How would you answer this type of interview question (recent events)?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Planes2Doc

I enjoy the nightlife
Lifetime Donor
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2012
Messages
2,780
Reaction score
2,491
I saw a similar question being asked a few years ago after the earthquake in Haiti. I just wanted to see how pre-meds would go about answering a question like this:

As a physician, you just heard about the devastation following the typhoon in the Philippines. You are going to travel there to help the people as soon as possible. You ask your colleague about going with, and he responds by saying, "F*** them." How would respond to him?
 
This is a pretty straightforward prompt. While there are varying approaches and degrees of tact you could employ, the generally expected answer is some form of, "I respect you as a friend and colleague, but I disagree."
 
I am SO stealing that question!

The only wrong answer, I think, would be to argue with the guy.

I saw a similar question being asked a few years ago after the earthquake in Haiti. I just wanted to see how pre-meds would go about answering a question like this:

As a physician, you just heard about the devastation following the typhoon in the Philippines. You are going to travel there to help the people as soon as possible. You ask your colleague about going with, and he responds by saying, "F*** them." How would respond to him?
 
I saw a similar question being asked a few years ago after the earthquake in Haiti. I just wanted to see how pre-meds would go about answering a question like this:

As a physician, you just heard about the devastation following the typhoon in the Philippines. You are going to travel there to help the people as soon as possible. You ask your colleague about going with, and he responds by saying, "F*** them." How would respond to him?
My mature side: I would accept his/her decision and move forward with my trip. After all we don't need that type of negativity over there.

My bad side:
20-kohlkojudsonip0.gif
 
"okay" and then walk away.
 
I am SO stealing that question!

The only wrong answer, I think, would be to argue with the guy.

I hope by argue you mean being belligerent, I would certainly want to discuss/debate if I came across that point of view.
 
I saw a similar question being asked a few years ago after the earthquake in Haiti. I just wanted to see how pre-meds would go about answering a question like this:

As a physician, you just heard about the devastation following the typhoon in the Philippines. You are going to travel there to help the people as soon as possible. You ask your colleague about going with, and he responds by saying, "F*** them." How would respond to him?
Is this a trick question? I ask because I'd probably be the guy who says "**** them."
 
I saw a similar question being asked a few years ago after the earthquake in Haiti. I just wanted to see how pre-meds would go about answering a question like this:

As a physician, you just heard about the devastation following the typhoon in the Philippines. You are going to travel there to help the people as soon as possible. You ask your colleague about going with, and he responds by saying, "F*** them." How would respond to him?

I thought the question was typically asked the other way around:
Natural disaster/3rd world country. Your colleague is traveling there to help peoeple as soon as possible and asks you to go with. How do you respond?

As for the question at hand, it seems pretty straightforward. You asked a colleague to go with, he says no (whether he declined with prejudice or not is entirely irrelavent). My response: "okay, see you in a few weeks/months." Next question.
 
I thought the question was typically asked the other way around:
Natural disaster/3rd world country. Your colleague is traveling there to help peoeple as soon as possible and asks you to go with. How do you respond?

Interview answer: "Physicians have a professional and moral obligation to use their training to benefit mankind, so I would very enthusiastically go to [insert ****hole country] to serve and blah blah blah"

Real life answer: "No thanks I'm kind of busy with family and whatnot, but I hope you have a great time."

In all seriousness, if a disaster befell my family's ancestral country, I would feel slightly compelled to do my part to help the recovery. But I have no personal connection to the Philippines, so I don't really care so much.
 
Last edited:
Top