:

• “I would express my concerns respectfully and ask for supervision or clarification before proceeding. Patient safety is the priority.”

✅ Don’t say you’d “just try anyway.” They want you to speak up appropriately.

6. What does good communication mean to you?

What they assess:

• Empathy
• Listening
• Professionalism

How to answer:

• Define good communication: active listening, empathy, clarity
• Give a short example of explaining something clearly to a patient or family

✅ Consider mentioning communication with colleagues too, not just patients.

7. Tell us about a mistake or difficult situation and what you learned.

What they assess:

• Reflectiveness
• Accountability
• Learning mindset

How to answer:

• Describe the situation (confidentially), what happened, what you learned
• Show that you’ve grown and applied the lesson

✅ This demonstrates maturity, not weakness.

8. How would you handle a complaint from a patient or family member?

What they assess:

• Empathy
• Conflict resolution
• Professionalism

How to answer:

• Listen carefully, don’t argue
• Apologise if appropriate
• Escalate or signpost to PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)

✅ Always focus on resolving issues respectfully.

9. What would you do if a colleague was acting unprofessionally?

What they assess:

• Integrity
• Professional judgement
• Team accountability

How to answer:

• Speak to the colleague privately first (if appropriate)
• If serious or unresolved, escalate to a senior or follow trust policy

✅ Emphasise protecting patients and team integrity.

10. Why should we hire you for this junior doctor post?

What they assess:

• Confidence
• Fit for the team
• Enthusiasm

How to answer:

• Summarise your clinical strengths, teamwork, and motivation
• Say what you will bring to the team (e.g. reliability, cultural awareness, eagerness to learn)

✅ Finish with a strong closing statement of your enthusiasm and commitment.

🎯 How to Best Prepare for NHS Junior Doctor Interviews

1. Start preparation at least 2–3 weeks in advance

• Review common interview questions
• Write out your answers using STAR format
• Practice saying them out loud

2. Understand NHS values and structure

• Read the NHS Constitution for England
• Learn about basic NHS systems, safeguarding, infection control, and equality policies

3. Know your CV and experience well

• Be ready to talk about clinical placements, electives, audits, or QI projects

4. Practice mock interviews

• With friends, mentors, or online mock panels
• Focus on timing, tone, and confidence

5. Prepare for scenario-based questions

• Ethical dilemmas
• Patient safety incidents
• Team conflict or professionalism

✅ Rehearse your clinical judgement and communication style

🌟 What Qualities Are NHS Interviewers Looking For?

🧠 What Makes a Good Answer?

✅ Clear
✅ Structured (STAR for scenarios)
✅ Honest
✅ Reflective
✅ Aligned with NHS values

❌ Avoid:

• Generic, vague responses
• Criticising others
• Saying “I’ve never made a mistake”
• Rambling or going off-topic

Final Thoughts

NHS junior doctor interviews are not meant to trick you—they’re about getting to know you and assessing whether you’re safe, teachable, and ready to be part of a clinical team.

With preparation, insight, and a calm mindset, you can absolutely stand out and secure your post.

✏️ Want help building model answers, mock interview questions, or NHS values crib sheets? I can help with that too—just let me know!