embarassing interview moment!

[pineapple]

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Oh man, I was at my first med school interview today, totally calm and cool. Knew about the school, prepared for the questions. On the ball.

Then when the interview starts I freeze up on the first question "tell me something about yourself."

It took me a few minutes to get my head back in the game without stammering/babbling answers. I have no idea what happened! Agh! The interviewer was really nice, though, and said that if I didn't seem nervous then that would mean I didn't care about the school...and then he wouldn't have wanted me there.

I don't even know how big of a deal it was, but the more I dwell on it the worse it seems in my head!

And I have another interview the day after tomorrow and am afraid I'll do it again

 

[photo_girl07]

Hey there... don't stress. Was this your first interview? For your next interview, just remember to be yourself...you've made it the interview...so the school wants you...it's your time to shine.

If you are worried about freezing again, maybe practice (the more you talk about yourself the more natural it comes.. 🙂

Good Luck!

 

[pineapple]

Hey there... don't stress. Was this your first interview? For your next interview, just remember to be yourself...you've made it the interview...so the school wants you...it's your time to shine.

If you are worried about freezing again, maybe practice (the more you talk about yourself the more natural it comes.. 🙂

Good Luck!

Yeah, it was my first one.

The weird thing is that I never got nervous for job interviews or anything before. I felt prepared, and ready to go and then just out of nowhere...wham! Deer in the headlights.

Then I slowly got rolling and was fine a few minutes in, but I'm thankful I had such an understanding interviewer. The second interviewer was late so he didn't even see my moment...I hope the first one is nice and doesn't tell him!

Haha, plus to make me feel dumber later in the day I had to put gas in my rental car...I'm from a state where it's illegal to pump your own gas and didn't know how to do it. Had to ask a lady with a mullet and two teeth (seriously) to teach me. Thank heavens the adcoms aren't spying at gas stations.

 

[inside_edition]

Yeah, it was my first one.

The weird thing is that I never got nervous for job interviews or anything before. I felt prepared, and ready to go and then just out of nowhere...wham! Deer in the headlights.

Then I slowly got rolling and was fine a few minutes in, but I'm thankful I had such an understanding interviewer. The second interviewer was late so he didn't even see my moment...I hope the first one is nice and doesn't tell him!

Haha, plus to make me feel dumber later in the day I had to put gas in my rental car...I'm from a state where it's illegal to pump your own gas and didn't know how to do it. Had to ask a lady with a mullet and two teeth (seriously) to teach me. Thank heavens the adcoms aren't spying at gas stations.

what state is that? i gotta live there.

 

[undrcovrgunner]

Yeah, it was my first one.

The weird thing is that I never got nervous for job interviews or anything before. I felt prepared, and ready to go and then just out of nowhere...wham! Deer in the headlights.

Then I slowly got rolling and was fine a few minutes in, but I'm thankful I had such an understanding interviewer. The second interviewer was late so he didn't even see my moment...I hope the first one is nice and doesn't tell him!

Haha, plus to make me feel dumber later in the day I had to put gas in my rental car...I'm from a state where it's illegal to pump your own gas and didn't know how to do it. Had to ask a lady with a mullet and two teeth (seriously) to teach me. Thank heavens the adcoms aren't spying at gas stations.

ummm...why?

btw, best of luck with your interview. The 'tell me about yourself' question is a stumper and I had no idea how to address it the first time I heard it, so I totally know where you are coming from.

 

[jash0624]

Yeah, it was my first one.

The weird thing is that I never got nervous for job interviews or anything before. I felt prepared, and ready to go and then just out of nowhere...wham! Deer in the headlights.

Then I slowly got rolling and was fine a few minutes in, but I'm thankful I had such an understanding interviewer. The second interviewer was late so he didn't even see my moment...I hope the first one is nice and doesn't tell him!

Haha, plus to make me feel dumber later in the day I had to put gas in my rental car...I'm from a state where it's illegal to pump your own gas and didn't know how to do it. Had to ask a lady with a mullet and two teeth (seriously) to teach me. Thank heavens the adcoms aren't spying at gas stations.

