Does the length of an interview mean anything?

[physiologist]

I recently interviewed at a school where both my interviews lasted around 30 mins, whereas most interviewees at the school on that day had interviews that were 45 mins - 1hr. I think they went well, especially the faculty one, but they were so brief! Does brevity have an impact on chance of acceptance? My dad hires people all the time and says he is brief if he is not interested. Is this true for MD interviewers? Anyone have any stories of experience in the matter?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[darkjedi]

Interviews at my school are only allotted for half an hour. If I'm really engaged in the interview I might go over a little, however if the interview ends before the allotted time, it's usually a bad sign.

EDIT: I should point out that a short interview doesn't necessarily mean a bad interview, what I meant to say was a bad interview usually results in a short interview. Only you can be a judge of how well your interview went.

 

[physiologist]

Interviews at my school are only allotted for half an hour. If I'm really engaged in the interview I might go over a little, however if the interview ends before the allotted time, it's usually a bad sign.

EDIT: I should point out that a short interview doesn't necessarily mean a bad interview, what I meant to say was a bad interview usually results in a short interview. Only you can be a judge of how well your interview went.

Why do you think that is? Is it because people stop asking questions when they know the person isn't for the school? Or is it typically because the interviewee didn't have much to talk about? What are the typical blunders that make a "bad" interview?

 

[goofball]

I had an acceptance come out of a 15-min interview where all the other students were interviewing for 25+ min.

 

[Goobs]

Some faculty interviewers just don't have time to interview you, but for some reason agreed to do interviews anyhow. I was accepted after a 10 minute interview from an interviewer who did 5 interviews that day (longest one was 15 minutes). However, if your interviewer normally goes to ~30 minutes and you end super early, then I'd be concerned.

 

[yehhhboiii]

First impressions matter a lot. Length doesn't seem to correlate with outcome.

 

[physiologist]

First impressions matter a lot. Length doesn't seem to correlate with outcome.

I made sure to be very concise in my answers as per a physician's advice and never rambled on. This is why I felt it was short. My interviewers both ran out of questions.

Still, my track-record post-interview is horrendous. Yet I have no idea what I do wrong and nobody ever tells me!

 

[goofball]

First impressions matter a lot. Length doesn't seem to correlate with outcome.

 

[Derv]

Some faculty interviewers just don't have time to interview you, but for some reason agreed to do interviews anyhow. I was accepted after a 10 minute interview from an interviewer who did 5 interviews that day (longest one was 15 minutes). However, if your interviewer normally goes to ~30 minutes and you end super early, then I'd be concerned.

Yea I had this same sort of experience. My interviewer was doing I think ~12 Residency interviews that day and ours lasted for less than 20 minutes. We had a great conversation and I got in so it doesn't seem to have made a difference in my case.

 

[wonderdog]

For me, the interviews were ~30 minutes, but my interview ended up being an hour. As you can see in my signature, I was accepted.

 

[physiologist]

For me, the interviews were ~30 minutes, but my interview ended up being an hour. As you can see in my signature, I was accepted.

That's not surprising, but I'm concerned about my short interviews.

 

[Irish Football]

At my most recent interview day, SDN feedback said the interviews at that school typically last 30-50 minutes, but both of mine went up until an hour and only ended bc I had to go to my next appointment. Will find out in a few weeks if I got in...

 

[GopherMD]

I wouldn't think so. One of my interviews ended up being an hour long, about twice as long as the scheduled time slot. HOWEVER, half of the time was spent just talking about my interviewer's background and whatnot.

It's more about what you put into the interview than how long you spend talking.

 

[jm192]

I was the last person pulled for our 2nd round of interviews and the first person back to the hallway.

Accepted.

It could be going horrible, so they kill it.
It could be going great, so they kill it.

Maybe your app was just the biggest slam dunk to hit their desk.
Maybe your interveiwer always does short interviews and you just aren't aware.

 

[physiologist]

I was the last person pulled for our 2nd round of interviews and the first person back to the hallway.

Accepted.

It could be going horrible, so they kill it.
It could be going great, so they kill it.

Maybe your app was just the biggest slam dunk to hit their desk.
Maybe your interveiwer always does short interviews and you just aren't aware.

I'm worried about the 2nd one which was closed file.

 

[darkjedi]

Why do you think that is? Is it because people stop asking questions when they know the person isn't for the school? Or is it typically because the interviewee didn't have much to talk about? What are the typical blunders that make a "bad" interview?

I made sure to be very concise in my answers as per a physician's advice and never rambled on. This is why I felt it was short. My interviewers both ran out of questions.

