First of all, I would like to briefly introduce myself. I am not a British but a girl from electronics engineering background originated from Malaysia and is currently in UK holding a Working Holiday Maker(WHM) visa. Due to my background, I believe it would be harder for me to get through the interview even though I am fully prepared with the knowledge in medical equipment.

So, with this post, I urgently need some advise on my upcoming interview for NHS Trainee Clinical Technologist. May I know what are the typical questions? I have been waiting for this vacancy even since I touched down in UK; 6 months ago. So I really need to make a cut in this precious interview chances provided by the hiring manager.

In fact I knew about this web site is through a new British friend who is now served as a Clinical Technologist Lead. And he also shared two more related web sites to assist my preparation for my upcoming interview.

Any advise is very much appreciated! Thanks in advanced! Cheers!

Have a look at this recent forum thread... Tips for interviews

https://www.ebme.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/24917#Post24917

And good luck! - John

Thank you!!! Really thanks to your fast reply! In fact with your pointer I found out more stuff which are useful for interview preparation as well!

I really hope John Sandham will be one of my interview panels. Unfortunately no... Oh well, although I am not a newly graduate but the electronics stuff are still fresh in my mind! Phew!

I was told by the hiring manager that I will be brought around the department before my interview so I just hope there will be no written test etc. as described by one of the forum member.

And again, I am really grateful to your advise! Cheers!

I'm sure you'll be fine Lay Lay.
Good luck and please let us know how you get on

I have just received an official invitation letter for the interveiw today although the interview will be held another two more days... Really close... Luckily I e-mailed the hiring manager on the shortlisting process else it will be too late for me to start preparing for the interview on this coming Thurs! Phew!!

From the letter, the interview session will last for 1.5hours; a tour of Clinical Engineering Department and an interview. A practical test will be involved as well and I have a gut feeling it will be related to the tour. Or would it be related to something else? Any advise on this? I could not seem to locate the answer at the link provided by John earlier on.

Any advise would be very much appreciated! Thanks in advanced!

Lucky you then, that the interview is only a couple of days away. Less time to fret about it. Just relax, stay cool, and be yourself. Everything will be fine. We all wish you the best of luck.

And don't forget to tell us how you get on.

Huw and Geoff, thanks for your support!!! In fact I can't really relax myself yet as I have another link to study on. It's on Anesthesia Monitoring, so really have to finish that before Thurs!

Thanks!

Some practical tests we have used at interviews include the following…

1. Wiring a UK 13A Mains Plug.
2. Soldering/De-soldering components in a simple circuit.
3. Using test equipment (oscilloscope, multimeter) to measure voltage, frequency, current, etc.

Hope this helps & good luck!

Yes, they're good practical tests, those, John.

Back in the good old days, when IAL Medical Services were still a source of work for ex-pat biomeds happily roaming the world, there was a guy who used to do a lot of the interviewing for them (and who, sadly, is no longer with us), who used to keep a few electronic components in the top drawer of his desk. He used to open the drawer, and without glancing inside, just fish out any old thing, and toss it on the desk. He would then invite the candidate to talk about it, usually resulting in much waffling, and sweating of palms. Of course, I saw through this technique, and realized that it was definitely a case of "least said, soonest mended"!

I later tried it when meeting people myself. You’d be surprised (or, there again, perhaps you wouldn’t) at the lengths people would go to to "impress". Some would get right down into the realms of free electrons, holes, gates and all the rest, when I would have been quite satisfied with "… oh, that looks like a DIL 74-series chip" (and even more impressed if he had added "yeah, TTL at 5 VDC")!

So, the moral of the story must be:- if you don’t know, say so. Best not to waffle!

Thanks John!!! I suppose you called me this morning but did not manage to talk to me as I was awaken by my mobile vibration! But luckily you did leave a voice mail. I am really grateful to your extensive support!

Based on the 3 items which you listed, I have exprienced them during my university period but for item 1 I did it at the early of year 2006 as well as usage of a voltmeter in my current room as one of the wall socket was broken and I was trying to get it fixed. If only these 3 items are to be tested then I doubt I have problem with them although my past employments was more on computing rather than on hardware! Phew!

