Once you have your list, write a brief proof point for each strength.‍. You will get much further with sincerity. Others want to hear your elevator pitch of professional accomplishments. You can reference these in almost any interview situation. They truly are just trying to get to know you. This can help your confidence level tremendously so that you don’t feel at the mercy of your interviewer. It’s incredibly difficult to articulate the complex essence that is you to a stranger in an interview. That’s going to be the million dollar question you’ll be able to answer with your interview. You can also include some of the following topics in your answer: c) Why You’re There The emphasis is put on the family or group. They are not technical like some of the questions you’ll get and don’t rely on training or credentials to be impressive. You should pay significant attention to how you answer questions and interact with … The following article will cover a list of strengths and weaknesses you can mention in the job interview to stand out and the best answers that will impress the interviewer. It’s very possible that one of the reasons a particular program appeals to you is because of where it’s located. We may end up taking a more roundabout way towards reaching our goals than the standard ideal. (This is true of all interviews- not just residency interviews! Where do you see yourself in ten years, after your residency? Tell me about your USMLE step scores? They may throw in a really quirky answer or two to see how you respond under pressure and get an even more detailed look at your personality. A good weakness answer has two important parts: You’ll want to choose a “good” weakness to discuss. What would you bring to the table that others may not? Let’s take a look at strengths and weaknesses individually and see why: The interviewer asks about strengths because they are really looking for what sets you apart. This is part of what makes this question so tricky. Their primary purpose is to see how you handled a situation in the past in hopes of predicting how you may behave in the future. ‍ How do you feel your program compares to other programs? The … To really launch your career, you are faced with the task of having to match with incredibly competitive residency programs. In general, there are some strengths and weaknesses you should—and shouldn't—mention during a job interview. These can be classics like creativity and attention to detail, softer skills like communication or problem-solving, or areas of hands-on expertise and experience. Your tone, overall demeanor, and details of your answer will also be communicating how enthusiastic you are about each program. 1. This will help clear up any doubts your interviewer may have about how well you will do in a particular city. What sets you apart? However, be careful not to make it sound as if geography is the primary reason you are interested in a program. Interviewers like this question because it makes them seem thorough and “hard-hitting..”. For aspiring medical practitioners, the residency interview allows you to highlight the skills and experiences that qualify you for the program. Click here to find out more. This gets it out of the way from the get-go and keeps you in control over the tone the rest of the interview takes. ‍Personality These are the get-to-know you questions. Therefore, you should go into the interview with confidence—you’re “good enough” academically and clinically. Below is an example of a step (b) with a personal detail before going in to your education and other details. If this has been a weakness of yours in the past, explain the personality types you have had trouble working with and quickly identify the reasons why. It’s open ended, so you can pretty much take it anywhere. Written by Pamela Skillings, top interview coach — named “a guru in the world of job interviews” by The Wall Street Journal. This answer starts off the interview strong by highlighting extensive, hands-on experience in psychiatry outside of rotations. Maybe that will be research opportunities, fellowship options, patient population, or academic curriculum. There are accent neutralization resources out there, but we have found that clear, slow, repeated practice is the best remedy. prepare for the majority of the most common questions. Some variation of this question is nearly guaranteed to come up in any interview, whether for residency or otherwise. How would you describe the patient demographics? Name three strengths. In these countries, there is more of a collective focus. You do of course want to be yourself, but a more polished, confident, and prepared version of yourself. Although I did reasonably well, I knew my score was not truly representative of my knowledge. As you did for the, “tell me about yourself” question, you’re going to want to outline a few bullet points for yourself. In the most recent survey of 1,454 residency program directors, “fit with program culture” was identified as the #1 consideration. Some version of this question will come up in every single interview. Situational questions are not as common as behavioral questions and can be a little harder to prepare for. It’s probably a mix of factors including what you enjoy, what you’re good at, what you were exposed to during medical school, what you value, and perhaps even some family influence. As you did before, practice aloud after you’ve outlined your answer. This is especially true if your background doesn’t exactly align with the speciality you’ve chosen. If you’re a candidate who has an accent, it may not be as big a problem as you think. Having good teamwork skills also means having a strong awareness of how you work with others and ways you can adjust your approach to better serve the organization. Residency Interviews Prep Guide (2020-2021) General Interview Tips: Make a list of your strengths, goals, values, accomplishments, and abilities. Do not waste this opportunity on a general, no-thought answer. Firstly, they don’t actually answer the question. Who is your hero? Generally, this will include your education, research, clinical experience, and other accomplishments. We have seen it time and again with thousands of interviewees. Personal traits: Hard-working, team player, trustworthy, calm under pressure. Mastering a Great First Impression With “Tell Me About Yourself”. In medical school, I only became more focused on family medicine. Here’s an example to help you get started: “I am very shy and often have trouble speaking up in meetings.”