Thread for Interviewing Tips?

Here's some things to ask that I picked up on the interview trail that could be of help, to ask either residents or attendings:

Are there any off site rotations, and where are they? If they are provided solely for getting the numbers, do residents get those required cases in the time allotted or do they sometimes have to take multiple away months to do so? You may see this in larger cities where there is one central childrens hospital for example, not necessarily a bad thing at all. But if you're going far and away to get your peds, OB and hearts then look closely at those experiences and make sure that they're up to par.

When does a typical resident complete all of their ACGME required "numbers"? End of CA-2, or where in CA-3.

Where have past residents gone after graduation; ie fellowships and where, private practices and where?

How and when are difficult airway techniques taught and practiced? Large variation in how programs do this. No right or wrong way, but make sure something is in place.

Same as above for regional, the ACGME only requires 'significant' exposure in fiberoptic intubations as well as regional nerve blocks. This can vary a lot program to program, but some system of getting residents the exposure to do the basic blocks should be in place.

Who makes up the schedule and case assignments? This is, after all, how you're going to learn anesthesia.

Save all of the parking, free meal, insurance, etc. type questions for the residents as they shouldn't make or break your decision.

I interviewed for both surgery and anesthesia.

1. what are you going to do when you kill someone? how will you handle it?
2. are you an inrovert or an extrovert?
3. Why anesthesia? (you'll hear this a lot)
4. how would your best friend describe you?
5. tell me the most life-altering thing about you that's not in your CV.
6. what are you most proud of?
7. where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? (another common one)
8. what makes medicine different from other careers with regard to unexpected outcomes?
9. what questions do you have? (most common of all)
10. what aspect of a program would really excite you?
11. what are your weaknesses?
12. what do your friends make fun of you for?
13. where did you grow up?
14. what does it take to be an auctioneer? (I listed auctioneer in my CV)
15. what has been your biggest challenge and what did you learn from it?
16. where else did you apply?
17. what region of the country do you prefer?
18. what interesting cases have you seen?
19. what are you looking for in a program?
20. what are you doing about your internship?
21. what did you think about program X, Y, Z?
22. tell me about your trip to Nicaragua.
23. tell me about your research.
24. why did you go to a DO school?
25. why this program?
26. what did you think of our propaganda?
27. why arizona?
28. what did you do on your anesthesia rotation?
29. tell me anything you want to about yourself.
30. what patient have you learned from the most?
31. what person anywhere in the world could i fly here for you to have lunch with?
32. who would you like to ressurect from the dead for a one-time dinner?
33. what would your friends and family say about you that is "so you?"
34. what 3 things would you never do?
35. did you read "into thin air"?
36. where did you go in Peru?
37. where else have you traveled?
38. how would you describe yourself?
39. what is your role in group activities?
40. do you consider yourself a leader?
41. you gave too much neuromusc blocker, now what? would you tell your attending? would you tell the surgery attending?
42. what would you do if a trauma came in and you were needed but you had tickets to your favorite concert that night?
43. people say you have no patient contact in anesthesia. what do you think?
44. what was your most difficult decision?
45. En tonces, se puede hablar espagnol?
46. what is one attribute you would like to work on?
47. have you thought about a fellowship?

Here's what I asked them.....don't grill them.
1. what brought you to this program?
2. what don't you like about this program?
3. what is this program's biggest strength? weakness?
4. how would you characterize the relationship with the surgeons?
5. is this department well-respected?
6. what plans do you have for the future?

extra tips:
make friends with the secretaries
stand out (in a good way)
do a second look for you, not so much for the program. of course it will be impossible for them not to notice you more.
don't get too drunk the night before (wait...you'll see)
don't grill your interviewers (they have feelings)
ask the residents if they would go there again AND if they are happy
make connections with other applicants.
have fun.

SupahFresh
PGY-1 Surgery
CA-1 University of The United States

Awesome! Thanks 2nd Year & Supahfresh!