What views should I have during an interview?

[tony101]

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I have a quick question! I have an interview coming up and I wanted to know, what types of views should I share? What I mean by this is I am a very liberal guy. This means I am pro-choice, I believe in Universal Healthcare, etc. BUT some schools I might go to are located in a more southern area which could also be liberal but statistically tend to lean more towards the right(I.E pro-life, etc). Would my beliefs and ideologies hurt me during my interview? Like should I express what I feel or should I just not say much about it?

I just don't want to sound bland, I want to be myself and show them how I really feel about medicine. However When I did a practice interview, I was told that I had good technique, I was a clear talker and I got all my points across and answered the questions pretty much with my opinion. However the person who interviewed me said that my perspectives were very liberal which is what I am, a very liberal person. However they told me, that might be a problem depending on who is interviewing me.

Can anyone give me any advice? Should I be me or should I change who I am when I interview?

 

[CowboyNiceguy]

I don't really understand. In my 4 interviews I don't think I was ever asked anything political. You make it sounds like these topics should dominate your interviews.

 

[tony101]

I don't really understand. In my 4 interviews I don't think I was ever asked anything political. You make it sounds like these topics should dominate your interviews.

Oh I printed out 50 most common questions asked for medical school students. Some of them asked about the system, Teen pregnancy issues(like what issues come with it such as abortion), etc.

http://www.princetonreview.com/med-school-advice/medical-school-interview-questions

I'm not saying it will dominate it! I'm just saying, if someone isn't pro-choice for example and I am, it can be frowned upon by the person. It's something small but I want to cover all fields.

 

[DokterMom]

Be who you are and express the views you hold -- though note that you can see both sides of the issue.

 

[UTsksk]

If you're passionate about something then express it and have valid reasons to back up your beliefs. I always found it best to stick to your guns because I think interviewers could smell BS. I think it's also worth noting to understand both sides.

I was always worried about affordable care act questions so I learned about both sides of the argument so I could display knowledge of opposite ends of the spectrum. Ended up not getting asked anything political.

 

[Goro]

We're pretty good at spotting liars, so be yourself and answer from the heart. It's also unlikely you'll get an overt political question question, but you're very likely to get an ethics question, like "your 14 year old patient wants to get an abortion. What do you do?"

If I ask a politics-based question, it's more like this "socialized medicine: make an argument for and against"

I have a quick question! I have an interview coming up and I wanted to know, what types of views should I share? What I mean by this is I am a very liberal guy. This means I am pro-choice, I believe in Universal Healthcare, etc. BUT some schools I might go to are located in a more southern area which could also be liberal but statistically tend to lean more towards the right(I.E pro-life, etc). Would my beliefs and ideologies hurt me during my interview? Like should I express what I feel or should I just not say much about it?

I just don't want to sound bland, I want to be myself and show them how I really feel about medicine. However When I did a practice interview, I was told that I had good technique, I was a clear talker and I got all my points across and answered the questions pretty much with my opinion. However the person who interviewed me said that my perspectives were very liberal which is what I am, a very liberal person. However they told me, that might be a problem depending on who is interviewing me.

Can anyone give me any advice? Should I be me or should I change who I am when I interview?

 

[PAtoPharm]

We're pretty good at spotting liars, so be yourself and answer from the heart. It's also unlikely you'll get an overt political question question, but you're very likely to get an ethics question, like "your 14 year old patient wants to get an abortion. What do you do?"

If I ask a politics-based question, it's more like this "socialized medicine: make an argument for and against"

See bolded -- how is an interviewee supposed to answer that question? Are we supposed to say that we'd call the girl's parents because she's not legally an adult at that age?

 

[femmegoblue]

See bolded -- how is an interviewee supposed to answer that question? Are we supposed to say that we'd call the girl's parents because she's not legally an adult at that age?

Do some research about the state law regarding abortion. Regardless of your personal opinions, you have to follow what the law states. Typically (at least where I am from) a 14 year old needs to get consent from a parent in order to have the procedure, or they could potentially make a case for a legal bypass. You can talk about asking all the right questions, getting as much info as possible, giving her an ultrasound to figure out gestational age, helping her find a social worker to help if she needs it for a legal bypass, etc. You don't have to (and shouldn't) be like "ok let's do it right now!".

