what did you do on your interview to help you land a residency?

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I was just wondering how the interview goes of a person who actually landed residency? What did you say to make them pick you? how did you act? What do they want to hear?

I got an interview, so i was wondering of a surefire way on making it in the program. What will impress them?

I've already done a search and haven't found a good thread or article on this topic.

Thanks very much.

 

[atsai3]

I was just wondering how the interview goes of a person who actually landed residency? What did you say to make them pick you? how did you act? What do they want to hear?

I got an interview, so i was wondering of a surefire way on making it in the program. What will impress them?

I've already done a search and haven't found a good thread or article on this topic.

Thanks very much.

First of all, there are plenty of threads on this topic. You just didn't search hard enough.

Second, there is no 'surefire' anything.

Third, you should just be yourself. If I were interviewing you for our program, I would not want you masquerading as someone you are not.

Fourth, your blog entry from 8-10-2009 is pretty clear about the biggest roadblocks you will encounter in finding a position:

I was in IM for 6 months and surgery residency for 10 months. I left the surgery program for medical reasons and got a certificate for 10 months with good remarks. For the IM program I just left because I felt the program wasn't good for me. I'm applying this year and I hope to get into a position. I wonder what my chances are to get into a position for next year. I didn't do so well on my usmle's and i passed the 7 year limit for step 3 but not the 10 year limit. Right now I'm trying to study for my usmle step 3 to pass so maybe I will get a position for next year. I'm wondering if I will ever become a doctor after all of this. I sure hope so.
​

Not only did you not do well on the USMLE, but you left a residency program because it "wasn't good for [you]". No amount of good acting on interview day will get a program director to just simply overlook those details.

-AT.

 

[turquoiseblue]

First of all, there are plenty of threads on this topic. You just didn't search hard enough.

Second, there is no 'surefire' anything.

Third, you should just be yourself. If I were interviewing you for our program, I would not want you masquerading as someone you are not.

Fourth, your blog entry from 8-10-2009 is pretty clear about the biggest roadblocks you will encounter in finding a position:

I was in IM for 6 months and surgery residency for 10 months. I left the surgery program for medical reasons and got a certificate for 10 months with good remarks. For the IM program I just left because I felt the program wasn't good for me. I'm applying this year and I hope to get into a position. I wonder what my chances are to get into a position for next year. I didn't do so well on my usmle's and i passed the 7 year limit for step 3 but not the 10 year limit. Right now I'm trying to study for my usmle step 3 to pass so maybe I will get a position for next year. I'm wondering if I will ever become a doctor after all of this. I sure hope so.
​

Not only did you not do well on the USMLE, but you left a residency program because it "wasn't good for [you]". No amount of good acting on interview day will get a program director to just simply overlook those details.

-AT.

This is the second time i've been interviewed by this program.....

 

[captaincrunch]

There has been much ink spilt on this issue. Any bookstore will have numerous books on how to do well on an interviews. I have a few general recommendations and a few specific to medicine.

First, the general advise. Most of this is pretty obvious. Dress well and make sure your suit fits (don't borrow from someone else). BE POSITIVE. Don't badmouth other programs, past employers, etc. If there are shortcommings, make sure you address them up-front. It bears repeating, so BE POSITIVE. Smile and use a firm handshake. Be nice to office staff, other applicants, etc. Sleep well before the interview. Be honest. Never lie. And for god's sake, BE POSITIVE!

The way I view interviews is that the program thinks you might be a good fit on paper, but they're trying to see if they like your personality. They can learn your scores, grades, etc from the written application. The interview lets them know if they want to work with you for 3+ years. This means you have to be likable, engaging and interesting. I recommend reading the newspaper cover to cover for the two weeks leading into interview season. That way, you're up-to-date on any topic (sports, movies, world news, etc). Make sure you know your own application forward and backwards. It looks bad to stumble on a question on your own research. Avoid politics, religion, etc. These are third rails that are to be avoided. It's better if programs learn about your paranoid political theories after you've signed a contract.

Now for the medicine-specific advise. There are some predictable questions you will get. Why this field of medicine (hint: money and lifestyle are wrong answers)? Why this program (hint: location and you-gave-me-an-interview are wrong answers)? Tell me about your research (hint: "I don't have any" is the wrong answer)? What do you plan to do after training (hint: private practice is the wrong answer)? Tell me about your family/background/spouse (hint: "that is an illegal question" is the wrong answer)? Tell me about a conflict you had with a colleague (hint: major disagreements and personality conflicts are the wrong answers)? Tell me about an interesting case (hint: cases where you were only peripherally involved are the wrong answers)? These questions come up repeatedly and you must have answers prepared.

Each field of medicine is different, so the tactics are different. I trained in internal medicine. When my program interviewed prospective students, they are looking for people who can be members and leaders of large teams. They are assessing for your ability to supervise and remediate medical students, respond to criticism of your own performance, share call and responsibility with colleagues, etc. These qualities do not come naturally to everyone, and they are working hard to minimize the number of "problem" residents they have in their program. By contrast, other fields of medicine may value hard work and a take-charge attitude at the expense (to a degree) of these other qualities. Your tactics will be a little different depending on what field your applying to.

Will any of this matter to you? I don't know. Some of your problems in the past have been discussed at length in these forums and don't require repeating again. Even with perfect interviewing skills, it may not be enough to win over all of the skeptics. Good luck.

 

[jdh71]

bring beers

in a cooler

 

[Top Gun]

I was just wondering how the interview goes of a person who actually landed residency? What did you say to make them pick you? how did you act? What do they want to hear?

I got an interview, so i was wondering of a surefire way on making it in the program. What will impress them?

I've already done a search and haven't found a good thread or article on this topic.

Thanks very much.

Just curious, what field was the interview you got in?

 

[turquoiseblue]

IM prelim