‍. What you’re like to work with will be very important for your interviewer to know. ‍ The A–Approach-– part of your story is where you describe the actions you took to complete the task, solve the problem, address the issue, or improve the situation. So I buckled down in my preparation for Step 2. Why did those appeal to you? After all, no one likes to spend time thinking about their flaws, let alone speaking about them casually to a stranger in an interview setting. What area are you most hoping to develop during your residency? Of those that don’t, what are the most commonly cited reasons for leaving? b) Why You’re Qualified‍This is the meat in the “tell me about yourself” sandwich. What is the biggest weakness you feel you’ll need to overcome to excel in this program? Copyright © 2020 Skillful Communications, Inc. Sample Interview Questions Tell me about yourself. Make sure you can give specific examples to demonstrate why you say that is your strength if probed further. If you’re a candidate who has an accent, it may not be as big a problem as you think. I assisted in the debriefing and reinforcement of effective engagement and communication strategies. Questions about weaknesses and strengths are perhaps the most dreaded among interview questions. You can also cite positive feedback from the attending or from a patient, experiences gained, skills learned, or relationships that were improved. and predict how you will respond to a situation in the future based on how you handled things in the past. If you are the perfect fit, their job is one step closer to being done. ‍. How do you envision your career unfolding? They will want to know how well you’ll be able to handle working under that kind of pressure. Brainstorm situations you were in where you had to use your problem solving, leadership, communication, or any other skills. The best way to discuss your gap is to weave it in to your “tell me about yourself” answer at the start of your interview. Answering “Tricky” Questions in the Residency Interview, 9 Questions About Your Personality – Why They’re Asked and How to Answer, 10 Special Advice for IMGs (International Medical Graduates). Can you tell me about your research experience? Answers that are this vague lack any specific details about what being a team player means in action in the workplace. The key to addressing your gap is to think strategically about how to address it positively.‍. b) Too modest‍. You have to tell them how you want them to see you. Examples of. This is your opportunity to show–with your stories, body language, personality, and experiences–that you are absolutely the best candidate and should be their #1 pick. These question will usually come in the form of asking about a failure. Simply put; everyone who is invited to an interview is technically qualified. Example:“I’m currently completing my studies at Medical School X and have also devoted the last 6 months to gaining hands-on experience in psychiatry with my volunteer work with the Northern County Jail substance abuse program and the Central City transitional housing program…”. Part of residency is learning enough to guide your future career decisions, even if you don’t know exactly what you want to pursue after residency in terms of a sub-specialty. Spend some time thinking back on your work experiences. If you have an interest in kind with your interviewer, you both may feel like you’re talking to a kindred spirit and be more at ease. Considering how tough it’s going to be, your chances of success are far greater if you’re in a program that suits you and you’re motivated to be there. What was the strategy behind it? Well, a few are fairly universal. Do you think your USMLE scores are a fair representation of your capabilities? One of the most common interview questions that most of us experienced or will experience at some point is “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”.. You need to emphasize a positive outcome for this story. And of course overthinking and causing yourself anxiety isn’t helpful. As interview nerves creep in, it’s easy to begin speaking quickly and make your accent more pronounced and your words more jumbled. Pick adjectives that start with A, B, and C and they’ll be easier to remember. In fact, we believe so strongly in helping you do well, we’ve developed an entire step-by-step system specifically designed for helping med school students ace the residency interview and launch the career of their dreams. We will also go into detail about some advice for IMGs in Chapter 10 of this page, so keep reading or feel free to skip ahead. The interviewer wants to see what sets you apart from all the other candidates, and this is much easier to do if you tell them why you’re an excellent candidate. Can you describe the overall relationship residents have with faculty members during the program. ‍ Situational questions are not as common as behavioral questions and can be a little harder to prepare for. And more importantly, be prepared for anything they throw at you. Ultimately what your interviewer is looking for here is: ‍You may be incredibly passionate about your specialty and have likely given it a ton of thought. You want to wrap up your answer with a strong statement about your interest in a particular program. Again, spend some time thinking about this before the interview, just so you won’t get tripped up. Especially if they are relevant to your professional growth or