Challenge/failure interview questions.

[mwsapphire]

Hi everyone,
I'm drafting " sample" answers to some of the major interview questions, including " Describe a challenge you faced and the steps you took to overcome it". I know having too " scripted" of an answer isn't doable but I want an outline for my answer, and I am willing to " go off script" but I need a place to start.
I have a few sample answers:
-- When I was a freshman in HS I struggled pretty badly with making friends and I was super isolated and lonely, and I overcame that challenge by joining clubs my tenth-grade year and slowly making friends.
-- When I was 16 I started having stress symptoms for the first, really awful headaches all the time and difficulty focusing on schoolwork. I've gotten over that by staying really active and making to-do lists with my schoolwork.
As for the " failure" essay, I have a lot that are way too personal/vague/weird/strictly academic to discuss in an interview setting, but I'm willing to discuss this minor example from work.
-- When I started scribing for the general surgeon I scribe for, I went through floor training like everyone else, and then I was on my own. It turns out, I was doing certain types of notes wrong ( basically, the A/P portion of surgical notes, I had to describe the full details of the procedure in the doctor's note, but I only did a brief summary, thinking that more than that would be wordy/excessive. ). And then one day I had finals so a coworker filled in my shift and saw some of my previous notes- and said that they need work and that he would supervise my shift. Long story short I fixed my notes in the end and made way better notes for the doctor. Can that be a "failure" response?

Thoughts? Please keep snark to yourself.

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[GreenDuck12]

Hi everyone,
I'm drafting " sample" answers to some of the major interview questions, including " Describe a challenge you faced and the steps you took to overcome it". I know having too " scripted" of an answer isn't doable but I want an outline for my answer, and I am willing to " go off script" but I need a place to start.
I have a few sample answers:
-- When I was a freshman in HS I struggled pretty badly with making friends and I was super isolated and lonely, and I overcame that challenge by joining clubs my tenth-grade year and slowly making friends.
-- When I was 16 I started having stress symptoms for the first, really awful headaches all the time and difficulty focusing on schoolwork. I've gotten over that by staying really active and making to-do lists with my schoolwork.
As for the " failure" essay, I have a lot that are way too personal/vague/weird/strictly academic to discuss in an interview setting, but I'm willing to discuss this minor example from work.
-- When I started scribing for the general surgeon I scribe for, I went through floor training like everyone else, and then I was on my own. It turns out, I was doing certain types of notes wrong ( basically, the A/P portion of surgical notes, I had to describe the full details of the procedure in the doctor's note, but I only did a brief summary, thinking that more than that would be wordy/excessive. ). And then one day I had finals so a coworker filled in my shift and saw some of my previous notes- and said that they need work and that he would supervise my shift. Long story short I fixed my notes in the end and made way better notes for the doctor. Can that be a "failure" response?

Thoughts? Please keep snark to yourself.

My prior professional experience includes interviewing candidates for a reputable service organization and I asked this question in every interview. What I looked for in an answer for this question was evidence that the candidate went through a process of introspection and found a way to move forward to fix a problem, particularly when those problems involved or impacted others. There was less emphasis in our matrix for the type of challenge. I had applicants have great answers from a wide variety of experiences (sports, jobs, mentoring, etc) but they all were able to demonstrate introspection, ownership, and resolve in addressing it and moving forward.

if I were evaluating your answers I would be able to detect some of those elements but they could be stronger. Try to emphasize the process you went through when you faced a challenge and needed to overcome it and particularly if you worked with others.

I hope that helps provide a framework -if not, disregard it. Best of luck to you!

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

I have a few sample answers:
-- When I was a freshman in HS I struggled pretty badly with making friends and I was super isolated and lonely, and I overcame that challenge by joining clubs my tenth-grade year and slowly making friends.
-- When I was 16 I started having stress symptoms for the first, really awful headaches all the time and difficulty focusing on schoolwork. I've gotten over that by staying really active and making to-do lists with my schoolwork.
As for the " failure" essay, I have a lot that are way too personal/vague/weird/strictly academic to discuss in an interview setting, but I'm willing to discuss this minor example from work.

IMO, I feel like these challenges are too far in the past. Try to stick with something that happened during your UG years.

