Is it hard to bomb an interview?

[Chemstudent]

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I just don't understand. If you come in prepared and with a genuine interest in becoming a physician, shouldn't it not be a problem?

 

[el_duderino]

No, it's not at all hard to bomb an interview. Have you ever been on one?

 

[Keladry]

I just don't understand. If you come in prepared and with a genuine interest in becoming a physician, shouldn't it not be a problem?

Not everyone does, so they bomb the interview.

 

[kyamh]

Lots of people don't know how to prepare correctly. For example, many never try to actually say the words to why they want to be a physician out loud....no matter how "true" and "good" your desire to be a physician is, lots of people sounds really fake and stupid the first few times they try to verbalize their goals/interests/reasons.

 

[el_duderino]

Being prepared and able to articulate why you want to be a physician is one thing. That's pretty straightforward if you've practiced.

But it's tough to prepare for the hard questions they may ask. My MMIs presented with ethical dilemmas, asked for solutions to various problems facing the healthcare industry, etc. They were tough questions. Some of the interviewers also asked difficult follow-up questions. You need to be able to think on your feet and turn your thoughts into coherent statements pretty quickly.

 

[gyngyn]

Interviews are routinely "bombed."

 

[nemo123]

It depends. Sometimes you get thrown a curveball question that you would have never expected in a million years, and other times, interviewers initiate grilling sessions, which can make you feel uncomfortable (both of these have happened to me).

Plus, it's very easy to bomb an MMI when you can't think of an answer to a question. 😉

 

[basketcase0a0]

Yeah, I bombed a few. One sticks out in particular, a Psychiatrist at a school that will remain unnamed grilled me on my relationship with my mother for 45 minutes. Saw that rejection letter coming a mile away.

 

[The Milkman]

Interviews are routinely "bombed."

This is comforting!

 

[gyngyn]

This is comforting!

Sorry. About half of the applicants we interview are worse in person than they are on paper, though.

 

[Swimm]

What do you all suggest is the best way to be prepared for interviews?

 

[The Milkman]

Sorry. About half of the applicants interviewed where I work are worse in person than they are on paper, though.

When you say worse, do you mean that they just have bad social skills, they can't articulate on any experiences or motivation to be a doctor, or just don't seem to be the person who they said they were?

 

[mrh125]

Interviews are routinely "bombed."

What are some of the most common reasons you see them bombed?

 

[gyngyn]

When you say worse, do you mean that they just have bad social skills, they can't articulate on any experiences or motivation to be a doctor, or just don't seem to be the person who they said they were?

All the above and so much more (and less!).

 

[The Milkman]

All the above and so much more (and less!).

Leading to an auto-reject?

 

[gyngyn]

Leading to an auto-reject?

No. Everyone realizes that this is a high stakes situation and many otherwise good candidates will not perform well.
Even in a weak interview or MMI there is usually something positive.

 

[el_duderino]

I walked into one of mine knowing it was going to be bad. It was with the director of diversity for the school. I am a white male from a fairly well off family. I just screamed diversity. Received a rejection email like a week later.

Psh. At one point I walked into an interview room with a very attractive young woman after the prompt was something about whether or not to accomodate a patient's request for a physician of a certain gender. So I had to talk for a while about gender sensitivity, patient comfort, and gender relations to, well, a hot chick of my own age. That made me sweat.

 

[UlahSnackbar]

Plenty of people bomb the interview every year. I recommend watching some videos on youtube of people interviewing and hearing the feedback they get from interviewers. And then do one yourself. It will prepare you well.

 

[UlahSnackbar]

Psh. At one point I walked into an interview room with a very attractive young woman after the prompt was something about whether or not to accomodate a patient's request for a physician of a certain gender. So I had to talk for a while about gender sensitivity, patient comfort, and gender relations to, well, a hot chick of my own age. That made me sweat.

lol, we don't bite!

 

[el_duderino]

lol, we don't bite!

Biting is a whole other story.

I think it was actually one of my best-handled questions. That just happened to be a topic I've spent a lot of time thinking and talking about. But it's also a question/situation that would have been easy to horribly embarrass oneself in.

 

[Kochanie]

I think I will totally bomb an interview. Talking/speech has become so difficult for me ever since college, it's so weird and I don't know why.