accomplishments. Here are a few personality questions you are likely to get: These are probably the most common personality questions, and there really is no wrong way to answer them. As a result, people who talk about themselves a lot are not perceived favorably. Some questions come up so frequently because they focus on the information that will let your interviewer know if you’re a good fit for the program. include the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and Australia. At Big Interview, we promote the STAR format/approach. ‍. The STAR method has been around for a long time and it WORKS. And while there is nothing wrong with being shy, the second example could leave the interviewer worried that you may not be able to collaborate in a team environment, or could leave something of high importance un-said due to fear of speaking up. What are your strengths and weaknesses? However, none of that will help you if you can’t articulate that passion aloud in a clear, informative way.‍. ), ‍Behavioral and Situational Behavioral questions are those that begin with “tell me about a time,” or “give me an example of…”. Hone your speaking points by staying on task using STAR, outline your answer, and practice, practice, practice! Interviewers understand that life happens. ‍Medical Lastly, you may encounter technical or philosophical questions about medicine. Some variation of this question is nearly. There are about 5 different categories of question you can expect in your residency interviews: ‍Conversation Starters These are the preliminary questions at the start of the interview. Ultimately they are looking for the highlights of your background. A residency is a supervised practical training program that physicians are required to complete after finishing medical school. The interviewer doesn’t just want to know who you are on paper. ‍ They work well for the interviewer because they draw out details about your key accomplishments and how you approach work. Not surprisingly, the most common behavioral questions for residents have to do with these desired competencies. It makes sense that you may be a little reticent to talk yourself up. Introduction. “Tell me about yourself” residency interview sample answer directions. After all, everyone who’s been called in for an interview is qualified. What did you enjoy least? Question: Why Family Medicine?‍, I have always been drawn to family medicine. You will work very long hours be faced with many tough decisions, work with difficult people, and have to operate at your highest level while under extreme pressure. The key is to redirect the attention from the low scores and bring the spotlight on to how much you have improved and how dedicated you are. It is great to have stories that are multipurpose, but you have to know which stories are the best fits for each competency area. You won’t be rejected based on insufficient stats or extracurricular experiences. If you aren’t chosen for this program, what will you do? On the other hand, the weaknesses question can also feel impossible to answer, since you don’t want to sabotage yourself by drawing attention to the areas that need improvement. At some point during the interview process, you may be asked to describe your personal strengths and weaknesses. ‍In the most recent survey of 1,454 residency program directors, “fit with program culture” was identified as the #1 consideration. What about in this specialty? There are a few things you should keep in mind when talking about your weaknesses. While you're preparing, make a list of bullet points you want to mention in each answer, but don't memorize your answer word for word or you'll sound like a … You’ve already worked incredibly hard making your way through medical school, completing your rotations and passing your exams. We will also go into detail about some advice for IMGs in. It is very difficult to find the balance between confidence and arrogance, professional vs. personal, and focused vs. rambling. Ideally your answer should reflect your values in a story where you feel that you made the right decision and stand by your choice. For this reason, if you have a particular attachment to the area of your potential residency, mention it. It’s easy to get caught up in the business of interview season and neglect to prepare your talking points. Either way, don’t leave this question to chance. A behavioral question are those that start with, “tell me about a time…” or “give me an example of…”. Strengths and weaknesses of the residency. This usually includes questions about why you chose your medical school, your speciality, and your favorite and least favorite rotations. It’s also okay to weave in a few personal details here to make it more interesting. So, even though you have probably addressed the gap in your personal statement, you must make sure that it isn’t seen as a red flag once you are in the interview. This not only shows that you’re results oriented, but it also ends your answer in a nice, crisp, confident way. If you are interviewing from out of town, your interviewer will likely try to gauge how excited you are about coming to their city. All Rights Reserved, 200+ Job Interview Questions List (PDF Practice Cheat Sheet Included), How To Write A Killer Resume Objective (Examples Included), Behavioral Interview Questions And Answers 101 (+ Example Answers), The Best Cover Letter Format For 2021 [3 Sample Templates], 8 Phone Interview Tips That Will Land You A Second Interview. Unfortunately, many interviewers will see a gap in time between med school and residency as a red flag. If so, what does this entail? This can be something obvious, like poor test scores, a gap in your resume, or poor performance reports.‍. This is where it’s easy to get bogged down with irrelevant information and veer your question off course. Part of what will determine your success is your feelings about your specialty.