Zillion thanks!!!!

Sure, Geoff! I am a honest person so I doubt I will waffle if I do not know rather I will say 'I do not know or will search further on net!'.

The reason behind is that whatever happens to a medical equipment, if it is not fixed but it is stated as fixed then the end user, the patient will be in deep trouble! There is no reason to cause a sick person's situation to get worst due to dishonesty in Clinical Engineering department! It is a definite no no in my principle!

Hmm... after reading all the articles as well as advises from this website I have a 100% confident to get the job but just a bit worry on my visa... Oh well, will figure that out later when I am hired and at that time I'll definitely update you all!!!

THANKS!!!!

Yes, you definitely gave the right answer there, Lay Lay! One further tip comes to mind. Be sure to mention this forum during the interview, as many people in the biomed world "tune in" here, as it were (even if they may not contribute to the forum themselves). And make sure that they're aware that you're internet savvy as well. It's a big "plus" these days, and rightly so.

Can't help you with your visa situation, I'm afraid. From my very limited dealings with such matters it all seems far too complex. It's almost as though it's made deliberately hard for decent, useful people (such as yourself, of course) to come and work here, whilst those in what we may call "other categories" seem to have no problem at all! As I say, we wish you well.

Oh, Geoff, thanks for this last tip!!! Yeah, sure I'll mention it as it fact this URL has provided a clearer view on what Clinical Engineering is about and it is really matching my principles to a T!!! So I am right all this while by just following my heart!

In addition I also shared this URL with a professor in University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) as in hope he'll spread words on this URL to his students so that more Malaysian students are aware of this web site as well as gain knowledge from this forum! Cheers!

Well lay lay…..it is good that you are going with 100% confident but I would say don’t forget about your competitor, maybe he/she is 110% sure to get this position.
Wish me good luck

Finally, the interview is over!!! And I would like to thank the mysterious caller again, who now I doubt is John. The information shared by the mysterious caller was, in fact, the actual practical test question! Luckily I can till recall what I have learnt during my Advanced Diploma years!

But after the interview, I have can only score my response with 50-50 rather than 100% as I answered poorly on the technical questions... And also probably I talked too much throughout the interview which eventually dragged the interview to last for 1hour and 45mins... In addition I also noticed I did not answer the question directly/straight forward so... Oh well, I know I have done my best so now just have to leave it for the time being until probably a week later I will then know the outcome of this interview...

So I would summerize I would keep my fingers crossed!

Lay Lay, thats what interviews are you take time to prepare but minor mistakes occur but if the interviewers really indentified that you ve got the potential definetly the job is your, us who are believers we say lets put all before the almighty, otherwise the last time i had an interview was when i wanted to join a Telecom company as a transmisssion engineer, basically i was changing career but i made also alot of talking , technically i was not good in telecom though i tried to convince them how i have succeded in my previous jobs.

All i say have some little faith...

Roman

Roman, thanks for your consolation. I really appreciate it. :)Yeah, same here as well, I'll just leave it to GOD as there is nothing much I can do now but just patiently waiting for the outcome of the interview which I hope will be a positive one!

Don't spend all week fretting about it, though, Lay Lay. What's done is done, so just relax for a few days and let it be. We've all been in a similar position. Whatever happens, it will be as fate intends. "Let the time card be drawn from the limitless future". All will be well, inshallah. Good Night from the Midnight Commander!

Hi Johnland123, my apologize for taking such a long time to reply to you! I hope you don't mind!

Since you mentioned my competitors might have 110%, then I would say I have infinity confident! :P Anyway now I can just leave it to GOD to justify my effort... if you are one of my competitors then I would still wish you luck as well! The reason is that if you are being recruited rather than me then I hope you'll take your post seriously as life is at stake at the end of your post!

On behalf of the patients I would like to thank you in advanced! Cheers!

