I got choked up in an interview, is that good?

[Paws]

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During a last interview, I was being grilled by this person about some clinical work I had done. Part of what I did had to do with really painful stories of people who had died and I was doing just fine until I got to a point where I had to describe something well, about their deaths, and all of a sudden I got a little choked up and had to stop for a second and look out the window.

I made a good save tho and pulled thru fine, saying something like: we had to hear really horrific stories and it was hard. Then I smiled or something polite like that.

I wasn't sure if the interviewer thought I was a complete wimp or what - they were pretty hard to read - but they didn't make any mention of it and it seemed fine.

Did anyone else have a similar experience? I mean, these interviews can be pretty nervewrakcing as it is but I wondered later if they were going to write: wimpy, and can't handle this stuff on their evaluation. I thought my reaction was pretty normal but you never know.

 

[calebho501]

If we applicants can handle everything that a doctor can handle, why do they still need to train us those stuff in medical school?

Each applicant has different exposure and beliefs, and I don't think they expect everyone to be able to handle everything just like a real physician, at least not yet.

 

[finnpipette]

hey sometimes you have tough times. i never thought i'd be such a poon, but my first week volunteering in the hospital, a young girl was brought in who had tried to hang herself. it was horrific, i was shocked and didn't know how to respond. i was nervous as heck and i started giggling for no particular reason. unfortunately, they started ripping off her clothes soon after, which made me look like an immature pervert. crap happens...whatever. we each deal with things in our own way.

 

[NRAI2001]

Originally posted by finnpipette
hey sometimes you have tough times. i never thought i'd be such a poon, but my first week volunteering in the hospital, a young girl was brought in who had tried to hang herself. it was horrific, i was shocked and didn't know how to respond. i was nervous as heck and i started giggling for no particular reason. unfortunately, they started ripping off her clothes soon after, which made me look like an immature pervert. crap happens...whatever. we each deal with things in our own way.

Did you giggle at ur interview or when they brought the girl in?

 

[lotanna]

Originally posted by Paws
During a last interview, I was being grilled by this person about some clinical work I had done. Part of what I did had to do with really painful stories of people who had died and I was doing just fine until I got to a point where I had to describe something well, about their deaths, and all of a sudden I got a little choked up and had to stop for a second and look out the window.

I made a good save tho and pulled thru fine, saying something like: we had to hear really horrific stories and it was hard. Then I smiled or something polite like that.

I wasn't sure if the interviewer thought I was a complete wimp or what - they were pretty hard to read - but they didn't make any mention of it and it seemed fine.

Did anyone else have a similar experience? I mean, these interviews can be pretty nervewrakcing as it is but I wondered later if they were going to write: wimpy, and can't handle this stuff on their evaluation. I thought my reaction was pretty normal but you never know.

Dont worry, my friend broke down during a Wayne state interview, becos the interviewer was asking questions about her childhood, much too personal (family related stuff). She pulled thru, got in with full tuition for that matter!!
Hang in there, the interviewer will understand 🙂

 

[LP1CW]

not a problem at all. At my first interview this year, I stopped for a moment when he asked me a question about death/dying facing the inevitabity of that with my patients. At that point, I just found out that my mother was dying so I stopped, told him about my mother, and redirected my thoughts. I felt a bit weak being a guy, having this stupid persona of strength, but when we hurt, we hurt.

 

[Paws]

Wow, these are great examples and LP1, I don't who would have a dry eye in your situation. I mean, really we're supposed to be human people as well as doctors.

I actually prefer physicians who are nice and have 'soft' feelings. Since we will be dealing with life and death all the time I think it's pretty natural.

I've seen births and I've seen deaths and I hope I never stop getting choked up by them. Work has to be done so if you're delivering the baby then you just do it, or the ER doc has to just do whatever.

Hmmm, I like the idea of that full scholarship to Wayne State ... 🙂

 

[skypilot]

It was a little embarassing to say the least. I am just glad that my entire career was not hanging on that one interview. You can blow a few chances and still be admitted so just keep swinging until you hit one.

 

[Downhill Racer]

sometimes being human is the best form of compassion. I think your display of emotion is not a sign of weakness -- as others have stated in this thread. I think your ability to pause and recompose yourself to focus for the remainder of the interview was what I'd hope to do if I were in your shoes.

G'Luck, I'm sure you'll do fine.