Interview Questions and Strategies
Written by Nina Madjer, MD
As interview invitations start to come in, and many interviews are already underway, it is very important to anticipate some of the questions that will be asked during the interview. This does not mean that each answer should be scripted and memorized, but rather to spend the time thinking about your answer so that you have something in mind. The goal is to spend time on the preparation portion of the interview process, a step that many applicants forget about, but is almost as important as the actual interview day.
Question #1: Tell me about yourself.
This is an open-ended opportunity for you to showcase the best parts of those who know almost nothing about you. This should be a short, few-sentence description of what you feel are the most noteworthy things about yourself and what helps the interviewer get to know you outside of medicine.
Things to consider adding to your answer:
-Where are you from?
-How many siblings do you have?
-What is your favorite thing to do outside of medicine?
Question #2: What made you decide on choosing [insert your specialty here]?
Things to consider for this applicant: Talk about your initial exposure to the specialty. What research have you done? What is your favorite thing about the specialty based on your experience so far?
If you recently discovered your interest in the specialty, you may have less background and experience talking about it. I recommend that you stay away from answers like “I chose this specialty by process of elimination." Instead, search for your favorite things about the specialty: lifestyle, procedures, pathology/physiology, patient population, etc. You can also discuss the particular patient encounter or preceptor encounter that sparked your interest in the field and why that made you like it more.
For either applicant, you need to be able to show the interviewer that this is the specialty for you, and that you will thrive in this field during residency.
Question #3: Is there anything else you like us to know about you before we wrap up the interview?
This question will usually be the very last question of the interview when you only have 30-45 seconds left. It almost always catches applicants off guard so that by the time they think of an answer, there isn’t much time left to share it. Don't sleep on this opportunity. Remind the interviewer that you are a hard worker, a team player, and have an excitement about beginning your career. You appreciate their time to speak with you and appreciate their program.
Overall, be genuine. Interviewers can tell when someone is not being authentic. Take a deep breath, and use every second of this opportunity that you have worked, so hard for to showcase the best parts of yourself.
