I just had a stress interview where the interviewer actually laughed at one of my hobbies, and berated me the entire time. I'm trying to figure out the point of these interviews... Anyone? (Especially LizzyM)
reading theoretical physics..... This is how it went down...
Him: So, what do you do to destress, to relax...
Me: Well, I think of myself as laid back, I like to relax with my friends and play video games, and I also like to read. [Me trying to make a light-humor joke to lighten the mood] I've actually endured the epitome of being made fun of when a librarian made fun of me for what I read...
Him: What do you read?
Me: Theoretical Physics
Him: You actually READ Theoretical Physics...? (laughter ensued)
Me: You can't surpass the librarian... (said with a smile) Anyway, I think the theoretical physics relates to how I constantly like to challenge myself intellectually...
It was just awkward and totally uncalled for in my view.. I was simply trying to lighten the mood and he mocked me... I hate this friggan process... Anyway, that's what went down.. and don't think that this theme was a one-time thing. This was the tone of the entire interview. Anyways, I hate this process.
reading theoretical physics..... This is how it went down...
Him: So, what do you do to destress, to relax...
Me: Well, I think of myself as laid back, I like to relax with my friends and play video games, and I also like to read. [Me trying to make a light-humor joke to lighten the mood] I've actually endured the epitome of being made fun of when a librarian made fun of me for what I read...
Him: What do you read?
Me: Theoretical Physics
Him: You actually READ Theoretical Physics...? (laughter ensued)
Me: You can't surpass the librarian... (said with a smile) Anyway, I think the theoretical physics relates to how I constantly like to challenge myself intellectually...
It was just awkward and totally uncalled for in my view.. I was simply trying to lighten the mood and he mocked me... I hate this friggan process... Anyway, that's what went down.. and don't think that this theme was a one-time thing. This was the tone of the entire interview. Anyways, I hate this process.
dude really though, theoretical physics?
reading theoretical physics..... This is how it went down...
Him: So, what do you do to destress, to relax...
Me: Well, I think of myself as laid back, I like to relax with my friends and play video games, and I also like to read. [Me trying to make a light-humor joke to lighten the mood] I've actually endured the epitome of being made fun of when a librarian made fun of me for what I read...
Him: What do you read?
Me: Theoretical Physics
Him: You actually READ Theoretical Physics...? (laughter ensued)
Me: You can't surpass the librarian... (said with a smile) Anyway, I think the theoretical physics relates to how I constantly like to challenge myself intellectually...
It was just awkward and totally uncalled for in my view.. I was simply trying to lighten the mood and he mocked me... I hate this friggan process... Anyway, that's what went down.. and don't think that this theme was a one-time thing. This was the tone of the entire interview. Anyways, I hate this process.
reading theoretical physics..... This is how it went down...
Him: So, what do you do to destress, to relax...
Me: Well, I think of myself as laid back, I like to relax with my friends and play video games, and I also like to read. [Me trying to make a light-humor joke to lighten the mood] I've actually endured the epitome of being made fun of when a librarian made fun of me for what I read...
Him: What do you read?
Me: Theoretical Physics
Him: You actually READ Theoretical Physics...? (laughter ensued)
Me: You can't surpass the librarian... (said with a smile) Anyway, I think the theoretical physics relates to how I constantly like to challenge myself intellectually...
It was just awkward and totally uncalled for in my view.. I was simply trying to lighten the mood and he mocked me... I hate this friggan process... Anyway, that's what went down.. and don't think that this theme was a one-time thing. This was the tone of the entire interview. Anyways, I hate this process.
Answering with 'theoretical physics' sounds like you were grandstanding or bull****ting.
Yea you took this the wrong way and it sounds ridiculous. You relax by reading "theoretical physics"? That is extremely vague, what specifically are you reading about? Where are you reading it? What do you gain from it/how do you use it/why did you start doing this? You need to give more elaboration if you are going to drop something like that because without further explanation that sounds like BS or at the very least a sign of absolute socially isolating nerdom.
Not to mention "endured the epitome of being made fun of..."
Does anybody else ever get the feeling that some of the people who think they had a stress interview really have a mild case of Asperger's?
I think that this process is going to drive me insane.... Let me get this straight...
I legitimately read and enjoy reading theoretical physics. I like being challenged by things outside my curriculum and understanding the big picture. Now, you are telling me that, because some people lie in interviews and make up stuff like this sometimes, I have to add a disclaimer to my hobby? This is like reverse racism. bah... forget it..
first of all, I didn't "drop something" in my mind, because it wasn't that big of a deal. Also, shouldn't he be asking me these questions if it's questionable whether I'm telling the truth... I truly am not a troll and I am trying to be as respectable as possible, but it is frustrating me that, after years of hard work, it is possible that the reason I will be seen in a negative light by an admissions committee is because I have a hobby that is seen as unbelievable, because it is too amazing. I'm sorry if I'm ranting/bothering anyone, but I am definitely bothered by this interview.
