Preston Plastic Surgery ST3 Interview Course Description
This is a novel course designed to be delivered remotely to achieve maximum effectiveness.
The February 2021 Plastic Surgery ST3 National Selection will consist of one 30-minute interview station with 3 sections completed in the following order:
1. OSCE and Communication lasting for 10 minutes
2. Clinical Scenarios lasting for 10 minutes
3. Structured Interview lasting for 10 minutes
The Format of this course - to cover all topics for each candidate
A maximum of 4 candidates in the session with one interviewer. Each candidate will have -
· 2 Clinical scenarios – 10mins
· 2 consents - 10mins
· 2 phone the Consultant - 10mins
· Structured interview - 10mins
At this time it is essential that all available time is utilised judiciously. This course avoids unnecessary travel, saving time and cost and yet delivers the content in the same way as a face to face course via a reliable Zoom platform. There is no time wasted in moving between the tables and there are no didactic lectures to listen. We strongly believe that close to the interviews; the purpose of the course is to test your knowledge and your ability to deliver that effectively.
The format of the course will be the similar as the National Selection process. Our focus will be on personal attention and personal feedback. To achieve this, we have only kept a maximum of 4 candidates in the full 4-hour session. In the session you will be having a VIVA in all sections with all themes covered in each section. Additionally, you will be able to listen to the VIVA of other candidates and learn. There will be individual feedback at the end.
The programme for the day is as follows –
AM session PM session
0825 hrs or 1355 hrs - Log in to the Zoom link sent
0830 hrs or 1400 hrs - Introductions and Dos and Don’ts
0835 hrs or 1405 hrs - VIVA begins with questions alternating between candidates in the group
There is one 15-minute break at approximately the half-way mark.
The AM course ends at 1230 hrs, and the PM course ends at about 1800 hrs.
Dos and Don’ts
1. Please make sure you choose a quiet room for the whole duration of the course and put do not disturb sign on the door. Remember any disturbance is going to affect not only you but the other candidates as well.
2. Please make sure you have put your phones and other electronic devices to silent but do not switch off your phones as we will need to contact you if platform fails.
3. Video conference drains significant battery power of your device, please make sure your device is fully charged and you have a charger/power pack handy.
4. You will get reminders and links for the course and we hope you are comfortable with the Zoom platform but if there are any issues, please contact us and we can help.
5. Please make sure you always keep your microphone on mute apart from when you are having the VIVA or feedback.
6. Please keep your Video camera on so that all of us can see each other. This is courteous to colleagues attending the session and will create a realistic situation.
7. In the rare situation that there is a technical failure of the platform, we will ring you and try to fix the problem.
8. Please keep a notepad and pen handy to note down any points when you are listening to VIVAs.
9. For copyright and confidentiality purposes you are requested not to take any photos of the screen, any screenshots or record the session.
10. At the end of VIVA session, feedback will be confidential and one to one. Each candidate will be going to an individual breakout room and the examiner will visit each room to provide the feedback.