 

[whatwhy]

Psh. At one point I walked into an interview room with a very attractive young woman after the prompt was something about whether or not to accomodate a patient's request for a physician of a certain gender. So I had to talk for a while about gender sensitivity, patient comfort, and gender relations to, well, a hot chick of my own age. That made me sweat.

What'd you say?

 

[Keladry]

I think I will totally bomb an interview. Talking/speech has become so difficult for me ever since college, it's so weird and I don't know why.

The key is practice, really. Get anyone and everyone to give you practice interviews, especially people who intimidate/scare you. Some people say not to ask family/friends, but I had some super scary friends who really helped me prepare (plus my mom decided to just randomly ask me interview questions any time we talked, including one time when I walked in the door after several hours of difficult driving, which certainly helped me learn to come up with answers when I was stressed!).

 

[el_duderino]

What'd you say?

I don't really remember. I don't remember the exact phrasing of the question either. I talked for a while about how incredibly different it is growing up as a woman instead of a man in western society, how much gender roles and social expectations significantly influence how we interpret the world, etc. It's really important to understand these concepts because understanding the patient's perspective is so critical in this job. Being a physician is essentially a service job - you're there to work for the patient, and when it comes to health and medicine the patient's comfort is important and blah blah blah. I think I ultimately directly answered the question asked by saying that we as physicians need to recognize how critical and personal this interaction with the patient is to them, as well as how important mental and emotional state are to physical health, we need to do whatever we reasonably can to accommodate them and make them comfortable and happy.

 

[pyrrion89]

The hard part is knowing how well you did. I am sure a lot of people bomb their interviews without even realizing it. Hell, I bet I have at least one or two times, but I can't tell you when or where I did... One wrong word can send across the wrong message; maybe it strikes the interviewer the wrong way---and you're done.

Probably the biggest thing is to sound enthusiastic throughout the interview. Body language is what most of face-to-face communication is all about.

 

[lmn]

Plenty of people bomb the interview every year. I recommend watching some videos on youtube of people interviewing and hearing the feedback they get from interviewers. And then do one yourself. It will prepare you well.

Can you please use terms that refrain from portraying that you know because you've done it? You post things telling people how to do things and how you won't get rejected, but you haven't even seen the process first hand, don't portray yourself as "knowing" things will work or not without doing it at least once yourself. I'm not saying the advice isn't good, but if you haven't had a few MD/DO interviews, you shouldn't say your recommendation will work because just preparing like that won't cover your bases well. Giving advice this current way while saying you "will matriculate in 2015" gives off the impression that all of this advice is based on your successful experiences, which isn't true. And since you seem to be very against people misleading or lying to others about themselves and what they've done, it would be nice if you would be clear with your suggestions based on what you thought or have learned from others rather than saying it "will" work based on your "future" matriculation.

OP there are so many different types of interviewers and interview types you'll have if you interview at different places, look through the interview section at the questions for schools you get invites for and prepare for all of those responses/situations. MMI, search up on the web for examples to get familiar with the types of prompts and how to respond. No one method of preparation will work for all interviews, of course you should have your basic elevator type pitch of your life and your reason for medicine, etc as well.

 

[Goro]

It actually takes some talent to bomb an interview.

Keep in mind not all people do well under pressure. Motivation has nothing to do with grace under pressure. That's why you see really bright people bombing a high stakes exam like MCAT. Dopn't confuse desire with talent.

I just don't understand. If you come in prepared and with a genuine interest in becoming a physician, shouldn't it not be a problem?


I've seen all of them (not at once).
When you say worse, do you mean that they just have bad social skills, they can't articulate on any experiences or motivation to be a doctor, or just don't seem to be the person who they said they were?


My learned colleague gyngyn is kinder than I am. I do autoreject people like that. I especially despise people who babble on incessantly, or who are poor listerners. I'll be posting a guide to intervieing later this summer.
Leading to an auto-reject?

 

[hoihaie]

For some people, there is no filter between their brain and mouth. For others, however, the Great Wall of China stands in between.

Sometimes it's hard to articulate what you feel or want to say on the spot in response to different questions.

 

[LMBLBM]

You gotta try hard to not to bomb your interview.

 

[chiberian husky]

I know for a fact I bombed an interview. I remember I said something so stupid I actually *facepalm* myself in front of the interviewer. & I'll never know if the interviewer just took pity on my soul or perhaps my second interview was the golden ticket but I did end up with the acceptance a few weeks later.