I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but it is definitely not a traditional response to "what are your hobbies?" If I were an adcom member, I probably would have laughed if you had said that during the interview. Not in a mocking way, but because I thought you were joking.
Plus, people tend to forget that interviewers grade you a lot on your personality. Many applicants who were academically brilliant have been rejected because they lack normal social graces and wouldn't survive well in a profession where you have to interact with people on a daily basis.
So next time you get asked this, answer with something different like video games which I believe you mentioned earlier. As for hating the process, join the club. It's all a matter of playing the game.
P.S. I think you are going to have to develop a thicker skin if you got so upset over something as seemingly innocuous as this.
I totally agree with you... I'm going to try to roll with this and learn from my mistake. My problem with it is that it is a mistake in the first place. As for the P.S., I want to clarify that what bothered me in this instance was the fact that my interviewer laughed at me. And this matters so much because I, like all of you, would like to get accepted into medical school and become a doctor one day. I don't enjoy being laughed at by the same people that are making that decision.
Please elaborate.
I totally agree with you... I'm going to try to roll with this and learn from my mistake. My problem with it is that it is a mistake in the first place. As for the P.S., I want to clarify that what bothered me in this instance was the fact that my interviewer laughed at me. And this matters so much because I, like all of you, would like to get accepted into medical school and become a doctor one day. I don't enjoy being laughed at by the same people that are making that decision.
first of all, I didn't "drop something" in my mind, because it wasn't that big of a deal. Also, shouldn't he be asking me these questions if it's questionable whether I'm telling the truth... I truly am not a troll and I am trying to be as respectable as possible, but it is frustrating me that, after years of hard work, it is possible that the reason I will be seen in a negative light by an admissions committee is because I have a hobby that is seen as unbelievable, because it is too amazing. I'm sorry if I'm ranting/bothering anyone, but I am definitely bothered by this interview.
You will probably endure much worse than that during medical school and your residency.
You mean an attending would dare give anything less than love and encouragement if we get an answer wrong during rounds or have trouble with a procedure?!
Obviously it isnt enjoyable, but if you roll off it and tactfully redirect his attention elsewhere it is likely to be forgotten. If you start getting pouty and offended, then it becomes an issue that will probably itnerfere with your candidacy.
I just had a stress interview where the interviewer actually laughed at one of my hobbies, and berated me the entire time. I'm trying to figure out the point of these interviews... Anyone? (Especially LizzyM)
reading theoretical physics..... This is how it went down...
Him: So, what do you do to destress, to relax...
Me: Well, I think of myself as laid back, I like to relax with my friends and play video games, and I also like to read. [Me trying to make a light-humor joke to lighten the mood] I've actually endured the epitome of being made fun of when a librarian made fun of me for what I read...
Him: What do you read?
Me: Theoretical Physics
Him: You actually READ Theoretical Physics...? (laughter ensued)
Me: You can't surpass the librarian... (said with a smile) Anyway, I think the theoretical physics relates to how I constantly like to challenge myself intellectually...
It was just awkward and totally uncalled for in my view.. I was simply trying to lighten the mood and he mocked me... I hate this friggan process... Anyway, that's what went down.. and don't think that this theme was a one-time thing. This was the tone of the entire interview. Anyways, I hate this process.
I will try to redirect this thread back to its original intent after a few clarifications...
1. This comment didn't affect me that much during the interview, I did just "roll off it."
2. This was just one example that stuck with me. Throughout the interview, there were many other, less subjective examples.
3. The interview, to me, was a stress interview, and the intent of this post is to find out others' opinions of the point of these interviews.
For example: I believe they are testing my confidence in my answers and my willingness to stick by my original answer, even when thoroughly challenged.
This is because, in my interview, I was repeatedly(3-5 times) asked the same question in a "really?" skeptical way.
The above "for example" was how I originally intended this post to go. So, to get back on track, What do you guys think the point of stress interviews are/why do they give them?
@tkim:
I love your avatar.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ToNZHG5KHw[/YOUTUBE]
Late in my interview, long after learning that I majored in physics, my interviewers made an offhand remark about how awkward and nerdy astrophysicists are. I then proceeded to tell them I'm actually an astrophysics major.theoretical physics?
No offense, but I would have laughed too (nicely though! it's cute if you didn't say it arrogantly). I agree with the other poster that it does sound like you were BS'ing, but maybe that's only because my answer to the same question would have been perezhilton.com
Listen, you didn't encounter a stress interview.
A stress interview is the interviewer asking you to open a window in the room that's been nailed shut. While the interviewer simply stares back and forth between you and his watch. While taking notes.
A stress interview is when the interviewer challenges something in your profile that you have to defend. And it won't be one of your hobbies. It'll be the two years you spent building mud huts in some third world country, eating grasshoppers, that you used as the cornerstone of your application and PS, that will be airily dismissed as a 'sheer waste of time'.
