Prepare for your consultant interview presentation. Get guidance on how to structure presentations to match NHS panel expectations.
Introduction
The consultant interview presentation is a critical stage of the process. It usually takes place before the interview itself and is often the first impression you make on the panel.
A consultant interview presentation is not an academic lecture. It is a professional test of whether you can answer the topic set, identify what matters, and communicate clearly and persuasively. Panels want to see not only your knowledge but also how you relate it to your service and what it means in practice.
“Panels want to see not only your knowledge but also how you relate it to your service and what it means in practice.”
What to Expect in a Consultant Interview Presentation
Most consultant interview presentations are:
- 10 minutes in length, occasionally 8 minutes.
- Topic-based, often covering service development, governance, leadership, or education.
- Set at shortlisting, though sometimes later, and occasionally given on the day with limited preparation time as part of an assessment centre.
- Delivered to the panel, usually followed by further questioning.
The presentation assesses whether you:
- Answer the specific topic set.
- Prioritise the most important issues rather than overloading with detail.
- Structure your talk logically, so it is clear and persuasive.
- Communicate with clarity and authority, demonstrating readiness for consultant practice.
Common Pitfalls in Consultant Interview Presentations
Candidates often struggle because they:
- Deliver academic-style talks, dense with statistics and references.
- Fail to answer the set question, straying into tangents.
- Overload slides with text or speak too fast.
- Run out of time by trying to include too much detail.
- Focus on knowledge rather than demonstrating relevance to the service.
Panels want to see whether you can distil complexity into clear priorities and link them to real-world service impact.
How to Structure a Consultant Interview Presentation
A strong presentation should:
- Introduce the topic clearly, setting out what you will cover.
- Develop three or four key points, with insight, relevance, and balance.
- Conclude with a focused summary, reinforcing how you have answered the topic and why it matters for the service and Trust.
This structure ensures your talk is clear, concise, and professional.
“Conclude with a focused summary, reinforcing how you have answered the topic and why it matters for the service and Trust.”
Illustrative Example
Topic: Improving patient flow within the Trust
A good presentation would identify three priorities and then develop each with substance, linking to the service context.
1. Early Assessment and Triage
- Content: Timely senior input at the front door improves decision-making, reduces delays, and enhances safety.
- Thinking to demonstrate: Show you understand how flow is influenced by early clinical decisions and that you recognise the importance of senior presence in reducing avoidable admissions.
2. Theatre Efficiency
- Content: Optimising scheduling, turnaround, and pre-operative assessment increases capacity and reduces cancellations.
- Thinking to demonstrate: Highlight that flow is not only about beds but also about how efficiently resources are used. Link this to your own specialty or service, e.g. perioperative pathways.
3. Discharge Planning
- Content: Early multidisciplinary discharge planning, supported by digital tools, shortens length of stay and creates capacity for incoming patients.
- Thinking to demonstrate: Panels want to see that you understand discharge as a system issue, not just a ward task, and that you would contribute to better planning in your role.
Conclusion: Summarise by reminding the panel that you addressed the topic directly, prioritised what matters most, and showed how consultants can influence patient flow in practical and service-relevant ways.
What’s Included in our Presenting Module?
Firstly, the programme as a whole (we call it ‘course’ but it is a whole learning and preparing programme)is designed to address both the learning necessary to excel, but also the practical preparation as well. Our Presenting Module covers making pressentations work for you and includes the following:
Core Learning Video
A full mini course designed to boost your skills and confidence.
Presentation Guide
Structure your presentation and stay focused on key messages with our practical guide.
Presentation Checklist
A practical checklist to help ensure you’ve understood and applied the key takeaways for presentations.
Live Webinars
Constantly evolving series of live webinars covering essential guidance & learning.
Articles and Advice
Covering evergreen and the latest hints & tips for your presentations.
This ensures you are ready for both prepared presentations and those delivered under time pressure.
Next Steps
To prepare for your consultant interview presentation:
- Expect a 10-minute presentation, occasionally 8 minutes.
- Focus on answering the topic set, not simply showcasing knowledge.
- Structure your talk into an introduction, three or four clear points, and a summary.
- Relate your points to the service context and show why they matter.
- Explore our Consultant Interview Course and Preparation Programme for detailed guidance, examples, and practice support.
“Candidates who succeed consistently understand that this is a process that begins well before interview day.”