 

[el_duderino]

Here are a million ways to bomb an interview:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/worst-interview-answers.359690/

 

[chillaxbro]

I called my student interviewer dawg when the interview ended

 

[Kochanie]

The key is practice, really. Get anyone and everyone to give you practice interviews, especially people who intimidate/scare you. Some people say not to ask family/friends, but I had some super scary friends who really helped me prepare (plus my mom decided to just randomly ask me interview questions any time we talked, including one time when I walked in the door after several hours of difficult driving, which certainly helped me learn to come up with answers when I was stressed!).

It's not that easy for me. My mom asking me a question is completely different than speaking in front of people or to someone of power. I get the worst anxiety and forget what I was going to say, complete train wreck.

 

[ace12345]

I just don't understand. If you come in prepared and with a genuine interest in becoming a physician, shouldn't it not be a problem?

You've had some fun threads lately.

Be confident in yourself! If you have the numbers, ECs, and research the school before the interview, you will be fine.

 

[Keladry]

It's not that easy for me. My mom asking me a question is completely different than speaking in front of people or to someone of power. I get the worst anxiety and forget what I was going to say, complete train wreck.

No, that's definitely true - I was just pointing out that for me, getting friends/family to "interview" me worked because they really made sure they were intimidating!
But definitely get some practice with someone intimidating - a professor, a doctor, someone at career services, pretty much anyone who scares you and is willing to give you ~30 minutes of their time to terrify you further. xD

 

[Kochanie]

No, that's definitely true - I was just pointing out that for me, getting friends/family to "interview" me worked because they really made sure they were intimidating!
But definitely get some practice with someone intimidating - a professor, a doctor, someone at career services, pretty much anyone who scares you and is willing to give you ~30 minutes of their time to terrify you further. xD

My old PI, perfect haha. Going on lots of interviews and being in public settings has helped a lot, hopefully I get it down* by the time I apply. 😀

 

[thebuild45]

Being prepared and able to articulate why you want to be a physician is one thing. That's pretty straightforward if you've practiced.

But it's tough to prepare for the hard questions they may ask. My MMIs presented with ethical dilemmas, asked for solutions to various problems facing the healthcare industry, etc. They were tough questions. Some of the interviewers also asked difficult follow-up questions. You need to be able to think on your feet and turn your thoughts into coherent statements pretty quickly.

Can you elaborate on the questions you got on the healthcare industry?

 

[Keladry]

My old PI, perfect haha. Going on lots of interviews and being in public settings has helped a lot, hopefully I get it done by the time I apply. 😀

Best of luck!
One other thing that really helped me was practicing "confident" body language during mock interviews and intentionally using it during actual interviews. It was pretty amazing how much better I felt just by sitting up straight and relaxing my shoulders!

 

[Law2Doc]

In my experience it's not that people overtly "bomb" the interview by what they say or how they cant answer questions. The way they bomb an interview is by showing up with the attitude that their goal is "just not to screw up" or that the point of the interview is "to weed out the crazies" and if they can just smile and nod for a half hour, they're in. Not so. Some people also seem to feel like their paper application did all the heavy lifting and they already earned a spot. But at many, if not most places, the interview is the single most important data point if you get to that point. Meaning a guy/gal who can sit down and be a conversationalist is going to get the spot over you even if your MCAT is a little higher and you didn't "screw up". There's nothing worse than a people coming in and being passive, like pulling teeth. Nobody cares that you have a 4.0/40 if you can't sit down and have a conversation. Part of being a doctor is communication, so places understandably are looking for people ith polished communication skills. It's probably more important than the few extra points on an MCAT, because honestly you'll be regularly asked to talk to a patient but likely never asked a Gen chem question.

 

[ridethecliche]

Yeah, I bombed a few. One sticks out in particular, a Psychiatrist at a school that will remain unnamed grilled me on my relationship with my mother for 45 minutes. Saw that rejection letter coming a mile away.

You should have asked them about their partner and how they were similar/different from their mother/father.

What do you all suggest is the best way to be prepared for interviews?

To interview and practice interviews.

lol, we don't bite!

You say that like it's a good thing...

I think I will totally bomb an interview. Talking/speech has become so difficult for me ever since college, it's so weird and I don't know why.

How much do you socialize with people you don't know?

I called my student interviewer dawg when the interview ended

This is freaking gold!

 

[OrgasmicChemistry]

Just be genuine. Pple are very perceptive when it comes to identifying phoniness, and phoniness/deception will bomb your interview.

