Don't Be That Guy... (Info about the interview day)

[ZymarOUQID]

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As we're in the middle of the interview trail, I thought I'd start this thread as a place where people can join in and:
1. Point out bonehead things they've seen others do (or maybe you've done yourself) that will serve as helpful advice for others this year and in the future
2. Gripe about such people and the things they've said/done at the interview day itself.
3. Offer advice on said situations

With that in mind, I'll start off:

--Don't be that guy who walks in late. Yes, interviews start early and weather and traffic can be a real pain early in the morning, especially in big cities, but everyone else got there on time and so should you.
--Don't be that guy who goes around and asks everyone how many interviews they've got and/or where all they've interviewed. It just gets annoying.
--As a corollary to the above, don't be that guy who walks around and flaunts to everyone how many interviews (s)he has, where all (s)he's interviews, how (s)he knows the chair/PD since birth, etc. I've checked with SFMatch, and they confirmed that there are no match spots, awards, or even certificates given out for who can urinate the farthest.
--Don't be that guy who flaunts his scores or research in the face of other applicants. Clearly, everyone who got an interview that day must also have been equally qualified (and hence has research and scores and letters) to get an interview. Save it for the actual interview, hotshot.
--Don't be that guy who badmouths other programs by name. If you want to point out something, point it out in general terms. If someone individually wants to know something about a specific program, mention it to them privately, not in front of 10-20 other applicants to disparage another program. What if that program is someone's first choice? How would you feel if they ripped on yours?
--Don't be that guy who tells people that they're here today only because they were in town, they had nothing else to do, and just showed up, even though they're not interested in the program.
--Don't be that guy who tells your fellow interviewees in downtime how all they've done during the interview trail is get wasted at airport bars and how that's great. That might have been cool in high school, but it really never was, and isn't now.

I'm sure there's many more... looking forward to hear from you all

 

[DiveMD]

Don't be that guy who falls asleep during the initial presentation by the PD or chief resident.

 

[lemedecin05]

dont be the guy that states..i have more interviews i really dont want to go to and will prob cancel a week before. if you know u cant or dont want to go, then let programs know earlier and give other peeps ur spot

 

[ophthoapplicant]

Don't be the guy who leaves their cell phone on vibrate during the interview (by mistake, but still). Yes, you want to check for phone calls/emails during the hectic day but be careful! Turn it off afterwards. Religiously. Every time.

Don't be the guy who shows up to the interview with the best answer to "Why here?" being "I checked the box" or some derivative.

Don't be the guy who cuts me in line, after I say "wow only one turkey sandwich left", and take that very sandwich from right below me. Not cool.

Don't be the guy who can't lighten up. Yeah, it's interview day, and yeah, it's important, but if you can't relax in the room with us co-applicants, how are you going to look in the interview room? Laugh. A lot. It's good for you

 

[Wolverine98]

Don't be the guy (or girl, but usually guy) to get blasted at the dinner with residents the night before or after the interview.

Dave

 

[DiveMD]

Don't be that guy who seems more interested in getting laid than in interviewing.

 

[Jake the Snake]

As we're in the middle of the interview trail, I thought I'd start this thread as a place where people can join in and:
1. Point out bonehead things they've seen others do (or maybe you've done yourself) that will serve as helpful advice for others this year and in the future
2. Gripe about such people and the things they've said/done at the interview day itself.
3. Offer advice on said situations

With that in mind, I'll start off:

--Don't be that guy who walks in late. Yes, interviews start early and weather and traffic can be a real pain early in the morning, especially in big cities, but everyone else got there on time and so should you.
--Don't be that guy who goes around and asks everyone how many interviews they've got and/or where all they've interviewed. It just gets annoying.
--As a corollary to the above, don't be that guy who walks around and flaunts to everyone how many interviews (s)he has, where all (s)he's interviews, how (s)he knows the chair/PD since birth, etc. I've checked with SFMatch, and they confirmed that there are no match spots, awards, or even certificates given out for who can urinate the farthest.
--Don't be that guy who flaunts his scores or research in the face of other applicants. Clearly, everyone who got an interview that day must also have been equally qualified (and hence has research and scores and letters) to get an interview. Save it for the actual interview, hotshot.
--Don't be that guy who badmouths other programs by name. If you want to point out something, point it out in general terms. If someone individually wants to know something about a specific program, mention it to them privately, not in front of 10-20 other applicants to disparage another program. What if that program is someone's first choice? How would you feel if they ripped on yours?
--Don't be that guy who tells people that they're here today only because they were in town, they had nothing else to do, and just showed up, even though they're not interested in the program.
--Don't be that guy who tells your fellow interviewees in downtime how all they've done during the interview trail is get wasted at airport bars and how that's great. That might have been cool in high school, but it really never was, and isn't now.

I'm sure there's many more... looking forward to hear from you all

Wow! You sure seem angry. Maybe you should try not to be that guy who judges and gets angry at applicants you barely know for petty reasons. Your application has nothing to do with theirs, so don't be that guy who critizes everyone else for whatever reason. Keep your mind on yourself.

 

[odieoh]

Wow! You sure seem angry. Maybe you should try not to be that guy who judges and gets angry at applicants you barely know for petty reasons. Your application has nothing to do with theirs, so don't be that guy who critizes everyone else for whatever reason. Keep your mind on yourself.

Most of the reasons you are citing are very annoying, but I have to agree with Jake that you sound pretty judgemental and petty. Especially about being late- you seem to assume that people are late because they slept in or just didn't care or something. On the interview trail I had a delayed flight which made me miss my connection, and I spent the night in the airport. Then next morning, the morning of the interview, I caught the first flight out, rushed from the airport to the interview with my luggage, changed in the bathroom, and ended up joining up with everyone 20 minutes late. It was really stressful. If you were there, I'm really sorry for my thoughtlessness, I hope I didn't ruin your day. Maybe I just should have just stayed outside since I didn't get there right on time.

 

[MedicalDoctorV]

UMDNJ interview session # 2 - a bridge was raised in Newark - so 6 applicants and the program director came in late, very late. Day started 2 hours late. Bad times.

 

[orbitsurgMD]

As we're in the middle of the interview trail, I thought I'd start this thread as a place where people can join in and:
1. Point out bonehead things they've seen others do (or maybe you've done yourself) that will serve as helpful advice for others this year and in the future
2. Gripe about such people and the things they've said/done at the interview day itself.
3. Offer advice on said situations

With that in mind, I'll start off:

. . .

--Don't be that guy ... looking forward to hear from you all

Don't be that guy who forgets that the process is stressful and that no one would go through it if it also wasn't required. They are there to interview because they might just need and want that program's acceptance. Yeah, the braggadocio might be annoying, but it is also a whistling through the graveyard response. Have enough self awareness and compassion to see past it and understand that there is also probably a great deal of anxiety right below the surface in most interviewees. Can you speak to that? And think, in a few short years, most of those folks you meet on the interview trail will be academy fellows, just like you. How do you want them to remember you, at that occasion when you so clearly are not their equal?

 

[ZymarOUQID]

for one, i myself was late (10 minutes) to an interview and they had already started the welcome. i pointed that out as a bonehead thing on my own part (hence i wrote in the original post to criticize yourself as well if you felt you did something wrong) and i started my post with a criticizing of myself. stuff happens and sure there are exceptional cases (flight delays, bridges going out), but i was just pointing out something in general. i was not there at either of the two events that the posters mentioned, so im not calling them out...

to orbitsurgMD: if we want to play the "future colleagues" card, then perhaps people should also think that there are other, better ways to combat the stress and anxiety of the interview day, and much more healthy ways to do so than to put down your other applicants, annoy them, or try to subtly sabotage them. i think how one deals with the stress of the interview day says a lot about your true character (read: what remains after the sugar-coated and rehearsed answers). going around disparaging programs, prying into people's interviews, flaunting your achievements, etc. is not the kind of behavior id expect from mature, intelligent folks, especially not the ones who would be future colleagues. do you want to be remembered years later at academy as that guy who was so insecure that he had to flaunt himself/herself in front of everyone? i think everyone who makes it to this stage is intelligent, capable, and qualified and should let their resumes and actual interviews with faculty speak for themselves. no need to mess with other people in attempt to boost yourself. how "fraternal" is that? look at the coin from both sides before making a statement.

 

[ophthal3]

Come on guys, lets not take ourselves so seriously. I know its a stressful time for all. I've met a lot of great people (you all, no doubt) on the trail that I will be proud to one day call colleagues. Stay positive, and focus on the positive experiences. Just over a month to go. Everything will turn out well regardless of your match outcome, I promise. Lets not forgot we are a pretty privileged bunch on this planet that the residency match is our most serious concern. This may be obvious/sound lame, but its the truth, and puts things in perspective for me personally. Take care, and see you out there.

 

[DiveMD]

Come on guys, lets not take ourselves so seriously. I know its a stressful time for all. I've met a lot of great people (you all, no doubt) on the trail that I will be proud to one day call colleagues. Stay positive, and focus on the positive experiences. Just over a month to go. Everything will turn out well regardless of your match outcome, I promise. Lets not forgot we are a pretty privileged bunch on this planet that the residency match is our most serious concern. This may be obvious/sound lame, but its the truth, and puts things in perspective for me personally. Take care, and see you out there.

I agree with this post. There is nothing else you can do at this stage except not f-ing up your interviews. Try to relax, have a few beers and keep in perspective something I learned in the Navy: it could always be worse. Good luck to all of you future eye surgeons!👍

 

[ophtho2020]

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