 

[sharpstickie]

I'd say that if you can give a logical explanation for a view you have, they should respect it.
If you interview at a place that doesn't respect an informed opinion, you probably wouldn't be happy there anyways.

 

[Goro]

I don't know. You tell me.

See bolded -- how is an interviewee supposed to answer that question? Are we supposed to say that we'd call the girl's parents because she's not legally an adult at that age?

 

[chibaddie]

I don't know. You tell me.

Lol. Seriously. Do you just want all the answers fed to you?

 

[DNC127]

Politics never came up in my interviews (n=10). But if what you meant to say was "I am super liberal, and I love to shout my beliefs from the rooftops any chance I can get and don't think I can go a whole half hour without expressing how I feel and why society is wrong... reform...bigotry...I hate the upper class... ect".... then I would probably avoid talking about it at all costs because that could be very off putting to an interviewer.

 

[John Buster]

I think reason is more important than which part of the political spectrum you fall on, as long as you don't say anything crazy.

 

[radian313]

My interviewer didnt directly ask me any healthcare reform, political, or anything in between type question. But I incorporated those things in my answers. And as Goro said, be honest, we are fortunate enough to live in a country to hold a opinion but be sure to be open to the other side and back your opinion up with facts. Look at the risk vs benefit concept, or who your patient demographic is, costs, family values, etc.

If you are looking for a cookie cutter answer on SDN sadly even if you did, it will come out as a lie and hence you are better off researching yourself and making it a innate reasoning.

 

[JoeUSA]

Oh I printed out 50 most common questions asked for medical school students. Some of them asked about the system, Teen pregnancy issues(like what issues come with it such as abortion), etc.

http://www.princetonreview.com/med-school-advice/medical-school-interview-questions

I'm not saying it will dominate it! I'm just saying, if someone isn't pro-choice for example and I am, it can be frowned upon by the person. It's something small but I want to cover all fields.

I wonder how those questions (ethics) were created. I have not heard of anyone being asked questions on those topics. Those questions certainly would not be asked during an employment interview.

My recommendation: stay way from all controversial topics. Do not volunteer any information. Do not add any information/opinions that were not asked for. Do not say . . . "I just want to let you know that I support/or do not support controversial topics A, B and C."

 

[PAtoPharm]

Lol. Seriously. Do you just want all the answers fed to you?

For the specific question being referenced? Sure, isn't that why I asked? LOL

 

[John Buster]

For the specific question being referenced? Sure, isn't that why I asked? LOL

Which questions are you referencing?

If you're referring to the questions from the "50 Classic Medical School Questions," this board won't be able to help you with that. Most of the questions are "why did you XYZ" or "what did you learn from XYZ." Others are asked to get to know more about your character and personality. There isn't a way to spoon feed you answers that require your own self-reflection and opinion. Google or a few searches in this forum might help you, but that destroys the more salient "be yourself" part of the interview.

 

[tony101]

Politics never came up in my interviews (n=10). But if what you meant to say was "I am super liberal, and I love to shout my beliefs from the rooftops any chance I can get and don't think I can go a whole half hour without expressing how I feel and why society is wrong... reform...bigotry...I hate the upper class... ect".... then I would probably avoid talking about it at all costs because that could be very off putting to an interviewer.

That is not what I meant at all. I did not mean I was just going to go into the interview and just re-state I am a liberal or something like that for every question.

All I meant is if they asked me for example what do I feel about the healthcare. I would give my stance on it(This is the liberal part, express Universal healthcare, why I think its a great idea) talk about the healthcare right now. Talk about the strengths and faults of both healthcare's, and end it at that.

If I am talking to someone who HATES Universal healthcare for some reason, it could really harm me. This is what I meant. Should I be careful about that?

 

[femmegoblue]

That is not what I meant at all. I did not mean I was just going to go into the interview and just re-state I am a liberal or something like that for every question.

