Effective Residency Interviews

A (brief) Session for Medical School

Students
Georgette Dent, MD
Kevin Biese, MD, MAT, FACEP
Robert Gwyther, MD, MBA
October 19, 2012
G100 Bondurant Hall

Todays Two Goals:

Understand and prepare to approach
the residency interview as a
communication event
Identify specific behaviors to avoid and
to employ during the residency
interview

Rank Order List Targets

Least Competitive Specialties

M U
Internal Medicine 9
4
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 11
Psychiatry 9
4
Pathology
9
5
Family Medicine 8
5

Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2011

http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf
M=Matched applicants, U=Unmatched applicants

Rank Order List Targets

Moderately Competitive
Specialties
M
Emergency Medicine
Anesthesiology
13
General Surgery
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Pediatrics
10
Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2011
http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf
M=Matched applicants, U=Unmatched applicants

U
11
4
11
11
7

5
6
5

Rank Order List Targets

Highly Competitive
Specialties

Dermatology
Orthopedics
Radiology
Plastic Surgery
Radiation Oncology

M
9
12
11

Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2011

U
3
6
4
11
11

http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf
M=Matched applicants, U=Unmatched applicants

7
4

Your record only tells

part of the story
The rest is
COMMUNICATED
during the interview

*From Job 99 Outlook,

http://www.jobweb.org/pubs/joboutlook/report.htm

Everyday communication rules

Still apply in the Interview setting

What attracts us to people in our

everyday lives?

How can these characteristics be

communicated during an interview?

What Attracts Us to People in

Our Everyday Lives?

Attractiveness (Do I like the way he looks?)

Similarity (Do I share anything with her?)
Reciprocity (Does this person seem interested
in me?)
Exchange (Can I get something from him?)
Competency (Can I learn from her? Is he
interesting/knowledgeable?)
Disclosure (Is he being open with me? Can I
trust her?)

Traits that create a positive

impression during an interview

Appropriate responses to I am confident but

not arrogant. I am
questions
emotionally
stable.
Enthusiasm
Maturity
Confidence
Emotional stability
Intelligence
Language fluency
Initiative
Controlled energy
Clear career goals

He is so confident...
but not arrogant.
And so emotionally
stable!

**from research conducted by J.Cox & D. Schlueter, Baylor University, as cited in J.M. Farrs
The Quick Interview and Salary Negotiation Book, 1995, p. 169.

What Does the Interviewer

Want to Know About You?

Can you do the job? (ability/skills)

Will you do the job? (motivation)
Are you promotable?
Will you fit in to the organizational/program
culture?
Will you work well with others?
Are you sincerely interested in this job?
Do you have adequate background in the
field?

Some
Advice
From
the
Field

What things have residency interviewees

done that DONT HELP them to be ranked
highly by an interviewer?
What things have residency interviewees
done that DO HELP them to be ranked
highly?

What suggestions do you have for fourth year

medical students?

From e-mail survey of 35 UNC-CH and Seattle-area doctors who

interview prospective residents and represent family medicine,
dermatology, pediatrics, surgery, etc.

Behaviors to Avoid

Demonstrating little knowledge or enthusiasm about

the hospital and program
Being unprepared and disorganized
who [would] you want to work with at 2:00 a.m.?
Providing brief answers
the interviewer shouldnt have to work too hard
to get information from the candidate
Spending too much time talking about what YOU
want
e.g., call schedule, time off, etc.

Behaviors to Avoid

Giving evasive responses about red flags in record

Acting pompous or cavalier
Interviewing just because of location
never give the impression that [you] are only here
because [you] were in the neighborhood
Arriving late
impresses nobody
Being demanding
Dont bug the office staff with lots of requestsyou
may come across as a complainer/difficult [to deal
with]/not someone we would want on the housestaff

Behaviors to Employ

Acting genuinely interested in program

Demonstrating that you have prepared to interview with

THIS program

they have done their homework! They have conveyed to me why they
really want to come to our program.

Conveying an understanding of and enthusiasm for the

practice of pediatrics, surgery, etc.

Residency programs are interested in candidates who are interested in

them

Be ready to explain why you chose this specialty.

Talking about something interesting you have done

some interviewees just seem to shine during their interviews and others
are lackluster
have at least one interesting patient to talk about.

Behaviors to Employ
Asking insightful questions
Communicating humility but also selfassurance
Smiling, laughingshowing a sense of
humor
smile, youre a family doc, not a
surgeon!
Dressing appropriately but comfortably

Men's Business Attire:

A suit, preferably in a dark color (navy, dark

gray, or black)
Long sleeve dress shirt
A tie (classic looking silk tie, avoid trends)
Black or dark brown dress shoes.
Match belt to your shoes
Dark socks to complement your suit.

Mens Business Attire

Women's Business Attire:

A suit in a dark color.

Black, charcoal, or navy are most common.
If you choose a suit with a skirt, watch the hemline.
Your skirt should be at least knee length when
standing.
Conservative blouse or shell under your suit jacket.
Closed-toe dress shoes, with a 1-1 3/4 inch heel.
Hose-NO RUNS! Bring an extra pair with you, just in
case.
Minimal jewelry, perfume and makeup.

Womens Business Attire

General Tips for Women

Keep makeup conservative and professional.

If you wear perfume, be conservative. Some people are
sensitive to odor.
Your jewelry should be minimal and professional. Nothing that
could create a distraction.
Hair should be neat and groomed.
Nails should be neat and well groomed.
Your purse should be simple and match your shoes.
Watch your hemlines too much skin is not appropriate.

Insightful questions

What is your patient population?

What is the number of outpatients seen in clinic?
What subspecialty services are available?
What is the conference schedule?
Is attendance at national conferences encouraged?
What changes in the residency program are likely in the next few
years?
Is there exposure to private practitioners and office practice?
Where are your graduates? (private practice, academics, local
area, etc.)
You can ask about opportunities for research or for teaching
medical students, depending on your interests.
Dont ask faculty about vacation, call, salary, insurance or
benefits!

Remember to Thank You

Send a thank you note to the program

director
No consensus on format e-mail (with
or without picture), typed, hand written
Probably not necessary to send one to
each interviewer
But if you do, they should be a little
different because they may end up in
the same file

Closing Advice
Interviewers want to see your intelligence, your work
ethic, your sense of balance, and your sense of
humor. They want to know how you work with others,
how dependable you are, whether you will be a team
player on their team.
I have been on the interview committee for (several)
years. I do not think there is any one best way to
interview. The most effective way is to be polite,
interested, not too jovial nor too subdued. I think
those qualities anyone can fit into.

Closing Advice (cont.)

Be confident (not arrogant) and interested
(have questions about the institution and be
prepared to keep an interview going,
preferably with questions that can lead you
back to your strengths).
Be yourself and answer questions naturally.
We are looking for people that MATCH best.
We have already weeded out those who
cannot do the work before the interview.

Take Home Message

Getting an interview means the judgment has been

made that you have the credentials to succeed in the
program
Be nice to absolutely everyone!
Be prepared for the extremes
Person who knows your application in detail
Person who has not looked at your application
Learn as much as you can about program and be
prepared to ask appropriate questions
You can ask house staff questions you might not ask
faculty and vice versa

Online Resources

Careers in Medicine
http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/
Argus Technical Services
http://www.argus-tech.com/intervie.htm
Brandeis Hiatt Career Center
http://www.brandeis.edu/hiatt/
select grad students interviewing tips
College Grad Job Hunter
http://www.collegegrad.com/intv/
Charting Outcomes of the Match 2011
http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf
UNC-CH Career Services

http://careers.unc.edu/
interview readiness video