Teamwork experience...a positive or negative trait?

[DOwnage]

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It was a bit difficult to find anything relating to this in search because it's kind of a weird question to word in google...

but I was wondering if people who have interviewed or heard from others' interview experiences have found out if mentioning extensive teamwork experience and ability to work in teams as a positive of negative trait? I had heard from someone that recently, med schools don't like people that mention teams as much but I don't know if this piece of information was complete BS or actually true...

The reason I ask is because teamwork can be spun into a good thing, like ability to work with others in limitless scenarios. However, one could spin teamwork into a negative thing in that maybe it masks one's personal weaknesses and it may suggest that the applicant relies on teams to get things done.

Anybody know how this would likely be interpreted? thanks

 

[jslo85]

It's not true.

I have never been asked that question myself but mentioned that it was a strength of mine when asked "what are your strengths" where I then had to explain how this was so, etc. I wouldn't worry about it and I doubt anyone will ask that question to you out of the blue unless you lead them to it. It is definitely a good thing and if asked, only point to the positives and let them bring up the potential downside (if they even do) and ask you if that is something you've experienced.

 

[spicedmanna]

How is the ability to work well in a team a negative trait? Please explain.

If you are going to go into medicine, you are most definitely going to need the ability to work well in teams, especially if you work in a hospital environment. It's essential. If you already do that well, I don't see how it can be interpreted as anything other than positive.

Now, you should also have the ability to work independently as well, but that's perhaps a separate point.

 

[DOwnage]

I agree with you spicedmanna, I don't see how working well in a team is a bad thing. Non-healthcare jobs are ALL about teamwork...in fact some corporations won't even consider hiring you if you've never had extensive teamwork experience. I kinda thought it was a given that teamwork skills were good in the health care field also since physicians, nurses, PA's, etc all work together to deliver patient care and nobody can go on a solo act...but I was told by someone that recently that emphasizing teamwork experience in either a personal statement or an interview could potentially hurt an applicant because "that's not what they're looking for." I couldn't believe it, so I figured I'd verify the only way I knew how...SDN...lol 😎

 

[sonofva]

they actually asked me this question specifically during my LECOM - B interview, as it is a small group/PBL curriculum...unfortunately, as i was super sick during my interview i completely bombed. haha. its ok though

 

[ShinyDome19]

I wrote extensively about my teamwork experiences, and how I thought it was extremely important in the medical environment, on one of my secondary applications - cant remember if it was for WCU or LECOM's secondary, but..I got interviews at both...So, it definately didnt hurt my application.

 

[NYDOC112]

Teamwork is a good trait, Healthcare is all about teamwork, and team interactions. In medical school we were constantly taught the team approach, the team treatment, use the team approach etc... Teamwork is definitely something medical schools are looking for, and you should definitely include any experience you might have. Somebody who cannot work as a team, cannot effectively relay orders/ recommendations, and will not be an effective physician (they might be good for research or pathology) Whoever told you that teamwork advice has no knowledge of medical schools at all...

 

[FutureCTDoc]

It's a major positive. In medicine you will be treating a patient in conjunction with other physicians, nurses, DPMs, PAs, psychologists, RAs and other providers. Medicine involves a lot of team work. Take for an appendectomy. Admitted by EM, Surgery by G surg with anesthesia (either a physician, AA or CRNA), Circulating RNs and either a tech or scrub nurse, when they're on the ward care will be given by MDs/DOs, RNs, PAs etc. There will be Path involved. There needs to be a free flow of information and a willingness to work together. This is when teamwork plays a major role.