Interview Preparation

Podcast: How to Answer “Tell Me About a Mistake” in Your NHS Consultant Interview

Being asked about mistakes or errors is a common part of NHS Consultant interviews. It can feel tricky – how much should you admit? Which example is appropriate? In this podcast snippet, Tessa and Becky break down how to approach this question thoughtfully, demonstrate self-awareness, and show your ability to learn from mistakes without undermining your professionalism.

Listen to the full episode:

Discussing Mistakes in NHS Consultant Interviews

Becky: Okay, this week we’ve got an example of giving the wrong dose of medication to a patient, but let me elaborate on this. So the example is when I was junior, on my first day, I was asked to administer some IV morphine to a patient after an MI. I was given this syringe by the nurse and I pushed the contents of the syringe into the patient. A couple of minutes later the nurse said to me, where’s the rest of the syringe so that I can discard the other four mils. So it transpired that I had given five mils instead of one mil of morphine. Is this a good example of a mistake?

Tessa: Okay, so there’s a lot in this example. The first thing is that it’s a true example, so these things do happen unfortunately. Your example has to be honest, but there is a difference between honesty and having some control – you don’t have to pick the worst mistake; it’s your interview, so you can choose something that presents you in a good light. Just because something happened doesn’t mean it needs to be shared. I think there are a few aspects about this example that make it not ideal. What jumps out at you, Becky?

Becky: I think number one, if you’re thinking about a medication error, I would steer clear of controlled drugs. Ideally, we don’t want to be throwing ourselves under the bus talking about making an error with CDs. Also, if you can avoid IV medication errors, that’s probably a good idea. This is a really good example of why you have to prep this answer. When someone asks, “Tell me about a time you made a mistake,” your first thought may be something cringey, but smaller mistakes can still show reflection and learning without involving high-risk scenarios.

Tessa: Yes, and also around taking ownership of the mistake – when you tell the story, you can say, “I realized I’d made a mistake.” In this example, it’s your first day and you were handed the syringe, which makes it easy to indicate it wasn’t really your fault. But the goal is to show vulnerability while owning what you did. In this case, because it’s a five-fold dose of a controlled drug, it’s not ideal to use in your interview, even though technically it was your mistake.

Becky: Yes, I think we might avoid that one.

Tessa: Which is why it’s better to think through examples in advance. You want to be prepared, choose something appropriate, and be able to reflect thoughtfully. This kind of scenario is common for people to think of, but it’s not necessary to use it in the interview.

Key Takeaways for Your Interview

  • Pick an appropriate mistake – Avoid high-risk or sensitive errors like controlled drugs or major patient harm.
  • Be honest but selective – You control which example best demonstrates learning and growth.
  • Show reflection and learning – Highlight what you did to correct the mistake and prevent it happening again.
  • Demonstrate vulnerability – Owning your mistake shows self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

Prepare in advance – Think of multiple examples to discuss confidently without panicking.