Interview help

[CaliforniaAppli]

Last cycle, I was told I did not interview well.
What are some very practical steps I could take in improving in this area? (things that I could even mention during interviews that I did to overcome my lack of interview skills)

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[shinbeats]

Last cycle, I was told I did not interview well.
What are some very practical steps I could take in improving in this area? (things that I could even mention during interviews that I did to overcome my lack of interview skills)

Well why don't you address the problem by finding out the exact problem first. Why do you think you don't have interview skills?

1) Are you socially awkward?
2) Are you very quiet?
3) Do you show little to no enthusiasm a.k.a emotions?
4) Are you a little too self absorbed?

You need to find out what exactly it is that makes you a bar interviewer and only then can others and you yourself help resolve this issue.

 

[CaliforniaAppli]

Suppose I do not know the answer to 1-4.
Is there anyway to get that assessed?
Like through some sort of professional interview counseling😕?

 

[shinbeats]

Suppose I do not know the answer to 1-4.
Is there anyway to get that assessed?
Like through some sort of professional interview counseling😕?

lol I'm pretty sure you can tell if you have those issues. I'm sure people have told you about your social skills in a subtle manner before, have they not?

 

[NH14]

If you are still an undergrad, or even if you aren't, go to your undergrad's career center - virtually every higher ed school in the US has one. Ask for a mock interview with a career counselor. They will hook something up for you, and will give you objective, helpful feedback.

Hope that helps

 

[HatWobble]

To change your personality to that of a more compassionate and emotive individual, permanently alter your brain chemistry by consuming high doses of LSD.

 

[CodeBlu]

To change your personality to that of a more compassionate and emotive individual, permanently alter your brain chemistry by consuming high doses of LSD.

LMAO.... aaaahahahahhaah

this might work. however, it is not FDA approved.

 

[Midwestern Blot]

"Not interviewing well" is such an ambiguous thing to say from schools. Unless they can identify specifically what your interview weakness is they shouldn't state something so broad.

I know I'm kind of on the quiet side, so I just rehearsed my answers many times with the help of friends. It helps to go over answers with other people other than just writing them out or something else because you can really figure out what you are going to say, and at the same time be able to deliver some thoughtful words.

 

[aSagacious]

If practical, try to obtain a part-time job in a service line of work (waiting tables, cashier, sales associate, etc). The benefit of these jobs (one of the few ) is that you get to interact with dozens of new faces every day. This forces you to make conversation with individuals who have little in common with you on the fly. Just my opinion though.

 

[kautionwirez]

Ask a few doctors to do mock interviews with you and record yourself.

Watch yourself.

Answer these questions.

1) Are you socially awkward?
2) Are you very quiet?
3) Do you show little to no enthusiasm a.k.a emotions?
4) Are you a little too self absorbed?

Done.

 

[karmayogi]

i would suggest considering something like Toastmasters (or a similar "Public Speaking" Club). I know it seems kind of hokey, but i think it can make a big difference.

Not only do you do prepared speeches to work on your overall public speaking, but you are also put on the spot to compose answers to random questions you have no preparation for. ( ex. how would you move a piano)

no matter what the situation is you are better prepared to effectively communicate.

but i do seriously recommend it. I was recently asked, "why do people still read shakespeare?" at an interview and was able to formulate and deliver a well thought out response on the spot.

PLUS think of the future when you field questions from patients/family and colleagues. you need to be able to convey similar bottom-line info to each of them, and most likely will deliver it differently.

 

[Freigeist]

mock interviews ftw
know your application inside and out
know the school as best as possible
know about healthcare issues and form your own opinions on controversial topics

most important: be confident


edit: btw i would NOT mention you previously had bad interviewing skills