How to be better at interviewing

[HomeSkool]

1. Eliminate the word "like" from your vocabulary. Please.
2. Also: "umm", "you know?", "OK?", "So..."

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[YCP Pre-Med]

Looks at the date.... Sees faculty badge... Great advice! I assume it's been a long interview season?

 

[Goro]

1. Eliminate the word "like" from your vocabulary. Please.
2. Also: "umm", "you know?", "OK?", "So..."

It sounds like there's a story here!!!

 

[onyxbell]

1. Eliminate the word "like" from your vocabulary. Please.
2. Also: "umm", "you know?", "OK?", "So..."

So ummm, are you like, you know, OK now? From all the interview torment?

 

[HomeSkool]

So ummm, are you like, you know, OK now? From all the interview torment?

 

[BombsAway]

This is fun.

How to be better at interviewing: pretend you're an adult for about 5 hours.

 

[libertyyne]

i thought peak valley girl speak was mid oughts.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

 

[LizzyM]

This is, like, you know, the umm best post that was made like um today, ok?

 

[gyngyn]

I would add: statements need not sound like a question; eliminate "sucks" for just a few hours.

 

[Catalystik]

This is, like, you know, the umm best post that was made like um today, ok?

Totally!

 

[Catalystik]

I would add: not every sentence needs to sound like a question; eliminate "sucks" for just a few hours.

And, "Like, really!"

 

[Goro]

I would add: not every sentence needs to sound like a question; eliminate "sucks" for just a few hours.

This also sounds like a story!! Care to share???

 

[gyngyn]

This also sounds like a story!! Care to share???

The wounds are still too raw.

 

[Goro]

The wounds are still too raw.

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

View attachment 228877

Like no way bruh

 

[HomeSkool]

I would add: not every sentence needs to sound like a question; eliminate "sucks" for just a few hours.

And see if you can figure out more professional-sounding synonyms for "stupid", "dumb", and "idiot".

 

[LizzyM]

And see if you can figure out more professional-sounding synonyms for "stupid", "dumb", and "idiot".

And for the love of all that is holy, don't use ******ed unless you are talking about baking with yeast.

 

[deleted877060]

1. Eliminate the word "like" from your vocabulary. Please.
2. Also: "umm", "you know?", "OK?", "So..."

But, um, you know, people start sentences with “so..” a lot, and like, that’s very common, so um, how do you recommend going about it?

 

[HomeSkool]

But, um, you know, people start sentences with “so..” a lot, and like, that’s very common, so um, how do you recommend going about it?

Just start every sentence with "So, like..." and make every sentence sound like a question, and my job will be much easier. Bonus points if your first sentence just repeats my question back to me.

 

[21Rush12]

May I add?

If you’re asked a question, answer the question. Don’t manipulate the situation to talk about yourself.

 

[TheBiologist]

1. Eliminate the word "like" from your vocabulary. Please.
2. Also: "umm", "you know?", "OK?", "So..."

lolll, but when would someone say "OK?"

 

[deleted877060]

lolll, but when would someone say "OK?"

Q: Can you tell me more about your experience working with the underserved?
A: Um OK sooooo...

 

[SpoiledMilk]

statements need not sound like a question

Exceptions if they are Canadian applicants, eh?

 

[Goro]

May I add?

If you’re asked a question, answer the question. Don’t manipulate the situation to talk about yourself.

And if you're asked a question about a controversial subject, don't add your opinion if it's not not asked for.

 

[TheBiologist]

Exceptions if they are Canadian applicants, eh?

HAHA

 

[bioboy23]

I typically sound like an adult when I speak but I’m SO afraid that once those nerves get ahold of me I’m gonna sound like 9th grade girl. Definitely gonna do mock interviews out the wazoo.

 

[Saifa]

eliminate "sucks" for just a few hours.

And see if you can figure out more professional-sounding synonyms for "stupid", "dumb", and "idiot".

And if you're asked a question about a controversial subject, don't add your opinion if it's not not asked for.

I had a faculty interviewer refer to a certain president with the f-word, is this bait or something?

 

[Goro]

I had a faculty interviewer refer to a certain president with the f-word, is this bait or something?

Unprofessionalism on display.

 

[Saifa]

Unprofessionalism on display.

Despite my agreement the whole interview unfortunately felt like that.

 

[ekmf27050]

And see if you can figure out more professional-sounding synonyms for "stupid", "dumb", and "idiot".

Is that a note for us or a note to yourself as you write comments??

 

[HomeSkool]

Is that a note for us or a note to yourself as you write comments??

