Are job interviews a good way to practice for Medical School Interviews?

[Chromatic543]

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So I know that job interviews and Medical school interviews have their obvious differences, but the other day I was reading some interview prep books and practicing answering MMI/traditional interview questions, I began to think if job interviews were a good way to also practice for Medical school interviews.

I have been job hunting for the past few weeks, and feel nervous going to these various interviews that range from one-on-one to panel-style interviews. Do you think that by going to these interviews with the mindset that it is a mock interview for Medical school, that I am helping myself? Or is it completely different?

Thank you all.

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

So I know that job interviews and Medical school interviews have their obvious differences, but the other day I was reading some interview prep books and practicing answering MMI/traditional interview questions, I began to think if job interviews were a good way to also practice for Medical school interviews.

I have been job hunting for the past few weeks, and feel nervous going to these various interviews that range from one-on-one to panel-style interviews. Do you think that by going to these interviews with the mindset that it is a mock interview for Medical school, that I am helping myself? Or is it completely different?

Thank you all.

Yes I think job interviews are extremely helpful because it is an opportunity to convey yourself in a favorable light. A lot of students will say similar things at interviews but you need to remember being passionate and genuine is something that is hard to fake. I have had many different job interviews and feel they really helped me when I address questions and how I answer those questions.

 

[Robin-jay]

I had a job interview to work in a hospital the other day.

I also have a M.S. degree in chemistry.

I personally felt the job interview was easier than anything I went through in grad. school.

I also thought the job interview was too "light" and not very indicative of medical school interviews.

They didn't care to ask me many questions/tough questions/really care about my answers at the job interview because I think they decided to hire me from my resume alone.

That's different than medical school because they are "really" seeing if you're a good fit based in our interview, not just before. Sometimes job interviews feel like protocol if they've already decided they'll probably hire based on your resume anyway.

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

I had a job interview to work in a hospital the other day.

I also have a M.S. degree in chemistry.

I personally felt the job interview was easier than anything I went through in grad. school.

I also thought the job interview was too "light" and not very indicative of medical school interviews.

They didn't care to ask me many questions/tough questions/really care about my answers at the job interview because I think they decided to hire me from my resume alone.

That's different than medical school because they are "really" seeing if you're a good fit based in our interview, not just before. Sometimes job interviews feel like protocol if they've already decided they'll probably hire based on your resume anyway.

Yeah that is for sure true. At the very least you will be more comfortable interviewing since you have had some. Do you have any coming up for school?

 

[de Ribas]

So I know that job interviews and Medical school interviews have their obvious differences, but the other day I was reading some interview prep books and practicing answering MMI/traditional interview questions, I began to think if job interviews were a good way to also practice for Medical school interviews.

I have been job hunting for the past few weeks, and feel nervous going to these various interviews that range from one-on-one to panel-style interviews. Do you think that by going to these interviews with the mindset that it is a mock interview for Medical school, that I am helping myself? Or is it completely different?

Thank you all.

I think they are to some extent.

I aslo think that most of my job interviews were harder and longer than my school interview. Most job interviews asked me a ton of questions with lots of questions involving communication skills, what would you do type of questions, scenario questions, personality questions, strength/weaknesses, like/dislike, tell me about yourself, why should we hire you, where do you see yourself in 10 years, how do you work under pressure, what would your supervisor, friend, coworker tell about you and so on.

My school interviews were a lot shorter and pretty chill. I have never been so relaxed at my interviews.

 

[Robin-jay]

Yeah that is for sure true. At the very least you will be more comfortable interviewing since you have had some. Do you have any coming up for school?

I don't have any interviews in sight yet, but I think the job interview is definitely better than nothing. However, the interview I had was with people I think were in their early-mid 20's doing the interview, so it also felt like we were all practicing. lol.

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

I don't have any interviews in sight yet, but I think the job interview is definitely better than nothing. However, the interview I had was with people I think were in their early-mid 20's doing the interview, so it also felt like we were all practicing. lol.

Honestly every school I have interview at so far has been super chill. They were much easier and more relaxed than I had ever imagined.

 

[Robin-jay]

I think they are to some extent.

I aslo think that most of my job interviews were harder and longer than my school interview. Most job interviews asked me a ton of questions with lots of questions involving communication skills, what would you do type of questions, scenario questions, personality questions, strength/weaknesses, like/dislike, tell me about yourself, why should we hire you, where do you see yourself in 10 years, how do you work under pressure, what would your supervisor, friend, coworker tell about you and so on.

My school interviews were a lot shorter and pretty chill. I have never been so relaxed at my interviews.

Ya, maybe my job interview was unusually chill. Or maybe I just knew what to say.

Think of it was way: Most of the questions they asked me were similar to content I put in personal statements, practiced for medical school interviews, etc.

