What makes a great interviewer

[Skarl]

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For interviews in general, what makes an interviewer effective in terms of selecting applicants who would succeed in a position? As someone with experience on both sides, I've noticed that I tend to be heavily biased toward interviewees who are confident with personalities/philosophies similar to myself, especially for borderline performances. I think this is human nature, but may also be detrimental in selecting for people I like rather than people who would succeed in a position.

Any thoughts from those with experience?

 

[•Syzygy•]

this is one of the reasons why some schools have moved to MMI format

 

[Skarl]

this is one of the reasons why some schools have moved to MMI format

Could you elaborate a little on how this mitigates the issue? Is it the having multiple interviewers?

 

[•Syzygy•]

Could you elaborate a little on how this mitigates the issue? Is it the having multiple interviewers?

yes. for one, it eliminates the bias that exists with only one impression to go off of

 

[Goro]

For interviews in general, what makes an interviewer effective in terms of selecting applicants who would succeed in a position? As someone with experience on both sides, I've noticed that I tend to be heavily biased toward interviewees who are confident with personalities/philosophies similar to myself, especially for borderline performances. I think this is human nature, but may also be detrimental in selecting for people I like rather than people who would succeed in a position.

Any thoughts from those with experience?

To tell the truth, I don't think that we've ever looked at this, even thought it would be really helpful. I suppose that we can rate interviewers like pitchers. The great the success of the student, the lower the ERA for the interviewer.

But keep in mind that people who have trouble in med school have deficits that a single interview aren't going to pick up. #1 is mental health issues, # 2 is poor coping skills. It's harder to weed out people with poor time mgt skills as they already have good stats and ECs, so we figure that they can handle med school.

We do seem to be effective in weeding out sociopaths, and people who lack a true desire for a career in Medicine, or are doing it for the wrong reasons. But as long as the process is run by humans, it will be an imperfect process.