[Becci19]

Hi,

I am entering my last year of uni in september studying BSc Human Biology and am going to apply to do the NHS STP the following year. Does anyone know how I can get experience and what sort of things to do to make my application as strong as possible? Also what kind of questions do they ask in interviews etc.? I have some healthcare experience in helping my mum who is a carer for a child with cerebal palsy and have applied to volunteer at my local hospital, but is there anything more specific I can do to stand out from the crowd?

Thanks Becci xxx

[VENIVIDIVICI]

Have a look (if you haven't already) at the thread specifically dealing with the NHS STP (it used to be called trainee clinical scientist training):
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...ical+scientist

There's over 390 pages of relevant info from students who applied since 2008 til the present day. I'm sure you'll find answers to some of your questions on there.

Hope it helps

[Eubacterium]

I knew someone who was on the programme. They paid for her to study my MSc part time. She told me she only got the job, despite having a PhD, because she happened to work in the same lab before where the “training” is held. I put it in inverted commas because she hated it (honestly) and left after around 6 months. She was thrown in the deep end. The job is nothing to do with caring for people. She was expected to diagnose things in the lab, like if an infection was caused by fungus etc. She and another girl had no clue as they were not trained and there's why they sent her on my course. But as it's so competitive I never applied because I don't think just having done the same course would be enough. There are plenty of similar jobs out there not in the NHS. I suggest jobs.ac.uk, that's where I found my last two jobs. A lot of UGs want to apply for that position having no idea how hard it is to get in and what's really involved.

[Becci19]

Thanks, ive had a look at that other thread its really helpful (:
Eubacterium, I am wanting to become a respiratory therapist so would be doing the cardivascular themed pathway, surely healthcare experience would help with this? I struggle to find anywhere that offers any relavant lab experience, do you have any ideas? I will be completing a research project for the 2nd half of my final year at uni so I am going to try and do it in a related field to respiratory and cardiac science. Dunno if that will be enough though. :\

[786pk]

As long as you get some kind of experience in an NHS lab, it should be fine. It doesn't have to be related to the specific area that you want to apply to. However, there will be other candidates with MSc's and PhD's and/or with extra experience applying to the same posts as yourself. If you know how to sell yourself properly, you should have a good chance. Best of luck.

(Original post by Becci19)
Thanks, ive had a look at that other thread its really helpful (:
Eubacterium, I am wanting to become a respiratory therapist so would be doing the cardivascular themed pathway, surely healthcare experience would help with this? I struggle to find anywhere that offers any relavant lab experience, do you have any ideas? I will be completing a research project for the 2nd half of my final year at uni so I am going to try and do it in a related field to respiratory and cardiac science. Dunno if that will be enough though. :\

[spam88]

If it helps, I got a position for medical physics this year - I have no nhs lab experience, but I obviously have general lab experience from my degree. In terms of experience of medical physics, I did one relevant module in my degree, prior to applying I arranged a visit to a hospital, and after being offered an interview I attended an open day at another hospital. Obviously experience is going to help because it gives you more to talk about and a better understanding, but I think as long as you can show that you understand lab procedures and you've made some effort to better understand what you're work would involve, you should be ok. It sounds like you're doing loads already, and that shows dedication and passion, so whilst more experience is always good, I really wouldn't worry if you can't find anything

[Becci19]

Thank you! I feel a bit more at ease now haha