A great news to share with you all!!! I was called up today by the HR of the hospital and was told that HR is currently verifying on my visa status!!! which implying that I am in for the Trainee Clinical Technologist post!!!! Really indeed a extremely great news to me!!!!

Again I would like to take this opportunity to thank all for helping me by giving me precious advises and tips!!! My success is only possible with the help from you all!!!


ZILLIONS THANK YOU!!!!!

We'll keep our fingers crossed

Just received an, sort of, dissapointing e-mail from HR... the recruitment for Trainee Clinical Technologist is put on hold and they will be readvertising the post again but will close on 19 of Oct.

Based on my assumption, if I am right, they want to convince the UK government that there is no suitable candidate for the trainee post as to ease my application for UK working permit later on...

Well, need to be patience still... but still stand a hope there... really tired of waiting...

Nerve wracking, Lay Lay. But here's some more advice. Get away for three weeks or so and do something completely different. Doesn't really matter what it is. Just a change of scene. Do a bit of sight-seeing, or whatever. It's probably getting a bit too chilly now for surfing at Newquay. Better get a skate-board, then.

Geoff, thanks for your idea/consolation... Anyway, starting from next week, I'll cut down my voluntary work over in Loughborough Hospital due to my temp works which are really taxing my body and coincidently close-down of a ward which leads to overstaff in the ward which I volunteered in... I would say it's a almost complete change for me over in UK... More time for temp works and really hope that I'll get the trainee post soon!

Anyway the HR did not get back to me today on the answer behind the hold on on my application form... On Tues I spoke to her on my willingness to pay for my working permit when my working holiday visa is due after 1 year period. And I have just reviewed the advert for the Trainee post again and I should be recruited if their main concern is on paying for my working permit later on... Their act really alienates/discriminates me... If think in-depth, NHS is lying on its support towards diversify employment! |X

In fact, during the interview, I was told there were tons of applicants! And why so to have to readvertise the Trainee post again??? Just wasting tax payer's money!!! Does not make sense at all! Grrrr...

The fact that you work as a volunteer is highly commendable, Lay Lay. But I’m realistic enough (old and grizzled enough, too) to doubt that it would do more than salve your conscience as far as gaining employment is concerned.

I doubt that there’s any discrimination going on, though. It’s probably more like the fact that the NHS is a "big firm" and ponderously plods through every procedure in the book. Unlike you, I should imagine, "they" won’t be in any hurry to process applications from anyone.

Although, of course, the vast majority of biomed tech jobs fall within the NHS, don’t forget also that there are always opportunities in the private sector. I have known other young ladies in similar circumstances to your own (ie, trainee level, visa status etc.) to find biomed work with private companies.

Needless to say, I don’t work for the NHS myself. But from my involvement as a private contractor (with no particular axe to grind), I can definitely report that there is no discrimination against workers from overseas in British NHS hospitals! However, sadly I have come across sites where a "closed shop" policy appears to exist in the biomed department (although I’m sure it would never be admitted to)!

My advice? Cast your net a little wider.

Well, I also did enquire on an entry biomed job located in Scotland and the agency right away turned me down by saying that it is impossible the company will sponsor an entry staff. So can I expect more from the private sector then?

In fact I intend to get into UK NHS is also for me to gain knowledge from NHS methodology in healthcare as to transfer the knowledge back to Malaysia one day as public healthcare in Malaysia provides very poor services comparing to UK NHS. It's incomparable!

Whatever the reason behind on holding on the trainee recruitment is, I'll know one day.

Regrettably, it’s been over thirty years since I was last in Malaysia, Lay Lay, and I expect there has been a few changes since then! Not all of them for the better, I should imagine (eg, population, pollution etc.). But I do recall that twenty or so British designed Nucleus hospitals were built there in the late 1980’s.

Let’s hope that Malaysia doesn’t try to emulate our own NHS, the founding principles of which have proved to be unsustainable, I’m sad to say.

Well, I suppose thirty years ago I was just born!

