NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme Interview Guide
The NHS GMTS stages, what each one tests, and how to practise for them.
Overview
The NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme trains future NHS leaders. Its recruitment is designed to assess your strengths and potential, not your degree subject, university or previous work experience. For 2027 entry, applications close at 11.30am on 28 October 2026, virtual assessment centres run in January and February 2027, and the scheme starts on the first Monday of September 2027.
Checked against NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme in October 2026. Selection processes change each year, so check the employer's own page before you apply. AI Career Mentor is independent and not connected to NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme.
The interview process
Registration and application form
You register and complete the application form, checking the entry requirements first.
Check an application answer →Stage 1: Future Potential Assessment (online)
About 45 minutes, but not time limited. It also shows you more about the work you would do on the scheme, and you can practise each question type before you start. Everyone gets a feedback report.
Practise situational judgement →Stage 2: NHS GMTS Alignment Assessment
About 60 minutes, including video responses where you show more about yourself; only the video questions are timed. The scheme says its team reviews video responses by hand. Everyone gets a feedback report.
Practise a one-way video interview (choose it in Interview settings) →Stage 3: Virtual Assessment Centre
Half a day of exercises, meeting the NHS team and other candidates. Outcomes are an immediate offer, the reserve list, or unsuccessful, with a feedback report either way.
Practise a full assessment centre →Allocation, offer and onboarding
Not an assessment: successful candidates are matched to placements using their scores and preferences, then complete pre-employment checks.
What they look for
Questions to practise
Written by AI Career Mentor to practise what each stage looks for. They are not NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme's own questions.
Q: “Tell me about a time something you did did not work out. What would you do differently?”
How to answer
Reflection matters here: explain why it went wrong and what you changed, not just that you learned a lesson.
Q: “Why do you want to lead in the NHS rather than elsewhere?”
How to answer
Be specific about the service and the people it serves, and what you would bring as a manager.
Q: “Describe a time you put someone else's needs before the task.”
How to answer
Links naturally to NHS values. Keep the focus on what you did and the outcome for the person.
Tips
Use the practice tests in your applicant account at each stage: they also check your equipment works.
For video responses, answer to the camera, keep each answer to one clear example, and do not read from notes.
Read the NHS Constitution's values before Stage 2 and the assessment centre, and think of a real example for each.
AI Career Mentor
Practice for your NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme interview
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