Confidently Stepping Into Senior Roles: How to Prepare for SMO Interviews
Stepping into a Senior Medical Officer (SMO) role represents a pivotal career milestone. These positions demand more than clinical expertise — they require leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to align with broader service goals. In a recent webinar, I explored how doctors can prepare for SMO interviews with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Understand What the Panel is Really Assessing
Senior interviews shift the focus from clinical competence to leadership capability, service development, and system thinking. Panels — often comprising executives, department heads, and senior clinicians — want to see how you influence services, work across systems, and contribute to long-term goals.
Preparation begins by carefully reviewing the position description and aligning your examples with the organisation’s strategic priorities. Public sector interviews may emphasise equity, resource stewardship, and policy leadership, while private sector roles often focus on business growth and innovation.
Master Key Themes: Leadership, Quality, Strategy, and Engagement
Throughout the webinar, we explored four essential themes likely to arise in interviews:
- Leadership and Team Dynamics: Panels want evidence of how you lead during uncertainty, collaborate across teams, and contribute to positive service culture.
- Quality and Safety: Become familiar with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. Even if not asked directly, weaving these into your responses demonstrates a proactive approach to governance and risk management.
- Strategic Thinking: Research the organisation’s strategic plans. Panels will notice if you can discuss population growth, service development, and models of care with insight.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Showcase your ability to build strong interdisciplinary relationships, manage conflict, and engage with internal and external partners.
Tell Stories, Not Just Facts
A key strategy I shared was using a structured storytelling approach. Rather than offering superficial answers, frame your experiences using these steps:
- What was happening?
- What did you need to do?
- What actions did you take?
- What changed because of your actions?
- What insights did you gain?
Storytelling transforms your answers into compelling narratives that panels remember.
Prepare Anchor Stories and Practise Strategically
Anchor stories are versatile examples that can be adapted to multiple questions. Prepare three to four strong stories illustrating leadership, strategy, collaboration, and quality improvement.
Practise speaking aloud — recording yourself can help — and attend mock interview sessions if possible. Good preparation builds poise, allowing you to stay calm, concise, and authentic under pressure.
Final Reminders
During your interview, read the room. Listen carefully to questions to pick up on what truly matters to the panel. If you don’t know an answer, be honest — avoid waffling.
Above all, remember: senior interviews are not just about past achievements but about your future potential as a leader within their service.
If you’d like more personalised support, I invite you to join my upcoming Interview Intensive Mini-Workshop or book a free consultation through my website. Let’s help you step into your next leadership role with confidence.