-- When I started scribing for the general surgeon I scribe for, I went through floor training like everyone else, and then I was on my own. It turns out, I was doing certain types of notes wrong ( basically, the A/P portion of surgical notes, I had to describe the full details of the procedure in the doctor's note, but I only did a brief summary, thinking that more than that would be wordy/excessive. ). And then one day I had finals so a coworker filled in my shift and saw some of my previous notes- and said that they need work and that he would supervise my shift. Long story short I fixed my notes in the end and made way better notes for the doctor. Can that be a "failure" response?

An answer that isn't based on your pre-med experience would make you stand out more. You want to look well-rounded.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mwsapphire]

IMO, I feel like these challenges are too far in the past. Try to stick with something that happened during your UG years.



An answer that isn't based on your pre-med experience would make you stand out more. You want to look well-rounded.

Just my 2 cents.

Dude, I really hate that concept. My life was harder K-12 than it was in college, I grew up faster, and stuff in college didn't phase me quite as much. Like, life was so much harder from 13-16 that 18-22 doesn't even compare.

Most of my job/volunteer experience is pre-med stuff. I know it would seem more well rounded but in college, those were my activities.

 

[GreenDuck12]

Dude, I really hate that concept. My life was harder K-12 than it was in college, I grew up faster, and stuff in college didn't phase me quite as much. Like, life was so much harder from 13-16 that 18-22 doesn't even compare.

Most of my job/volunteer experience is pre-med stuff. I know it would seem more well rounded but in college, those were my activities.

you can preface your answer with that and It’ll be fine. Something along the lines of “my most challenging experiences occurred In high school for x reason. This was how I responded. As a result I did this differently and college was less of a struggle because of it.

 

[mwsapphire]

you can preface your answer with that and It’ll be fine. Something along the lines of “my most challenging experiences occurred In high school for x reason. This was how I responded. As a result I did this differently and college was less of a struggle because of it.

That is def.a smart approach. I also think SDN's emphasis on " recent" experiences is overblown. Obviously a lot of suffered earlier and life and grew from it, adcoms are not stupid. They wouldn't counter with " BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE 20+ Y/O!?!?!?!" bc they know that some people had tough things happen before that.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

you can preface your answer with that and It’ll be fine. Something along the lines of “my most challenging experiences occurred In high school for x reason. This was how I responded. As a result I did this differently and college was less of a struggle because of it.

Beat me to it. It's always about framing your answers to show that you've grown as an individual (and if possible, how it would help you as a med student/physician).

Dude, I really hate that concept. My life was harder K-12 than it was in college, I grew up faster, and stuff in college didn't phase me quite as much. Like, life was so much harder from 13-16 that 18-22 doesn't even compare.

Most of my job/volunteer experience is pre-med stuff. I know it would seem more well rounded but in college, those were my activities.

And to make it clear, I wasn't trying to trivialize your experiences from HS.

Most of my job/volunteer experience is pre-med stuff. I know it would seem more well rounded but in college, those were my activities.

-- When I started scribing for the general surgeon I scribe for, I went through floor training like everyone else, and then I was on my own. It turns out, I was doing certain types of notes wrong ( basically, the A/P portion of surgical notes, I had to describe the full details of the procedure in the doctor's note, but I only did a brief summary, thinking that more than that would be wordy/excessive. ). And then one day I had finals so a coworker filled in my shift and saw some of my previous notes- and said that they need work and that he would supervise my shift. Long story short I fixed my notes in the end and made way better notes for the doctor. Can that be a "failure" response?

Like I said. It's about framing the answer. What's the take away from this answer? The take away could be that: "Even after being trained, I've learned that it's better to ask an experienced member of my team for input. I want to keep this in mind because it's something I need to do as a medical student or physician when I'm working with a team."

... or something along those lines. It can be worded better.

 

[mwsapphire]

Beat me to it. It's always about framing your answers to show that you've grown as an individual (and if possible, how it would help you as a med student/physician).



And to make it clear, I wasn't trying to trivialize your experiences from HS.





Like I said. It's about framing the answer. What's the take away from this answer? The take away could be that: "Even after being trained, I've learned that it's better to ask an experienced member of my team for input. I want to keep this in mind because it's something I need to do as a medical student or physician when I'm working with a team."

