I have a question regarding how to ask questions during residency interviews. So far, what I have been doing is writing out a list of questions (10-15) that I would like to ask the faculty that are interviewing me that day on a legal pad I keep in a leather portfolio. When interviewers ask if I have any questions, I take out my list, ask the questions from it, and write down there responses when given. Is this ok to do? Is reading questions of a prepared list and writing down responses normal, or is this in bad form? I know it seems like a dumb question, but ive never seen anyone else interview and I don't want to be doing anything that may make me look bad
Asking interviewers questions on interview day
- Thread starter AZnash89
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If you can't remember your questions (at least 5 of them...15 is about 10 too many for any one person), it means they're not that important to you. I would also try not to write down the answers. It's a little weird. Imagine how you feel when you're sitting there and somebody's ignoring you and just scribbling stuff down while you talk to them. Try to act like a normal person as much as possible.
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Yeah bad idea. Your purpose during the interview is to make it into a conversation and incorporate your questions in a more natural way. You definitely don't want to seem abnormal!
Agreed--interviewers find this style very off-putting. Comments I've seen post interview state that they felt like they were being interrogated, and they always give low marks. If you want to come across well-prepared, have a couple of questions for each of your interviewers based on their background/interests (most programs have at least brief faculty bio information on their website). Write your own notes between interviews or during breaks.
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Myself and others did it and it was fine.
In fact I got some nice comments on it. However, I was very mindful of my usage and sensitive to body language. It's less instrusive if you just use the questions you already have written down and don't write much at all for answers.
I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't already used such a thing heavily through all of med school, receiving numerous pointed comments from attendings and standardized vs normal patients alike in written formal feedback how adept I was at using paper for notes and not only keeping it from interfering with the interaction but enhancing it (appearing attentive and making someone feel heard and taken seriously without being distanced, and less so compared to what many do with EHR). What I'm saying is I had objective evidence I could trust to know that I was being as perceptive as I think I was being with it. You're good at reading people when you are consistently told so via anonymous feedback and getting the results you want with people.
If you are not this confident, I agree above you may be better without if you have to ask.
TLDR
Not to contradict the wise words from those more in the know above me,
but yes you can but please consider their words and your abillity to pull this off carefully
In fact I got some nice comments on it. However, I was very mindful of my usage and sensitive to body language. It's less instrusive if you just use the questions you already have written down and don't write much at all for answers.
I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't already used such a thing heavily through all of med school, receiving numerous pointed comments from attendings and standardized vs normal patients alike in written formal feedback how adept I was at using paper for notes and not only keeping it from interfering with the interaction but enhancing it (appearing attentive and making someone feel heard and taken seriously without being distanced, and less so compared to what many do with EHR). What I'm saying is I had objective evidence I could trust to know that I was being as perceptive as I think I was being with it. You're good at reading people when you are consistently told so via anonymous feedback and getting the results you want with people.
If you are not this confident, I agree above you may be better without if you have to ask.
TLDR
Not to contradict the wise words from those more in the know above me,
but yes you can but please consider their words and your abillity to pull this off carefully
Thank you all for your replies, I had no idea it was seen as so off putting. Luckily I still have 10+ interviews left, but I already did that at 3 places. Hopefully it wasnt bad enough that it hurt my application significantly, I would hate to not get a spot because of an honest mistake. I really just thought it made me look prepared
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I've never minded it when an applicant has glanced at a list of questions. My own interview season wasn't so long ago that I've forgotten the nerves, and how quickly questions can fly out of your head in the moment. That said, make sure you are attentive and focused during the answer- save your note-taking for the downtime between interviews.
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Yeah, I agree. Having a short list of questions that you've jotted down as you thought of them I don't see as a big deal. However, I would feel weird if someone started taking notes of my responses right then and there, like they were keeping minutes of the meeting. I do a lot of interviewing, and I've never seen this myself. It's not like you're asking me who I would appoint as Secretary of Transportation, and you want to make sure you jot down my top three choices in case you forget -- most interview questions are less discrete than that.
