Vascular Surgery 22nd February 2024

Vascular Surgery ST3: Interview 2024

Are you interested in applying for Vascular Surgery ST3 in the 2024 recruitment window? To help you make a lasting impression with your application, we’ve created this Vascular Surgery ST3 interview guide. The guide covers the key recruitment dates, the interview format and how your application will be scored.

Vascular surgery used to be linked to general surgery. However, the application process for the two specialties has been separate for a few years now, and 2024 is no different. Therefore, if you’re applying for both specialties, you’ll need to fill out separate application forms.

Securing a vascular surgery post isn’t easy, as demonstrated by last year’s competition ratios. In round 2 of 2023, there were 191 applications for 42 posts. This resulted in a competition ratio of 4.55, meaning over four people applied for each post.

Vascular Surgery ST3 Application

The Vascular Surgery ST3 application window is open from 16 November to 7 December 2023. To be eligible for the specialty, you must have achieved the core surgical competencies via one of the following methods:

• Currently employed in a UK core surgical training programme which leads to successful completion of the programme by the advertised post-start date.
• Successful completion of a UK core surgical training programme, evidenced by a satisfactory ARCP outcome
• Achievement of core surgical competencies at the time of application via a completed Certificate of Readiness to Enter Higher Surgical Training.

You must meet all elements of the entry criteria to be longlisted for Vascular Surgery ST3. The assessors will make this decision by examining the contents of your application form, and judging based on your:

• Qualifications
• Clinical skills
• Academic skills
• Personal skills
• Professional integrity
• Commitment to specialty

You can find more information about the eligibility criteria and the application form in the 2024 Vascular Surgery ST3 person specification.

You will also complete a self-assessment as part of the application process. This will be used for the purpose of shortlisting for the interviews. You will find more information on how your application is scored below.

Vascular Surgery ST3 Recruitment Timeline

You can find the key 2024 recruitment dates for Vascular Surgery ST3 below:

Vascular Surgery ST3 Application Scoring

As part of your Vascular Surgery ST3 application, you’ll have ten self-assessment questions to answer. Each question will be accompanied by a list of possible responses, where you should choose the most relevant option. Each option you select will give you a score reflecting your level of experience in that domain.

The highest self-assessment score you can get is 34, while the lowest is 2. Later in the process, your self-assessment scores will be used to determine the success of your application, and whether you’ll be shortlisted for interview. You’ll be required to submit evidence to verify your claims. And, if the interviewers are unable to verify that your evidence matches your answers, you won’t be awarded any points for that domain.

Vascular Surgery ST3 Interview Format

Vascular Surgery ST3 interviews will take place on 18 March 2024. Every interview will take place remotely, with the panel consisting of four consultants. There may also be a Lay Representative in attendance, who is there to assess the quality of the interview process.

You can expect the interview to take 50 minutes in total. The interview will assess different areas of your skills, knowledge and expertise, through the following scenarios:

Station 1 Question 1 – Clinical Scenario

For the first part of the interview, you’ll be given a clinical scenario involving a patient. You’ll have five minutes to review the scenario before answering questions for ten minutes.

Station 1 Question 1 – Communication Scenario

This part of the interview will challenge you to answer questions about a communication scenario for ten minutes.

Station 2 Question 2 – Management Scenario

Before this question, you’ll be given a management scenario based on a clinical environment. You’ll have five minutes to review the situation and then ten minutes to answer questions on the management scenario.

Station 2 Question 2 – Virtual Skills

For the final part of the interview, you’ll face ten minutes of questioning about a virtual operative skills scenario.

Good luck with your application!