Jersey, eh?

 

[pineapple]

what state is that? i gotta live there.

I'll give you a hint.
1) We have lots of toxic waste.
2) There are lots of Italian guys here who like to pretend to be in the mob to [not] impress girls. This guys spend Friday nights cooking spaghetti with grandma.

Still don't know? That's the wonderful state of New Jersey.

The law against pumping your own gas was made here in 1949 because the government thought it was too dangerous for the common folk to handle flammable liquids.

Sure, gas has been made safer since then.

So the law should change, right?

Wrong!

New Jersey, if you are unaware, actually has no government.

Hence, I get to an interview and don't know how to pump my gas 😕

 

[pineapple]

Jersey, eh?

*cookie for you*

 

[jash0624]

*cookie for you*

The first time I had to pump gas I nearly cried..plus scratched my car with the pump 😡

 

[pineapple]

The first time I had to pump gas I nearly cried..plus scratched my car with the pump 😡

I think the whole experience of needing someone to show me how to pump gas has made me feel worse about the interview. The interview was ok, it wasn't bad...it just could have gone a lot better. But the gas incident has destroyed any self-perceived intelligence I had.

Then again...I used teamwork (kinda) to figure it out.

Sorta like PBL...

Ok, now I feel better.

 

[jash0624]

I think the whole experience of needing someone to show me how to pump gas has made me feel worse about the interview. The interview was ok, it wasn't bad...it just could have gone a lot better. But the gas incident has destroyed any self-perceived intelligence I had.

Then again...I used teamwork (kinda) to figure it out.

Sorta like PBL...

Ok, now I feel better.

Hey, whatever you gotta say to make yourself feel allright!

If its any consolation, my first time pumping gas was driving through the lovely town of Rat's A$$, Pennsylvania to pick up something for my boss. The guy inside the gas station was so scary looking, I didn't even bother asking. I called my mom to ask for step by step instructions! How's that for a blow to the self esteem?

 

[undrcovrgunner]

I think the whole experience of needing someone to show me how to pump gas has made me feel worse about the interview. The interview was ok, it wasn't bad...it just could have gone a lot better. But the gas incident has destroyed any self-perceived intelligence I had.

Then again...I used teamwork (kinda) to figure it out.

Sorta like PBL...

Ok, now I feel better.

It's all about describing your weaknesses as inherent strengths

 

[Cmercury1]

Don't feel bad. Your interviewer sounds nice, and I have the gas-pumping problem, too. I watched my dad do it once, but I've since forgotten how it works. I'm hoping it'll just miraculously come to me when I have to do it. It doesn't seem that hard from watching the gas station attendant. 😳

 

[pineapple]

Hey, whatever you gotta say to make yourself feel allright!

If its any consolation, my first time pumping gas was driving through the lovely town of Rat's A$$, Pennsylvania to pick up something for my boss. The guy inside the gas station was so scary looking, I didn't even bother asking. I called my mom to ask for step by step instructions! How's that for a blow to the self esteem?

Yeah, I'm lucky I had my cell packed in a suitcase because my dad would have never let me hear the end of it if I had called to ask him.

 

[pineapple]

Don't feel bad. Your interviewer sounds nice, and I have the gas-pumping problem, too. I watched my dad do it once, but I've since forgotten how it works. I'm hoping it'll just miraculously come to me when I have to do it. It doesn't seem that hard from watching the gas station attendant. 😳

New Jersey or Oregon?

 

[jvencius]

New Jersey, if you are unaware, actually has no government.

Hence, I get to an interview and don't know how to pump my gas 😕

Versus the saintly-pure government of Philadelphia? (insert unimaginably sarcastic smiley here since I just read Mayor Street's brother FINALLY got indicted today--now on to the Mayor...) I'm originally from ~45 mins north of the city and my top 4 choices for schools are in Philly so, fingers-crossed, in three years I'll be moving back in with Mom and Dad and taking Septa in every day.👍

 

[jamaicandoc]

im assuming you guys are aware that the use of cellphones and the frequency of electromagnetic waves they use can cause a fire/explosion if used near the pump..never answer or have your phone near you when you're filling gas..

