What to do when your interviewer is a jerk?

[lollybo]

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At some interviews that I have had, the interviewer seemed less than friendly. At one interview, I was grilled over whether the hospital I shadowed at was a hospital was a clinic. I knew it was a hospital, but the interviewer kept insisting it was a clinic. I just kind of nodded it away. I feel like I do poorly with this style of interviewing, I'm not a very confrontational person, but I have a hard time dealing with a belligerent interviewer in a "stress interview." Has anyone else had any similar experiences? What are some good coping strategies?

 

[Richardh]

i had a similar situation like you where my interviewer thought my answers were wrong (like in regards to my research where he thought it wasn't a clinical research but it was!)

in such kind of situation, i found it useful to let the interviewer know that he/she is correct. i think it's best to submit b/c he/she will be writing the evaluation later on so i don't want any negative impressions sent to the adcom later on. on the other hand, i know that i shouldn't let the interviewer tell me that i am wrong that i should stand up and fight back. but it's best to let it go. if you really want to be admitted to the school, let the interviewer has his/her way. on the contrary, if you don't care for the school, state your opinion and make him/her know that you strongly believe what you believe.

 

[Musclemass]

.. if you don't care for the school, state your opinion and make him/her know that you strongly believe what you believe.

If you don't care for a school, why would you accept an interview invitation?

Being argumentative in an interview is a poor move and a rather immature thing to do.

 

[Mithril]

You bend over. We all want to uphold our own beliefs and morals, but the reality is that you need to bend over sometimes on interviews and in life for appeasement. That interviewer can make or break your potential future at that school.

 

[ReptarBar]

lol kids on sdn get a hard-on from following their schools' moral codes, yet they would bend over backwards to please their interviewers. kewl!

 

[whoknows2012]

lol kids on sdn get a hard-on from following their schools' moral codes, yet they would bend over backwards to please their interviewers. kewl!

HAHA touche...great point. Was reading a thread earlier about fudging lab results in chem lab and had a good laugh at some of the responses.

 

[drl1987]

i had a similar situation like you where my interviewer thought my answers were wrong (like in regards to my research where he thought it wasn't a clinical research but it was!)

in such kind of situation, i found it useful to let the interviewer know that he/she is correct. i think it's best to submit b/c he/she will be writing the evaluation later on so i don't want any negative impressions sent to the adcom later on. on the other hand, i know that i shouldn't let the interviewer tell me that i am wrong that i should stand up and fight back. but it's best to let it go. if you really want to be admitted to the school, let the interviewer has his/her way. on the contrary, if you don't care for the school, state your opinion and make him/her know that you strongly believe what you believe.

So this is just anecdotal, but knowing several current & former ADCOM members at a major southeastern medical school, I've heard that some interviewers will do this intentionally to see if you DO just bend over backwards to please them. What I mean is that they are testing to see if you DO have firmly held beliefs, or if you will simply change your answer to what you think the interviewer wants to hear.

IMO "stick to your guns" unless it's something that really doesn't matter, like whether you shadowed at a hospital or a clinic, which frankly sounds irrelevant.

 

[NickNaylor]

Option 1: cry about it, expect a rejection, blame it all on the interviewer

Option 2: realize that it's really not a huge deal, and unless you came across as a huge douche it likely won't matter

One of the qualities that seems to be stressed is adaptability. You have to adapt to all kinds of situations as a student/physician, the least of which is dealing with patients. I would suggest calming down and becoming more flexible. If you're breaking down during a "stress interview," what's going to happen when you can't find x piece of medical equipment when you're on a team doing a code and you get your ass chewed out?

In the big scheme of things, arguing about whether a hospital is a clinic or not is pretty unimportant. I adopt this attitude for as many things as possible, and it seems to help quite a bit.

 

[Narmerguy]

Just let it go. I don't know why, even in non interview situations, people feel so intent on winning every argument. If it is obvious the person feels so strongly about something and will not change their mind, why bother? I always let it go at that point as my time and energy is worth more than hurling logic and reason at a brick wall.

