Improving Your Residency Interview Skills

Gregg BlachfordMcGill Career Planning Service (CaPS)www.mcgill.ca/caps 514‐398‐3304

Dr. Pierre TellierDirector, Student Affairs, Faculty of Medicine

www.medicine.mcgill.ca/careerplan

OverviewOverview

1 What are interviewers looking for?1. What are interviewers looking for?

2. What are you looking for?

3 i f h i i3. Preparing for the interview

4. The elements of the interview:• What you say

• How you say it

• Physical appearance & dress

• Your body language

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What Are the Interviewers Looking for?

• You’ve already been screened for your skills in medicine, so ou e a eady bee sc ee ed o you s s ed c e, sothey are looking for EVIDENCE of:

• “Soft” skills  – ability to communicate

– analytical thinking

– willingness to learn

– ability to judge

– hard worker

– initiative, adaptability, accountability, teamwork & ti

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cooperation

What Are the Interviewers Looking for?

A “ d” lit t fit i ith th i t• A “good” personality to fit in with their team

• A sense that you really want to come “with a passion” to their hospital and their program

• PLUS they want to feel that “what they see is what y ythey get”

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What Are You Looking for at the Interview?

• That the hospital and the program represent aThat the hospital and the program represent a good fit with your career aspirations– That the city is one you would want to live in– That the city is one you would want to live in

• The chance to demonstrate your effective two way communication skillstwo‐way communication skills– And to demonstrate your strengths and achievements without “bragging”achievements without “bragging”

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Preparing for the Interview #1Preparing for the Interview #1

• Know yourselfKnow yourself– Your “soft” skills

Your passions and interests– Your passions and interests

– Your career target for the medium term

Y t h id t b k• You must have evidence to back up your claims– Be ready to “tell stories”

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“Telling Stories”Telling Stories

• Evidence of your skills/interests is bestEvidence of your skills/interests is best illustrated with stories about your achievementsachievements– Stories can come not only from your academic work & rotations, but also paid jobs, volunteerwork & rotations, but also paid jobs, volunteer work and extra‐curricular activities

• Include stories about interactions withInclude stories about interactions with patients, residents, nurses, staff, etc.

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“Telling Stories”Telling Stories

• Consider using the “P A R ” Formula:Consider using the  P.A.R.  Formula:– “P” – state the problem you faced

“A” describe the action you took– A  – describe the action you took

– “R” – explain the results of your actions– In terms of % $ #’sIn terms of %, $, # s

• BUT, make yourself more believable by having some stories that show your vulnerabilitiessome stories that show your vulnerabilities and/or weaknesses

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Preparing for the Interview #2Preparing for the Interview #2

• Know about the city the hospital the specialtyKnow about the city, the hospital, the specialty, the program, their research and the profession as a whole – how?as a whole  how?

• Websites; literature

• Current residents, program director, residency secretary, p g , y y

• Prepare “intelligent” questions for the interviewer from your researchinterviewer from your research

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About Your QuestionsAbout Your Questions• Ask questions about the teaching program, not about things

• Your questions should reflect a strong interest in learning and should not reflect an aversion to work

• Don’t ask questions in which you’re not interested in hthe answers

• Don’t “cross‐examine”

• You may want to ask different questions to staff and residents 

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Now That You’ve Prepared, Onto the Interview…

• What are the main elements of an• What are the main elements of an interview?

• A:  What you say

• B:  How you say it• C:  Physical appearance & dress• D:  Your body language

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A:  What You SayTypical Interview Questions

• Chit‐chat:Chit chat:  – Show your personality, but be professional; don’t be too familiar; you are always being interviewed – even at the so‐ll d “ l” l h d th tcalled “casual” lunch and on the tour

• Behaviourial based on past experiences: – “Can you tell me about a time when you led a team toCan you tell me about a time when you led a team to achieve a goal?”; “What was your biggest clinical mistake?”

• Behaviourial based on how you might act in the future:  – “what would you do if a patient said they wanted to see a ‘real’ doctor?”

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More Interview QuestionsMore Interview Questions• Questions to get a sense of your knowledge of the profession/program/specialty/medicine/ hospital:profession/program/specialty/medicine/ hospital:– “What led you to pick this specialty?”– “Why are you applying here? To this specialty?”