Add the fact I have a solid graduate degree I can essentially pluck any information from.

"Tell me a tough situation you experience".....boom, chemistry graduate school had those

"Tell me a time you helped someone through a tough situation".................boom, chemistry graduate school example

"tell me how you work under pressure"........................boom, chemistry graduate school example lol

 

[Robin-jay]

Honestly every school I have interview at so far has been super chill. They were much easier and more relaxed than I had ever imagined.

Well, that's good news for me then.

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

Ya, maybe my job interview was unusually chill. Or maybe I just knew what to say.

Think of it was way: Most of the questions they asked me were similar to content I put in personal statements, practiced for medical school interviews, etc.

Add the fact I have a solid graduate degree I can essentially pluck any information from.

"Tell me a tough situation you experience".....boom, chemistry graduate school had those

"Tell me a time you helped someone through a tough situation".................boom, chemistry graduate school example

"tell me how you work under pressure"........................boom, chemistry graduate school example lol

Do you have clinical experience of any type? The more you can relate stories to patients the better.

 

[de Ribas]

Ya, maybe my job interview was unusually chill. Or maybe I just knew what to say.

Think of it was way: Most of the questions they asked me were similar to content I put in personal statements, practiced for medical school interviews, etc.

Add the fact I have a solid graduate degree I can essentially pluck any information from.

"Tell me a tough situation you experience".....boom, chemistry graduate school had those

"Tell me a time you helped someone through a tough situation".................boom, chemistry graduate school example

"tell me how you work under pressure"........................boom, chemistry graduate school example lol

Most of the questions they asked me

did you have any med school interviewes?

how were they?

one of mine was at DMU. I liked it very much. I had all solid answers for all the questions. I pulled answers from various experiences. I was asked a lot of scenario and experience-related quesrions, but I was well prepared and did well.

I would suggest though, that you should still try to answer these questions from various experiences.

Don't pull all the answers from only grad. school experience.

 

[Robin-jay]

Do you have clinical experience of any type? The more you can relate stories to patients the better.

Yes.

A "leader" position for a health organization for several hundred hours of community service. There is an incredible backstory to this achievement, but I won't get into it here.

200+ hours of shadowing physicians (primary care, specializations, etc.)

Employment in hospital

 

[de Ribas]

Honestly every school I have interview at so far has been super chill. They were much easier and more relaxed than I had ever imagined.

mine too

 

[Robin-jay]

did you have any med school interviewes?

how were they?

one of mine was at DMU. I liked it very much. I had all solid answers for all the questions. I pulled answers from various experiences. I was asked a lot of scenario and experience-related quesrions, but I was well prepared and did well.

I would suggest though, that you should still try to answer these questions from various experiences.

Don't pull all the answers from only grad. school experience.

I haven't yet. But I definitely agree with you, I will pull more questions about clinical experiences, community services, etc. before chemistry graduate school.

I think empathy is extremely important in the medical field and I want to prove that at the interview. Although, I do hope they take all of my accomplishments into account in chemistry graduate school (publications, teaching 15+ lab courses, various leadership skills, difficult courses, etc.).

 

[de Ribas]

The more you can relate stories to patients the better.

agree. patient stories and community service or customer service stories.

 

[de Ribas]

I haven't yet. But I definitely agree with you, I will pull more questions about clinical experiences, community services, etc. before chemistry graduate school.

I think empathy is extremely important in the medical field and I want to prove that at the interview. Although, I do hope they take all of my accomplishments into account in chemistry graduate school (publications, teaching 15+ lab courses, various leadership skills, difficult courses, etc.).

definitely, questions like: what's your great accomplishment, how you do under pressure, teamwork questions, being reliable, time management questions, fail questions, struggling questions and many others can come from your graduate school experience.

 

[Robin-jay]

definitely, questions like: what's your great accomplishment, how you do under pressure, teamwork questions, being reliable, time management questions, fail questions, struggling questions and many others can come from your graduate school experience.

Yea, I agree. For job interviews, I pull out almost exclusively chem. graduate school. Medical school interviews, a more holistic approach for sure.

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

I haven't yet. But I definitely agree with you, I will pull more questions about clinical experiences, community services, etc. before chemistry graduate school.

I think empathy is extremely important in the medical field and I want to prove that at the interview. Although, I do hope they take all of my accomplishments into account in chemistry graduate school (publications, teaching 15+ lab courses, various leadership skills, difficult courses, etc.).

Yeah you definitely need to sell yourself at interviews and know your strengths.

 

[Robin-jay]

Yeah you definitely need to sell yourself at interviews and know your strengths.

Either sell yourself or buy them out. One of the two.

 

[Chromatic543]

I have my Med School interviews in January (2 interviews: ACOM/ATSU-SOMA)