residency interviewing
Post on 21-Sep-2014
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Tips for a good Residency InterviewTRANSCRIPT
Residency Interviewing
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University
Class of 2008
Hiring decisions are made in the first 30 seconds of the interview – the balance of the time is used to justify the decision.
There is no “right” way to interview.
You will bring your own unique
perspective and personality to
the interviewing situation.
Be clear, concise and natural.
Goals of the interview
You will be assessing your compatibility with the program
You will be assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the program
They will be confirming and expanding upon the information in your application
They will be assessing your compatibility with the program
They will be noticing….
Body language Affect Attitude Honesty Punctuality Attention Genuine interest
Scheduling Interviews
Respond to programs ASAP so that you can have your choice of interview dates
If at all possible, don’t interview at most desirable program first Review your schedule ahead of time so you know when you are
free for interviewing If you decide to not interview at a program, cancel the
appointment AHEAD of time. Remember that your interview starts with the first phone call. Call and confirm your interview a week before. Confirm place
and time.
Typical Interview Day
Background on the program (group) Attend conference (morning report, Grand
Rounds) Interviews Lunch* (possible interview at lunch with
residents) Tour Wrap-up
Research the Program
**Know what is unique about the program ** Be aware of any recent changes in the
program/department Know something about the faculty/research in the
department FREIDA, internet, Google the program/hospital Speak with NU alums Know the geography of the program, i.e. remote
clinical sites Research the community
What to bring with you
Directions and contact phone numbers Any information you have on the program Multiple copies of your CV Papers/articles published Portfolio, pen, pencil Okay to bring small suitcase if traveling Any updates to MSPE or transcript Interview checklist
The interview
Be early Call if you are going to be late Turn off cell phone and/or pager Ask ahead of time what the interview day will be like,
who you meet with, etc Do not drink alcohol at lunch You are interviewing with EVERYONE with whom
you come in contact Plan your day so that you don’t have to leave early
The interview
Starts with a handshake and good eye contact Don’t be afraid to smile Be aware of your body language (eye contact,
position in chair) Show enthusiasm for the program, no matter how
interested you are Answer question and then pause. Know when to
stop. Pay attention to interviewers cues Be wary of programs that do not allow you to interact
with residents
Questions you may be asked
Tell me about yourself Ethical dilemmas What attracts you to this specialty Describe the most interesting case you’ve seen What is your greatest weakness Why should we choose you over other candidates Where do you see yourself in 10 years What are the biggest issues facing physicians today Look on OSP webpage for more sample questions
Questions to ask Faculty Interviewers/ Program Directors (PD)
Ask INTERESTING and UNIQUE questions!! Are there any programmatic changes anticipated? (PD) What percentage of residency graduates have passed the
specialty board exams on the first try? (PD) Do you assist graduates in finding a job? (PD) What do you feel are the strengths of this program? What do your graduates do after residency? (what types of jobs,
where they are located) What is the balance of didactics and clinical work? How much contact do the residents have with faculty? Are there opportunities for research (only if you are interested)? Are there non-clinical requirements (research, writing, admin)? Is there elective time? *What aspects of the program need improvement?
Questions to ask Residents
What do you feel are the strengths/weaknesses of this program?
How much contact do the residents have with faculty?
What do residents generally do with elective time? What aspects of the program need improvement? How are you evaluated? Are you receiving adequate feedback? Are there international opportunities?
Questions you shouldn’t ask
What is the salary? What is the benefit package (should be in the
information packet)? How much vacation do I get (generally 2-4
weeks)? When can I start moonlighting?
Please Do Not….
Talk badly about other programs, faculty or applicants
Try to hide something that is in your record Lie if asked about whether or not you are
applying to a different specialty
What are they looking for?
Confidence Commitment to the specialty- demonstrate this with
knowledge about the specialty Enthusiasm for their program The “right fit” Ability to talk about yourself and what is on your CV Good communication skills Motivation
Preparing for the interview day
Wear comfortable shoes, conservative clothes, no perfume, neutral make-up, minimal jewelry
Be aware of your weaknesses and be prepared to discuss without using excuses
Think ahead about what you want to convey (team working ability, passion for the specialty)
Write a list of questions you would like answered Only ask questions in which you have genuine
interest
Thank You Notes
Note will serve to reinforce the positive impression you made during your interview
Take blank note cards with you to write after the interview
Make notes personal (use the names of interviewers) and use key points to remind the interviewer of your time with him/her
Use professional stationary
Difficult Questions
Speak with your advisor about the interview process in your area of specialty
Handling difficult questions (unethical, illegal, etc)
Interviewing for a “back up” specialty Interviewing for preliminary and transitional
programs
Mock Interviews
Please check with your departmental advisors about scheduling a mock interview. They are aware of the potential conflict of interest of having you do a mock interview if you plan on applying here.
Let us know how it goes….
Resources
Collins, J. “The Residency Interview” Northwestern University Medical Center
Iserson, KV. “Getting Into a Residency: A guide for medical students” Sixth edition 2003.
Molidor, JB. “Say the Right Thing! Mastering the Art of Being Interviewed” 1997