Still, my track-record post-interview is horrendous. Yet I have no idea what I do wrong and nobody ever tells me!

This is almost certainly why your interviews tend to run short. The interview is all about the interviewer getting to know the applicant. You SHOULD be rambling on about yourself. However, you need to do it in a manner that convey's a focused passion. How else is the interviewer supposed to know what kind of person you are unless you open up and talk about yourself. I would hope that you would be able to talk at length about the very things that excite you, otherwise you risk coming off as somewhat bland.

The best interviewee's I've had were the ones that were able to exude energy in their conversations. You can tell there is sincerity to their excitement and that their passion for medicine or otherwise really shines through.

 

[sinombre]

First impressions matter a lot. Length doesn't seem to correlate with outcome.

That's what sh... nevermind.

I really don't think it matters at all. Bad interviews probably always run short, but short interviews are by no means always bad.

 

[dgsilvervid]

From my interviews this season for every interview went up to or over the amount of time allowed or over I was accepted. The one interview that went a little short I remain on the waitlist. I doubt it really matters that much.

 

[jorgediaz]

This is almost certainly why your interviews tend to run short. The interview is all about the interviewer getting to know the applicant. You SHOULD be rambling on about yourself. However, you need to do it in a manner that convey's a focused passion. How else is the interviewer supposed to know what kind of person you are unless you open up and talk about yourself. I would hope that you would be able to talk at length about the very things that excite you, otherwise you risk coming off as somewhat bland.

The best interviewee's I've had were the ones that were able to exude energy in their conversations. You can tell there is sincerity to their excitement and that their passion for medicine or otherwise really shines through.

Bingo- right on point.

 

[HSUReddie]

This is almost certainly why your interviews tend to run short. The interview is all about the interviewer getting to know the applicant. You SHOULD be rambling on about yourself. However, you need to do it in a manner that convey's a focused passion. How else is the interviewer supposed to know what kind of person you are unless you open up and talk about yourself. I would hope that you would be able to talk at length about the very things that excite you, otherwise you risk coming off as somewhat bland.

The best interviewee's I've had were the ones that were able to exude energy in their conversations. You can tell there is sincerity to their excitement and that their passion for medicine or otherwise really shines through.

This makes me feel a lot better. I felt like I got to say everything I could ever want in my interview. And the interviewers seemed very interested in what I had to say. After leaving it, I felt awesome. But once more time had passed, I was worried I was rambling too much - one of the interviewers DID comment that I talked pretty fast. (And the three interviewers and I talked for the entire hour.)

Result? Accepted. 😎

Nice to hear the stereotypical over-the-top professional and concise may not be the way to go.

 

[OrthoPod57]

It could be going horrible, so they kill it.
It could be going great, so they kill it.

Yep. I was interviewing today at my med school and i ended an interview after the first 15 min if the scheduled 30 min interview. I knew the dude I was interviewing was good stuff and I wanted extra time before the next interview to write him a solid eval.

Don't read into the length unless you know you bombed it, in which case the length doesn't really matter anyway.

 

[physiologist]

Yep. I was interviewing today at my med school and i ended an interview after the first 15 min if the scheduled 30 min interview. I knew the dude I was interviewing was good stuff and I wanted extra time before the next interview to write him a solid eval.

Don't read into the length unless you know you bombed it, in which case the length doesn't really matter anyway.

Thinking back, I dont think i did as well as i thought. I remember going back to the "green room" afterwards and looking at the checklist they gave me of the "ideal applicant" and noted that I covered all the bases in that interview. I could've given more examples/stories under the strengths question, but I feel like those were shown rather than told at other instances in the interview. And I did tell quite a few stories (fortunately this interviewer prompted me to provide examples for many questions. I was afraid of going off on tangents, which had been a problem in previous interviews, so I strove to be concise and answer the questions. If she asked my strengths, I listed them. After all, how does one give an example, for instance, of introspection when it's an entirely internal thing? As for warmth/caring nature, I did talk about how patients at the hospital like to confide in me, which demonstrates my openness? Gah, I have no idea if I did it right or not. For "humor" and "good listener", I talked about my success in comedy and music and how improv acting required me to really stay on top of things and be a good listener. I also talked about problem solving somewhere, when working with a theatre troupe and coordinating everyone's ideas, making everyone feel like they won. Then she asked me "why should we really take you?" And I stammered because I had already listed a bunch of strengths.

Yeah... Maybe it didn't go as well as I thought.