All I meant is if they asked me for example what do I feel about the healthcare. I would give my stance on it(This is the liberal part, express Universal healthcare, why I think its a great idea) talk about the healthcare right now. Talk about the strengths and faults of both healthcare's, and end it at that.

If I am talking to someone who HATES Universal healthcare for some reason, it could really harm me. This is what I meant. Should I be careful about that?

Like Goro said, no one is going to ask "what's your stance on healthcare". It may be more like "discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the ACA". They care more about how you think, not necessarily your personal, bleeding heart liberal opinion.

 

[tony101]

Like Goro said, no one is going to ask "what's your stance on healthcare". It may be more like "discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the ACA". They care more about how you think, not necessarily your personal, bleeding heart liberal opinion.

Okay It was just one of the questions from the 50 I found D: Thats why I asked

Okay thats way simpler! Just asking me straight forward questions on the current healthcare act. Not a huge thing, just benefits and cons. Okay!

 

[femmegoblue]

Okay It was just one of the questions from the 50 I found D: Thats why I asked

Okay thats way simpler! Just asking me straight forward questions on the current healthcare act. Not a huge thing, just benefits and cons. Okay!

ADCOMS understand people have all different types of opinions, and it would be very unprofessional to reveal their own in an interview. Best of luck!

 

[PAtoPharm]

Which questions are you referencing?

If you're referring to the questions from the "50 Classic Medical School Questions," this board won't be able to help you with that. Most of the questions are "why did you XYZ" or "what did you learn from XYZ." Others are asked to get to know more about your character and personality. There isn't a way to spoon feed you answers that require your own self-reflection and opinion. Google or a few searches in this forum might help you, but that destroys the more salient "be yourself" part of the interview.

I get what you are saying and appreciate the clarification, but I was actually referring more specifically to the question about the 14 y/o girl getting the abortion, and similar ones that might require more concrete knowledge of certain policies/laws or other standards in order to answer them (since there does seem to be a shade of "correct vs. incorrect" for such questions).

 

[chibaddie]

For the specific question being referenced? Sure, isn't that why I asked? LOL

Bro, pick up a book on medical ethics, educate yo self, and stop wasting time trying to get an easy out. Or, you know, continue answering questions with questions. It should bode well in the interview. Best of luck!

 

[oogieboogie123r]

Just be yourself, but be a nuanced version of yourself that doesn't ignore the fact that both 'sides' often have a case to make. (Even if you don't agree with it, remember that people's experiences and families lead them to view the world in a different way than you).

Out of job/medical school/etc. interviews, I've only had one talk about his own political stance and yes - it was very awkward as he insinuated people without healthcare were "druggies" lol!

 

[DNC127]

That is not what I meant at all. I did not mean I was just going to go into the interview and just re-state I am a liberal or something like that for every question.

All I meant is if they asked me for example what do I feel about the healthcare. I would give my stance on it(This is the liberal part, express Universal healthcare, why I think its a great idea) talk about the healthcare right now. Talk about the strengths and faults of both healthcare's, and end it at that.

If I am talking to someone who HATES Universal healthcare for some reason, it could really harm me. This is what I meant. Should I be careful about that?

Just make sure you research WHY people hate universal health care. Then you can state your view, but also say "but I can see why people hate universal healthcare cause XYZ. Make sure that you are able to sympathize with both sides and you aren't closed minded. Thats they key to these tough polarizing questions. Be genuine, be you, but don't be closed minded. I doubt it even comes up though

 

[Scrubs101]

Love the advice being given in this thread about highly opinionated topics. Even if it isn't to be prepared for an interview. Always be knowledgable to be able to fight both sides of an argument, otherwise it shows you haven't given your opinion much thought. Even if it isn't to argue or back up a thought or feeling, it shows that you don't blindly pick sides in important debates. Being able to defend both sides regardless of how strongly one feels is an important trait in life that I believe more people should try out.

I don't know from experience but from what I've heard. Just review your application, know it well(you should since they're your experiences). Think of possible questions about your application someone may have. Don't be too radical in your stances, and always know the why behind what you believe in. Be friendly, proper, and a decent human being and you'll be fine. But like I said I've never been to a medical interview this is just what I've collected and could imagine.


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