• To get a sense of your self knowledge:– Why do you think you’ll be a good ….. ?– Who are your heroes?– Who are your heroes?– With which types of people/patients do you have trouble working?

H i t th ti t• How are you going to answer these questions at your second and third choice places/programs?

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Other Possible QuestionsOther Possible Questions

• What are the challenges facing our profession at g g pthe moment? (political and social issues)

• What would you do if the house staff had a “job y jaction” or strike? (ethical issues)

• Tell me about a time when you learned from a ypatient; when you advocated for a patient (“customer” service)

• How do you explain… (low grades?, leaves of absence?, poor clinical narratives?)

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Difficult Interview QuestionsDifficult Interview Questions

• Please tell me about yourself• Can you tell me why I should let you do your residency here?

• What area of weakness do you recognize in yourself that you are working on to improve?

• Any questions about your age marital status sexual• Any questions about your age, marital status, sexual orientation, religion or political views– What are your plans for a family?

• Tell me about the resident that you least liked to work with during a rotation?

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B: How You Say ItB:  How You Say It

• Check your volume tone and speedCheck your volume, tone and speed

• Enunciate carefully

id fill “ k ” “ ” “ d hi• Avoid fillers:  “you know”, “um”, “and things like that”, “sort of”

• Allow silences to occur – take time to organize your answers

• Avoid slang and informal language 

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C: Physical Appearance & DressC:  Physical Appearance & Dress

• Role – Resident Physician – a confident, neat, ratherRole  Resident Physician  a confident, neat, rather conservative individual– Wash!

– Shave or trim beard

– Use deodorant, but not perfume or cologne

– Clean nails

– Breath freshener

NO GUM CIGARETTES– NO GUM or CIGARETTES

– Clothes clean and pressed

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Dress the RoleDress the Role

• Men: • Women– Suit (two piece and a dark 

color)– Grey trousers and blue blazer

– A suit or a skirt with jacket– A blouse in a matching but 

subdued color with long – A white or pale colored shirt– A tie (silk, no animals)– Socks that match the suit

sleeves or turtleneck– Blouse buttoned up or a scarf 

around your neckP h– Shoes conservative, polished

– Belt matching the shoes

• Jewelry

– Pantyhose– Sensible shoes matching or 

complementing the outfitM k t l i lJewelry

– Less is more, none is better– Eyebrow piercing and tongue 

stud?

– Make‐up: natural, sparingly

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stud? 

Dress the RoleDress the Role

• The Briefcase/PortfolioThe Briefcase/Portfolio– CV x 3

– Personal statement

– Material not included in application

– Pen/paper/PDA to take notes – but not during the i iinterview

– Instructions/maps

Material that is given to you– Material that is given to you

– Wallet, etc

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Dress the RoleDress the Role

• If you are travelling ‐If you are travelling – You’ll be travelling in winter, so have coat and boots

– Don’t travel in your interview clothes

– Change when you get there 

– Once you are dressed correctly, forget about it

– Use carry‐on baggage ‐ if possible

– Always carry important papers, money, etc on you

A i i ht b f if ibl d t d t– Arrive night before ‐ if possible – and get good rest

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D: Body LanguageD:  Body Language

H d h k• Handshakes

• Posture:  “walk/sit tall”

• Hand gestures – yes? no?

• Facial expressions – smile!Facial expressions  smile!

• Eye contact – make it!

Sh fid b t b “ t l”• Show confidence, but be “natural”

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Finally…Finally…

• After the interview: assess your performanceAfter the interview:  assess your performance to improve for the next time

• Optional: write a short thank you note to the• Optional:  write a short thank you note to the interviewer (and secretary) referring to something you learned during the interviewsomething you learned during the interview

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Final NotesFinal Notes• Be yourself! Don’t lose your personality!  But be your “self aware” selfyour  self‐aware  self

• Be honest!  But don’t put yourself down

• Be passionate!  But don’t overdo it; avoid superlatives

• Be genuine!  Don’t try too hard to figure out the “right” answersg

• Sell yourself!  Give them the evidence to allow them to justify selecting you

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them to justify selecting you

Additional HelpAdditional Help

• Mock interviews are available in December and January at CaPS and at the Medicine Career Planning y gOffice

• Check out the CFMS (Canadian Federation of Medical Students) site:  www.cfms.org

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