Preparing for midwifery job interviews and offers

Getting ready for success

Congratulations on securing a midwifery job interview. This is an important step towards starting your career supporting women through pregnancy, birth and beyond. Good preparation will help you feel confident and showcase your passion for midwifery care.

This guide covers everything you need to know about preparing for interviews, what to expect on the day, and how to handle job offers or feedback from unsuccessful applications.

Before your midwifery interview

Plan your journey

Visit the location beforehand

If possible, do a practice journey to the maternity service so you know exactly where you're going and how long it will take.

Plan for delays

Leave extra time on interview day in case of transport issues. Arriving stressed about being late won't help your performance.

Check parking and transport

Find out about parking availability or public transport links to avoid last-minute worries.

Understand the role and organisation

Research the maternity service/unit

Look at their website to understand their approach to maternity care and recent developments.

Review the job description

Make sure you understand what they're looking for and can give examples of how you meet their requirements.

Know their values

Understand the organisations values and be ready to explain how you demonstrate these in your practice.

Prepare your materials

Gather your documents

Bring copies of your CV, certificates, references, and any other required paperwork in a professional folder.

Check professional requirements

Make sure you have everything needed for pre-employment checks ready if you're successful.

Consider your needs

Access requirements

If you need any adjustments for the interview, contact the employer in advance to discuss your needs.

Reasonable adjustments

This might include accessible interview rooms, longer interview time, or specific equipment you need.

Support available

Remember that access to work schemes can provide support in your future role if needed.

Prepare questions to ask

Good questions show your interest in the role and help you decide if it's right for you:

• what does your preceptorship programme involve for newly qualified midwives?
• how does the team support continuous professional development?
• what is the approach to birth planning and woman-centered care?
• what are the current challenges and opportunities in the maternity unit?
• how do you support work-life balance for midwifery staff? 

Additional support

Royal College of Midwives (RCM)

The RCM offers career guidance, interview preparation resources, and professional support for both student and qualified midwives. They also have essential resources for newly qualified midwives.

Health Careers

Visit NHS Health Careers website and live events for career planning support.

What to expect on interview day 

Midwifery interviews often include: 

• panel interviews with senior midwives and maternity managers who will assess your knowledge, skills, and fit with their team
• scenario-based questions about pregnancy care, birth complications, and emergency situations test your clinical reasoning
• questions about midwifery values and professional standards, including woman-centered care and professional accountability
• opportunities to ask questions about the maternity service, and support for newly qualified midwives are important

Common midwifery interview questions

Why do you want to be a midwife?

Share your genuine passion for supporting women through pregnancy, birth and beyond. Give specific examples of what motivates you. 

Tell us about a birth you experienced during placement.

Use real examples that show your midwifery skills, woman-centered approach, and ability to work under pressure. 

How do you support women making birth choices?

Demonstrate your understanding of informed consent, advocacy, and respecting women's autonomy. 

What are your strengths and where do you see areas for development in midwifery?

Be honest and show commitment to continuous learning in maternity care. 

Can you describe an example when you have listened actively to a woman and family and the impact this had on the family?

Demonstrates your understanding of service user voice, advocacy and active listening skills in practice. 

Can you describe how you manage an emergency situation?

Demonstrate your understanding of escalation procedures, appropriate management, accurate record keeping and recognition of emergency situations. 

How do you work as part of a multi-disciplinary team?

Give examples from placements showing collaboration with doctors, other midwives, and healthcare professionals.  

Using the STAR method in interviews

Structure your answers using situation, task, action, result to give clear, detailed responses that showcase your midwifery skills and experiences.

The STAR method helps you answer interview questions using practical examples from your training and placement:

• situation - Set the scene and context
• task - Explain what needed to be done
• action - Describe what you did
• result - Share the outcome and what you learned

Example for midwifery interviews: 

Interview question: "Can you describe a time when you had to adapt your approach during a birth?" 

Situation: During a placement on the birth centre, I was supporting a woman in early labour who had planned a water birth. 

Task: Her labour pattern changed, and she became anxious about her birth plan not going as expected. 

Action: I sat with her, listened to her concerns, explained what was happening, and discussed her options. We adapted her birth plan together, focusing on what was still possible while keeping her and baby safe. 

Result: She felt more in control and confident. The birth went well, and she later said how much my support had meant to her during a difficult moment. 

This example shows a brief response to help you understand the structure of STAR. In your interview, you will be expected to provide much more detailed responses that fully demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and professional approach to midwifery care.

Receiving a job offer for your first midwifery role 

Getting your first midwifery job offer is an exciting milestone. Here's how to handle it professionally:

When you receive a job offer 

Take time to consider  

You don't need to accept immediately. Ask for details in writing and request reasonable time to decide. 

Review the offer carefully  

Check the salary, working hours, shift patterns, and specific requirements for maternity services. 

Ask questions  

Contact the hiring manager if you need clarification about the role, preceptorship programme, or working conditions. 

Consider your circumstances  

Think about location, transport, and whether this maternity setting aligns with your career goals. 

Accepting a job offer 

Respond promptly  

Once you've decided, confirm your acceptance in writing as soon as possible. 

Express enthusiasm  

Thank them for the opportunity and confirm your start date and any pre-employment requirements. 

Confirm details  

Make sure you understand your working pattern, which maternity areas you'll work in, and your preceptorship arrangements.

Declining a job offer 

Be polite and professional  

Thank them for the opportunity and explain that you've decided the role isn't right for you at this time. 

Give a brief reason  

You might say you've accepted another position if you have or the role doesn't match your career goals. 

Keep doors open  

You may want to work for this maternity service in the future, so maintain positive relationships. 

Dealing with unsuccessful interviews as a midwife 

Not getting a midwifery job can be disappointing, but it's a normal part of the process. Here's how to handle rejection positively: 

Learning from the experience 

Ask for feedback  

Most employers will provide constructive feedback about your interview performance and application. 

Listen carefully  

Take notes on their feedback and consider how you can improve for future midwifery interviews. 

Reflect on your performance  

Think about which questions you found difficult and how you could answer them better next time. 

Use feedback to improve  

Strengthen your examples, practice interview skills, and address any knowledge gaps identified. 

Moving forward 

Stay motivated  

Focus on why you became a midwife and your desire to support women through pregnancy and birth. 

Expand your search  

Consider different settings like community midwifery, birth centres, and different hospitals. 

Keep learning  

Use this time to develop your knowledge and skills further through additional training or volunteering. 

Build your network  

Connect with midwives working in areas you're interested in for advice and opportunities. 

Ready for the next stage 

Once you've secured your first midwifery position, it's time to prepare for starting your career as a registered midwife. 

Getting ready for your first midwifery job – Learn how to get ready for your first day, what to expect during preceptorship, and how to succeed in your new role. 

Remember that each interview is a valuable experience that prepares you better for the next opportunity. Stay focused on your goal of becoming an excellent midwife who makes a real difference to women's experiences of pregnancy and birth.