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Questions to practise
What checks do you do before you scan a patient?
Safety comes first. She wants to hear that you never skip a check and know the right order.
Go through your checks in order. For example: patient name and date of birth, the request, the right body part, a pregnancy check where relevant, and removing metal items. Say you keep the dose as low as possible. Use 'first', 'then' and 'finally'.
Tell me about a time you made a mistake or had a near miss. What did you do?
She wants honesty. Good imaging teams learn from near misses and report them.
Choose a small, real example. Say what happened, how you noticed it, who you told, and what you changed after. Stay calm and honest. Finish with what you learned.
A patient is nervous. How would you explain the scan to them?
Patients need to feel calm. She wants to hear simple, kind words without hard technical terms.
Speak to the manager as if she is the patient. Say how long it takes, what they will feel, and what they need to do. Example: 'This takes about five minutes. You need to stay very still for me.'
A patient is in pain and cannot stay still. What do you do?
Moving can spoil the image. She wants kindness to the patient and a clear, safe plan.
Show kindness first. Say you would speak calmly and help the patient get comfortable. If they still cannot stay still, you would ask a colleague or a senior for advice. Show that you do not guess.
Tell me about a day with many patients. How did you stay accurate?
Busy days happen often. She wants to know you keep quality and safety when time is short.
Give a real example. Say what was busy, what you did, and how it went. Include one clear point: 'Even on a busy day, I never skip a safety check.'
How do you work with the team when the day is busy?
Imaging is teamwork. She wants someone who helps others and asks for help.
Give one real example of teamwork. Maybe you asked a colleague to help with a patient, or you helped someone catch up. Say what you did and what the result was.
What would you do if a request did not look right to you?
She wants to know you stop and check, and do not guess.
Say you would not scan yet. Explain that you would check the request again and speak to the right person on the team. Keep it simple and clear.
Why do you want to be a radiographer here?
She wants to understand your motivation and if you care about patients and the team.
Give two or three honest reasons. You might talk about caring for patients, working carefully, or learning in a hospital team. Keep it short and real.
Tell me a little about your work with patients so far.
She wants to hear about your experience and how you treat people.
Talk about where you worked or trained, and what kind of patients you met. Add one short example that shows you are kind and careful.
How do you keep your skills up to date?
Equipment and methods change. She wants someone who keeps learning.
Name one or two real ways, like training sessions, reading new guidance, or learning from senior colleagues. Give a short example of something new you learned and how you use it at work.
Let me go through my checks in order.
Clara
AI coach
Leo
AI coach
Lines to try
Let me go through my checks in order.
First, I check the patient's name and date of birth against the request.
I would explain it in simple words, like this.
This takes about five minutes. You need to stay very still for me.
Even on a busy day, I never skip a safety check.
When I need help, I ask a colleague early.
Common questions
What if I forget a safety check during my answer?
That is okay. Stay calm and add it. You can say, 'I also check…' The manager wants to see that you are careful and honest. A clear order helps, so practise your checks out loud a few times before the interview.
How simple should my patient explanation be?
Very simple. Use short sentences and everyday words. Say how long it takes, what the patient will feel and what they need to do. Imagine you are speaking to a nervous person who is not a health worker. A warm, slow voice helps too.
Do I need a real example of a busy day?
A real example is best. Think of one day with many patients. Say what happened, what you did to stay accurate and how you worked with the team. If you are new, you can use an example from training or another job.