Gutsy Interview move?

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DiverDoc

KCUMB 2012
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Alright a family member of mine was talking to me about his interview experience and he told me that last question he was asked and I was shocked at his answer, but all in all I believe it was a good answer, nonetheless honest. Would this be considered a gutsy move, perhaps a little dangerous?

Interviewer : Do you think we should accept you?

my family member : Well, you have my file and nearly my whole life experiences in front of you, you have interviewed me for nearly 45 minutes, if you dont know whether or not you should accept me, I cannot help you.

Interviewer : Chuckle and said well thanks for your interest in .... university school of medicine.

Note: He got in.
 
Alright a family member of mine was talking to me about his interview experience and he told me that last question he was asked and I was shocked at his answer, but all in all I believe it was a good answer, nonetheless honest. Would this be considered a gutsy move, perhaps a little dangerous?

Interviewer : Do you think we should accept you?

my family member : Well, you have my file and nearly my whole life experiences in front of you, you have interviewed me for nearly 45 minutes, if you dont know whether or not you should accept me, I cannot help you.

Interviewer : Chuckle and said well thanks for your interest in .... university school of medicine.

Note: He got in.


I think it's almost always best to play it conservative in cases like interviews (medical or otherwise).
 
was he already accepted elsewhere?
 
I think it's almost always best to play it conservative in cases like interviews (medical or otherwise).

I concur. 👍
 
I have read a statistic somewhere that it takes an average of 6 minutes or around there for an interviewer to get a lasting impression.
 
No. He was very qualified for a spot though. Even though I wouldnt say it, it is very true for the most part IMO.

I'm surprise
this was for a DO school?
 
Might depend how you say it, and how you read your interviewer's sense of humor.. but could very well come off as cocky or condescending. I don't think I'd recommend trying it under most circumstances.
 
I think it's almost always best to play it conservative in cases like interviews (medical or otherwise).
I'm not sure about this. Playing it conservative is the overwhelming norm and does not differentiate you from anyone. It would be like saying I want to go to med school b/c I like science and want to help people. Now I'm not advocating showing up in flip flops and a t-shirt but sometimes pure, blatant, honesty is refreshing. Some people just can't pull it off though and seem confident. Like Toohot said, it takes balls.
 
I'm not sure about this. Playing it conservative is the overwhelming norm and does not differentiate you from anyone. It would be like saying I want to go to med school b/c I like science and want to help people. Now I'm not advocating showing up in flip flops and a t-shirt but sometimes pure, blatant, honesty is refreshing. Some people just can't pull it off though and seem confident. Like Toohot said, it takes balls.

:laugh: I was advised by a friend to show up in nothing but a potato sack to my interviews. A surefire way to be remembered.
 
I'm not sure about this. Playing it conservative is the overwhelming norm and does not differentiate you from anyone. It would be like saying I want to go to med school b/c I like science and want to help people. Now I'm not advocating showing up in flip flops and a t-shirt but sometimes pure, blatant, honesty is refreshing. Some people just can't pull it off though and seem confident. Like Toohot said, it takes balls.

Now this is just my opinion, but there are far better ways of differentiating yourself without resorting to "gimmicks" like a cocky/self-assured response. There's just too many ways for it to rub the interviewer the wrong way and very few people can pull off pure blatant honesty without looking like an ass.
 
Wow...big brass ones if he really did that. Not sure I could pull it off.
 
This really depends on the interview...if it was a much more relax type of interview that it would be okay to say something like that...if the whole interview had been tense and the interviewers grilled you almost the whole time, then no, you wouldn't say something like that.
 
👍👍👍👍

Your family member is f*****g awesome. I want a picture of them so I can make it my avatar.
 
I'm not sure what to think about that.

1. He didn't really answer the question.
2. It was a stupid question. Who applies to places that they don't think they should be accepted?
 
gutsy move? no...smart move? yes!
 
Alright a family member of mine was talking to me about his interview experience and he told me that last question he was asked and I was shocked at his answer, but all in all I believe it was a good answer, nonetheless honest. Would this be considered a gutsy move, perhaps a little dangerous?

Interviewer : Do you think we should accept you?

my family member : Well, you have my file and nearly my whole life experiences in front of you, you have interviewed me for nearly 45 minutes, if you dont know whether or not you should accept me, I cannot help you.

Interviewer : Chuckle and said well thanks for your interest in .... university school of medicine.

Note: He got in.

He sounds kind of like a prick, but it likely doesn't translate as well in writing.
 
He sounds kind of like a prick, but it likely doesn't translate as well in writing.

I concur-- as an interviewer, I would personally think his behavior amusing, and even chuckled, but I would not have recommended him for a spot... He would've rubbed me the wrong way. After all, the entire interview is in writing in front of the interviewer, the whole point is to hear how you sell yourself, not how much of a smarty you can be 🙄.
 
I have read a statistic somewhere that it takes an average of 6 minutes or around there for an interviewer to get a lasting impression.

There is also research/evidence showing that interviews are pretty worthless and people's gut feelings about a personality are wrong more often than not. 😉
 
In one of my interviews the last question I was asked was, "What will be your number one consideration in selecting a medical school?" (I had a few acceptances, including one in state, and they knew it.)

I thought about it for a moment, and calmly responded, "An acceptance letter."

They all laughed.

They did follow the question up, and I answered it seriously. However given that both clinicians I interviewed with mentioned that incident to me when I matriculated at the school the following fall, I think everyone appreciated the humor, and my willingness to take a chance and use it. They definitely remembered me.
 
KMG, that's good... I think that type of reaction, you can make a joke, but then also be serious, is important to have as a doc. glad you got in!! 🙂
 
In one of my interviews the last question I was asked was, "What will be your number one consideration in selecting a medical school?" (I had a few acceptances, including one in state, and they knew it.)

I thought about it for a moment, and calmly responded, "An acceptance letter."

They all laughed.

They did follow the question up, and I answered it seriously. However given that both clinicians I interviewed with mentioned that incident to me when I matriculated at the school the following fall, I think everyone appreciated the humor, and my willingness to take a chance and use it. They definitely remembered me.

I was asked that very question and gave just that answer. It was the honest truth and I was later accepted.

Now the original gutsy move I am not too sure about, not recommendable for all practical purposes.
 
I was asked that very question and gave just that answer. It was the honest truth and I was later accepted.

Now the original gutsy move I am not too sure about, not recommendable for all practical purposes.


Oh, yeah, I definitely agree. The original comment in question was both not funny, and pretty abrupt. I would have been turned off if I'd been interviewing him/her.
 
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