You say that your encounter was a stress interview. You say the interviewer berated you the entire time. Yet the only snippet of the interview you offer is mild while you do not offer the 'many other, less subjective examples' that would confirm it as being a stress interview.
You say that you let it roll of your back. Obviously it bothers you because you've posted about it. You are full of contradictions.
I was trying to be vague because I don't know who (aka: admissions committees) read these things... but whatever. Under interview feedback of this medical school, there are two interview feedbacks with 😡 negative faces. We had the same interviewer and I wouldn't doubt that the other interviewee agrees with me. He/she said... "This was my worst interview. I had 5 other interviews at this point and 3 acceptances. But my interviewer was so mean and pushy that he make me think that i was the worst candidate. It was a really bad interview." So, I wasn't the only one thinking this. And, as far as the, "challenging [me] on something in my profile that I had to defend," when I mentioned to him that I was a hard worker, this is how it went down....
Him: So, give me a positive and a negative to yourself...
Me: Well, I pride myself on being a hard worker, and I think that my gpa is a reflection of that-- (cuts me off)
Him: GPA doesn't matter. I know your gpa.
Me: Oh, um... I also have worked extensively with people in the hospital I volunteered at.. (and me trying to recover)
I don't know if this would be categorized as a "stress" interview, but it was relatively stressful for me. Again, let me slow down my typing for you.... I let it roll off of me in the interview. After the interview, after having time to reflect on it, I realize that the interviewer was very rude and out of line. I am not contradicting anything. In fact, the quote of me that you used in your post was my attempt to clarify that exact fact. I felt the need to post on a forum to talk with others about their experiences, not to argue whether or not my interview was a stress interview. Again, this is not what this thread was supposed to be about. We are not going to agree. This will be my last post unless this thread goes towards the original goal.
I was trying to be vague because I don't know who (aka: admissions committees) read these things... but whatever. Under interview feedback of this medical school, there are two interview feedbacks with 😡 negative faces. We had the same interviewer and I wouldn't doubt that the other interviewee agrees with me. He/she said... "This was my worst interview. I had 5 other interviews at this point and 3 acceptances. But my interviewer was so mean and pushy that he make me think that i was the worst candidate. It was a really bad interview." So, I wasn't the only one thinking this. And, as far as the, "challenging [me] on something in my profile that I had to defend," when I mentioned to him that I was a hard worker, this is how it went down....
Him: So, give me a positive and a negative to yourself...
Me: Well, I pride myself on being a hard worker, and I think that my gpa is a reflection of that-- (cuts me off)
Him: GPA doesn't matter. I know your gpa.
Me: Oh, um... I also have worked extensively with people in the hospital I volunteered at.. (and me trying to recover)
I don't know if this would be categorized as a "stress" interview, but it was relatively stressful for me. Again, let me slow down my typing for you.... I let it roll off of me in the interview. After the interview, after having time to reflect on it, I realize that the interviewer was very rude and out of line. I am not contradicting anything. In fact, the quote of me that you used in your post was my attempt to clarify that exact fact. I felt the need to post on a forum to talk with others about their experiences, not to argue whether or not my interview was a stress interview. Again, this is not what this thread was supposed to be about. We are not going to agree. This will be my last post unless this thread goes towards the original goal.
I was simply trying to lighten the mood and he mocked me.
Again, this is not what this thread was supposed to be about. We are not going to agree. This will be my last post unless this thread goes towards the original goal.
Sorry about using LizzyM in the title, didn't know it wasn't allowed... Anyways, the interviewer didn't simply ask me hard questions. In fact, his questions were simple, but he never gave up. Basically, none of my answers were "good enough" to him. (his words). It felt as though all of my answers to these opinion questions were wrong. I dunno if I want to say the name of the school over this but i'll pm anyone interested to watch out. I'll also say that if you look at the interview feedback, I posted on there and so did one other person. I hope that he was testing whether I would stand by my original opinion, because I did. Anyways, I hate stress interviews, and if it wasn't intentionally the way it was, the interviewer was a real (insert negative term here).
I haven't had a stress interview yet, so I feel pretty lucky about that. However, I have come less prepared to certain interviews, so that kinda sucked... but that's my own fault so I can't complain
I HAVE been part of a lineup before, and it was actually a great experience, but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone 😛
PS: I don't know the details about your own interview, but so I can't really comment on what happened there. However, judging from your reaction to this thread, I do feel as if you are overreacting a bit to the posts in this thread. Granted, some people are a bit on the harsh side, and some posts may seem a bit uncalled for. If you want to be in healthcare, though, you're going to be dealing with quite a few "unique" characters, both patients and coworkers. You're going to need to learn to handle these people without letting it bother you, and the last thing you will want to do is get defensive. There are a good number of jerks out there, and your interviewer could very well have been one of them. But if you go into healthcare, he will certainly not be the last one you meet.