I wish I could be a fly on the wall at an I televiewers that goes well, since I'm the worst interviewee ever and have no idea what it really takes. I feel like I need to see one to know what is expected of me. I'm pathetically inexperienced in that domain. Too bad it's too late 🙁

 

[darkjedi]

Thinking back, I dont think i did as well as i thought. I remember going back to the "green room" afterwards and looking at the checklist they gave me of the "ideal applicant" and noted that I covered all the bases in that interview. I could've given more examples/stories under the strengths question, but I feel like those were shown rather than told at other instances in the interview. And I did tell quite a few stories (fortunately this interviewer prompted me to provide examples for many questions. I was afraid of going off on tangents, which had been a problem in previous interviews, so I strove to be concise and answer the questions. If she asked my strengths, I listed them. After all, how does one give an example, for instance, of introspection when it's an entirely internal thing? As for warmth/caring nature, I did talk about how patients at the hospital like to confide in me, which demonstrates my openness? Gah, I have no idea if I did it right or not. For "humor" and "good listener", I talked about my success in comedy and music and how improv acting required me to really stay on top of things and be a good listener. I also talked about problem solving somewhere, when working with a theatre troupe and coordinating everyone's ideas, making everyone feel like they won. Then she asked me "why should we really take you?" And I stammered because I had already listed a bunch of strengths.

Yeah... Maybe it didn't go as well as I thought.

I wish I could be a fly on the wall at an I televiewers that goes well, since I'm the worst interviewee ever and have no idea what it really takes. I feel like I need to see one to know what is expected of me. I'm pathetically inexperienced in that domain. Too bad it's too late 🙁

Keep in mind that your interview is only a small component of your overall application. LizzyM had used the analogy that, even pre-interview, all the applicants are ranked on a set of stairs. What the interview can serve to do is move you up or down a few steps in those stairs/ranks.

As long as you didn't commit any faux pas, and still managed to talk about yourself, it would take quite a bit to count an interview against you if you have an otherwise strong application.

 

[physiologist]

Keep in mind that your interview is only a small component of your overall application. LizzyM had used the analogy that, even pre-interview, all the applicants are ranked on a set of stairs. What the interview can serve to do is move you up or down a few steps in those stairs/ranks.

As long as you didn't commit any faux pas, and still managed to talk about yourself, it would take quite a bit to count an interview against you if you have an otherwise strong application.

Except my gpa is terrible and both schools were state schools where I'm OOS.

 

[def1]

Keep in mind that your interview is only a small component of your overall application. LizzyM had used the analogy that, even pre-interview, all the applicants are ranked on a set of stairs. What the interview can serve to do is move you up or down a few steps in those stairs/ranks.

As long as you didn't commit any faux pas, and still managed to talk about yourself, it would take quite a bit to count an interview against you if you have an otherwise strong application.

Definitely agree with this. I was under the impression at the beginning of the cycle that an interview could pull me towards an acceptance if it went really well. In my experience how I felt the interview went had no bearing on an acceptance.

 

[cinamin]

I had an acceptance come out of a 15-min interview where all the other students were interviewing for 25+ min.

woo thank god. this thread of course started to make me paniiic

 

[WantonWonton]

One school I interviewed at schedules two faculty interviews - one hour each. For the first interview, I went over the hour but I couldn't really tell if my interviewer liked me. The second interviewer asked me only ~2-3 questions and spent most of the time giving me advice or just having a conversation with me. That interview lasted about 20-30 minutes but I ended up getting accepted pretty soon after the interview.
I would base my impressions of my interview on the body language of my interviewer rather than the duration of the interview. Did they seem interested in your responses? I tried to approach all my interviews as casual conversations (...minus my usual dark humor and inappropriate word choices) and it seems to have worked well for me. Answer their questions without going off on any tangents but you don't have to be super-concise. Most importantly, let your personality shine.

Don't beat yourself up over it. Post-interview, I'm always thinking about what I could've done better but that's just stress I don't need. Hopefully you'll hear some good news soon.

 

[Konfidence]

Had one interview that lasted 20 minutes while everyone else lasted an hour. But the interviewer said I feel I know you without asking much and then gave me his card. Another interview at another school lasted 90 minutes when everyone else lasted 60. Missed the interview lunch lol. We were talking casual and lost track of time. Accepted to both. So I think it's more about impressions rather than timing.

 

[LizzyM]

Keep in mind that some interviewers use the rubric, "would I want this person on my service and have to eat lunch with them every day for a month." ?

So basically, they are looking for intelligent, interesting (well rounded), interested (in what others have to say), mature, enthusiastic and upbeat.

That is often accomplished by a conversation that lasts the length of a lunch...and some lunch 'hours" can be rather brief but still provide enough information to make a decision.

