NHS Clinical Scientist Recruitment

That's a relief to know...

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Their #1 top concern is are you worth three years of expensive training yes/no. They would rather take a candidate who has convinced them that they will complete the three years and stay in the profession afterwards than a slightly better less committed candidate.

Reply 4181

0-Cool

WHat is the minimum pass mark? it is a C?

Reply 4182

Quixeh

Original post by 0-Cool

WHat is the minimum pass mark? it is a C?

Depends on their predictions for what the average score will be and how many they want to read the essay questions from!

Reply 4183

DoubleInfinity

Finally bit the bullet and did the online tests, found the logical really easy but the numerical one ridiculously hard but I was panicking alot about time so that probably clouded my concentration! I didn't get an unsuccessful email though so I guess my application gets put forward! :biggrin:

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Reply 4184

nimmity

Finally took the aptitude tests and got the rather ambiguous thank you email, so very pleased they will at least read my application!

Reply 4185

nimmity

For those who were wondering about maternity leave etc, I've got hold of last years employment guidance document. (PM me an email address if you'd like a copy.)
They have to give you maternity/paternity leave and centres have info about extending funding and for going part time afterwards. (They consider the same on grounds of stress/illness etc) At the STP conference on wednesday there was a lot of emphasis put on work life balance and that wanting to look after your children is a valid choice not to be penalised.

Reply 4186

Nat89

1

Hi all, not sure if any of you have seen this, but it shows how many places for each area is available, and how many people are being accepted in each part of the country (seems pretty similar to last year):

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/media/1732965/posts_by_location_23.01.13.pdf

Reply 4187

Nat89

1

Also another tip for applications, try to find job descriptions and look at this: http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/media/1730652/person_specification_final_agreed_jeg_review.pdf
I tried to cover everything I could, with any evidence I could think of ... seemed to work for me :smile:

Reply 4188

DoubleInfinity

Original post by nimmity

For those who were wondering about maternity leave etc, I've got hold of last years employment guidance document. (PM me an email address if you'd like a copy.)
They have to give you maternity/paternity leave and centres have info about extending funding and for going part time afterwards. (They consider the same on grounds of stress/illness etc) At the STP conference on wednesday there was a lot of emphasis put on work life balance and that wanting to look after your children is a valid choice not to be penalised.

Hey, where did you find out about an STP conference? Was there any other valid info?

This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Reply 4189

sofiaparimehndi

Original post by nimmity

For those who were wondering about maternity leave etc, I've got hold of last years employment guidance document. (PM me an email address if you'd like a copy.)
They have to give you maternity/paternity leave and centres have info about extending funding and for going part time afterwards. (They consider the same on grounds of stress/illness etc) At the STP conference on wednesday there was a lot of emphasis put on work life balance and that wanting to look after your children is a valid choice not to be penalised.

Oh wow great

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Reply 4190

sofiaparimehndi

Original post by Nat89

Also another tip for applications, try to find job descriptions and look at this: http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/media/1730652/person_specification_final_agreed_jeg_review.pdf
I tried to cover everything I could, with any evidence I could think of ... seemed to work for me :smile:

Just pm'd u... :smile:

so wat course are u enrolled on...how u finding it...I'm so scared for the test... xx

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Reply 4191

nimmity

Original post by DoubleInfinity

Hey, where did you find out about an STP conference? Was there any other valid info?

This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I work in a Medical Physics department and one of our trainees couldn't go. As they'd booked the place and train etc they suggested I go.
Not much more information than I'd got from various websites etc but good suggestions about the electives and a bit of networking with other trainees.

Reply 4192

silentdawn

I've been very stuck with application to this scheme. It seems like they only take on people who have lab based experience. It's impossible to answer these questions without any experience at all especially with the second question '2. Your passion for science and/or technology.' Has anyone here managed to fill it in without any relevant experience?

Reply 4193

kcmackenzie

Original post by silentdawn

'2. Your passion for science and/or technology.' Has anyone here managed to fill it in without any relevant experience?

That question doesn't necessarily have to centre around original work or research or even first hand experience. Jus think about why you want to do the job, why do you like science? It takes some thinking about, because it's basically "science f...ing rules", but if you think about what made you do your undergrad course that might help?

Did your undergrad course not have a practical element to it? Do you keep up with science and technology news, like reading New Scientist, Nature or even the BBC News S&T section? These would be other things to talk about?

Reply 4194

Nat89

1

Original post by sofiaparimehndi

Just pm'd u... :smile:

so wat course are u enrolled on...how u finding it...I'm so scared for the test... xx

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I'm a 1st year Medical Physics STP trainee. It's going great, but be preapered for a very busy year ... I'm currently on my IIR rotation, which is going amazingly, but trying to fit uni weeks in around it is quite tricky, but it's not too stressful which good (If you get sent to Liverpool you do 4 weeks in October, then odd weeks throughout the year, I think for London (Kings I think it is) you just do 3 months at uni before you start rotations).

I was the same, but once you've done it there's no need to worry, also the 'speed-dating' style of the interviews is, well I found it pretty terrifying, but all of the people who interview you want you to do well, they're all really friendly, and do their best to get some sort of answer if you're struggling at all :smile:

Reply 4195

nimmity

Is anyone else worried that 2 jobs have already gone from the positions list? I compared the Med Phys jobs and they are still the same. I know they said that the available positions may change but I wasn't expecting it so soon.

Reply 4196

bigbanggeek

Hi all
I was wondering with this information about us being told if we've failed is that confirmed from this year or is this going by last year? Because I heard they were going to wait till after the deadline this time and weigh up each specialism because last year they had set it too high for medical physics and had to then lower it and email people to say they were then through because they didn't have enough applicants who had passed.

Thanks for any help you guys can give :smile:

Reply 4197

bigbanggeek

Also forgot to mention I was at the open day at kings on Saturday and they told us the interview dates for med phys and engineering incase people are wondering

Med phys is 18, 19 and 20 march clinical engineering is 21 march
Good luck everyone!!

Reply 4198

FID10

Original post by bigbanggeek

Hi all
I was wondering with this information about us being told if we've failed is that confirmed from this year or is this going by last year? Because I heard they were going to wait till after the deadline this time and weigh up each specialism because last year they had set it too high for medical physics and had to then lower it and email people to say they were then through because they didn't have enough applicants who had passed.

Thanks for any help you guys can give :smile:

I had wondered that too, especially as everyone posting so far seems to be getting the same message. Perhaps they do an initial sort and reject applications on a lower minimum pass mark than last year, then wait until all applications have been received to decide on subsequent cut-off mark for each specialism so they have enough, but not too many applications to look over?

Thank you for the information on the Medical Physics interviews too. Was the open day useful? I tried to attend but when I enquired there were no places left :frown: