Learn how pre-interview visits shape your success. Discover how to prepare, approach individuals, and make a strong impression with NHS panels.

Introduction

Pre-interview visits for consultant interviews are a critical but often underestimated part of the process. Many candidates see them as informal or optional. In reality, they can strongly influence the impression you create and the insight you gain. Approached poorly, they risk leaving the wrong impression and undermining your chances before interview day.

Medical professional shaking hands during a pre-interview visit, representing the importance of making a positive impression before NHS consultant interviews.

“Pre-interview visits for consultant interviews are a critical but often underestimated part of the process. ”

Why Pre-Interview Visits Matter

A pre-interview visit allows you to:

  • Understand the Trust, department, and service context you are applying to.
  • Meet potential colleagues and see how the team functions.
  • Gather information that will strengthen your answers in the interview.
  • Demonstrate interest in the post and the organisation.

However, these benefits only come if you prepare. Without preparation, candidates may ask unfocused questions, appear vague, or fail to show insight. Worse, they can inadvertently signal a lack of readiness.

Common Pitfalls in Pre-Interview Visits

Candidates often make mistakes such as:

  • Treating the visit as an informal chat and arriving without a clear plan.
  • Asking questions that could easily be answered by reading the job description or Trust website.
  • Focusing on personal benefits rather than contribution to the service.
  • Failing to adapt conversations to the person they are meeting (e.g. medical director vs service lead).

These pitfalls can damage credibility before the interview even begins.

Preparing for Pre-Interview Visits

Effective preparation involves:

Identifying who you may meet

Clinical leads, consultant colleagues, managers, or divisional directors.

Researching the Trust

Priorities, values, current challenges, and relevant service data.

Planning your questions

Focused, professional, and showing insight into the service.

Clarifying your own messages

Being able to speak clearly about your achievements, your approach, and your interest in the post.

Done well, pre-interview visits give you both the intelligence and the credibility you need to succeed.

Our Unique Approach: Panelling

At Consultant Interviews, we take pre-interview visits very seriously. Over time we have developed a unique approach we call Panelling.

Panelling is about preparing for visits in the same structured, professional way as you prepare for the interview itself. It ensures you:

  • Approach each visit with clarity about what you want to achieve.
  • Prepare tailored talking points for different people you might meet.
  • Avoid missteps that create the wrong impression.
  • Use the opportunity to begin demonstrating the maturity, professionalism, and readiness expected of a consultant.

Panelling transforms pre-interview visits from informal chats into part of your overall consultant interview strategy.

Younger professional shaking hands with a senior consultant in blue scrubs in a hospital during a pre-interview visit.

“Panelling is about preparing for visits in the same structured, professional way as you prepare for the interview itself.”

What’s Included in our Panelling 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 Panelling Module covers readiness for consultant interview questions and includes the following:

Core Learning Video

Covering both the strategy and practical aspects of getting the most from pre-interview visits

Panelling Guide

Comprehensive guide to ensure you approach pre-interview visits optimally

Panelling Checklist

Ready reckoner to ensure you do not forget important aspects whilst so busy

Panel Research Proforma

Structured approach to ensuring you turn up thoroughly prepared for each individual

Articles & Advice

Covering evergreen and emerging issues around pre-interview visits

This approach helps candidates make the most of pre-interview visits, gaining valuable information and leaving a strong, professional impression.

Key Takeaways

If you are preparing for consultant interviews:

Recognise that pre-interview visits are not optional, but a critical part of the process.

Prepare carefully to gain insight and avoid missteps

Use each visit to demonstrate interest, readiness, and professionalism.

Next Steps

Explore the Consultant Interview Course to learn how our Panelling approach helps you prepare for visits as strategically as the interview itself.

Person taking structured notes at a desk, preparing for a pre-interview visit as part of Panelling.

“Candidates who succeed consistently understand that this is a process that begins well before interview day.”