That said, my personal experience is that interviews don't really matter (immediate accept to my worst interview, WLs at my two best, and a couple where I have no bearing on how I did, but zero interview-->rejection). But, I've had far more interviewing experience than most premeds so you can assume I'm a strong interview.

If you haven't had a ton of interview experience, do as many practice interviews as you can and learn about interview strategy. You'll feel silly, but you'll get better with every one.

 

[Law2Doc]

... my personal experience is that interviews don't really matter (immediate accept to my worst interview, WLs at my two best...

This may simply mean you aren't a good barometer of how well you interview, though. Many people who feel like they have best or worst interviews are totally wrong about how they come across. Plus you don't really know how you compared to the other people who the interviewer saw that day, which will frame how s/he regarded your performance.

Having been through and involved in the process, I can assure you the interview matters. Often a great deal. Don't wing it. Practice.

 

[OrgasmicChemistry]

This may simply mean you aren't a good barometer of how well you interview, though.

It may.

Regardless, I was not advocating that people don't prep for interviews. Everyone should obviously take them srsly, as I of course did.

 

[Kochanie]

How much do you socialize with people you don't know?

A decent amount. I have always had a big mouth and if I was bored (school), I'd talk out loud to teachers, students, anyone. My teachers sent me to the office to do work before the class even started if they couldn't deal with me that day haha. I could do presentations with little prep. Now, it's like I could practice over and over and come out stuttering.

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

A decent amount. I have always had a big mouth and if I was bored (school), I'd talk out loud to teachers, students, anyone. My teachers sent me to the office to do work before the class even started if they couldn't deal with me that day haha. I could do presentations with little prep. Now, it's like I could practice over and over and come out stuttering.

I'm sorry this is such an issue for you. I don't necessarily stutter, but I do get nervous, particularly when I have to speak to an audience. With me, I have to remind myself to breathe. Sounds stupid because of course I breathe, but when I rush what I want to say (usually because I'm nervous), I'm terrible. I have learned that when I focus on what I want to say, and not me, I'm much better off.

@Goro, I look forward to your interview thread. You mentioned you wrote about interviewing skills it in another thread, but I couldn't find it.

 

[Kochanie]

I'm sorry this is such an issue for you. I don't necessarily stutter, but I do get nervous, particularly when I have to speak to an audience. With me, I have to remind myself to breathe. Sounds stupid because of course I breathe, but when I rush what I want to say (usually because I'm nervous), I'm terrible. I have learned that when I focus on what I want to say, and not me, I'm much better off.

@Goro, I look forward to your interview thread. You mentioned you wrote about interviewing skills it in another thread, but I couldn't find it.

I think that's totally it. My confidence level dropped so much since college which has made me such an anxious person. I can't even really look at people in the eye yet alone be interviewed.

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

I think that's totally it. My confidence level dropped so much since college which has made me such an anxious person. I can't even really look at people in the eye yet alone be interviewed.

Don't think about yourself. Think about what you're saying. Focus on the message. I know that sounds preachy, but I hope that helps. If it's a progressive issue, seek out someone to talk to about this.

 

[masaraksh]

When you say worse, do you mean that they just have bad social skills, they can't articulate on any experiences or motivation to be a doctor, or just don't seem to be the person who they said they were?

On the interview trail, most applicants I saw seemed very normal and well-adjusted.

In total I did see two guys with social skills severely lacking. As in, both of them seemed like they were locking in a lab all the time or in a library, and barely talked to people. They just sat really quietly all the time, spoke in a very broken manner, and didn't make any small talk. Their behavior is actually tough to put into words but it was just noticeably awkward.

I believe that these were the type that are getting screened out by interviews.

 

[masaraksh]

I walked into one of mine knowing it was going to be bad. It was with the director of diversity for the school. I am a white male from a fairly well off family. I just screamed diversity. Received a rejection email like a week later.

Was this at a mid-west school? I had a similar experience.

Still, I think its a poor excuse to blame the rejection on a race/privilege issue.

 

[WhippleWhileWeWork]

lol, we don't bite!

I just want to want to say, this was a solid ban choice. This person was annoying as hell. Back on topic...

Two of my interviewers made it clear that all they needed to see was that I was indeed who my application said I was. Once they saw what they were looking for, the formal portion of the interview was over and they started giving me advice on my future career in medicine. Seems like I could have said too much or said too little and blown it.