Is it risky to joke with your interviewer?

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MDRus

MDRus

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Question: Why do you want to become a doctor?


Answer: Three words -- chicks, money and drugs.


Would that kind of thing be frowned upon? Do they like jokes?
 
First, play off of the interviewer's personality. If he/she is serious, going down a checklist, writing down everything you say, then maybe joking isn't a great idea. If it's more casual and the person seems friendly, joking might be appropriate. In any case, I wouldn't recommend joking about why you want to be a doctor... it might seem like that was the first thing that came into your head. For that question in particular, they expect you to have a response already thought out... I wouldn't risk making it seem like I hadn't thought about the question enough.
 
MDRus said:
Question: Why do you want to become a doctor?


Answer: Three words -- chicks, money and drugs.


Would that kind of thing be frowned upon? Do they like jokes?
Click to expand...

Or

Doctor? I thought I was interviewing for the DQ! Man, this is a fancy office...
 
MDRus said:
Question: Why do you want to become a doctor?


Answer: Three words -- chicks, money and drugs.


Would that kind of thing be frowned upon? Do they like jokes?
Click to expand...

Interviewers like jokes, but they (like all 50 years olds) generally have a very different sense of humor than the average 21 year old. So while you can be sparingly humerous in an interview, I sure would stay away from anything like the above. If that's the best you got, then seriously don't use humor. If your best audience tends to be your college crowd rather than your parents' age friends/neighbors, you simply aren't going to kill in an interview.
 
somethingpositi said:
First, play off of the interviewer's personality. If he/she is serious, going down a checklist, writing down everything you say, then maybe joking isn't a great idea. If it's more casual and the person seems friendly, joking might be appropriate. In any case, I wouldn't recommend joking about why you want to be a doctor... it might seem like that was the first thing that came into your head. For that question in particular, they expect you to have a response already thought out... I wouldn't risk making it seem like I hadn't thought about the question enough.
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Definitely get a feel for the interviewer's personality first. Almost nothing is more awkward then telling a joke and getting an annoyed stare. I'm not sure if I would make a joke about the typical "Why do you want to be a doctor?" question, though. I agree that they want a serious answer for that.
 
Geekchick921 said:
Definitely get a feel for the interviewer's personality first. Almost nothing is more awkward then telling a joke and getting an annoyed stare. I'm not sure if I would make a joke about the typical "Why do you want to be a doctor?" question, though. I agree that they want a serious answer for that.
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You also never want to hint at being interested in medicine for the money, don't want to suggest you have any knowledge of drug use, and don't want to call women "chicks" (sexist) -- so your joke can fall flat in multiple ways.
 
Drogba said:
Or

Doctor? I thought I was interviewing for the DQ! Man, this is a fancy office...
Click to expand...

ROFL I love this! I cracked up. I think the OP should use this as their joke. :laugh:
 
Joking is fine I think as long as your jokes are very very innocuous.

I made a joke about global warming (since it came up) and how I like warmer weather, thats about it.

Never say, "Thats what she said!" ...for example.
 
I tried to a couple of times with very mixed results. I don't think it hurt anything, but you might not be as successful as you wish.
 
I agree that I wouldn't answer the first question that way, but if you see your interviewer is laid back then showing you have a sense of humour might help you.


I am a Canadian and consistently get the question "Why are you applying in the USA?"

Seeing as this is not an easy question for me to answer I was considering breaking the ice by answering "because our dollar is so good right now":laugh:
 
Well, I think it is really left to your own discretion when you get into the interview and get a feel for the flow of your interview and the interviewer's personality...Of course, I would stay away from "risky" jokes (jokes dealing with ethics, religion, etc.). I can give you an example of something that happened to me that kind of made me more aware of the whole "joking dilemma." I was calling to schedule my interview and this is what happened:

Admissions office: The earliest day we have open is October 31, would that be ok with you?

Me: Yeah, that's great. Oh, that is Halloween. Should I come dressed up as something?

Admissions office: Dead silence.

Me: I was just kidding.

Admissions office: Yeah, that's fine. Anyway.....

I know that I probably wasn't talking to the Dean of Admissions, but after it happened I was definitely more careful about when I would use jokes..
 
PleaseBelieveit said:
Well, I think it is really left to your own discretion when you get into the interview and get a feel for the flow of your interview and the interviewer's personality...Of course, I would stay away from "risky" jokes (jokes dealing with ethics, religion, etc.). I can give you an example of something that happened to me that kind of made me more aware of the whole "joking dilemma." I was calling to schedule my interview and this is what happened:

Admissions office: The earliest day we have open is October 31, would that be ok with you?

Me: Yeah, that's great. Oh, that is Halloween. Should I come dressed up as something?

Admissions office: Dead silence.

Me: I was just kidding.

Admissions office: Yeah, that's fine. Anyway.....