 

[jvencius]

im assuming you guys are aware that the use of cellphones and the frequency of electromagnetic waves they use can cause a fire/explosion if used near the pump..never answer or have your phone near you when your pumping gas..

Maybe so, but since I drive a diesel (#2 ULSD is hard as hell to ignite) and since Wyoming is normally so danged windy (disperses any vapors that might be present), I'll normally leave my truck running and yap on the phone while I'm fueling. The place I normally get fuel is ~50 yards from any gasoline-dispensing pump, and I'm not worried a bit about going up in flames.😎

 

[pineapple]

im assuming you guys are aware that the use of cellphones and the frequency of electromagnetic waves they use can cause a fire/explosion if used near the pump..never answer or have your phone near you when you're filling gas..

Dang. Well if I can't make a call at the pump I guess I'll just kick back and have a smoke and rev the engine a little. 😎

(just kidding, kids, smoking is bad👎 👎 👎 ...don't do it!)

It's official, if I get a NJ interview and they ask me why I want to attend their school I'm telling them that the real reason I want to attend is because I need someone to pump my gas.

 

[monkily_stealth]

Oh man, I was at my first med school interview today, totally calm and cool. Knew about the school, prepared for the questions. On the ball.

Then when the interview starts I freeze up on the first question "tell me something about yourself."

It took me a few minutes to get my head back in the game without stammering/babbling answers. I have no idea what happened! Agh! The interviewer was really nice, though, and said that if I didn't seem nervous then that would mean I didn't care about the school...and then he wouldn't have wanted me there.

I don't even know how big of a deal it was, but the more I dwell on it the worse it seems in my head!

And I have another interview the day after tomorrow and am afraid I'll do it again

Holy crap, this same thing happened to me my first time! Same question, same reaction... I had thought about the question, of course, but everything I wanted to say came to my head at once, along with an overwhelming feeling that this was my first big interview. I ended up feeling really light-headed, and asking the interviewer to pardon me, because it was my first interview. After taking a deep breath, I managed to express my true feelings relatively well. The next interview went perfectly fine.

 

[Cmercury1]

New Jersey or Oregon?

Jersey. Didn't realize Oregon had the same laws. Oh, and if you get a NJMS interview, relax. They're very laidback over there. 🙂

 

[pineapple]

Holy crap, this same thing happened to me my first time! Same question, same reaction... I had thought about the question, of course, but everything I wanted to say came to my head at once, along with an overwhelming feeling that this was my first big interview. I ended up feeling really light-headed, and asking the interviewer to pardon me, because it was my first interview. After taking a deep breath, I managed to express my true feelings relatively well. The next interview went perfectly fine.

Yeah, that's what happened to me. I also apologized a few times and honestly told the interviewer that I was nervous. I'd say I expressed myself for the rest "relatively" well also. It could have been better, but it wasn't terrible or anything.

I hope that like you I'm fine for the next one! Did you do anything to relax afterwards? Any suggestions on what worked would be great!

 

[pineapple]

Jersey. Didn't realize Oregon had the same laws. Oh, and if you get a NJMS interview, relax. They're very laidback over there. 🙂

Cool, but I'm really hoping for one from UMDNJ-SOM...I love that school! But they haven't invited me yet :-(

 

[Flyfisher]

im assuming you guys are aware that the use of cellphones and the frequency of electromagnetic waves they use can cause a fire/explosion if used near the pump..never answer or have your phone near you when you're filling gas..

Thats actually not true... as proved by mythbusters.

 

[pineapple]

Thats actually not true... as proved by mythbusters.

If cell phones were really able to ignite flammable liquids, you can bet they would be banned from airplanes faster than you can blink.

 

[MasterMD]

Oh man, I was at my first med school interview today, totally calm and cool. Knew about the school, prepared for the questions. On the ball.

Then when the interview starts I freeze up on the first question "tell me something about yourself."

