Interview Advice

[wymantula]

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I have a couple interviews coming up within the next month. I am looking for advice on how to prepare for interviews!

Would it be good to write down answers to common questions, do a mock interview, etc.? What are different ways to prepare?

Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[Stanelz]

yes.

 

[Gauchonose]

There are excellent videos on YouTube that I've been taking notes on. There's a video by Kevin Ahern on health profession interviews that has great tips

 

[Hnl7]

After you write down your answers, you should make bullet points of the important things you want to convey. After you do that, break it down to single key words.

After that, start talking to everyone and anything that will listen to you about your story. However, make sure that you can change the wording on the fly to fit the context of the interview/conversation while continuing to address the core (bullet points/keywords)

Remember that you don’t want to recite your answers. If you do, you may sound like someone who memorized their speech. Also, you may lose your place and freeze once the interviewer starts throwing in questions.

Remember what you want to convey, know yourself, and know your application!


Good luck!

 

[ysrebob]

I would have semi-prepared answers to any questions that might deal with peculiarities of your application, whether bad or good: ie be ready to justify any weak points would show up in your application in a positive way; be prepared to speak to any particular strengths that would show up in your application that would set you apart from others and perhaps give them a reason to admit you. Beyond that, you already have your foot halfway in the door. I've never been on an adcom but you can guess what they're looking for:

- enthusiasm (you know you want to be a dentist and why; you know you want to come to their school and why)
- competence (you are smart, a hard worker, and self-motivated; you are capable of completing the curriculum)
- a little humility (you know you are about to start something hard and are expecting to have to work hard at it... measured confidence is good, but arrogance is bad)
- likeability (you won't be a pain in their gluteus for the next four years; your staff/patients will respond well to you)