Plastic Surgery Trainees Reveal Interview Secrets: How to get a number

How to Get an ST3 Plastic Surgery Number: Interview Prep, Resources & Online Setup Tips Miss Dhalia Masud talks to ST3 trainee Tenni and CT trainee hamza open questions about the interview process This episode discusses how to prepare for the highly competitive plastic surgery ST3 “number” interview, featuring Tenni (a plastic surgery registrar who got her number two years ago) and Hamza (a core surgical trainee who got his number this year and will start in Birmingham). They describe when they decided to pursue plastics, how they prepared months in advance using networked mock interviews with registrars and consultants, and resources like an ST3 interview book and Keynotes in Plastic Surgery to build baseline knowledge before intensive practice. They explain how they anticipated question themes across subspecialties, adapted to last-minute station changes, and share online interview strategies including camera eye level, clothing choices, background considerations, and minimizing tech issues by optimizing Wi-Fi. They also reflect on the anticlimactic post-interview feeling, coping during the results wait, and how outcomes can hinge on factors outside candidates’ control. 00:00 Intro to Numbers 00:22 Meet the Guests 00:49 Choosing Plastics 02:11 Interview Prep Plan 03:37 Books and Knowledge 04:56 Predicting Questions 06:03 Interview Day Routine 07:01 Online Setup and Outfit 09:50 After the Interview 11:10 Waiting for Results 13:41 Final Takeaways