 

[amazing tekkers]

That's what sh... nevermind.

I really don't think it matters at all. Bad interviews probably always run short, but short interviews are by no means always bad.

In more ways than one.

 

[physiologist]

Keep in mind that some interviewers use the rubric, "would I want this person on my service and have to eat lunch with them every day for a month." ?

So basically, they are looking for intelligent, interesting (well rounded), interested (in what others have to say), mature, enthusiastic and upbeat.

That is often accomplished by a conversation that lasts the length of a lunch...and some lunch 'hours" can be rather brief but still provide enough information to make a decision.

I just realized that my interview ended a few minutes before the admissions talk, and that a few others had short interviews too... Maybe I'm thinking too much into it. Maybe that's why it was short?

Also, when people say "give examples", do they mean tell a story to back up everything you say? Because it didnt feel natural to back up each strength with an example of "I'm a warm person, like that one time I helped an old lady cross the street, and I'm introspective, like the one time I failed an exam and was able to figure out what I was doing wrong...." I feel like these qualities came out elsewhere in the inteview, such as when I was talking about how patients where I work trust me and confide in me, and since its a high-crime, under served area, sometimes it's about criminal activity.... I also talked about wanting to create a safe space in my clinic once a week where my patients and I can discuss health issues in the media, and that I strive for a small, intimate atmosphere. I also talked about working with all kinds of needy people - poor, Native American, and slum dwellers in the third world and how fulfilling it was to improve their lives. I demonstrated teamwork by giving an example of working with difficult people (all creative types who were passionate about their ideas), and how being an improv actor helped with listening skills and staying on the ball. As for introspection, I'm hoping my discussion showed, if it didnt tell, these qualities.

You'd think improv acting would prepare me for an interview. Nope. I guess I don't know what a good interview LOOKS LIKE, because I never saw one and all the advice I'm given is so vague and contradictory, so honestly I feel totally in the dark. My first interview which I thought went spectacularly was a disaster (I was rejected because of it). I feel so lost...

 

[jorgediaz]

Just relax and be yourself. The interviewer will naturally get a sense of what excites you the most/what you are passionate about.

As for examples, they don't need to be detailed ridden stories. As a listener, it's difficult to keep in tune with. I just tended to briefly mention certain aspects of a job that were related with what I was trying to say. Just go with the flow and read your interviewers reactions.

 

[jorgediaz]

I think you should be able to read if an interview went well or not. Unless of course the interviewer remains pretty stoic throughout (some seem to do this as a strategy). It's like you are on a first date; you can pretty much tell if it went well depending on the tone/ gestures/ excitement of the other person. Were they engaged throughout? Or did they look like they weren't paying much attention and were itching to leave>

 

[physiologist]

Just relax and be yourself. The interviewer will naturally get a sense of what excites you the most/what you are passionate about.

As for examples, they don't need to be detailed ridden stories. As a listener, it's difficult to keep in tune with. I just tended to briefly mention certain aspects of a job that were related with what I was trying to say. Just go with the flow and read your interviewers reactions.

I feel like I did that for most of my answers. Some of them I just listed and elaborated on a bit without giving examples - I mean, how could you give examples for introspection and openness to criticism? It's such an internal thing. Although I did elaborate a bit on how I'm not afraid to admit I'm wrong in a debate - I care more about the well-being of others than being "right," and carefully consider other people's point of view even if I'm "certain" I'm right to begin with - that was my example for taking criticism/introspection. I also said I'm a funny person. How on earth could I "prove" it other than citing my ECs that involve humor (and there are many)? I mean, I laughed at her jokes and said things she thought were funny...

Also, when I talked about wanting to help a certain underserved population (stating it outright would give away the identity of the school), I told a story about how I grew up with a lot of members of that population, given that my middle and high school had a special program for them, and how I'm best friends with one and have been to his neighborhood and have seen and heard of the problems this group faces. She did seem to get excited about the things I said. Although at the same time she seemed rushed and busy from the very beginning. And I don't think there was anything awkward or off about my entrance (though she didn't seem to want to shake my hand, she turned away to take her seat as soon as I had the opportunity). She does have a pretty heavy load with teaching, research, curriculum planning, adcom duties, and a full-on practice.

I sincerely hope I'm overreacting.

It's the end of the cycle and I'm delirious with worry that my last 2 interviews are gonna be rejections just like the first two 🙁

 

[chillaxbro]

It's the end of the cycle and I'm delirious with worry that my last 2 interviews are gonna be rejections just like the first two 🙁

Hehe me too