Survival of the fittest

"Mr X. ..." I am not sure whether the secretary of the inter viewing committee ever finishes the sentence but for four to six anxiously waiting candidates it means that one of them has been chosen to join that select group of people called "consultant surgeons." My name was called just over an hour ago?at least I think it was for I still feel rather flattened and shocked by the news. I also feel a sense of relief, sympathy, and excitement? relief that the uncertainty of my family's future has been removed, relief that I do not need to apply for further posts, sympathy for the other candidates, and excitement about the prospects of the new job. Competition for any post is desirable and should produce the best candidate, but is the present system ideal ? The average age of surgical consultants on appointment remains at 38, and the average number of interviews attended by each is 11. Perhaps I should feel fortunate that I had to face the trial of an interview only five times, and I hope that my comments on the selection procedure will be helpful.