It took me a few minutes to get my head back in the game without stammering/babbling answers. I have no idea what happened! Agh! The interviewer was really nice, though, and said that if I didn't seem nervous then that would mean I didn't care about the school...and then he wouldn't have wanted me there.

I don't even know how big of a deal it was, but the more I dwell on it the worse it seems in my head!

And I have another interview the day after tomorrow and am afraid I'll do it again

i froze up on that question too.. and i had already been talking for an hour by then .. answering other questions. i dont know why i just FROZE and was like uhhh... hmm... uhhh.. welll.... but i finally got something out and the more i talked the better it got so i dug myself out of it. but man that was awful!👎 who knows why that question did that to me.. and you and so many others. it seems like the one we should be most prepared for other than "why this school?"

 

[MasterMD]

If cell phones were really able to ignite flammable liquids, you can bet they would be banned from airplanes faster than you can blink.

in most areas in CA that i have pumped gas it is not allowed to use cell phones while pumping gas.. once i got yelled at over the loudspeaker.. soooo embarrassing. anyway i think it has to do with being distracted while dealing with flammables.. and build up of static electricity that creates sparks...

 

[DrZeke]

I hate to bring a thread gone funny back to a serious place, but when they ask you "tell me about yourself":

1)make sure you have some points you KNOW that you want to mention

2) this question ROCKS, because it gives you a chance to give the interviewer a few samples of you. If the interviewer finds something interesting in what you said, he'll pursue by saying "oh, so you mentioned, you're X, tell me about that..."

3) this is the question that gives you perfect opportunity to lead the interview, so take advantage.

Anyways, like everyone else said, be yourself. Sometimes I'm a lot less nervous is I know what message I want to convey and what points I want to bring up for certain questions. I'm not memorizing, but I'm very prepared, so I won't clam up. Just an idea, maybe it can work for you too 🙂

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[notdeadyet]

Thats actually not true... as proved by mythbusters.

Agreed. When you read wacky things like this, you gotta reach for snopes. It's myth.

 

[monkily_stealth]

I hate to bring a thread gone funny back to a serious place, but when they ask you "tell me about yourself":

1)make sure you have some points you KNOW that you want to mention

2) this question ROCKS, because it gives you a chance to give the interviewer a few samples of you. If the interviewer finds something interesting in what you said, he'll pursue by saying "oh, so you mentioned, you're X, tell me about that..."

3) this is the question that gives you perfect opportunity to lead the interview, so take advantage.

Anyways, like everyone else said, be yourself. Sometimes I'm a lot less nervous is I know what message I want to convey and what points I want to bring up for certain questions. I'm not memorizing, but I'm very prepared, so I won't clam up. Just an idea, maybe it can work for you too 🙂

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good advice, but for people like me, who did prepare and have great ideas laid out, it's not always enough. Some people just get nervous no matter what. The only cure is experience (mock interviews, real interviews).

 

[DrZeke]

yeah...mock interview = definitely helps.

Also, time yourself 🙂 do it in the mirror...I talked to myself a lot too. If I was stumbling over ideas....I restarted and tried to figure out how I could say something in an organized way...I can be verbally disorganized when nervous...

 

[thedelicatessen]

I was so incredibly nervous at my first interview! I could barely answer the simple "Tell me about yourself," but by the end of that interview, I had a pretty good banter with my interviewers. Now I can easily rattle off my spiels, but it just takes practice. Good luck!

 

[szhao]

lol people like me, which is probably a rare breed on this forum, are probably like doesn't matter, not going to care, just answer what they ask when they ask it, preparing never helps. i mean obviously everyone is nervous, but just chill out everything will be fine.

 

[foofish]

Good advice, but for people like me, who did prepare and have great ideas laid out, it's not always enough. Some people just get nervous no matter what. The only cure is experience (mock interviews, real interviews).

I agree, and it's also important to not get even more nervous over the fact that you're nervous. On my first interview, I was just honest about being a bit nervous since it was my very first interview (in a conversational/joking way during the "nice to meet you/how are you doing today" pleasantries), and it was fine, and I got in to that school.

