It’s for a breast clinic in a surgical department within the hospital.I think it depends on whether you’d be working in primary or secondary care NHS and lots of other factors.
What’s your current job? Will this one pay more?
thanks for your reply!I don’t work for the NHS however my husband is a consultant for the NHS and wouldn’t be without his secretary, however, as he said, it’s not perfect. It can get very political and bitchy (place dependant) and he said it seems there is no middle ground - it’s either extremely busy or his secretary has nothing to do.
That being said, the job security and annual leave within the NHS is amazing.
I think the NHS is just like anywhere, you get the good, the bad and the ugly but my husband couldn’t function without his secretary (I think sometimes if he could marry again it’d Be her!)
Thank you for reply!I was a medical secretary for 18 months for a consultant orthopaedic surgeon - loved the actual job role side of things but the work environment made my life hell. Bitchy women who worked there since the Middle Ages not liking new blood coming in. Caused me to have a mental breakdown and go off sick! Please don’t let my experience tarnish your opinion though, every workplace is different.
Interview tips - read the job description and pick up on key buzz words e.g organisation skills, time management and use them in your interview when they ask questions. Like other posters have said, the NHS offers great job security & opportunities for progression.
Best of luck!
Thanks so much for your help! That’s helped loads! Will get on revising!Look at the trust values and try to memorise these as they often throw a question at the end asking you to show how you've demonstrated one of these in the past (they're usually individual buzz words!)
The NHS is very process driven, and outcomes are important, but the interview process is about YOU and how you can demonstrate why you're the best candidate. Like the others have said, scrutinise the person spec and come up with examples of how you meet them; eg. Ways you demonstrate effective organisational skills, or times you've used your initiative.
And come up with a question for them at the end.. Ideally not about your annual leave entitlement () but ways they can support you, or the biggest challenges faced by the department currently, etc.
Good luck!
PS... Just to say. If it's on Microsoft teams, you can use the sticky notes app on your desktop that will show them to you but not the interviewer. You can just add key words you won't forget and carry on as normalThank you for reply!
I’m sorry it caused you to go off sick!
Thanks very much for the tips! Weekend of revising
Exactly, I’ve decided to go for it I have nothing to loose as of now! Might not even get the job
Thanks so much for your help! That’s helped loads! Will get on revising!
Omg that would be unreal! It’s in the office though unfortunately! Thanks for the tip if I have interview like that in the futurePS... Just to say. If it's on Microsoft teams, you can use the sticky notes app on your desktop that will show them to you but not the interviewer. You can just add key words you won't forget and carry on as normal
I haven’t had my interview yet!Did you get the job role? I had an interview today for a trainee secretary but unfortunately wasn’t successful. Does anyone have any interview tips for secretarial roles
I think for secretarial roles interview questions seem to focus on attention to detail, perhaps in drafting letters and reports, so emphasise that you have good attention to detail and an eye for proofreading and checking your work.Did you get the job role? I had an interview today for a trainee secretary but unfortunately wasn’t successful. Does anyone have any interview tips for secretarial roles
I've recently started working in an office with medical secretaries doing their admin. A similar thing has happened to one of them who has only been there eight months. Essentially driven out due to bitchiness. It took me a month or two to figure out who the poisonous one was, and unfortunately she is all matey with the lead secretary and fills her ears. Between them they just bitch all the time.I was a medical secretary for 18 months for a consultant orthopaedic surgeon - loved the actual job role side of things but the work environment made my life hell. Bitchy women who worked there since the Middle Ages not liking new blood coming in. Caused me to have a mental breakdown and go off sick! Please don’t let my experience tarnish your opinion though, every workplace is different.
Interview tips - read the job description and pick up on key buzz words e.g organisation skills, time management and use them in your interview when they ask questions. Like other posters have said, the NHS offers great job security & opportunities for progression.
Best of luck!
My partner works part time in the Facilities department in a hospital and says this:Not a secretary job, but I also have an interview for the NHS as a Facilities Assistant (Domestic)
Probably a long shot, but was wondering if anyone knew anything about the role, the job description is super vague and I'd like to know what to say if they ask about my understanding of the role.
(Would've posted own thread but not tattled enough yet!)
You can take a note book in with you with your notes in - i have taken this to all my interviews and really helps. This was a tip given to me by JPMorgan (they made my department redundant so did interview skills workshops!).Omg that would be unreal! It’s in the office though unfortunately! Thanks for the tip if I have interview like that in the future
Thank you so much! xMy partner works part time in the Facilities department in a hospital and says this:
It's important that you're aware that the job requires you to be comfortable with working alone and working as part of a team. You need to convey that you have an understanding of infection control, proper hand washing techniques and NHS values. You must make clear that you are adaptable when it comes to working in different locations in the hospital.
The role would require you to be comfortable with being anywhere in a hospital, including a Covid ward, and be able to undertake repeated cleans of bed spaces. You'd need to be able to communicate with patients and other staff in a friendly manner.
Your job would basically be to ensure the location you are in adheres to the strictest infection control guidelines and is spotless. You'd do this with support of a supervisor above you and the nursing or departmental staff around you.
Your job will require close coordination with nurses and other staff, so it's best to make clear you're looking forward to being part of a multidisciplinary team with the aim of putting the patient first.
Hope this helps! Good luck x
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