And sad to say mindset of Malaysians are degraded; profit driven, racist... Really a sad scenario until recently, Badawi, becomes the Prime Minister of Malaysia and starts to change Malaysians' mindset... But then it will take years to change Malaysians' mindset which I doubt Malaysia will reach its 2020 vision on time...

Thanks for the hint. I doubt public healthcare in Malaysia is going to be identical to NHS at all in future but I would like to contribute by adopting the positive aspect of NHS: fairness to all patients regardless of their wealth status. That's the reason why I opt for NHS rather than private sector; need to immerse myself to get better view of NHS in general in order to facilitate my overall analysis on NHS.

Just managed to spoke to the HR. Apparently the interview panel is still undecidable and intends to publish the Trainee post in the local newspaper. This will be the 3rd round of advert. It also implies I am not an excellent interviewee to be recruited... Basically I am at the limbo now... Well, at least I know much better on the situation now...

Time on your hands Lay Lay? Why not start a blog (...maybe you already have)? Check out the Blogger website. You'll never have any spare time again!

Hey Lay Lay ... I’ve just noticed that you’re already a prolific blogger! You've already done a lot of sight-seeing too, by the look of it. I’ll wade through it all when I get a little time.

You may have come across the saying "wearing your heart on your sleeve"? It dates all the back to Shakespeare's Othello, apparently. I’m hoping that your open and outgoing style doesn’t provide ammunition to those who may not be on the same page as yourself, so to speak. There are jealous types about everywhere, unfortunately. Conversely, we British (well, I guess I’m really thinking of my own generation here, and those who went before) are noted for our famous reserve, perhaps for good reason!

<removed by admin>

I was told by the HR the readvertistment will only be done in the local newspaper and now??? I found the advert in the NHS online jobs site!!!! Is NHS online jobs site = local newspaper??? I am a Malaysian and do understand english every well! And based on my understanding, NHS online job site != local newspaper!!!! Crap! I would say luckily I yet to work for them!

<removed by admin>

I am just about to brush up my electronics engineering skills while pending on the outcome of the next round of interview on the readvertisement. Now I found out <removed by admin> and I doubt I am going to continue at all! Crap!!!



Lay Lay - please consider the libel laws in the UK before posting. --- admin

Geoff, just beware when you view through my blogs, particularly on 'Why Human Are So Blind'; my very 1st blog. I hope you'll not be offended though...

Have you tried Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust Lay Lay? I believe they're looking for trainees.

Yes I DID and was cheated!!! Crap trust! I doubt I am going to submit application to this trust again and some more it is located in an expensive location!

I guess none of the candidates, including yourself, were what they were looking for. What do you mean when you say you were cheated? In what way is that trust "crap"?

Well, I have no idea! I was told by the HR I am reserved due to my extremely poor engineering skills which I admitted I did during the interview and I intend to brush it up. But I received a private message to ask me search for a trainee post under that trust with 1 year - 18 months of full training as to get registered under IPEM. So I did as guided by the private message.
And heck! I found the similar advert as I applied for!!!! And I was told by the HR they are going to readvertise locally but now is in NHS jobs site! I strongly disagree that NHS jobs site = locally as quoted by the HR's reply! NHS jobs site = GLOBALLY! www.jobs.nhs.co.uk. I feel being cheated! And I hate being cheated! Grrr....

If you can get training on the IPEM training scheme under POST then it is possible to obtain "fast-track" registration to the VRCT.

No problem there, Lay Lay. After all, as some wise old dude or other mentioned "... if he has dignity or meaning, man has to rise above his animalism"!

Following on from your later rants (er, posts), what comes immediately to mind are two other poetry snippets (you can take your pick):-

"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned" (Congreve "The Mourning Bride")

...or....

"When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride, He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside, But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail, For the female of the species is more deadly than the male." (Kipling)

Finally I spoke to the hiring manager today. Well, a great thanks to the HR department. They messed up again!!! Really wonder do they know the consequences of not following the instruction of the hiring department??? Well, apparently NO in this case!!!

Well, if there will be an interview going on for the readvertised post, the trust will be spending unnecessary money --> wasting tax payer money by having to reimburse the travelling fare of the interviewees! Grr...

