Interview For Volunteering At Hospital!!!!

Hey TSR I've got an interview next week for a volunteer placement at my local hospital and was wondering what sort of questions could they ask me besides the obvious why do you want to volunteer???? Pleeeeeeeease help I recently got rejected from an interview about volunteering a an old people's home :frown:

*cry* (Although I didn't know it was for mental people until they asked qu's like how would you deal wth a person having an epileptic fit :confused:

)

Yeah but I would be reeeeeeealy grateful if you guyz could help me out this time round!

Thank youuuuuuuuuuu. I'll rep u guyz 2!!!!! :biggrin:

Reply 1

Johnny C.

Jeez, getting rejected for a voluntary placement - that's a bit harsh.

In my experience (I volunteer at a hospice and a hospital and had interviews for both) the interview is just a chance for them to put a face to a name and talk to you about what you'll be doing and checking you're OK with it. They'll also want to know what you expect to get out of the placement so they know you haven't got unrealistic expectations. Finally they'll get you to fill out forms and things like the CRB check.

TBH, these things are normally just a formality, so unless you come across as rude or arrogant, you should be absolutely fine. :smile:

Reply 2

-42-

shenzys

*cry* (Although I didn't know it was for mental people until they asked qu's like how would you deal wth a person having an epileptic fit :confused:

)

Yeah but I would be reeeeeeealy grateful if you guyz could help me out this time round!

Thank youuuuuuuuuuu. I'll rep u guyz 2!!!!! :biggrin:

Hmm, well you might find out that the 'interview' isn't really a selection process but just a way of filtering out anyone terribly unsuitable.

Well, be prepared to get asked how useful this will be to you (not just - because I have to have it for my application!), and what skills you think you will gain from it (i.e. patient communication, caring etc.).

They'll probably expect that you do want to follow a career in Medicine, so be prepared to maybe answer why that is.

There's no need to worry about being asked what to do if such and such happens to a patient, you'll have strictly no clinical contact obviously with them!

Well just off the top of my head I think you should try and concentrate more on how you come across rather than the actual questions that get asked your way - be enthusiastic and passionate, get across that the main reason you are doing this is to HELP THE PATIENTS first and foremost, show (if possible) that you are trustworthy and reliable (comment perhaps on that fact you recognise patient confidentiality and all that). Oh and smile :biggrin:

.

Hope it goes well for you, try and have fun! :smile:

--42

Reply 3

Revd. Mike

For starters, make sure you're clued up on what you're expected to do. Sayig you had no idea it was for "mental people" shows a bit of thoughtlessness on your part, doesn't it? Also, be careful about what you say, or you'll end up upseting people (E.g. "mental people". Also curious as to why you think epileptics are mental?)

According to the pamphlet I was given, (this may be specific only to my Trust), the interview is not a selection process, but just to find out where you'd be best suited. For example, if you have a special interest, you'd probably do well to mention it!

Reply 4

dogtag9

shenzys

Pleeeeeeeease help I recently got rejected from an interview about volunteering a an old people's home :frown:

*cry* (Although I didn't know it was for mental people until they asked qu's like how would you deal wth a person having an epileptic fit :confused:

)

:

LOL, Never heard of a voluntary work rejection. You must have done something terribly wrong :rolleyes:

. Most of the questions they ask require common sense. One, they seem to like is 'What will you do when you say something and a patient starts to cry?' answer: ask what you said wrong. They will also asks questions to determine if you will consult someone higher up the chain if something occurs beyond your capabilities. Not because you want to be a doctor, you take matters into your own hands and inject a patient with morphine if he complains of pains :eek:

. Also they will want to know if you are aware of what lies in stock for you and what you expert to gain from the voluntary work. If you have any language skills, its always a bonus.
Main purpose of the interview is to determine that you are not some psycho who want to prey on vulnerable people. :smile:

Reply 5

dogtag9

Remember not to have racial ,political,religious or any sensitive conversations with patients as they could be offended

Reply 6

Madprof

dogtag9

Remember not to have racial ,political,religious or any sensitive conversations with patients as they could be offended

I think that's a little too PC ... you can talk about 'sensitive' issues - you just have to be sensitive!

Especially if they bring up the subject, that's fine! Obviously, don't agree with them if they say something you don't believe/is racist/religionist (yes, I'm making up words...), and I'm not advocating doing a 'hard sell' of your religion (and as with any conversation, you should obviously be polite and tactful, but that goes without saying), but if they're comfortable with the conversation and you are, why not? I've discussed politics, religion, etc with patients/residents plenty of times, and they;ve been some of the best conversations I've had there.

Reply 7

Becca-Sarah

I just messed up a hospice interview today (still got the volunteer position tho!). They got a tad irritable when I mentioned wanting to become a doctor and I got the lecture on volunteering because I wanted to help people, not as a means to an end to get into medical school! lol.
I got told not to mention religion and to direct any questions back to the patient. Like if they ask for your opinion, you're supposed to say "well, what do you think of this?"

Reply 8

dogtag9

Madprof

I think that's a little too PC ... you can talk about 'sensitive' issues - you just have to be sensitive!
.

Well those were not my words, but that of the volunteer coordinator during my interview. i agreed to not involving in 'sensitive' discussions but ive hardly practised that.
Maybe i didnt phrase the sentence properly as well, what i meant to say was, do not express you views on immigration and the likes? asking about other peoples religion and culture is perfectly fine!