Thank you notes, and other random interview questions

[espaceLumiere]

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Is it common practice to write a thank you note to the program director?

I've noticed some people bring in a black leather folder with mystery papers- do I need to bring a copy of my application?

Are ALL pre-interview dinners casual i.e. jeans? Has anybody gone to a pre-interview dinner where everybody was wearing business casual or a suit?

Feel free to answer/add in new questions

 

[BobA]

1) It is common to write thank you letters to everyone you met with, including the PD and Chair. In fact, if you do not do this, you might not be expressing appropriate interest and it could be harmful t your candidacy. I have been emailing thank you's. I hope this is appropriate. paper letters are actually kind of a hassle for both people! If anyone thinks email isn't appropriate, let me know!

2) I wouldn't wear jeans to the dinner - but that's just me. As a man, it's business causal to any professional event where I haven't met people before. Khaki pants, shirts, shoes.

3) I don't bring my application with me in that black folder, I bring my list of questions so I can pull them out if need be.

 

[espaceLumiere]

1) It is common to write thank you letters to everyone you met with, including the PD and Chair. In fact, if you do not do this, you might not be expressing appropriate interest and it could be harmful t your candidacy. I have been emailing thank you's. I hope this is appropriate. paper letters are actually kind of a hassle for both people! If anyone thinks email isn't appropriate, let me know!

2) I wouldn't wear jeans to the dinner - but that's just me. As a man, it's business causal to any professional event where I haven't met people before. Khaki pants, shirts, shoes.

3) I don't bring my application with me in that black folder, I bring my list of questions so I can pull them out if need be.

You contact everybody you talk to? Oh I thought it was just the program director...

Bloody hell, I showed up in jeans and gym shoes and a sweater...

That's a good idea- list o' questions

 

[OldPsychDoc]

1) It is common to write thank you letters to everyone you met with, including the PD and Chair. In fact, if you do not do this, you might not be expressing appropriate interest and it could be harmful t your candidacy. I have been emailing thank you's. I hope this is appropriate. paper letters are actually kind of a hassle for both people! If anyone thinks email isn't appropriate, let me know!
.

Overkill.
A note of thanks and interest to the PD and program coordinator, perhaps the chief resident if you "clicked" is plenty.

 

[Still Kickin]

Hey all - I just saw this thread over on the NRMP forum, and it kind of freaked me out.

(Basically, it's about interviews where about the only thing the interviewer ever asks is "do you have any questions for us?" and the candidate pretty much has to "run" the interview...)

That thread is talking about how "selling yourself" should be prominent in your conversation...

I wondered if this type of interview happens in Psych and/or whether Psych interviewers might have different "qualities" they were looking for in the candidates handling of the situation vs. other specialties? (ie - is it necessary [or even appropriate] to spend the time "selling yourself"? Or, perhaps as one of the people in that thread suggested, the point of this type of interview is just to make sure the applicant is good enough at communicating that they can keep a conversation going?)

I remember several interviews of this type when I was applying for med school, and since I didn't get accepted at those schools I'm wondering if I took the wrong approach. I *didn't* spend the time selling myself, but rather asking the interviewer questions. I might have worked in a few "selling points" if they fit into the conversation, but I really felt like the interviewer is the one who is supposed to be in charge of the interview and if they wanted to know that stuff, they would/should ask, and that *I*, as the lowly little "interviewee" would be inappropriately treading on their turf to "set the agenda" for the interview. (So it was mainly more like a small-talk conversation with me wondering if the interviewer was ever going to ask me anything relevant to my application.) Plus, I felt like it would have been really obnoxious to just spend the time going on about how great I was. (Zzzz! Who wants to listen to something like that - ?!?!!) But I do remember being frustrated that I didn't really feel like the interviewers were "getting to know me" in the way I would have liked them to, especially if they had been being more directive with the interview, asking me specific questions about myself.

Just for giggles, I have to share that one of these interviews was with a PSYCHIATRIST. We met in a conference room and I got there before he did so I was the one standing up to shake HIS hand [and introduce myself] as HE came into the room. I'm not sure if he ever really did ask me any questions or not - I mainly remember that he just sat there and quietly smiled at me. (If I recall correctly after he came in the room we sat there silently smiling/staring at each other for a few seconds until I couldn't take it anymore and said something like "So, what would you like to know about me?" or "What can I tell you about myself?") (I really don't recall, but can't help but think he must have asked something like "Well, what would YOU like to tell me about yourself?") (BTW, this was not an unpleasant interview - the smiling little man seemed very kind. It was just a very unusual one, and I felt like *I* "ran" the whole interview and always wondered if that was what I was "supposed" to have done...)

 

[masterofmonkeys]

my interviewers thankfully had read through my CAF and were eager to build on that foundation in learning more about me. it was a very gratifying experience. Makes you feel really appreciated as a person.

But about halfway through the allotted time they'd switch to 'so what questions do you have for me?'

Although I wasn't particularly trying to sell myself I found that I basically ended up doing so through the questions I asked. For ex"

"I'm really itnerested in your research track, but I want to have a solid foundation in psychotherapy all the same. Is it possible to do the research track and receive as much or more psychodynamic training as clinical track students receive?"

"Absolutely. You will have to spend a few more hours up here to do so, but it's been done before and can be done again. Why the interest in psychodynamics?"

"Well, I feel like every program gives you a pretty good grounding in CBT since it's a required ACGME competency. But it's a very well manualized therapy and I feel like it's just the tip of the iceberg. Solid psychodynamic training seems more rare in residency and even harder to start once you're through with residency. Besides, I believe, and several studies back this up, that much of the success of CBT is dependent on the strength of the interpersonal connection as rated by the patient."

Totally candid answer, and I asked it because even though I want a research career, I want to be a therapist first and foremost, and I am very concerned about losing out on clinical training in psychotherapy to pursue research as a resident. But in a bit of self-congratulation, I think it was one of the more significant points i made in selling myself as someone who wants to be a complete and well-rounded psychiatrist.