Don't play dumb with me, I'm not an idiot. I'm not interviewing to get into med school. Don't ask stupid questions.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile

 

[ekmf27050]

Don't play dumb with me, I'm not an idiot. I'm not interviewing to get into med school. Don't ask stupid questions.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile

 

[M1i]

I know this isn’t exactly pertaining to the original post. But I have searched and also read Goros interview guide but I was unable to find example questions of what one could expect to hear in an interview. Outside of the more generic why here and why medicine which seems to be common. Are they mostly all questions that pertain to the individual being interviewed (ie there accomplishments and ec’s, and how they relate to med school and medicine). Or are there more difficult questions that our well outside the realm of your application. If its not pushing it. I would love to hear some example questions, be it from a person that has interviewed already. Or some of the faculty. Thanks

 

[HomeSkool]

I know this isn’t exactly pertaining to the original post. But I have searched and also read Goros interview guide but I was unable to find example questions of what one could expect to hear in an interview. Outside of the more generic why here and why medicine which seems to be common. Are they mostly all questions that pertain to the individual being interviewed (ie there accomplishments and ec’s, and how they relate to med school and medicine). Or are there more difficult questions that our well outside the realm of your application. If its not pushing it. I would love to hear some example questions, be it from a person that has interviewed already. Or some of the faculty. Thanks

Let's set up a dedicated thread for that instead of derailing this one and burying the sample questions in an unrelated thread.

 

[Goro]

I know this isn’t exactly pertaining to the original post. But I have searched and also read Goros interview guide but I was unable to find example questions of what one could expect to hear in an interview. Outside of the more generic why here and why medicine which seems to be common. Are they mostly all questions that pertain to the individual being interviewed (ie there accomplishments and ec’s, and how they relate to med school and medicine). Or are there more difficult questions that our well outside the realm of your application. If its not pushing it. I would love to hear some example questions, be it from a person that has interviewed already. Or some of the faculty. Thanks

There's an entire section of SDN devoted to Interview Feedback

 

[Little Homie]

Interviewed at a school and one of the med student reps would "umm" every few seconds when questioned and occasionally hit us with an "umm...umm...umm." Gave me hope until the hard rejection.

 

[M1i]

There's an entire section of SDN devoted to Interview Feedback

Found it. Apparently didn’t look hard enough. Thank you!

 

[wysdoc]

make every sentence sound like a question, and my job will be much easier. Bonus points if your first sentence just repeats my question back to me.

but that's how they do it at the Miss America pageant...

 

[SpoiledMilk]

but that's how they do it at the Miss America pageant...

 

[wysdoc]

exactly the clip I was thinking of!

 

[SpoiledMilk]

exactly the clip I was thinking of!

LOL. She is now a realtor in Cali.

 

[Fossa]

May I add?

If you’re asked a question, answer the question. Don’t manipulate the situation to talk about yourself.

And if the question specifically addresses a weak point on your application, own up to it and show some friggin' responsibility and maturity. Can we please stop with the half-assed excuses?

 

[Goro]

Is that a note for us or a note to yourself as you write comments??

Don't play dumb with me, I'm not an idiot. I'm not interviewing to get into med school. Don't ask stupid questions.

My wise colleague is one of the nicest people on SDN! It takes some talent to piss him off!

 

[HomeSkool]

Is that a note for us or a note to yourself as you write comments??

My wise colleague is one of the nicest people on SDN! It takes some talent to piss him off!

Nah, I wasn't pissed. I was using all three words (dumb, stupid, idiot) in one post to be funny.

 

[Goro]

Nah, I wasn't pissed. I was using all three words (dumb, stupid, idiot) in one post to be funny.

Alas, humor doesn't travel well over the electrons!

 

[Dr. Scribe]

I think being brutally honest throughout your interview day is a plus:

I told my first interviewer (a pediatrician) that I'm not interested in PEDS (since I'm not) so she knew I wasn't a typical BSing interviewee who is just saying things that she wants to hear.

I told my second interviewer that I'm very conservative, against socialized medicine, and pro-life (again, because I am). Then, when I told him that this school is my top choice (which it was) he actually believed me.

End result: Accepted outright less than 2 weeks later.

Added bonus: If you tell the truth, you don't have to prepare as much and your responses don't seem robotic.

 

[Robin-jay]

Be in-state.

 

[Microbug]

Unprofessionalism on display.

I had a faculty who cursed throughout the interview All the goodies F***, s***, a**, etc

 

[gyngyn]

I had a faculty who cursed throughout the interview All the goodies F***, s***, a**, etc

Report them.