 

[IncantoCharms]

I interviewed at a school where the interviewer just shot questions at me without ever letting me finish a response. At first I was trying to answer as fast as possible, but later was thinking how sh*tty the situation was because he obviously cannot be listening to my responses. I realize that it was very likely he was assigned the bad cop role that day, but it's irritating and made me feel like I wasted time and money. Honestly with all the students and staff repeating how low-stress and get-to-know-you the interviews at the school are (one student even said she complained after getting a jerk interviewer during her cycle and he hasn't been asked back to do interviews), I was really disappointed. And I walked into the interview day with such high expectations because of the school's rep

 

[IlaEm]

So this is just anecdotal, but knowing several current & former ADCOM members at a major southeastern medical school, I've heard that some interviewers will do this intentionally to see if you DO just bend over backwards to please them. What I mean is that they are testing to see if you DO have firmly held beliefs, or if you will simply change your answer to what you think the interviewer wants to hear.

IMO "stick to your guns" unless it's something that really doesn't matter, like whether you shadowed at a hospital or a clinic, which frankly sounds irrelevant.

I agree. I believe some interviewers are merely trying to play devil's advocate to make sure you remain confident and knowledgeable in your responses. In fact, I had a student interview last week where the student explicitly told me he was doing that. It didn't make his questions any easier to answer, but it was nice to know his intentions. I think remaining calm is key and try to answer the questions to the best of your ability. Interviewers know you are not a doctor yet and you should not know everything there is to know.

 

[Caristra]

If an interviewer is questioning major points about your research then you need to defend it. This is what science/research is about - defending your experimental approach and conclusions. If the interviewer has a valid point - admit it and address it.

If they refer to a hospital you volunteered with as a clinic, who really cares? Your experience was the same whatever you call it. Just talk about the experience you had.

 

[circulus vitios]

Flex my biceps 3" from his face.

 

[thedoctor8706]

Sorry OP, I hate rude interviewers too. It's something most have to deal with, realizing that a lot of times the demeanor of the interviewer won't reflect the outcome. After talking to some people in my class (including my roomate), I found out they had rough interviews, but they eventually made it into school regardless! So don't give up hope! But yea, I hate the idea that things could be screwed up for people based on the attitude of the interviewers, who can be just plain rude. I'll be very upset if it affects acceptances. Good luck!

 

[teddy bear doc]

Ooooh. Yeah. I JUST had one like this. Interviewer presented an ethical situation and then when I answered (in what I thought was a reasonable, opinionated, yet still diplomatic answer), he basically tore me apart and all but told me I would make a crappy doctor.

I held my ground, but I'm pretty sure I won't be getting any good news from there.

PS. to those that say if you weren't crazy about the school why would you be interviewing there: shush. Some people just want to go to medical school, ANY medical school at all, and may thus interview at "safety" schools or somewhere that they aren't totally sold on but have a relatively good shot of getting in. Not everyone interviews at Harvard or some other similar big name. Or, alternatively, they may really like the school prior to the interview day, then get there and find out upon arrival or in the info session that they feel only so-so about the school (this has actually happened to me). What are they supposed to do in that case? Stand up and walk out?

 

[Dianyla]

You do the same thing that you'll do when your future hypothetical patient is a jerk. Stick to your principles as best you can, but also pick your battles carefully. Most importantly, keep it in perspective and keep your cool.

 

[muhali3]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv9VKKXwVxU[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Playa]

Yea just don't worry about it, it doesn't seem like too big a deal anyways. But if your a woman, then two words. Push-up bra. That should avoid most conflict, but if the interviewer is being particularly sour, maybe he/she is just having a bad day and you should just agree with everything they say. Maybe they would lighten up after the interview when reviewing your file…...

 

[putyou2sleep]

If these kind of situations make you uncomfortable, and they are presenting that face on interview day, it is unlikely that you want to go there for medical school.

Do not bend over, but do not become rude either. You have to say what you actually believe, but with tact. To the clinic/hospital argument, a response such as "My understanding was that it was more of a hospital setting, but independent of its title, while I was doing xyz there I gained valuable experience that I feel applies to my role as a student physician in this way..." is an appropriate response.

 

[duress]

i don't think agreeing with your interviewer is always a good idea for a stress interview. I also don't think fighting excessively is good either. but if your interviewer is accusing you of lying or something like that I really don't think you should just say 'you're right' or let it go without incident...