... or something along those lines. It can be worded better.

Thanks. Just wanted to acknowledge that it must be that they understand everyone had a different life.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

A challenge or failure doesn't necessarily need to be something that happened during a period of your life that was really hard (although such periods of life often will have a greater number of examples to draw from). It could also be a singular difficult challenge/moment that you experienced during an otherwise relatively normal/good period of your life (perhaps due in part to you overcoming that challenge or failure successfully).

One reason that a lot of emphasis may be placed on recent(ish) experiences is that the interviewer is trying to learn something about who you are now, not who you were 4+ years ago. Most people change a lot during college and beyond, and are (generally) operating much more independently than as a teenager. Thus, an example from college or beyond will better show how you as your current, independent self respond to challenges/failures. Perhaps you can consider connecting the examples you gave from high school to how they helped you in college - did learning how to make friends as a freshman in HS teach you how to make friends as a freshman in college?

For your scribing example, did the doc you were scribing for not have a problem with the way you did your notes?

 

[mwsapphire]

A challenge or failure doesn't necessarily need to be something that happened during a period of your life that was really hard (although such periods of life often will have a greater number of examples to draw from). It could also be a singular difficult challenge/moment that you experienced during an otherwise relatively normal/good period of your life (perhaps due in part to you overcoming that challenge or failure successfully).

One reason that a lot of emphasis may be placed on recent(ish) experiences is that the interviewer is trying to learn something about who you are now, not who you were 4+ years ago. Most people change a lot during college and beyond, and are (generally) operating much more independently than as a teenager. Thus, an example from college or beyond will better show how you as your current, independent self respond to challenges/failures. Perhaps you can consider connecting the examples you gave from high school to how they helped you in college - did learning how to make friends as a freshman in HS teach you how to make friends as a freshman in college?

For your scribing example, did the doc you were scribing for not have a problem with the way you did your notes?

He did say they required a lot more editing than the guy before me ( an experienced scribe). But he didn't say anything about, the other scribe did, which actually bothers me more. I never would have known I was messing those up if it weren't for the other scribe telling me. But, I still failed to scribe well for the doc so I think it still counts- it has been pointed out before that if a Doc has to edit the notes you write too much well then it basically defeats the purpose of you writing them for them.

I can connect it to college. I can connect it in the way of making friends, but also that small changes can totally change a phase of your life/ a school/ a workplace for you just by surrounding yourself with the right people by meeting them in the correct fashion. Like, you can make small changes to improve your life ( same for the anxiety example). That is very introspective. I'm actually pretty introspective I just need the right fodder to talk about too much of my life is too deep/personal. I also suffered a lot in elementary school but that is actually too long ago, I get that.

I'm a deep person, like 20 feet deep , at least. But I can only go like 7 feet deep in interviews....

 

[imbesrs]

I think people say use a recent example because in general you should be able to reflect more on things now to a greater depth than in your childhood past (defining childhood as <18) not that things back then weren't harder or more challenging/more of a "failure" moment. A lot of childhood reflection is adding hindsight reflection from present day thinking as opposed to recounting an "in the moment reflection" which i think is what that type of question gets at. Personally im 23 so prime hs challenges are 7-8 years old to me now which feels weird to talk about lol

 

[mwsapphire]

I think people say use a recent example because in general you should be able to reflect more on things now to a greater depth than in your childhood past (defining childhood as <18) not that things back then weren't harder or more challenging/more of a "failure" moment. A lot of childhood reflection is adding hindsight reflection as opposed to recounting an "in the moment reflection" which i think is what that type of question gets at

The HS example was in the moment- like those realizations were when I was 15 so that's why I'm sticking to using it. The anxiety management is still relevant but at the time it was less awareness for how I was managing it ( got serious about fitness senior year of HS, where academics are easier anyway so it's hard to tell)

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

I'm actually pretty introspective I just need the right fodder to talk about too much of my life is too deep/personal. I also suffered a lot in elementary school but that is actually too long ago, I get that.

I'm a deep person, like 20 feet deep , at least. But I can only go like 7 feet deep in interviews....

While suffering brings challenges, you don't need to have "suffered" to have experienced something challenging. Challenge/failure questions aren't asking you to share your darkest experiences, they are asking about how you handle difficult/complex situations and/or bounce back when things don't go your way.

