Michael G. Kavan, Ph.D.Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Creighton University School of Medicine

Interviewing

Practice interviewAdvisor, faculty, friends, etc.

Timing of interviewDec/Jan, recency effect, Olympic judging and the

serial position effectArranging your interviewsTravel arrangementsFollow-up communications

Thank you letters to all you interviewed withHit them again in late January/early February

Attire – see websitehttp://www.quintcareers.com/

dress_for_women.htmlhttp://www.quintcareers.com/

dress_for_men.htmlFor interviews, it is better to over dress

than under dressGet feedback from others

Questions to ask and those you will be asked – see handout and go to CiM: http://services.aamc.org/careersinmedicine/downloads/sampleinterviewquestions.pdf

Iserson’s Getting Into A Residency: Q & A•How are you today?•Do you have any questions?•Tell me about yourself.•What are your strengths and weaknesses?•If you could be any cell in the human body, which would you choose to be, and why?•If your house was burning, what three objects would you save?•What kinds of people are your friends?•Who are your heroes?•What do you do in your spare time?• It says on your resume that … • In what situations are you most efficient and effective?• To which organizations do you belong?• What are your plans for a family?• If you could no longer be a physician, what career would you choose?• You seem really interested in research. How will you incorporate that interest into your residency and career?

16. In what subspecialty would you like to practice?17. How do you make important decisions?18. What were the major deficiencies in your medical school

training?19. How do you explain your … (low grades? leaves of absence?

poor clinical narratives?) 20. Have you always done the best work of which you are

capable?21. With which types of people do you have trouble working?22. With which patients do you have trouble dealing?23. How do you normally handle conflict?24. With what subject or rotation did you have the most difficulty?25. Why do you want to go into this specialty?26. Why did you apply to this program?27. What will be the toughest aspect of this specialty for you?28. Why should we take you in preference to the other candidates?29. I don’t think you’d be right for this program/specialty.30. What is your energy level like?31. How well do you function under pressure?

32. Tell me about the patient from whom you learned the most.33. What error have you made in patient care?34. Where do you see yourself in five (ten) years?35. How do you see the delivery of health care evolving in the

twenty-first century?36. What problems will our specialty face over the next five (ten)

years?37. If a patient just stabbed your best friend … ?38. What do you think of what is happening in the (economy,

Middle East, Congress)?39. Teach me something non-medical in five minutes.40. Does the reverse side have a reverse side?41. Tell me a joke!42. Where else have you interviewed?43. What if you don’t match?44. Can you think of anything else you would like to add?45. If we offered you a position today, would you accept?

What to Emphasize During the InterviewStrong, but no overly so, handshake – “Good

morning, I’m Mike Student, it’s nice to meet you.”

Good eye contactSell yourself!Demonstrate your strong communication skills

and your ability to get along with others – everyone from secretarial staff to attendings

Emphasize your strong work ethicBe assertive – don’t be clingyBe confident, but not cocky

Ways to Interview PoorlyLack of adequate preparationNot answering the questions or being evasiveInconsistency in your answers

From question to questionFrom interviewer to interviewerFrom your record

Too loud- or soft-spokenRamblingShowing a discouraging, condescending, or

abrasive mood

Ways to Interview PoorlySeeming flat, nervous, or uninterestedRationalizing everything as being someone

else’s faultDisplaying sexist behaviorWhining or complaining about anything – be

upbeat!Smoking or chewing gumDisparaging other persons or programs

Five Reasons Interviews Fail (Iserson, 2003)Inadequate preparationNot listening to questionsAnswering questions not askedRamblingGiving warning signs

Inconsistent answersInconsistencies between interview and applicationAbrasiveness or any other personality quirk that makes

the interviewer uncomfortableA pattern of unhappiness with school/workBlaming othersDullness when responding to questionsA pattern of taking advantage of or deceiving others

Remember – the interview is one of the most important, if not the most important, determinant of whether you land a spot in a particular residency program

Ways to Avoid Not MatchingFaulty appraisal of your recordFaulty appraisal of the competition for the

programs you are applying toPoor applicationNo back-up plan Failing to clean up social networking sites

ResourcesCareers in Medicine

www.aamc.org/students/cim

Residency and Fellowship.comhttp://www.residencyandfellowship.com/

Medical_Residency_Interview