Tips for Virtual Interview Dinners
Written by Lindsey Ulin, MD
Interview dinners are a fun and exciting part of the interview season process! Embrace all of the zoom social awkward norms we’ve grown accustomed to, relax, and enjoy! Keep reading for how to prep for the dinners, and remember interview season is a two-way street- you’re interviewing programs too.
1. Dress Code: Usually dressy/business casual (a nice blouse, button-down).
2. Common applicant questions: You can ask questions like the ones below:
a. What would you change about your program?
b. What patient populations does your program serve?
c. Can you tell me about opportunities for advocacy?
d. Outside of the salary, what are other program benefits for residents (food, access to gyms, parking, etc).
e. Since you can’t visit ask about the location: what neighborhoods do residents live in, how is your commute, fun things to do there, and the food scene.
f. I encourage you to mix it up with program-specific questions too by “chart checking” programs via websites and social media pages (see tip #3).
3. You may have already done some of the chart checking work when looking at where to apply. Use this data to tailor questions about things that interest you. Having specific questions about a program is a great way to show interest and get the most out of your limited time with programs for a huge decision. Asking specific questions can also be an introduction to residents or faculty with similar interests who can tell you more.
a. Check out program websites for the structural components.
i. What hospital systems do residents rotate at?
ii. What is the curriculum?
iii. Any unique opportunities for residents (international electives etc)?
b. Look at the program’s social media to get more of a resident perspective, and see what they do for fun!
4. Some programs will explicitly state during the social resident’s roles are not to evaluate applicants, and feel free to ask anything. Although this is likely the case, a word of caution because you never can truly know. You don’t want to be the applicant remembered for asking an egregious question- which we know you wouldn’t anyway but is worth having in the back of your mind. It’s important to get your questions answered with as much info as possible in helping you make your decision, but I want to stress the interview social is not the only time to get those questions answered!
5. Many residents give out their contact info during socials, on interview day, sometimes even before the interview. This is key- write it down in your spreadsheet, notebook, whatever recording system you are using for interview season (I loved my google sheets excel file). We want to help you get the info you need- please reach out to us! Especially us interns who just went through the virtual interview process.
a. Quick phone calls or emails with residents were helpful and provide a chance to ask the burning questions that you may not want to ask in front of fifty zoom squares. For me this was things like what is the cost of living like here, would I need a car, really tell me how bad winter is, do you feel supported by your program and can you give me examples? Feel free to reach out with questions you think of later on in the season too.
6. Always have a fun fact ice breaker ready and be able to laugh at yourself when your Wi-Fi goes down, your partner flushes the toilet loudly, or you try to speak but are muted.
Regrettably, almost no one actually ate dinner at the virtual interview dinners I attended, but I’m here to validate and normalize eating at socials. Best of luck applicants, you’ve got this! You will get better at interviews and coming up with questions the further you get into the season.
