Medical Interview Preparation

Use Stories To Sell Your Skills

We can go through this strategy in far more detail on the course, but a highly effective way to sell your skills in your ST application form is to write a story - through which you sell your skills

The way this works is by using the natural interest that story telling generates to create a different response in the reader. Then in your story you explain how and why you displayed a given skill...

	Took the time to listen and demonstrate that you understood the patient by repeating what they had said
	Involved other team members in resolving the problem by giving clear and direct instructions
	Took a step back and tried to ignored all of the irrelevant issues going on around you to focus on the primary task at hand
	Recognised that you were getting out of your depths and because you were focussed on the patient's well being, decided to ask your registrar for help

Story telling is a much more successful way of selling your skills than simply stating...

	I am a good listener
	I delegate effectively
	I can handle pressure really well
	I know the limits of my compence and will ask for help

So "Show don't Tell" is a well known motto that is helpful to keep in mind when you are selling your skills in your ST application form

Use stories to set up the play, through which you will sell the two or three skills that you want the reader to appreciate.

Again, we go through these strategies in more detail in the course, but you should definitely consider using this selling strategy in your ST application form