Non-MD faculty interviewer

[oatmilkplease]

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This might be a silly question, but what would be the best way to address non-MD/PhD faculty during an interview? Using their first name? Or Ms/Mr. X?

The reason I ask is because I had an interview a couple months back where the first thing I said was "Hi Dr. ___" and their immediate response was "Oh, I'm not a doctor" (there was a last minute switch up with my faculty interviewer so I didn't know who they were and what their background was beforehand). Was super awkward after that.

 

[MCAThiccy]

Just type
Dear (Last Name), no Mr, Mrs. etc.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

This might be a silly question, but what would be the best way to address non-MD/PhD faculty during an interview? Using their first name? Or Ms/Mr. X?

Ask them, and use their suggestion.

 

[oatmilkplease]

Just type
Dear (Last Name), no Mr, Mrs. etc.

What if its on Zoom during an interview?

 

[oatmilkplease]

Ask them, and use their suggestion.

Good idea, hadn't thought of this 🙂

 

[MCAThiccy]

What if its on Zoom during an interview?

If it's a zoom meeting, don't be afraidto do what Mr. Smile suggested. On emails, I typically just do Dear (Last name) if I'm not sure about title or gender, etc.

 

[gyngyn]

You can never go wrong by starting off with "Dr." in a faculty interview (if you don't know their honorific).
In a non-clinical setting it is expected that PhD's are addressed that way.

Even if they correct your assumption, it's still a good place to start. You will be right 99% of the time. That's better odds than most things in life.

 

[Moko]

You can never go wrong by starting off with "Dr." in a faculty interview (if you don't know their honorific).
In a non-clinical setting it is expected that PhD's are addressed that way.

Even if they correct your assumption, it's still a good place to start. You will be right 99% of the time. That's better odds than most things in life.

I agree, the alternative (using Ms. when it should be Dr.) is much worse. Just my thoughts.

 

[Rachapkis]

When someone corrects you and says "I am not a doctor", they are setting the record straight, not chastising you. Accept the correction (e.g., "got it, thanks for the clarification") and move on without feeling badly about it.

 

[LizzyM]

May I suggest starting with Dr. as has been pointed out, you'll be right >90% of the time and not faulted if you are wrong. Switch to "Professor" if the person is a member of the faculty but says, "I'm not a doctor" or you look them up in advance and know that they are not a doctor.

Ms. or Mr. is the best default IMO if for some odd reason, the person is a staff member and neither a doctor nor a faculty member.

 

[oatmilkplease]

May I suggest starting with Dr. as has been pointed out, you'll be right >90% of the time and not faulted if you are wrong. Switch to "Professor" if the person is a member of the faculty but says, "I'm not a doctor" or you look them up in advance and know that they are not a doctor.

Ms. or Mr. is the best default IMO if for some odd reason, the person is a staff member and neither a doctor nor a faculty member.

Yeah, so I have an interview coming up this week where I'm 100% certain that one of my faculty interviewers is not a physician/PhD. Should I just go with Mr/Ms. in this case?

 

[LizzyM]

Yeah, so I have an interview coming up this week where I'm 100% certain that one of my faculty interviewers is not a physician/PhD. Should I just go with Mr/Ms. in this case?

"faculty interviewer"? Go with "Professor [last name]".

 

[oatmilkplease]

"faculty interviewer"? Go with "Professor [last name]".

No sorry, not faculty in that way I guess. They are just one of the deans of admissions/financial aid

 

[LizzyM]

No sorry, not faculty in that way I guess. They are just one of the deans of admissions/financial aid

Ms or Mr. seems fine in that circumstance. Don't use last name without an honorific and whatever you do, don't use the first name alone. I was astounded that an applicant addressed our Associate Dean, a woman old enough to be their mother, as "Joanne" .

 

[LizzyM]

Most likely going to go unnoticed or unremarked upon. The instance I'm referring to was where an applicant was assigned to be interviewed by a physician who had a title of "something-something Dean for something" and the applicant opened with something like, "Nice to meet you, Joanne". Different ball of wax than a long email chain.