You obviously hoped (expected) that things were going to be better in the UK than they are back home, Lay Lay. But human nature, in all its facets, prevails wherever homo sapiens rule, I would say. Care to comment on that?

Yes, I do expect a much better scenario over in UK but then I seriously doubt it now. Not purely due to this incident but my experience with an unethical recruitment agency; never keep their promises, never pay regularly unless the temp keeps an eye on his or her bank account. Just a crap agency.

I am waiting for the day for me to call off from them. I hope will be soon!

In fact I have a gut feeling; the HR intends to manually filter out those applicants who are not residing within the Oxfordshire. I feel it would be unfair to these applicants. Anyway when I spoke to the hiring manager today he has doubt there will be an interview at all! I suppose there is nobody call him up yet or probably he did verbally inform those who did call up that the post is limited to those residing in Oxfordshire only.

Oh well, I privately did receive a special request from a EBME registrant to share hints/clues on my past interview with him/her. And I am not a selfish person and willing to share whatever I can recall but as to ensure that I am helping the right person I did reply by asking him/her on the questions listed below: -
1. Since you are so keen to be in the post, why you did not apply at the 1st instance when the post was 1st advertised?
2. Why does him or her earger to be a Clinical Technologist?

Until now I did not receive a reply from him or her yet. Well, will be still pending on his or her reply as to justify for my hints/clues on my interview! Cheers!

Great news! I am finally able to call quit from the unethical agency!!! Just committed myself to another temp job from an ethical and reliable agency! So my financial side is resolved; with consistent income!

And the person did reply to both of my questions this morning. But I feel only the answer to the 1st one question is acceptable to me if I were the interviewer... Anyway I did share with him/her on the technical questions which I could recall and wish him/her luck!

Well if he or she is hired rather than me then I can only comment that the interview panels probably have disability on the interview day; no intuition at all. Will see then! Cheers!

Why share, when you could sell?

Only joking, Lay Lay, as I know that you could never do that. So, is the temp job something to your liking? We hope so. And do you know, some people never settle and just roam from one temp job to another throughout their complete career. I've been a bit like that myself, although I would have to admit that the word "career" is a bit of an over-elaboration in my case! Anyway, good luck.

Nope in my case unfortunately. I hope I have a choice to earn money by working in what I love but in reality that's not the case. So now I am sort of being forced to drop my voluntary work from 4hours to probably less than 4hours per day... Just wish I could earn money through voluntary works but nope or else it will never be termed as 'voluntary'!

Both temp jobs are cleaning roles; one within a university residential hall and another is within a local primary school. And I hope my desired job; Trainee Clinical Technologist will come soon! So at the mean time I just focus to earn as much as possible as to be ready to move out from my current location. I hope I will not be skinner with these jobs as they are physical energy demanding jobs. Just hope I can call an end to both jobs soon!

So just have to be patience as well as diligence to earn as much as I could before Dec 07.

Frankly, I admire your spirit, Lay Lay, not to mention your willingness to work. Both characteristics can not always be taken for granted these days, regretably.

A lady I know very well, who some years ago feel upon hard times, was not too proud to get stuck into cleaning jobs. After a while her willingness, and hard work, was duly noted and she now manages property in the UK for the ruling Sheikh of Dubai. She was (and is) also the "soul of discretion", which was highly regarded by the Sheikh, too.

Stick to your principles, and you'll get your just rewards eventually. Voluntary work is especially satisfying, I would say, if only because you can pick and choose about what you actually do! I like a bit of physical work now and then myself. Not only is it "good for the soul", but it also burns off all those Twix bars!

I'm thinking of doing a Jimmy Savile (you may not have heard of him, I guess). He was (and is) a well-known DJ and TV personality who used to put in shifts every week as a porter at a hospital in Leeds. I'm part of the way down that road already, as (like Sir Jimmy), I'm usually to be found in my track-suit! Ha, ha.

