Put yourself in the lead

Before you start your application you MUST decide which specialism you want to apply for as this is the first question on the application form. Once you have chosen your specialism you are not able to change it. Please click here to read about the specialism’s.

It is essential that you fully understand and appreciate the challenges you will face on the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme. The Scheme is not right for everyone. We have created a special self selection tool to give you a real live insight into life on our Scheme. This will help you work out if you have what we are looking for and if the Scheme is right for you. Visit our self selection tool here.

There are also a few things you can do yourself to ensure that you’re well prepared for an interview or assessment centre, and most bookshops will have a whole shelf devoted to this subject. However, what we want to do here is go beyond the practical advice on interview etiquette and offer you some mental tools and techniques that will enable you to demonstrate your full potential during our assessment process.

The approaches that we’re describing here are often gathered together under the heading of ‘Neuro Linguistic Programming’ – you may have seen people like Derren Brown or Paul McKenna using them on television shows. They fall into two categories:

• Ways of preparing in advance so that you perform the way you want to on the day
• Techniques for getting rid of any previous negative assessment experiences that may still be haunting you.

When you’re learning these tools we recommend the following:

• Begin early, don’t wait for the night before your interview.
• Practise regularly, every day if you can.
• Set aside some quality time. Choose a time when you can have 30 minutes on your own in a place where you feel relaxed and comfortable.

All candidates will be treated fairly. Selection for employment will be on the basis of aptitude and ability. We strongly encourage you to practice online tests in advance to prepare and familiarise yourself with what's involved and ultimately, to give yourself the greatest chance of success when it comes to the real online tests. Please visit our test provider's website to practice.