From Nepotism to Speed-Dating: Selection of Specialty Trainees in Surgery

When Sainsbury's recruit checkout assistants, candidates complete a detailed application form and attend a two-part interview lasting up to one-and-a-half hours. The majority of interviews for recruitment to specialty training in 2007 lasted 30 minutes. Is 30 minutes long enough to make an assessment about whether a junior doctor possesses the skills necessary to become a consultant surgeon?