Hi all,

Some update from me again! Just spoke to the hiring manager today and there will be a 3rd round of interview which will be held next week. And I'll only learn about the outcome on the following week the earliest.

Well, if there is no call from the HR by then I'll follow up with the hiring manager again! And, of course, will post in this forum again!!

Again, THANKS TO YOU ALL WHO HAVE ASSISTED ME THROUGHOUT MY APPLICATION FOR TRAINEE CLINICAL TECHNOLOGIST!!! THANKS!!!!

Hi all,

Just received a reply from the HR. I am dropped out from the post now and another person is picked from the 3rd round of interview which was held last Fri...

Hmm... now I really wonder what is the real reason for placing me as a reserved candidate. is it purely due to my knowledge in basic electricity? This is really a BIG question mark to me! I'll figure out with the hiring manager on Thurs (05/12/2007) and hopefully he is able to give a satisfactory answer!

Anyway, I suppose I'll be leaving this forum for good now since I can't really contribute anything at all...

Enjoy your job while I'll continue my torturing work.

I'll admit that I'm running out of suggestions, Lay Lay, except to say that there are other fish in the sea, as it were. If I were you I would let this job go (why prolong the agony?), and look around elsewhere. This time of year is a bit of a dead loss when it comes to picking up work, as the hospital hiring types will be distracted with other nonsense. But come the New Year, when they realise that they haven't yet spent their budget, things usually perk up a bit. Why not relax and enjoy the "Festive Season" (we're not allowed to call it "Christmas" now, you know), just like everybody else?

But, whatever you do, please don't leave the forum. We sorely need a bit of light relief now and then.

But having just seen this, I would have to say it looks like you need to get your skates on Lay Lay!

Geoff, I know you were trying to console me, but, oh well, I intend to let it go as well but I seriously need to know what is the real reason behind as I prefer not to blindly pursue something which is completely impossible.

So, for the time being, I'll continue to work for the agencies and will quit by end of this month. Starting from next month, with my move, I hope I am able to secure any engineering post ASAP as my 1 year period is almost finishing soon which, at a later stage, will prevent me from working... So time is running out by end of March '08... I hope I were you able to relax with my current situation but I just can't until I secure a permanent job anyway; be it in a hospital or not.

Anyway, I'll revert back to IC design if I am still able to secure one in UK. Will see then.

Thanks!

Hello Laylay,

send me your CV. I may have a post you would be interested in.

regards,

John. john@ebme.co.uk

Hi John,
Thanks!!! I am really speechless now! Earlier on today I was busy with preparing my CV for the IC design post but really have no idea what to put in! And was thinking how to distinguish myself from other applicants, except boosting which I am really poor in... And now you save my day! You'll receive my CV in a while as it is already ready!

Thank you Laylay,

I look forward to reviewing your CV.

John.

Hi John,

I've just sent my CV to you unfortunately as I sent to a wrong address yesterday night but did not realize it until a while ago...

I suppose you should have received my CV by now but I am not sure whether is it a format which you prefer. If you prefer a certain format of CV as to ease your reviewing, please do not hesistate to let me know by, probably, replying to my e-mail.

Thank you! Cheers!

Hi all,

I would like to thank everyone in the forum on leading me to secure a trainee technician post in EBME service centre at Harlow!!!

FYI. I'll be starting on the 4th of Feb '08 and I am looking for my first day at work there!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Cheers!!

Well done Lay Lay, perseverance has paid off!!!

Lay Lay

Can I just ask, did they ask if you anything with regards to the VRCT, or if you would be eligible to join?

Regards

Alan M

Hi Alan,

Oh! I have no idea on that! As my main intention is to gain practical experience in servicing and maintenance role for medical equipment. But I was told if there is a need to be registered then I suppose will probably heading for VRCT.

Will worry about that issue later since now is only the very early stage for me!!

Mazal Tov!

Ah, that well known Malaysian greeting

Indeed!

Henk, thanks for your greeting; a greeting which is a bit too difficult for me to understand until Geoff obtained the translation of it. Thanks Geoff for the translation!!!