Interviewing for residency

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Charmaine Patel, M.D. [2]

“A good interview can save someone with the less than perfect application. A bad interview cannot always be salvaged by a paper record.”

Overview

Preparation and presentation are key factors in acing a residency interview. Strong preparation also helps in avoiding nervousness on the day of the interview. There are methods in which one can prepare for the interview, and avoid the pitfalls which may leave a negative impression. The impression that one can leave can be impacted by appearance, attitude, behavior, answers to interview questions, and the questions that are asked of the interviewer. Not preparing for interview questions and planning to "speak from the heart" is not the best way to interview. You can speak from the heart, but you should know what you are going to say, and know how to convey it effectively and concisely.

Steps to Prepare for the Interview

1. Read and know all the information on the program website. Prepare questions based on some of the information that is on the website. Don’t ask questions that have the answer on the website.

2. Research the main achievements and goals of the program and the faculty. You are trying to show that you would be a good fit for their program, so if they are highly involved in academics, you will want to highlight your past and future contributions towards academics during the interview.

3. If you know who you will be interviewing with, read their profiles and know what they do. Then prepare questions specific to their area of interest.

4. Contact people you may know who were at the program, or who work closely with the program. Mention these people during the interview.

5. Do a mock interview to get comfortable with the interview process. Print out a list of general interview questions, as outlined by the American Association of Medical Colleges; (https://services.aamc.org/careersinmedicine/downloads/sampleinterviewquestions.pdf), and get a friend to objectively evaluate your interview performance. Listen to the feedback.

6. Know your application and projects are working on, in detail (but don’t discuss clinical trials).

7. Practice small talk. Know current events, read a non-medical book, think about your hobbies and practice talking about general topics. You are still being “interviewed” and making an impression when you are not in the formal interview.

On the Interview Day

1. Be on time.

2. Be impeccably dressed in a suit (preferably black and all one color). Your appearance is a sign of respect to the interviewer. For males; hair neat, clean shaven, shiny shoes, nails cut, crisp and clean shirt. For females; not too much make-up, hair neat, small earrings, nails cut without polish, shoes shined with small heels.

3. Carry nothing or a small slim case. Have a pen available. Turn your phone off, and don't play with handheld devices.

4. Project confidence; look awake and interested at all times. Take notes. Ask questions. Be the first to introduce oneself and have a firm handshake.

5. Interact and be friendly with the other applicants. Don't make any off-color jokes at any time during the interview day.

6. Thank the people you interview with at the end of the interview, and the program coordinator at the end of the day.

During the Interview

1. Make good eye contact.

2. Good posture and body language. You can use your hands, but not too much.

3. Listen when the interviewer speaks.

4. Make sure you actually answer the question that they have asked. Don’t ramble.

5. Try to set yourself apart from the other applicants. Don’t just give basic, common answers.

Questions You May Be Asked

1. Why did you choose this program?
2. What are you looking for in a program?
3. Do you know anyone in the program?
4. Why should we pick you to be in our program?
5. What do you think is the importance of leadership in medicine?
6. What do you think makes a good leader?
7. What qualities do you think makes a good physician?
8. What are your strengths?
9. What are you weaknesses?
10. If your house was on fire and you had one thing to grab, what would it be?
11. Tell me about this deficiency on your application?
12. Tell me about this current work you are engaged in?
13. What do you think is more important, action or the intention to take the action?
14. What are you going to do if you do not match this year?
15. Tell me about an interesting case that you saw in the field of ____?
16. What makes you happy?
17. Tell me about your mentor. How is your relationship with him/her?
18. When did you know you wanted to be a Physician, and why?
19. What are you planning to do after residency?
20. Where do you see yourself after 5 years or 10 years from now?
21. Tell me one example when you were a part of a team managing a patient and your contribution made a significant positive change in the management of that patient?
22. Tell me about one thing that you have done independently without any body's help and for which you are very proud of?
23. Comment on Obama's health care policies?
24. Why did you decide to come to the USA for residency and are you planning to go back to your country after residency?
25. Tell me about yourself.
26. Tell me about your home town.
27. You graduated medical school in ____. What have you been doing since that time?
28. How is the day going so far? What did you learn at the morning conference?
29. Where else have you applied / where else you have interviews at?
30. How did you get here? Where did you stay last night?
31. How was the pre-interview dinner last night? Who did you meet with?
32. If you don't mind me asking....followed by innapropriate question about race/ethnicity/marital status/sexual preference? Know how you would answer this as it does happen even though it is not supposed to!

Questions for the Interviewer

These should be insightful questions that aren’t about you, they are about the program, and the interviewer.

1. “When you were interviewing for residency what was the single most deciding factor for you in choosing the program you wanted?“

2. “How do you like living in the area of ____? What do you like about living in this area?”

3. “What is biggest challenge you encountered during your residency training?”

4. “What is the most rewarding aspect for you in being a part of this program?”

5. “What would you say is the strongest aspect of the residency program?”

6. “Can you tell me more about your work on ____. Are there chances for residents to get involved with your work in ____?”

7. “What interests you most about working with ____ patient population/ within the specialty of ____?”

8. “What do you feel are the most challenging aspects about working in the field of ____.”

9. “What are your goals for the residency program?”

10. “What particular characteristics you are looking for in an applicant? What do you think makes a person successful in this residency program?”

11. “What is your perspective of the culture within the program?”

12. “How would you describe how the residents work together? How would you describe how the residents and the faculty work together?”

13. “How do residents in the program work with members of an interdisciplinary team? With residents and attending in other specialties?”

14. “Could you tell me more about these changes you are incorporating into the program/ the new seminar entitled ____ starting in 2013? 15. "I see you have been with the department for ____ years. What makes you stay here?"

DO NOT ASK

• About moonlighting opportunities, or the pay (you will look money oriented)

• About the call schedule (you might appear to be wary of hard work)

• About apartments/ fun activities in the area (an insult to the interviewer- they are not a guidebook)

• About anything that might imply a weakness on your part (eg. asking about need for time off for possible illness etc)

• About anything to do with politics, religion, or their family (too personal and controversial)

Related Chapters

• Surviving a bad interview
• Interviewing for medical school
• Semi-structured interview

Sources

• https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/cim/choicesnewsletter/nov10/260956/ask_the_advisor_interview_prep.html
• https://services.aamc.org/careersinmedicine/downloads/sampleinterviewquestions.pdf