 

[shopsteward]

My experience (from both sides) is definitely that a good interview is a decent indication of a place where someone will be happy working. A bad interview isn't necessarily so predictive, but can of course affect whether or not someone will get the chance of finding out.

Interviewers do sometimes deliberately test how interviewees handle a false statement, but if you are not told in advance that this is what they might be doing, it can be very difficult to handle. The reasons for an interviewer setting you up in this way might be to test whether you can defend a position you know is right, or to see how you handle potential conflict. For a professional who will have to rely on their own judgement, sometimes in conflict with the views of others, but who will also have to be a good team worker, both of these abilities are important.

If it is a straight question of fact, a decent response might be "my understanding is X, but if you don't agree I can check the facts for you and come back with the answer".

If it is a question of opinion, a good approach is to try to turn the issue into a positive discussion rather than a negative one - less "I don't agree with you" and more "I think X because Y", "X applies in some circumstances but here I think Y because", "I hadn't considered X but does it apply where Y?", etc. If during an interview you can show that you are thinking through new issues, and assimilating new information or opinions, you are likely to get decent marks even from a "hostile" interviewer.

 

[BBender716]

The best way to handle an interview that seems to be negative is to maintain a positive attitude, admit wrongs when wrong, but defend your position tactfully if it's an "issue-type" question.

It's difficult to maintain that positivity, but one thing that helped me was to remember than many times, these physicians/students/faculty have volunteered to do this. This almost always means they are interested in meeting applicants, shaping the student population of the school, and contributing in some way. Whether they are trying intentionally to stress you out, have an abrasive personality, or are just having a bad day, just remember that they really are interested in some level and maintain that positivity to remind them why they volunteered.

I've meet some faculty at my school who are definitely intense and would scare the crap out of me if they interviewed me, but at heart, they are absolutely hilarious and intense is just way they are. That is the prototype, I feel, for many of these "gruff" interviewers.

 

[jellybean13]

I just got rickroll'd

 

[BBender716]

They see me rollin'...

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

The best way to handle an interview that seems to be negative is to maintain a positive attitude, admit wrongs when wrong, but defend your position tactfully if it's an "issue-type" question.

It's difficult to maintain that positivity, but one thing that helped me was to remember than many times, these physicians/students/faculty have volunteered to do this. This almost always means they are interested in meeting applicants, shaping the student population of the school, and contributing in some way. Whether they are trying intentionally to stress you out, have an abrasive personality, or are just having a bad day, just remember that they really are interested in some level and maintain that positivity to remind them why they volunteered.

I've meet some faculty at my school who are definitely intense and would scare the crap out of me if they interviewed me, but at heart, they are absolutely hilarious and intense is just way they are. That is the prototype, I feel, for many of these "gruff" interviewers.

I have to agree with you for 100% on this post. I think you shouldn't bend over backwards, but rather "agree to disagree". By that, I mean state your opinion even if it differs from your interviewer's opinion and hold your own. I have had that happen a few times and it seemed to go over smoothly. At the end of the interview that I'm thinking of, he mentioned he predicts success for me at this school...

At the same time, one of my interviewers at another school and I had many differences of opinion, which led to the whole interview basically being "lunch" for him, in which he just kept chewing me up and spitting me right back out. 🙁

I would say it never hurts to hold your own, especially in medical school interviews, because in the end, AdComs want to see that you're a person that has your own beliefs and isn't just some piece of putty. Maybe someone with more experience and knowledge could chime in...haha. (All of this is assuming you're not arguing something crazy like the sun is purple and that Earth revolves around Pluto).

 

[echosensei]

I can tell you what I did in this situation 31 years ago. I was asked to interview for med school at Duke. At the time, no interviews were done on site, they were done regionally, and I travelled to a nearby town for an interview with a Duke alum who was a private practice psychiatrist. As I entered his office and shook his hand he said "You do know that no one I have ever interviewed has been accepted to Duke, don't you?" I listened politely and answered his questions civilly. And when I left the office, I realized that I had no wish to attend a medical school with jerks like that who do the interviews. As soon as I arrived home, I called the admissions office and withdrew my application, telling them exactly why I had done so.