I know that I probably wasn't talking to the Dean of Admissions, but after it happened I was definitely more careful about when I would use jokes..
Click to expand...

To be fair that isn't very funny.
 
VoiceofReason said:
I made a joke about global warming (since it came up) and how I like warmer weather, thats about it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's about as funny as you want to be. You can be make humerous asides and observations, but if it sounds like an actual joke? Bad idea.

I'm with L2D on this one. What sounds pretty funny to a 22 year old college student is just probably not going to ring the same bells with a 50 year old physician.
 
Don't do it. I cracked a few mild jokes at my interviews with very mixed results. One interviewer took everything I said literally and while it wasn't terrible, it was just awkward. My other interviewers would smile, but I think its meant to be pretty formal. Keep them tame if you can't help it.
 
Drogba said:
To be fair that isn't very funny.
Click to expand...

It made me snicker.

I agree with go off the personality of the interviewer. If they are smiling and being really friendly it should be alright. Don't go for any big or controversial jokes.

If they are serious and don't smile or anything don't tell any jokes. You aren't going to crack them out of their shell and you will probably just get strikes against you.
 
PleaseBelieveit said:
Well, I think it is really left to your own discretion when you get into the interview and get a feel for the flow of your interview and the interviewer's personality...Of course, I would stay away from "risky" jokes (jokes dealing with ethics, religion, etc.). I can give you an example of something that happened to me that kind of made me more aware of the whole "joking dilemma." I was calling to schedule my interview and this is what happened:

Admissions office: The earliest day we have open is October 31, would that be ok with you?

Me: Yeah, that's great. Oh, that is Halloween. Should I come dressed up as something?

Admissions office: Dead silence.

Me: I was just kidding.

Admissions office: Yeah, that's fine. Anyway.....

I know that I probably wasn't talking to the Dean of Admissions, but after it happened I was definitely more careful about when I would use jokes..
Click to expand...

The situation is funny...the joke not so much
 
The interview isn't where you should be joking like that. The possibility of a shared laugh doesn't outweigh the risk of you coming off as crass or unprofessional. If the interviewer initiates it, though, try to hang on.
 
MDRus said:
Question: Why do you want to become a doctor?


Answer: Three words -- chicks, money and drugs.


Would that kind of thing be frowned upon? Do they like jokes?
Click to expand...


I have a completely ******ed sense of humor where I find tons of stupid stuff to be funny.

Your answer however, in my opinion, would not please the interviewer at all. It gives off a cocky attitude. Interviewers don't like that...then again what do I know?...
 
interviewer: how well do you handle criticism?
me: i handle criticism very well, except when it comes from my parents 🙂 (then i went on with the serious answer).
 
Law2Doc said:
Agreed. And "your momma" anddead baby jokes should be off limits as well.
Click to expand...

Whaaaaaaat? dead baby jokes are always funny! I can't image a situation that couldn't use a couple dead baby jokes to lighten the mood.
 
ymnCheetos said:
Whaaaaaaat? dead baby jokes are always funny! I can't image a situation that couldn't use a couple dead baby jokes to lighten the mood.
Click to expand...

wife beating jokes series are hilarious!!! know any?
 
MDRus said:
Question: Why do you want to become a doctor?


Answer: Three words -- chicks, money and drugs.


Would that kind of thing be frowned upon? Do they like jokes?
Click to expand...

I think joking is fine, but what you posted here I think would be considered completely out of line. I would definitely leave this one, or anything else even marginally questionable out of your repetoire.
 
Joking about the medical profession would be idiotic. Remember who you're talking to. Their perspective on it is a lot different than ours. They've been in it a long time, and take it seriously.

But jokes about other stuff is probably okay. For example (note that I am a Texas grad)...

Interviewer: My daughter goes to the University of Oklahoma
Me: Is she planning on going to college at some point?

We both laughed. It was a pretty easy-going conversation, and the whole point of bringing up his daughter at OU was for good-natured ribbing anyway, so I thought I'd give him a little rib back. No big deal. I got in. Just pick your spots.
 
TexasTriathlete said:
Joking about the medical profession would be idiotic. Remember who you're talking to. Their perspective on it is a lot different than ours. They've been in it a long time, and take it seriously.

But jokes about other stuff is probably okay. For example (note that I am a Texas grad)...

Interviewer: My daughter goes to the University of Oklahoma
Me: Is she planning on going to college at some point?

We both laughed. It was a pretty easy-going conversation, and the whole point of bringing up his daughter at OU was for good-natured ribbing anyway, so I thought I'd give him a little rib back. No big deal. I got in. Just pick your spots.
Click to expand...

hmmm...making fun of the daughter...you've got more guts than I do. I have a pretty funny engineer joke that worked well for me. A little self depricating humor lets them know you don't take yourself too seriously.
 
notdeadyet said:
Yeah, that's about as funny as you want to be. You can be make humerous asides and observations, but if it sounds like an actual joke? Bad idea.