Why don't you go one step further and just ask the interviewer if you can record the conversation? Now THAT would be interesting.
I would not write responses word-for-word or anything like that, I would maybe jot down two words to a response, and I would make sure to comment on there answer with good eye contact. And I would never ask 10-15 questions. I think the most I ever asked was five or six, I just had a list to refer to. Still, I wont be doing any of this from now on lol I really just thought it made me look like I was attentive. I definitely dont want to come off as abnormal. So happy I asked this questions with ten interviews left to go and not two.
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I'm not saying you shouldn't take notes or have a list of questions available if this is something you feel comfortable doing. All I'm saying is that being on both sides of the table, there should be a natural flow between you and the other person.
Always remember if there isn't anything else, they just want to know if they can work with you in the future.
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Seriously take a chill pill. On my trail everyone had a portfolio the dudes carried them too, if only to be able to carry the packets of paper they always give you.
Mine had copies of my application, PS, CV, research publications, list of questions to ask, notes I had taken as research about the program, the lastest AMA bulletin or something so I could talk about Obamacare or whatever current events in medicine, etc
There is often plenty of downtime in those rooms where it's just you and other applicants, that stuff can keep you busy and looking sharp
During the ubquitous ppt it's fine to take notes especially if they pass out slides.
I would even jot things down during AM report. It's fine in these instances you're not talking with people just paying attention. I would glance up and be making eye contact so you don't seem in your own little universe but attentive.
Having my list saved me for the interviews where they would glance at their watch after 4 min of BS chat how are you, and say "we have 20 minutes left. Any questions?"
It allowed me to be the creator of the conversation and keep it afloat. Don't deny yourself that crutch, it's not weird if you do it right. Like has been said, just don't make them sit there watching you write an essay for 50 seconds after each question they answer. Don't make it an interrogation. Don't robotically work off that list. Don't make them sit there where you look through those questions, have some off the top of your head and use the list when it becomes clear that it's time for hardcore Q & A to have an interview with this silent Joe at all.
Don't go the other way and forgo a useful tool. You want to appear prepared, engaged, organized, etc. I think it is an invaluable tool to YOURSELF personally to be able to write notes, and I also think it helps your image to OTHERS. But do people sabotage themselves with it as warned above? Of course they can.
TLDR:
bring your darn portfolio
don't bury your nose in it or make people watch you write
this isn't the Spanish inquisition
keep it brief, organized, flowing
be prepared to float the convo with a game of 20 questions
know when to quit
Mine had copies of my application, PS, CV, research publications, list of questions to ask, notes I had taken as research about the program, the lastest AMA bulletin or something so I could talk about Obamacare or whatever current events in medicine, etc
There is often plenty of downtime in those rooms where it's just you and other applicants, that stuff can keep you busy and looking sharp
During the ubquitous ppt it's fine to take notes especially if they pass out slides.
I would even jot things down during AM report. It's fine in these instances you're not talking with people just paying attention. I would glance up and be making eye contact so you don't seem in your own little universe but attentive.
Having my list saved me for the interviews where they would glance at their watch after 4 min of BS chat how are you, and say "we have 20 minutes left. Any questions?"
It allowed me to be the creator of the conversation and keep it afloat. Don't deny yourself that crutch, it's not weird if you do it right. Like has been said, just don't make them sit there watching you write an essay for 50 seconds after each question they answer. Don't make it an interrogation. Don't robotically work off that list. Don't make them sit there where you look through those questions, have some off the top of your head and use the list when it becomes clear that it's time for hardcore Q & A to have an interview with this silent Joe at all.
Don't go the other way and forgo a useful tool. You want to appear prepared, engaged, organized, etc. I think it is an invaluable tool to YOURSELF personally to be able to write notes, and I also think it helps your image to OTHERS. But do people sabotage themselves with it as warned above? Of course they can.
TLDR:
bring your darn portfolio
don't bury your nose in it or make people watch you write
this isn't the Spanish inquisition
keep it brief, organized, flowing
be prepared to float the convo with a game of 20 questions
know when to quit
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