4 keys to preparing for your medical residency interview
If you’re applying for open residency positions, don’t overlook one of the central parts of the application process: the interview.
Your background – your MD program, experience, and plans for the future – will come into play, but the interview gives you a chance to personally stand out in the decision committee’s minds. You can treat it as a job interview, and many of the tips that apply to standard job interviews will also help you for medical residency interviews. Here are a few special factors to consider when preparing for your medical residency or medical fellowship interview:
1. Timing
Most programs try to finish their interview sessions by January in order to comply with the deadlines for nationwide matching programs. Try to schedule your interviews so the most important ones – your dream schools – are in the middle of your interview schedule. This will ensure that you have some interview practice under your belt, but are not worn out, when you go through these interviews.
2. Preparation
Know your particular story and share it during the interview. Interviewers are used to the standard responses to common questions like: “Tell me about yourself”, “Why do you want to be a doctor?”, “Why do you want to attend our program?”, or “Can you give an example of a challenge you faced in life, and how you overcame it?” If you build specific responses, based on your own story, you will be more likely to impress interviewers and seal your name in their memory.
One good way to prepare for a range of commonly asked interview questions is to develop and memorize your “30-second elevator pitch.” Imagine you enter an elevator and encounter a committee member who is sorting through dozens of applications, trying to find a good fit for their program. What do you say to them to illustrate your unique skillset, experience, and aspirations?
Remember: you are unique, so emphasize this with your story in the interview. Look for examples in your life where you faced a challenge, and used your unique personality and skillset to overcome it. Also review the responses you gave on the application – the interviewers may ask about these.
3. Ask leading questions
After familiarizing yourself with the available information on the program, try to develop a list of questions about the institution. It is fine to write these down and bring them in on a small note card. You can bring questions about the philosophy of the program, the type of unique educational experiences it offers, how competitive it is, the work-life balance in the program, the benefits the program offers, and further details about associated hospitals, faculty, and so on.
4. Right before the interview
Dress well – wear a professional suit, but not something that will overly distract the interviewers. Also, consider taking a 15 minute walk immediately before your interview. Cramming does not help for medical school tests, and it also doesn’t help for interviews, so after you’ve thoroughly prepared, take a last-minute break to get your mind ready for the interview.