Are those extra 13 feet things that you are uncomfortable sharing in an interview because they are painful/traumatic, or because you just feel awkward introspecting that far? There is absolutely no need to cause yourself pain by sharing something private/traumatizing, but introspection is always going to be awkward.

Personally im 23 so prime hs challenges are 7-8 years old to me now which feels weird to talk about lol

Agreed. I was 23/24 when I interviewed and it would have felt really weird for me to discuss things from nearly a decade ago, without connecting them to more recent experiences.

 

[GreenDuck12]

There is also a difference between the question “tell me about your greatest/most significant challenge” and “tell me about a recent challenge.” If the question is similar to the first talking about pre undergrad is entirely appropriate. This is also a moment where, if I am the interviewer, and I ask about the greatest challenge but want to know about a recent challenge I would add that question in the moment.

OP, answer the questions you are asked in an honest and authentic way and you will be fine.

 

[Cornfed101]

I also think SDN's emphasis on " recent" experiences is overblown. Obviously a lot of suffered earlier and life and grew from it, adcoms are not stupid.

Remember that it is not a pissing contest. It doesn’t matter if your challenge is having your entire family die in a plane crash or if it’s a disagreement that caused a rift between you and a sibling. The key is how you reflect on that and how you’ve grown. That’s the whole point. They want to see how you will deal with difficulty in medical school based on how you’ve dealt with it in the past. The general consensus is to focus on post HS stuff because it’s more fresh and as others have said, it better demonstrates who you are now.

 

[mwsapphire]

While suffering brings challenges, you don't need to have "suffered" to have experienced something challenging. Challenge/failure questions aren't asking you to share your darkest experiences, they are asking about how you handle difficult/complex situations and/or bounce back when things don't go your way.

Are those extra 13 feet things that you are uncomfortable sharing in an interview because they are painful/traumatic, or because you just feel awkward introspecting that far? There is absolutely no need to cause yourself pain by sharing something private/traumatizing, but introspection is always going to be awkward.



Agreed. I was 23/24 when I interviewed and it would have felt really weird for me to discuss things from nearly a decade ago, without connecting them to more recent experiences.

Those "13 feet things" are a mix of both. I'll give an example- I was bullied pretty horrifically for like 3 years in elementary school. It affected my social habits right up until college-- but also made me extremely empathetic and made grow in ways most people don't expect of a 10 y/o.

I was privileged growing up, the "traumatic" things I experienced were more like normal life traumatic, not like extremely traumatic.

 

[mwsapphire]

Remember that it is not a pissing contest. It doesn’t matter if your challenge is having your entire family die in a plane crash or if it’s a disagreement that caused a rift between you and a sibling. The key is how you reflect on that and how you’ve grown. That’s the whole point. They want to see how you will deal with difficulty in medical school based on how you’ve dealt with it in the past. The general consensus is to focus on post HS stuff because it’s more fresh and as others have said, it better demonstrates who you are now.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so precocious. I just meant for some of us, the challenges ( whatever they may be) are concentrated pre-18, not post 18. That's all I meant. Not saying I Had the worst life, but that it was tougher for me before college and then once I got to college things were way better.

 

[Cornfed101]

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so precocious. I just meant for some of us, the challenges ( whatever they may be) are concentrated pre-18, not post 18. That's all I meant. Not saying I Had the worst life, but that it was tougher for me before college and then once I got to college things were way better.

I understand that. I think if the question posed is "what is the worst/biggest challenge you have ever faced, and how did you deal with it?" then your experiences from before college are perfect. My only caution is to be aware that some interviewers might think, "so you haven't had any challenges since you left home? How do we know you can deal with difficulty now?" You run no risk of that if you use a more recent experience. Ultimately, you have to choose something that you can discuss in-depth and reflect on. I think you will be great either way. Just my 2 cents.

 

[_Cloud9]

I find this page helpful for how to answer these sort of questions: How do I answer the interview question: "What is your greatest limitation?" Or "What's your greatest weakness"

 

[allyallyoxenfree]

Always tough trying to figure out the best way to answer these questions :c great insight in this thread though, reading this discussion was very helpful for me I think you've got some good stuff here OP!