August 2026 · 8 minute read
Stage 1: the consultant interview
Before you are put forward for anything, your consultant will interview you, usually for 30 to 45 minutes by video. This is a real interview, not a formality. We are assessing depth in your specialism, how you describe your results, your reasons for moving, and your expectations on pay, location, and work model. Treat it as seriously as an employer interview and be candid: the more we know, the better we can represent you and the fewer surprises there are later.
Come prepared with three or four examples of work you are proud of, with numbers where you have them: savings delivered, service levels improved, incidents reduced, pipeline generated, launches shipped.
Stage 2: the brief and your decision
When a role fits, we send you the full brief and talk it through: the organization, the manager, the team, the systems, the salary range, and, importantly, the hard parts. Ask us anything. We have usually placed people there before or asked the awkward questions in the briefing call. You decide whether to proceed; nothing is sent without your permission.
Stage 3: preparation call
Before each employer interview we run a short prep call covering:
- The format: who is interviewing, how long, in person or video, and whether there is a case study or presentation.
- What the interviewers care about, based on the brief and our conversations with them.
- The questions this employer tends to ask, and how to frame your experience in their language (for example, a hospital's language around value analysis and standardization, or a SaaS company's around pipeline and activation).
- Practicalities: parking, security, dress, and who to ask for.
Stage 4: the employer interviews
Structure your answers
Most employers in our practices use competency or behavioural questions. A simple structure works: the situation, what you were responsible for, what you did, and what happened as a result. Keep each answer to two or three minutes and lead with the outcome.
Expect specialism questions
In supply chain: how you would run a sourcing event, handle a shortage, or manage a product conversion with clinicians. In technology: architecture decisions, incident stories, and how you work in a regulated environment. In marketing: campaigns you owned end to end, how you measured them, and how you handled review or compliance.
Ask good questions
Questions that tell you whether the role is right, and show the interviewer you are thinking about it seriously:
- What would a successful first year look like from your point of view?
- What decisions can this role make without sign-off?
- What did the last person in the role find hardest?
- Which systems or processes are changing in the next 12 months?
- How does the team work across sites, or between office and remote?
Stage 5: feedback and next steps
We collect feedback from the employer after every stage and share it with you honestly, including when it is not what you hoped. We also pass your feedback to the employer. If you want to withdraw at any point, tell us and we will handle it professionally.
Stage 6: offer, negotiation, and resignation
Your consultant negotiates the offer on your behalf, using live salary data from comparable placements. Tell us your real number and any conditions early so we can secure them without back-and-forth. When you accept, we talk you through resigning well, handling a counter-offer, and managing your notice period.
Practical checklist
- Confirm the format, time zone, and video link the day before
- Re-read the brief and your own CV; interviewers will ask about specifics
- Prepare three to four result stories with numbers
- Prepare three questions of your own
- Have your notice period, salary expectation, and start-date constraints ready
- Call your consultant straight after the interview while it is fresh
Not registered yet? Submit your CV and a practice consultant will be in touch within two business days.