interview etiquette question: refer to colleague docs by 1st or last names?

[BellyDancingDoc]

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Hi all,

I have an etiquette question for you:

In my lab, I work with two doctors, "John Jones" and "Sue Smith." Day to day, I address them as John and Sue, and this informal way of addressing them is very natural to me.

However, it has occured to me that when I talk about my work with them in interviews, perhaps I should be referring to them as Dr. Jones and Dr. Smith. Is this the case?

Thanks,
Frogs

 

[koennen]

Hi all,

I have an etiquette question for you:

In my lab, I work with two doctors, "John Jones" and "Sue Smith." Day to day, I address them as John and Sue, and this informal way of addressing them is very natural to me.

However, it has occured to me that when I talk about my work with them in interviews, perhaps I should be referring to them as Dr. Jones and Dr. Smith. Is this the case?

Thanks,
Frogs

Yes, unless you want to do poorly in the interview.

 

[yahoo123]

Hi all,

I have an etiquette question for you:

In my lab, I work with two doctors, "John Jones" and "Sue Smith." Day to day, I address them as John and Sue, and this informal way of addressing them is very natural to me.

However, it has occured to me that when I talk about my work with them in interviews, perhaps I should be referring to them as Dr. Jones and Dr. Smith. Is this the case?

Thanks,
Frogs

I completely disagree with the last poster, I think that the people on the admissions committee are not privy to the close relationship that you have with these doctors, and the appropriate move would be to show respect by referring to them as Dr. Jones and Dr. Smith.

 

[Go Time]

I'd say it depends on the relationship...and the context that relationship is placed during the interview. One of my recommenders (and AMCAS experience entry) is an MD who was at one time my doctor, at one time my employee, and also at one time a co-worker. I referred to him as "John", "Dr. Jones", and sometimes by both in the same interview.

If you are presented as primarily a professional colaborator or as an employee working for these MD's...I'd go for the formal reference.

 

[cubbbie]

Call them Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones in the interview. That's much more professional and respectful. It's fine to call them by their first name when you work with them, but when you're talking about them to other professionals, it's disrespectful to refer to them informally.

 

[Writer1985]

I'd say Dr. X in an interview; it's just more professional. However, at one interview, it turned out that the interviewer knew my PI. Since it was such a conversational interview, I felt all right referring to him by his first name after that. (The PI also has a slightly amusing last name, so he greatly prefers to be referred to by his first; of course, you wouldn't know that offhand.) But unless you find yourself in a situation like that, go with formality.

 

[LabMonster]

Call them Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones in the interview. That's much more professional and respectful. It's fine to call them by their first name when you work with them, but when you're talking about them to other professionals, it's disrespectful to refer to them informally.

There you go. cubbbie has it. 🙂

 

[Ultra7]

In every lab I have ever worked in or known of, the students and post docs in the lab call the PI by his or her first name. It seems totally unnatural to me to refer to a PI as "Dr. X" in an interview when you have been calling and referring to him as "Bob" for 4 years.
In my residency interviews, I have been calling my PI "Bob" and I plan to continue doing so. I actually remember getting teased as an undergrad by one of the faculty (while I was interviewing at the school I currently attended) for calling her "Dr. Y"; first names are standard in research.
I would do whatever feels comfortable for you. But it is standard practice to refer to PIs by their first names when you work in their lab, and I really don't think anyone will look done on you or me for calling Bob "Bob".

 

[Haemulon]

In every lab I have ever worked in or known of, the students and post docs in the lab call the PI by his or her first name. It seems totally unnatural to me to refer to a PI as "Dr. X" in an interview when you have been calling and referring to him as "Bob" for 4 years.
In my residency interviews, I have been calling my PI "Bob" and I plan to continue doing so. I actually remember getting teased as an undergrad by one of the faculty (while I was interviewing at the school I currently attended) for calling her "Dr. Y"; first names are standard in research.
I would do whatever feels comfortable for you. But it is standard practice to refer to PIs by their first names when you work in their lab, and I really don't think anyone will look done on you or me for calling Bob "Bob".

I disagree with your disagreement. An interview is not the place to showcase your casual informalities with previous mentors or employers. Whether comfortable or not, an interview is a time to use appropriate titles. I support cubbbie's post.

 

[BeatrixKiddo]

I don't even refer to my neighbors by their first name. Until I turn 27 I probably will continue to do that

 

[JonnyG]

Unless you call them by their professional name the interviewer may have no clue who you are talking about. I worked for Dr. such and such. Not "I worked for bob". At that point, you probably will never use their name again in the conversation.

 

[Ultra7]

If they don't know who Bob is, they are not going to know who Dr. Jones is either. The interviewer either read my application and knows who I'm talking about, or he didn't.
Maybe it's different for med school interviews than for residency, since you are younger, have a (somewhat) less collegial relationship, and the network is larger. I expect to interview with many people who DO know Bob personally.

 

[medder]

i had an interview where I mentioned knowning a doctor that I shadowed a couple times. The doctor was a friend, and I said his first name. When the interviewer asked his last name, I blanked and he thought that was weird that I would only refer to him by Kevin and not Dr. _____. I ended up getting accepted. guess it wasn't a big deal.

 

[Flopotomist]

Uhm - I disagree with everybody (lol, just thought that would be fun to say since most posts on this thread start with a clarification of who is disagreed with)

I say do whatever comes naturally and don't worry about it. Is saying "Dr. Jones" more professional - probably. BUT, concentrating so hard on remembering NOT to say "Bob" and then forgetting to say something intelligent would be worse.

I think most people would understand that if you are publishing papers and your name is listed as second author, that you would have somewhat of an informal working relationship with the PI.

 

[Ultra7]

I agree with Flopotomist. He often has something wise to say.
Calling Bob Dr. Jones...acceptable.
Calling Bob Bob...acceptable.
Calling Bob Boob...probably not.