Classic questions Flashcards
Why do you want to work at NATCAN?
- It would feel great to support the improvement of NHS cancer services. The projects I felt most passionate about when working in healthcare communication were those that were going support the NHS. For example when I helped develop training/educational materials for healthcare professionals e.g. COVID-19 shielding guidance or educational webinars. It would provide me with great job satisfaction to help improve cancer outcomes in particular as it is a disease that affects everyone. Our health service is what I am most proud of in this country so I would love to support it.
- It would be exciting to work at new research centre and to be part of it being established. Agility. Be a part of building relationships, teams, collaborations. Netball capatin enjoyed building relationships within the team.
- Cancer is fascinating - I enjoyed biology of cancer module, developing a grant proposal for cancer research, poster presentation.
Found healthcare evaluation very interest aspect of Global Health year.
Why do you want this job/role?
The duties and responsibilities are exactly what I have been looking for:
1. Statistical analysis and data management are what I enjoy most and they are at the heart of this role. My dissertation projects for both my BSc and Masters were management and analysis of epidemiological datasets and I really enjoyed them. Also lots of learning opportunities which I will fully embrace. I have demonstrated this enthusiasm to learn by seeking out and opportunities to develop my R and SQL skills and earn certifications.
2. There seem to be a lot of communication opportunities in this role; contributing to reports and papers. Sharing our findings in seminars and conference presentations. Developing training materials. Data visualisation. I enjoy communication and I have a wealth of experience: I have been complimented on my academic and professional presentations. I take pride in my concise, clear writing style and I was awarded a distinction for my data analysis report in our most advanced statistical module during my Masters. (Mention CHC training materials if haven’t already).
3. I enjoy working in multidisciplinary teams. I was always working in multidisciplinary teams when I was working in healthcare communications and I thrived. I would collaborate as a part of and co-ordinate teams of academics and/or healthcare professionals (including specialists), medical reviewers, creatives, the client and logistics specialists. Could mention promotion. I think this experience will be invaluable as I collaborate with a diverse range of professionals in this role.
What do you want this position?
(Both role and this centre)
Tell us about yourself /
how has your experience led you to this role?
- I have always been interested in health so I chose to study biomedical science at undergraduate.
- During this time, I most enjoyed analysing a epidemiological dataset for my BSc project and the research communication assignments
- My passion for research communication drove me to work in healthcare communications for two years after university
- However, I found that I missed conducting research and then communicating it, also wanted to work for an organisation that would add to the evidence base for vulnerable groups
- To conduct the research I wanted to conduct, I needed to strengthen my quantitiative analysis skills so I Ieft my job to pursue a masters in epidemiology
- Which I thoroughly enjoyed particularly the statistical modules and projects
- Left confident that I want to pursue a career in quantitative analysis
Any questions for us?
- You mentioned in the job specification that there would be the opportunity to pursue a PhD in this role? How would that work?
- Who would I be working with on the daily?
- How would you describe the culture of the organisation?/the working culture
- What would you hope that the person in this position accomplishes in the first year?
- What is the performance review process like?
- What is your management style like?
- Why do you enjoy working at the Clinical Effectiveness Unit?
- What are the biggest challenges being faced by the CEU and NATCAN?
- What would you anticipate being the most challenging aspects of this job?
- Are there any common characteristics of people who work here?
- What would a typical day be like?
What are your strengths?
Depends on what I have previously said
1. Agility - I demonstrated this throughout my time at Clark Health Communications as it was a small company of ~10 people and we offered such a broad range of services. I was enthusiatic to learn skills; for example, our client asked for a infovideo. So I learnt a video-editing software from scratch. The client kept asking for more bells and whistles so I used resources online and learnt more and more advanced skills. In the end the client was very impressed with the video and my team was grateful for how quickly I picked up the software, I think this will be valuable as the centre is getting set up.
2. Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams - example: Nordic webinars. Worked closely with academics and healthcare professionals to develop the slides. Working with medical review and pharmaceutical client to get approval for the slides. Working with creatives to improve the visual appeal of the slides. Working with technical company on virtual logistics. Client happy with webinars. Commissioned more and another brand manager at the pharmaceutical company booked us for a webinar.
3. Enthusiasm to learn
4. Good organisational skills, including an ability to prioritise work to meet deadlines and work on various tasks simultaneously - CHC and also final year of undergraduate studies
5. I have a diverse range of skills (statistical, communication, project management) which I think will be useful especially as the centre is being set up
What challenges in this role?
Analytically:
* Handling missing and erroneous data, data linkage
errors, differences in case mix
Dissemination of results and
communications
Dissemination of results and communications
NBOCA communicates regularly with stakeholders,
providers, patients and the public in the following ways:
* Regular distribution of newsletters
* Contribution of items for newsletters created by medical
associations, patient associations
* Presentation of audit results at national conferences
* Publication of articles in medical journals and other
media
* Announcements on its website and through its Twitter
feed.