 

[RayhanS1282]

I hate to bring a thread gone funny back to a serious place, but when they ask you "tell me about yourself":

1)make sure you have some points you KNOW that you want to mention

2) this question ROCKS, because it gives you a chance to give the interviewer a few samples of you. If the interviewer finds something interesting in what you said, he'll pursue by saying "oh, so you mentioned, you're X, tell me about that..."

3) this is the question that gives you perfect opportunity to lead the interview, so take advantage.

Anyways, like everyone else said, be yourself. Sometimes I'm a lot less nervous is I know what message I want to convey and what points I want to bring up for certain questions. I'm not memorizing, but I'm very prepared, so I won't clam up. Just an idea, maybe it can work for you too 🙂

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A quick question about the "tell me about yourself" question....how far should you go back? Should you start from "a wee lad frolicking by the seashores" or stick to more current stuff like what you've been up to etc.

 

[Cirrus83]

I'm very confused, if it's illegal to pump your own gas, then why would you need someone to show you how? I thought you just let the full-service person come up and fill your tank.

Huh?

 

[pineapple]

A quick question about the "tell me about yourself" question....how far should you go back? Should you start from "a wee lad frolicking by the seashores" or stick to more current stuff like what you've been up to etc.

I don't think that it matters, as long as you go somewhere with the opening to show leadership, interest in med, or whatever. It just has to lead to something. I mentioned a few childhood things.

Good news! I had my second interview today and it was the best interview I've ever given...it was like the complete opposite of my first interview. On the elevator ride down with one of the MD interviewers afterwards he gave me his card and said "I never do this, but call me if you need anything. I want to see you here next year."

YAY! 😀 😀 😀

 

[pineapple]

I'm very confused, if it's illegal to pump your own gas, then why would you need someone to show you how? I thought you just let the full-service person come up and fill your tank.

Huh?

Haha, no, I'm from a state where it's illegal to pump gas so I don't know how to do it. Then I had to go to an interview out of state where no one fills your tank for you, and I didn't know what to do so someone had to show me.

 

[G.O.A.T.]

i was the first author of a research paper that got published which was about a specific protein in the cell. this protein was named by initials, like "ABC54". at one of my interviews, the interviewer was a PhD in a related field and he asked me what the initials "ABC54" stood for. I had NO IDEA!! throughout all my research, it had never even occurred to me to look it up, i just didn't even think it mattered. ooohh, we laughed and laughed........although i didn't quite get the feeling he was laughing WITH me.

 

[DrZeke]

A quick question about the "tell me about yourself" question....how far should you go back? Should you start from "a wee lad frolicking by the seashores" or stick to more current stuff like what you've been up to etc.

Use the question to show that you are more than just a unidimensional pre-med.

Maybe something like a few key points about yourself:

where you grew up, went to undergrad, what you value or are thankful for - ie: spending time with family or a cool trip, what have you focused on in the last few years, what you do in your free time, and maybe what you do now.

Use it to bring out what makes you unique, or anything you want the interviewer to ask you about, because you feel it is a strength 😉

Good luck !


PS - about the going back...you can talk about your childhood if you feel there is something really relevant there, ie: I spent the first 10 years of my life in BLAH, and that made me X. or I moved around a lot which I consider a good character builder. Just remember if you say "that made me X" or "good character builder" be prepared to say why, because they might ask you more. Otherwise, things like...I've wanted to be a doctor since I'm 2 are not good ways to introduce yourself...

 

[Timmythemic22]

GO JERSEY!

Seriously though, good luck. I may have missed this point, but RWJ or NJMS?

 

[Anastasis]

No worries. 🙂 At the interview at my top choice school I had a mad coughing fit (I was getting over bronchitis). It got so bad the interviewer had to go get a bottle of water for me and by the time they came back I was bright red and wheezing. funny enough I haven't heard back from that school 🙄

 

[Writer1985]

im assuming you guys are aware that the use of cellphones and the frequency of electromagnetic waves they use can cause a fire/explosion if used near the pump..never answer or have your phone near you when you're filling gas..

