Finally, an interview that I can actually give tips about! Honestly, I found the residency interview to be much more relaxed than the med school interview. I pretty much buried my med school interview experience so deep that I never talk about it, which is why I’m excited to finally share some tips but for the residency interview!
Note: Due to the COVID pandemic, the 2021-2022 interview season was all virtual. Also, I applied to internal medicine categorical and primary care tracks.
Preparation is KEY!
First, I recommend following a few resources. Aside from connecting with residents, follow Inside the Match on Twitter and Instagram. They often post tips and resources throughout the residency application season to keep you on track. They have a great blog, which you should also check out!
Second, find as many possible interview questions as you can. Each specialty will ask you different questions of course. But it doesn’t hurt to be as prepared as possible! You can find a list I’ve compiled here. Create a document and answer each question!
Before the interview, I always read the program website. I write down any questions I have that weren’t answered on there. I also make sure I answer these questions for every interview:
- Why this program?
- This one may be different for each program because of location. If their mission particularly focuses on something that resonates with you, you want to bring that up as well so they know that you are a good fit.
- Don’t lie or tell them what you think they want to hear. This benefits no one because the program will not be able to truly assess if you’re a good fit and you will also not be able to asses if they are a good fit for you. When researching the program, write down what sticks out to you that aligns with your future career goals.
- What can you bring to this program?
- Faculty/interviewer: What made you want to come to this program? What do you hope to see improved in this program?
The nice thing about interviews being virtual and using Zoom is that you can have the document up with your answer to these questions, as well as the list of questions you want to ask them at the end. I’d typically have my spreadsheet of questions open as well as a Google Doc with my answers to these questions just to guide myself.
What is your brand?
To help guide all your responses to the questions, ask yourself what makes you unique. What sets you apart? What do you want the program to know about you? For example, my brand is I’m passionate about geriatrics, primary care, serving under-resourced communities, & mentorship. This will also guide the first question that almost every interviewer will start with, “Tell us about yourself!”
Answering “Tell us about yourself”
Keep it under 2 minutes! Share where your hometown is, brief educational background, your professional interests, and your hobbies! If appropriate, you can highlight what aspects of the program appealed to you if it aligns closely with your professional interests.
Behavioral/Challenging Questions
These will typically be in the form of “Tell us a time when…”. Many programs have set behavioral questions to “standardized” the process. Typically, these can be ethical dilemmas you’ve encountered or some other challenge scenario. Try to use concrete examples. Describe the scenario, what you did, the result of it, and what you learned from it.
It’s okay to pause and say, that’s a tough/challenging question. Can I think about it for a second before I answer?
Etiquette
Virtual interviews are great in many ways, like the number of interviews you can attend. But it can easily lead to burnout. It’s important to try to stay as enthusiastic as much as possible. Don’t try to schedule more than 20. SMILE! NOD! Some programs will allow you to turn your camera off during the presentations except during your interview, which is GREAT! Most do not, so use your breaks to unwind for a little bit.
During the actual interview, make eye contact! I facilitated eye contact by putting video of the person right next to my camera so that it would look like I was looking at them. Use books to stack your camera so that it is at least above your head. Invest in a ring light as well. Try not to wear glasses if you use a ring light because it reflects.
Ask questions, always!
Check out my page here of the questions I asked during my internal medicine/primary care track interviews. Try to write down a few that are non-negotiables for you. Ask each interviewer the same question to see if you get consistent answers, especially between PD and residents.
Be your wonderful self.
I know it can be nerve-racking. The fear of not matching is real. You want them to like you. But it’s important to be authentic and stay true to yourself without saying things you think they want to hear just so they can “rank” you. It’s so hard to know if they will or not. You want to go to a program that is a good fit for you, somewhere you’ll be happy spending the toughest 3 years of your life!
Post-Interview communication.
If they say don’t send thank you letters, DON’T! If you do have questions though, feel free to send them! I’ve received responses to most of my questions. Plus, in a sense, this indicates some level of interest without overdoing it! But be sure they are good questions and not just questions that can be easily answered on the website.
I’ll share more about what I did after the interview to help me make my rank list!
Hope this was helpful (:
