Interview tips after death in family

[PreMedRookie]

So I recently had a death in my family and am still in the grieving process. I have an interview this week and am worried about getting teary eyed if I am asked an ethical question dealing with end of life issues or if I am asked how I deal with death.

Any suggestions on A) how to not get worked up in the first place and B) how to go about explaining myself if I do happen to start to get tears in my eyes?

Thanks!

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[askamsky51]

First, let me say I'm sorry to hear about your pain. Having lost (many close)I can relate.

Don't ever apologize for your humanity. My personal statement involved some of that loss, so naturally it was asked in my interviews.

Get worked up (but god save you if it's not genuine). Explain the recent loss. Interviewers are human beings, they've often had many experiences with it themselves.

Good luck

 

[Silent Voice]

So I recently had a death in my family and am still in the grieving process. I have an interview this week and am worried about getting teary eyed if I am asked an ethical question dealing with end of life issues or if I am asked how I deal with death.

Any suggestions on A) how to not get worked up in the first place and B) how to go about explaining myself if I do happen to start to get tears in my eyes?

Thanks!

I think in A) Question you want to know that why to not get worked up in the first place? so I may be I can give the answer of this question!
" you know our life is binding to our fallows, families & those people. we can't live without these people! Our life become very hard without these...! But Muslims beleive in God & completely leave them on God! So true Muslims thankful to God on this type of occassion! because They think that God take him/her from this World on faith! and He (who died) live better than us...! and they pray for him/her to set their future will be better at the last day! & they easily accept the reality of this World that One day we will also have to go from this World & then feel sorrow not on his/her death! any way they feel sorrow to think that what happened with us at this moment which he/she faced from this World...!

So don't worry & time heals this wound very soon! feel fresh If you are a muslim then feel sorrow on what happened with you on that moment on the otherway let you leave him or her on God & trust Upon God!
Onething you must have to know & remember it that our birth on this planet is not caused by ourself! I mean our birth is not processed by our mood! & our death is not designed by God on our mood to leave this World! Okay! I hope you understand what i want to discuss with you!

 

[pietachok]

So I recently had a death in my family and am still in the grieving process. I have an interview this week and am worried about getting teary eyed if I am asked an ethical question dealing with end of life issues or if I am asked how I deal with death.

Any suggestions on A) how to not get worked up in the first place and B) how to go about explaining myself if I do happen to start to get tears in my eyes?

Thanks!

The likelihood of this being asked of you is relatively low. (Not all interviewers ask ethical questions and even if they do, it is going to be bad luck if this is the one they ask).

Getting teary eyed is ok. You just say something like "I'm sorry, I had a death in the family last week, so this is unfortunately an emotional issue for me at this moment -- based on my experience, I certainly appreciate why I family would want X, but I know that my professional/moral obligation is Y, and I would do/share Z to help the family cope with the necessity of doing Y."

That said, bawling is not acceptable. If you cry, do your best to keep it reserved and tend to your tears/runny nose politely with a tissue.

 

[PreMedRookie]

The likelihood of this being asked of you is relatively low. (Not all interviewers ask ethical questions and even if they do, it is going to be bad luck if this is the one they ask).

Getting teary eyed is ok. You just say something like "I'm sorry, I had a death in the family last week, so this is unfortunately an emotional issue for me at this moment -- based on my experience, I certainly appreciate why I family would want X, but I know that my professional/moral obligation is Y, and I would do/share Z to help the family cope with the necessity of doing Y."

That said, bawling is not acceptable. If you cry, do your best to keep it reserved and tend to your tears/runny nose politely with a tissue.

Thank you all for your responses. I am planning on having one of those small packs of tissues in my padfolio just in case. In my mock interview, I definitely did not bawl by any means. I just had tears forming in my eyes and occasionally escape down my face. I am mostly concerned of my emotions running into the next questions or something. Or that they will think I do not handle situations well.

 

[tantacles]

Thank you all for your responses. I am planning on having one of those small packs of tissues in my padfolio just in case. In my mock interview, I definitely did not bawl by any means. I just had tears forming in my eyes and occasionally escape down my face. I am mostly concerned of my emotions running into the next questions or something. Or that they will think I do not handle situations well.

It sounds like you'll be totally fine. Again, crying is acceptable; something bad just happened. You might have another personal tragedy during rotation, and your interviewers will want to know that you're capable of remaining outwardly composed even during times of emotional turmoil.

 

[Elewynne]

My grandmother passed away this September, less than 2 weeks before my first couple interviews. I wasn't sure if I would get a bit teary eyed during my interviews if something came up that would remind me of her. For me, what helped was to take a lot of my own to reflect both upon her life and what she meant to me. She had much more of an impact on who I am as a person, as well as my desire to pursue medicine, than I previously realized. Not only did it make me reflect more upon my motivations and influences, it really helped me move through the initial grief and truly appreciate her life.

 

[kyamh]

My close friend passed away just over two weeks ago, I found out about his death the day before one of my interviews. This is an extremely difficult time for applicants and I'm so sorry that you have to deal with a close death on top of it all - it is awful.

My friend was one of my biggest cheerleaders as far as applying to medical school. I am dedicating this interview cycle to him. The knowledge that he would have wanted me to kick butt on interviews and get into a bunch of programs was enough to stay tough throughout my interview day. I am still grieving. Yet, my fears of bursting out into tears (while true for that whole first week) didn't come true during my interview. Hopefully you will find interviewing easier than you are anticipating now.

I wish you the best of luck, congratulations on your success 😳

 

[Goro]

Very sorry to hear this. Strongly recommend that you go to your school's counseling center, or your house of worship, for some grief counseling.

Perhaps having some colleagues ask some similar questions so you build up a tolerance of them?

Good luck!

So I recently had a death in my family and am still in the grieving process. I have an interview this week and am worried about getting teary eyed if I am asked an ethical question dealing with end of life issues or if I am asked how I deal with death.

Any suggestions on A) how to not get worked up in the first place and B) how to go about explaining myself if I do happen to start to get tears in my eyes?

Thanks!