Speaking of gas exploding, my physics prof showed us an Internet video of a woman who was pumping gas while wearing a wool overcoat (this was in the winter). Since it was cold and snowy, she got back into the car to wait. The pump shut off; she got back out; and when she touched the pump to put it back, the whole thing went up in flames. Static electricity: it's a killer.

 

[pineapple]

GO JERSEY!

Seriously though, good luck. I may have missed this point, but RWJ or NJMS?

haha, actually I originally posted this in the wrong section by accident, my top choice UMDNJ is SOM...I like it better than RWJ (too stuck up) and NJMS (hate the neighborhood).

 

[Cirrus83]

Haha, no, I'm from a state where it's illegal to pump gas so I don't know how to do it. Then I had to go to an interview out of state where no one fills your tank for you, and I didn't know what to do so someone had to show me.

Oh...wow...I guess I never even realized that people wouldn't know if they were from one of those states.

I actually kinda get annoyed when someone else pumps my gas for me since they like to top off even though there's no reason to (I usually pay with a credit card), and more or less I always feel like I'm supposed to tip them. Someone else told me that (at least in places where full service is optional and at extra cost) it's already priced into the more expensive full service gas so I've just been overpaying. But yeah, especially if there isn't self service available (so yeah, Jersey), then you can't even tell that you're paying a premium for the service-so you would feel compelled to have to tip. Which might not seem annoying if you've been doing this your whole life, but more or less I've just been a self service kinda person forever, so to suddenly have some random guy do my fillups when I'd rather do it myself is quite annoying. I do tip them though, since I'm not a jerk, but I maintain my right to be annoyed.

 

[zimmie256]

I never bought the whole story that full-serve was required because of safety concerns. If it was really such a safety issue, why would only NJ and OR have these laws?? I've always assumed it was to create jobs (but they had to use safety to convince people to pass the law). Just my theory.

 

[pineapple]

Oh...wow...I guess I never even realized that people wouldn't know if they were from one of those states.

I actually kinda get annoyed when someone else pumps my gas for me since they like to top off even though there's no reason to (I usually pay with a credit card), and more or less I always feel like I'm supposed to tip them. Someone else told me that (at least in places where full service is optional and at extra cost) it's already priced into the more expensive full service gas so I've just been overpaying. But yeah, especially if there isn't self service available (so yeah, Jersey), then you can't even tell that you're paying a premium for the service-so you would feel compelled to have to tip. Which might not seem annoying if you've been doing this your whole life, but more or less I've just been a self service kinda person forever, so to suddenly have some random guy do my fillups when I'd rather do it myself is quite annoying. I do tip them though, since I'm not a jerk, but I maintain my right to be annoyed.

Oh no, no one ever tips for gas. In Europe you have to do it, but absolutely not here. And it's not factored into the price of the gas, either. Those gas station attendants actually get paid pretty well.

 

[pineapple]

I never bought the whole story that full-serve was required because of safety concerns. If it was really such a safety issue, why would only NJ and OR have these laws?? I've always assumed it was to create jobs (but they had to use safety to convince people to pass the law). Just my theory.

No, it's just that they're too lazy to change old laws.

 

[Cirrus83]

Oh no, no one ever tips for gas. In Europe you have to do it, but absolutely not here. And it's not factored into the price of the gas, either. Those gas station attendants actually get paid pretty well.

lol it's factored in, becuase if they have to hire more people to run the station they'll charge you more...you just can't tell because all your stations are full-service.

In NY, a lot of stations have both Full service and Self service pumps, and they have different prices on them for gasoline, so it's definitely factored here.

 

[instigata]

I don't know if this is a big deal but...

I opened my interviewer's door without knocking b/c I didn't know it was going to be his own private office. I thought there was going to be a secretary and a main room leading to the offices just like my first interviewer's office for the same school. I felt really embarrassed and kept apologizing. Good thing he was really nice 🙂