The Interview Hook

[SpoiledMilk]

---

Members don't see this ad.

The 2017-2018 cycle is coming to an end and I thought a thread specific to how to "click" with an interviewer might help future pre-meds land an offer at a school they never thought they could get one from.

First lets state the obvious:

• Be prepared for the interview by researching the school, interview format, and practice, practice, practice
  
• Give a proper handshake
• Be professional, courteous, confident, humble, and don't be shy or quiet
  
• Speak with your hands to add emphasis and display passion
• Listen and be alert to what the interviewer is saying to help formulate your own questions to ask

AND lastly

• Discover a hook, an angle that will endear you to the interviewer that does not have to be related to medicine

For example, I received an offer from a school that had a MMI and a one-on-one. During my one-on-one conversation, the interviewer spoke about recently adopting a puppy. Being a former dog owner myself, I focused my last few minutes on the puppy by asking for the breed, the name, and how they came to choose a puppy over another kind of pet.

Then I relayed my own story about how I lost my own Tiger, a Yorkshire. I was thousands of miles away for school when he ran away from my parents' home. He was never found, and I assumed someone in the neighbor "adopted" him. The interviewer was sympathetic to my loss and empathized with the efforts my family took to find Tiger.

 

[DocAdams]

Useful advice for the used car business, as well.

 

[Chromium Surfer]

Useful advice for the used car business, as well.

🤣

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Edit: nvm. aint worth it...

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

Edit: nvm. aint worth it...

If it helps, I thought your post was helpful 🙂

 

[OchemOficionado]

Edit: nvm. aint worth it...

Aww, I missed it.

 

[DocAdams]

I am sorry to learn about your Yorkshire. Wherever he is, I hope he is doing well.

 

[JPmoleymole]

So TLDR: be conversational lol

 

[tiramisucheese]

The 2017-2018 cycle is coming to an end and I thought a thread specific to how to "click" with an interviewer might help future pre-meds land an offer at a school they never thought they could get one from.

First lets state the obvious:

• Be prepared for the interview by researching the school, interview format, and practice, practice, practice
  
• Give a proper handshake
• Be professional, courteous, confident, humble, and don't be shy or quiet
  
• Speak with your hands to add emphasis and display passion
• Listen and be alert to what the interviewer is saying to help formulate your own questions to ask

AND lastly

• Discover a hook, an angle that will endear you to the interviewer that does not have to be related to medicine

For example, I received an offer from a school that had a MMI and a one-on-one. During my one-on-one conversation, the interviewer spoke about recently adopting a puppy. Being a former dog owner myself, I focused my last few minutes on the puppy by asking for the breed, the name, and how they came to choose a puppy over another kind of pet.

Then I relayed my own story about how I lost my own Tiger, a Yorkshire. I was thousands of miles away for school when he ran away from my parents' home. He was never found, and I assumed someone in the neighbor "adopted" him. The interviewer was sympathetic to my loss and empathized with the efforts my family took to find Tiger.

One of my MD interviewers showed me puppy photos on his computer once we got going on this topic. Best. Interview. Ever.

 

[curbsideconsult]

So TLDR: be conversational lol

It's gobsmackingly amazing how difficult this is for a lot of candidates.

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

It's gobsmackingly amazing how difficult this is for a lot of candidates.

Are you saying that from personal experience of being an interviewer? Not a sarcastic question.

 

[curbsideconsult]

Are you saying that from personal experience of being an interviewer? Not a sarcastic question.

As a student interviewer.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Are you saying that from personal experience of being an interviewer? Not a sarcastic question.

I can confirm from the personal experience of having to be around a lot of them.

 

[21Rush12]

Are you saying that from personal experience of being an interviewer? Not a sarcastic question.

I agree completely. Thus the One Commandment of interviewing: Don’t be weird.

 

[siliso]

Only connect. Valuable principle for every interpersonal situation. When I interview people I don’t care very much at all what the topic of conversation is - only that we can have one comfortably for the designated period of time, and that nothing flagrantly weird or offputting or suggestive of immaturity or a personality disorder comes out.

 

[Rooster Booster]

I agree completely. Thus the One Commandment of interviewing: Don’t be weird.

But what if you're weird :-/

 

[tiramisucheese]

But what if you're weird :-/

Practice until you're not.

 

[Prometheus123]

But what if you're weird :-/

Or, at the very least, try to be weird in an endearing way.

This depends on the definition of weird you're thinking of. Being socially awkward or unlikeable is bad. However, it's Ok to be a little eccentric (some attendings are pretty eccentric by most people's standards). The goal is to strike the right balance between conforming and standing out (in the right ways). Ultimately, people will judge you based on how you make them feel, not whether you're a little different.