My Essential Interview Preparation Check List
- ellenajacksonn
- Aug 27, 2020
- 6 min read
It's very likely, if you're reading this, that you've been invited to #interview so, first things first, CONGRATULATIONS! This is the first step and it's very important you prepare sufficiently.
Today's blog (is a pretty lengthy one) and will:
Discuss the preparation I think is crucial for Dental Hygiene and Therapy interviews
Include a preparation #checklist for you to use
Advice on how to handle other students asking for the specific interview questions
During my #application process, I attended four DHT interviews and they were a mix of traditional #panel interviews and #MMI (multiple mini interviews). I will not be distinguishing the preparation between these two types as, contrary to popular belief, I don't think you should exclude areas of preparation dependant on the style of interview. You should, however, research the structure of each interview and prepare for the day ahead - universities often provide a schedule for you to get your head around things.
Get a copy of this book and read it.
Book details
Title: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) for UK Dental School
ISBN: 978-0992970703
Cost: approx. £20-25
Although specifically for Dental Surgery applicants (aka. wannabe dentists) there is still a lot you can take away from this book. A lot of universities run the same interviews for both DHT and BDS courses and this book, which includes model answers to hundreds of example questions, gives you a good feel for how you should be structuring your responses. Even if your interview is a panel, I would still recommend it. The last chapter of this book even includes specific advice for each dental school.
Familiarise yourself with the #STARmethod - Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
Make a list of achievements, qualities, and experiences that you want to mention during your interviews. Now convert them into star method responses. This is the best way to demonstrate their value. Having this sort of structure will also help to calm you during the interview, as you have a nice plan to follow making you more coherent, and preventing you from forgetting important points.
They are as follows:
NHS Constitutional Values
Working together for patients
Respect and dignity
Commitment to quality of care
Compassion
Improving lives
Everyone counts
NHS Six C's
Care
Compassion
Competence
Communication
Courage
Commitment
GDC 9 Principles
Put patients' interests first
Communicate effectively with patients
Obtain valid consent
Maintain and protect patient's information
Have a clear and effective complaints procedure
Work with colleagues in a way that is in the patient's best interest
Maintain, develop and work within our professional knowledge and skills
Raise concerns if patients are at risk
Make sure our personal behaviour maintains confidence in us and the dental profession
Do some further research into what they mean, why they are important, and how they relate to Dental Hygiene and Therapy. Using the NHS values and six 6 C's, come up with instances in your own life where you have demonstrated them. Remember, these do not have to be in a dental setting (try and tie in the STAR method here).
Research the scope of practice for both hygienists and therapists (and commit it to memory).
You might be asked to justify why you have chosen either hygiene or therapy, or simply they may ask for your understanding of the role. The scope of practice comes in really handy here; it shows you have done your research and that you're serious about the course.
Look into the various members of the #DentalTeam.
Dentistry involves lots of teamwork and team skills are a crucial quality for DHT. Make sure you understand the structure and roles of the dental team.
Get up to date on dentistry in the news.
Get out there and read some recent articles. There are loads out there and there are lots of current discussions going on. Try and understand the current challenges in dentistry and the future of dentistry. You could try starting off with these links:
Tip: Get yourself on #LinkedIn or other platforms and follow the: NHS, GDC, WHO, BDA, CQC, BSDHT, BDIA. Have a read through the articles they're posting.
Read about the structure of the course and the curriculum.
You can do this pretty simply through your chosen university's website. Pick out some parts of the curriculum that you're interested in or excited about. Do a little research into it, and make sure you can talk about why you find it interesting.
Read over your personal statement, and then do it again.
It may have been a little while since you read over your #personalstatement. Refresh yourself on it now and then do it again closer to the interview.
Make a five-year plan.
It doesn't have to be down to the minute but have a rough idea of what you want to do in the future. This might involve looking up qualifications you can complete after graduation or areas of dentistry you want to go into.
Tip: Try and avoid giving the impression you want to get out of NHS work and straight into private practice or that you're planning to leave the UK imminently once you qualify.
Research the University and the area.
Learn some facts about the university. What is their TEF rating? What do they pride themselves on? Where do they come in the REF? What are their student satisfaction ratings like? What awards have they won? All these facts can be turned into reasons why you have chosen this university or why you want to study there.
Do some light research into the area. What's it known for? What is the history of this town or city? What are some of the main landmarks?
Make sure you have a good understanding of common dental terminology.
Some good ones to get started on are:
Multidisciplinary care
Specialisation
Direct Access
BPE
CQC
Confidentiality and data protection
CPD
Outreach
Protected characteristics
Informed consent
Duty of candour
HTM0105
Plaque
Calculus
Decay
Periodontal disease
Decide what qualities you think makes a good hygienist.
Do your research, make a list, and make sure you can explain how and when you have demonstrated each quality (again, deploy the STAR method here).
Write the answers to and familiarise yourself with some standard interview questions.
These might include:
Why dental hygiene/therapy?
Give an example of a time you have demonstrated [insert NHS Six C].
How is [insert NHS Six C] important in hygiene/therapy?
What are the qualities of a good hygienist/therapist? Tell us about a time you have demonstrated one of these qualities.
What do you know about the course?
Why have you chosen this university?
What motivates you to succeed?
What does [insert NHS Six C] mean to you?
How do you handle stress?
What are some of the challenges hygienists face?
What is your greatest achievement so far?
What can you offer the university as a student?
and so on...
I would avoid learning them word for word. You want to sound natural.
Think up some questions to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview.
As much as you are applying to the university and trying to sell yourself, they need to sell themselves to you also. At the end of the interview, you will more than likely be given the chance to ask some questions. Have a think about what you might want to know. Make sure you aren't asking something that you've already been told the answer to or could have found online.
Here's a #download for my essential DHT interview checklist:
Make sure to add on anything else you think is important in the spaces at the bottom.
Very importantly, remember not to share the interview questions with others. Not only does this give someone an unfair advantage, but remember you are also in competition with them for a limited number of spaces. By telling someone else what's involved, you might actually lose out on your space (and we don't want that!) It can be a hard conversation when someone is pressing you for information. After my interview at the University of Essex, someone I know, who had an upcoming interview there, asked me what questions I was asked. I could tell she was very nervous and simply just wanted to do her best. In this instance, you should just give a polite but firm response. Something like:
"I'm sorry, but I do not feel very comfortable sharing the exact questions with you as it would give you an unfair advantage. We are all in competition for the same limited spaces. I hope you understand. My best advice is to try and calm your nerves and prepare as much as possible. Here are some good resources that you might find helpful..."
Similarly, don't ask other people for the interview questions. All the universities I attended for an interview make you sign a non-disclosure agreement. If later they find out you have shared the specifics of the interview, you will be automatically rejected, and they may even inform other universities as well. Effectively, you get blacklisted. (It's brutal!) So keep things to yourself (even if it is your best friend asking).
Finally, best of luck with your interview! I hope this gives you an idea of what you can do to prepare for your hygiene interviews. Please feel free to send me a message if you have any specific questions I can help with.
I would also love the hear any ideas you have about other preparation techniques. Feel free to pop a comment below!
Remember, #healthiswealth !
Lots of love,
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