Interviewing Tips Exchange

[chibihamsta]

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Anyone want to exchange interview tips? I started off with some obvious ones:

1. be yourself, speak from the heart
2. try not to be nervous or at least pretend to be relaxed
3. don't try to BS something you don't know
4. make sure you know what kind of dr., etc your interviewer is
5. have fresh breath, someone said to used those listerine paks
6. research research research the school and be ready to answer why you want to go there
7. don't memorize your answer to "why u want to be a doctor", give it careful thought and let the words come out with passion and enthusiasm
8. try not to have a negative tone about any unpleasant past experiences you may have had.. bitterness does not make you look good at all (i've learned..)

I have a limited amount of interviews left and I still haven't been accepted yet SO i would really appreciate your input!

 

[tryingagain]

Have a few good questions to ask about the school.

Have someone practice interviewing you before hand.

 

[indianboy]

Don't tickle their hand with your ring finger during the first handshake, this only makes things more awkward.

Hope That Helps

P 'Always Learning' ShankOut

 

[Mike59]

Originally posted by chibihamsta
4. make sure you know what kind of dr., etc your interviewer is

I think this type of research is unnecessary, and many people overestimate the importance of knowing about your interviewer. I've gone into all my interviews so far only knowing their name, it really doesn't matter what type of research they've done or what specialty they are. The interview is about you, not them.

 

[tryingagain]

Of course do not wear hunter green.

 

[tBw]

1. read interview feedback
2. read your own statement or they might ask about some small detail you've forgotten
3. remember that while they are not the one being interviewed they are human too - they don't *want* to have an awkward interview, they would prefer you had a great conversation and they could relax and unequivocably recommend you...it's not a competition
4. smile

 

[streetdoc]

From my experience, which is limited to 4 interviews, i have found that enthusiasm is the key!!!

It's hard to fake being excited to be in an interview, but if you find yourself REALLY liking the school, it will show. the other things fall into place from there...relaxed, questions for interviewer, ect.

i have found myself to be enthusiastic at 2 interviews and i have 2 acceptances (from those schools).
just my 2 cents...can't really prepare for enthusiasm though
streetdoc

 

[tBw]

streetdoc is right about enthusiasm being a huge help. I normally have to block thoughts about "how does this school compare to school X" when I am interviewing/touring or I start to turn inwards and do my obsessive pre-med analysis 😉 It's better to just focus on the school you are at and remain open through-out the day to seeing what is good. I usually sit down at the end of the interview day, somewhere near the school or the hospital, and think through how I felt it compared - but while I am there I just focus on that program. All the programs I have visited have been great - even if personally I fitted better somewhere else - and so enthusiasm hasn't been hard to show if I remain open minded until the end of the day.

 

[patelakshar]

bump

 

[manicmaven]

swallow.

😀

 

[chibihamsta]

Originally posted by Mike59
I think this type of research is unnecessary, and many people overestimate the importance of knowing about your interviewer. I've gone into all my interviews so far only knowing their name, it really doesn't matter what type of research they've done or what specialty they are. The interview is about you, not them.

i just said this from my experience... i didn't ask my interviewer what kind of dr she was, but afterwards i thought she had to have been a psychologist cuz she was super analyzing all my answers and makign all these negative assumptions of them. had i known she was a shrink, i may have held back on some of my more sensitive childhood issues. for example i told her that when i was younger my grandmother was strict and hardly let me watch tv. her next question was how was i able to make friends and relate with them when they talked about what tv show they had seen? she assumed that i had trouble making friends cuz i didn't watch tv!!! =[ there were many more examples like that, which frustrated me througout my interview and i was constantly having to defend myself from her assumptions.

 

[nichols195]

when they ask how you've been an altruist and you forget what it means like a deer in headlights, DON'T PISS YOUR PANTS

 

[PluckyDuk8]

At least knowing what type of doc your interviewer is can be helpful. I had an interview with an orthopedic surgeon and the question came up of what type of doctor I want to be. I gave an answer of what I am thinking of (which I actually don't know, I want to wait til rounds to see what I like), and that I know what I don't want. I tactfully was able to leave out that I definitely don't want to do orthopedics...it's true that some specialties aren't for everyone, and if I said it correctly I might not have insulted him, but it's a good thing I didn't dis what he does for a living.

 

[Street Philosopher]

i'm not a very enthusiastic person. i guess i'm screwed.

 

[groundhog]

Street Philosopher,
You reminded of a scene from one of the Adam's Family movies. The daughter (I forget her name) was sent to a summer camp that was filled with hyper-happy sons and daughters of yuppies. She did not fit in. The camp counselors went to extreme efforts to put some bounce back in her. Finally, she got fed up with trying to conform and just before she lead a rebellion by a few other misfits in the camp she said "I'm not perky." That was a humorous scene. The rebellion that followed was even more hilarious.

 

[tomjr]

My biggest advice.... go easy on the free coffee that most schools offer. Enthusiasm coupled with the coffee jitters is a recipe for hyperactivity.... perhaps not the best way to come off to an interviewer.......

.... I can't say I always took my own advice though. I NEVER sleep well the night before interviews, and I ALWAYS wake up feeling like death.... This wednesday, I'm going to suck it up, drink the herbal tea, and just take a nap after the interview😀

cheers,

Tom