I'm with L2D on this one. What sounds pretty funny to a 22 year old college student is just probably not going to ring the same bells with a 50 year old physician.
Click to expand...
Agreed. When asked in a panel interview if I had ever done anything that I later regretted, I said immediately "Well, some speeding tickets come to mind," and everybody laughed. If you're going to say something funny, it has to be something that can go unnoticed if it bombs. If you go "That's what SHE said!" and you get a flat stare, then you're in for a disappointment when the letter comes in the mail.
 
Risky? eh... it really depend on who your interviewer is, and who you are. Some people are naturally funny, and if it takes you too long to respond with a 'funny' comment, an otherwise funny statement can create an awkward atmosphere. Personally, the interviews that I have joked a little with my interviews were the ones I got into 😛
 
In one of my friend's interviews, one of the last things the interviewer asked him was to tell him a joke. He totally froze. The interviewer told him not to worry about it, but I think it couldn't be a bad idea to have a good, conservative joke ready, just in case.
 
ColombianDoc said:
In one of my friend's interviews, one of the last things the interviewer asked him was to tell him a joke. He totally froze. The interviewer told him not to worry about it, but I think it couldn't be a bad idea to have a good, conservative joke ready, just in case.
Click to expand...

Call me crazy but I think in this situation, dead baby jokes are ok. 👍
 
You can't make a rule about this sort of thing. You simply feel out what is appropriate and respond/converse in a manner that fits your feeling, or assessment, of the situation, or interviewer(s). Yes, this requires good listening and social skills.
 
Law2Doc said:
You also never want to hint at being interested in medicine for the money, don't want to suggest you have any knowledge of drug use, and don't want to call women "chicks" (sexist) -- so your joke can fall flat in multiple ways.
Click to expand...

uh, dude, that's why it's funny! it's the inappropriateness of it that MAKES it funny.

yikes, necco? cheeto? where are you? i need you.
 
MDRus said:
uh, dude, that's why it's funny! it's the inappropriateness of it that MAKES it funny.

yikes, necco? cheeto? where are you? i need you.
Click to expand...

I've been pro-dead baby this whole thread, but I draw the line at sexist jokes and non-altruistic aspirations. It's just inappropriate. Is my primary reason for medicine a Porsche 911 turbo? yes. Are they going to know that? hell no!
 
lets hear ur dead baby joke cheetos
 
MDRus said:
Question: Why do you want to become a doctor?


Answer: Three words -- chicks, money and drugs.


Would that kind of thing be frowned upon? Do they like jokes?
Click to expand...

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately that's not funny. That's about as original in the pre-med world as "why did the chicken cross the road?" is to the rest of the world. If you have to ask if it's ok if you make jokes, then the answer for you is most probably no.
 
ymnCheetos said:
Call me crazy but I think in this situation, dead baby jokes are ok. 👍
Click to expand...
I'll probably tell the surgeon/anesthesiologist joke. It doesn't burn doctors as a whole but everyone I know that works in health care that I've told that joke to (doctors who were within earshot when I told it included) laughed. I think they'll get a kick out of it... it's definitely a better health care joke than the knock-knock HIPAA joke my mom told me. And certainly better than my lesbian vampire joke, Chinese prostitute or talking muffin jokes.
 
MDRus said:
uh, dude, that's why it's funny! it's the inappropriateness of it that MAKES it funny.

yikes, necco? cheeto? where are you? i need you.
Click to expand...

See, the problem is what is funny is often in the eye of the beholder. Meaning you may find this funny, but adcoms won't -- they will not get past the inappropriateness and lack of professionalism. So if this is your sense of humor, you should not tell any jokes. Save your funny side for your 20-something pals.
 
J1515 said:
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately that's not funny. That's about as original in the pre-med world as "why did the chicken cross the road?" is to the rest of the world. If you have to ask if it's ok if you make jokes, then the answer for you is most probably no.
Click to expand...

haahahahahaha. you're right!!

but it still makes me laugh. as does the chicken cross the road one.

classics!! can't beat em.
 
I got asked "What is your sister like?" To which i replied to both interviewers at one school "Well we joke that she's the pretty one and I'm the smart one." My male interviewer loved it and he jokingly replied "wow, then I want to see what she looks like!" but my female interviewer later in the day goes "you shouldn't put yourself down, you are an extremely attractive woman I don't understand why you would think something like that" I was like ummm, (I wanted to be like are you kidding me? You can't tell I was joking? You take life WAY to seriously!) I had no idea what to say to her. Obviously my joke backfired and she thought I had self esteem issues! (Obviously she wasn't a psychiatrist!) Needless to say, I got in.
 
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