How to prepare for traditional interviews? "Tell me about a time when" questions

[robot_soup]

Other than knowing your app and doing mocks, how does one prepare for traditional interviews?

I'm particularly bad at the 'tell me about a time when' questions and feel like they always catch me off guard and I blank out and can't think of anything.

Does anyone have any advice with what they do to prepare for interviews?

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[Mr.Smile12]

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[Goro]

Other than knowing your app and doing mocks, how does one prepare for traditional interviews?

I'm particularly bad at the 'tell me about a time when' questions and feel like they always catch me off guard and I blank out and can't think of anything.

Does anyone have any advice with what they do to prepare for interviews?

Introspection is a required competency for being a doctor.

Take a moment to think of an answer.

 

[LizzyM]

Write down a bunch of questions that begin "tell me about a time that you..." Then think about how you might answer one of those questions. Don't write it down, just think about it. Rinse and repeat. Don't do more than one per sitting (not that you have to be sitting to be thinking).

 

[premed123321]

I went through hundreds of behavioral interview questions. What was really helpful for me was just answering them with 1 sentence bullets which would explain the story I want to use (something like: "use research setback story" or something along those lines). As you do this, you will realize that you can use like the same 8-10 stories for the vast majority of questions.

Your secondary essays may also have good stories you can use

Just to add: you don't want to sound over rehearsed, but the interview should not be the first time you've thought about "a time you took initiative" or a "time you failed"

 

[Moko]

Other than knowing your app and doing mocks, how does one prepare for traditional interviews?

I'm particularly bad at the 'tell me about a time when' questions and feel like they always catch me off guard and I blank out and can't think of anything.

Does anyone have any advice with what they do to prepare for interviews?

I recently interviewed for a position and used the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) interview method:

Note that most of your answer should be spent on the "Action" portion of your response. Think carefully about qualities that we like to see and find examples (at least two, so you can draw on the second example if needed) in your personal, academic, or professional life that highlight those qualities.

Some examples of good qualities include: effective communication and conflict resolution, problem-solving leadership, teamwork (and working with others unlike yourself), resilience (being able to handle stress and bounce back from failures), compassion, good ethics, advocacy, etc.

And most importantly, practice, practice, practice! There is a big difference between being prepared and over-rehearsed! Just my thoughts and best of luck.

 

[sarcasmrules]

1. Look up common forms of that question.
2. There's nothing with "That's a good question, can I have a couple of minutes to think on that?"

 

[Mr.Smile12]

There's also a treasure trove of articles focused on behavioral questions in books or on the internet.

Also, you only get one "time out"; don't literally take "a couple of minutes." Five to seven seconds to pause.