Niche/Quirky Extracurriculars on CV/ERAS application

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

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If I was a PD and saw an instrument in the background I would request it every single time until SDN and reddit were spamming not to put an instrument there even if you enjoy playing it.

Normalize not having props in your background now.

Why would you mind playing it if you actually know how? I’ll gladly play something if they ask. But I also wouldn’t have it in the background lol.

 

[Redpancreas]

I wonder if PDs will ask me to play them my sax over zoom.

They’d love that.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

They’d love that.

I play a mean careless whisper.

 

[WhoTellsYourStory?]

If I was a PD and saw an instrument in the background I would request it every single time until SDN and reddit were spamming not to put an instrument there even if you enjoy playing it.

Normalize not having props in your background now.

Lol yeah I think having props in the background is tacky. That being said, I had none of my art in the background and I still got asked many times on interviews if I had any pieces nearby that I could show them. So I always kept some things nearby that I could show if it came up.

 

[Neopolymath]

Lol yeah I think having props in the background is tacky. That being said, I had none of my art in the background and I still got asked many times on interviews if I had any pieces nearby that I could show them. So I always kept some things nearby that I could show if it came up.

You played it cool. RTM

 

[sipping_cipro]

How do people feel about home brewing beer as a hobby for ERAS? I've heard EM / gas may view it in a better light, but I'm planning on applying to academic IM programs

 

[Frogger27]

How do people feel about home brewing beer as a hobby for ERAS? I've heard EM / gas may view it in a better light, but I'm planning on applying to academic IM programs

People will think it’s cool as long as your beer doesn’t suck

 

[Lawpy]

I wonder if PDs will ask me to play them my sax over zoom.

You play the sax??

 

[mrbreakfast]

How do people feel about home brewing beer as a hobby for ERAS? I've heard EM / gas may view it in a better light, but I'm planning on applying to academic IM programs

Depends on program, but in general I would anticipate this would be received fairly well. The perception that the more "cerebral" specialties are manned by teetotalers is entirely false.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

You play the sax??

Yeah. I picked it up pretty recently. It’s fun.

 

[sipping_cipro]

People will think it’s cool as long as your beer doesn’t suck

Do you think its alright if I have a 6 pack of my beer "lying around in the background of zoom" and when a PD asks me about it I can shotgun it to impress them???

 

[LimpSpatula]

Question regarding CV/ERAS activities. Is it okay to include somewhat niche non-academic hobbies that you spend a lot of time doing? For example, would it be okay to list fantasy sports or video game tournaments as a few of your hobbies? Or are people reading the CV/application going to think you aren't taking things serious by listing these things? Thanks.

Thats not niche, quirky or interesting in the least bit. You have the hobby of 90% of single males in 2021. I guess i would think of it along the lines of how would this appear to portray you to be a better doctor, worker bee or team player. Youre literally applying for a job and trying to sell yourself. Boy why you gotta go and make things so complicated?

 

[LimpSpatula]

Let me follow my post up with some Qwirky or Niche hobbies that would look good on a CV:

-Carpentry
-Auto work
-Couponing
-Competitive dancing
-Sailing
-Some type of exercise ie Yoga, weight lifting, crossfit whatever (but you have to look it in this case)
-Fashion
-Learning a foreign language or culture
-Website, App design

 

[Frogger27]

I put beer, sports, and smokin’ meats. Matched ortho

 

[Neopolymath]

Let me follow my post up with some Qwirky or Niche hobbies that would look good on a CV:

-Carpentry
-Auto work
-Couponing
-Competitive dancing
-Sailing
-Some type of exercise ie Yoga, weight lifting, crossfit whatever (but you have to look it in this case)
-Fashion
-Learning a foreign language or culture
-Website, App design

I'm biased but I'm going to say this is a remarkably good list because I put 4-5 of these on my application and every single interview consisted of someone saying my hobbies were the best/most varied they have seen but the key was that I could illustrate that I wasn't BSing and had been doing them for a long time.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I'm biased but I'm going to say this is a remarkable good list because I put 4-5 of these on my application and every single interview consisted on someone saying my hobbies were the best/most varied they have seen but the key was that I could illustrate that I wasn't BSing and had been doing them for a long time.

Which ones?

 

[Neopolymath]

Which ones?

I'll PM you.