‍. (We have a whole chapter on answering tricky questions, so feel free to skip ahead to Chapter 8 if you want some advice on how to handle them the most effectively. The first component is a compelling, confident statement about who you are as a professional. Established in 2005, IMGPrep is devoted to helping international medical graduates (IMGs) who are seeking a medical residency in the USA. Some interviewers like to ask you to describe yourself. Employing all of the advice we’ve given you here will help you build confidence in talking yourself up. “Positive” is the key word here. Make a list of your top strengths, goals, values, accomplishments, and abilities to use as a general reference for all interview questions. And they’re rooting for you here–if you are a stellar candidate, their job becomes much easier. Your answer can also be a good opportunity to connect. Which was your least favorite? In general, residency programs are attracted to individuals who know who they are, what they want, and where they’re going. One of the reasons this is such a popular opener for most interviewers is it’s an easy way to start the conversation and get you talking. Some of the things that may trip you up are: There’s a lot to say here. You want to be as specific as you can about each program, so read up on them, see which of their values align with yours, and use this to outline your answers. To help relieve anxiety about this, study up on common interview terms. i) Be Authentic‍. But there’s another group of questions you should be prepared for. With our approach, you will be prepared for any that come your way. Each IMG residency applicant works one on one with an IMGPrep specialist who reviews their unique credentials and recommends steps to showcase their strengths and overcome any deficiencies. And it’s true that asking this question will probably result in seeing how well a candidate does under pressure. For nursing applicants, specifically, our experts said they’re typically looking for strengths like flexibility, a team player, extremely organized, multitasking, leadership abilities, creative problem-solving, an excellent communicator, or curiosity about learning new things. Prepare to answer all types of questions during your interviews, including very open-ended ones and ones that may probe weaknesses that appear on your application. I think it’s because I have experienced first-hand how lives can be saved when serious conditions are identified early on and managed by a knowledgeable and caring physician.‍. However, if you prepare well, this question is an excellent opportunity to start the interview strong. If you’re going to go through the trouble and expense of going to the interview, it’s well worth the extra effort it takes to think through this. You want to be informative, personable, and most of all, you want them to remember you. These examples will give them a sense of your clinical experience, your approach to patient care, and your interpersonal and communication skills. This is a very sincere answer that clearly outlines the candidate’s values and understanding of the impact family medicine has on patients. Often, candidates do this because they are taking the oft-cited advice of “turning a negative into a positive. You can (and should!) All of us at Big Interview are rooting for you! They may be afraid that your skills are not up to date, or you lack commitment and resilience. Once you have a few good stories, you’ll want to flesh them out using the STAR approach. One of the most common traps candidate’s fall in to is not having any guideposts as they begin to answer and ramble completely off course. What percentage of residents complete the program? If there’s a particular component of the resident interview you are worrying about, feel free to look at the Table of Contents below and jump to where you would like to go. Maybe you switched specialities or it took you awhile to decide. Forgetting to Show Compassion. Situational questions are more hypothetical. Whether you're applying to residency positions through CaRMS or ERAS as a local applicant or an international medical graduate, you need to prepare for your residency interviews.In this blog, I'll go over both common and surprising residency interview … This interview may also assess your compatibility with the supervising training physician and the healthcare facility. Are research projects required of residents? Some candidates worry a great deal about their accents. They want to bring people in who truly want to be there. Make sure you are speaking slowly and clearly. Because this question is so common, a general answer will not work well for you. The most common are pretty straightforward — like: 21. What made you choose this residency specialty (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, What were you trying to achieve and why? iv) Describe Your Weakness Concisely and Tactfully. )When it comes to strengths, it can feel very awkward to try and “sell yourself.” Especially if you are a more shy or introverted person. As important as your work is to you, it is just one part of your life, and if you’re miserable in the city you’re living in, it will begin to show up in your enthusiasm about your workplace. After all, at this stage in your career you should have a pretty good idea of the things you’re good at. How to Ace Your Emergency Medicine Residency Interview. While talking about your hobbies or answering other personal questions may seem easy and straightforward, it’s worth taking the time to prepare. of this page, so keep reading or feel free to skip ahead. This is not really a … It takes the core list of competencies that are required to be a good resident and physician and then develops a series of questions that will allow the interviewer to explore your past performance in these areas. Reviewing lessons like this one are a great way to prepare by learning what types of questions you’ll be asked and how to answer them. Time and again, Program Directors emphasize that they are looking for FIT in the ideal candidate. Why do you wish to join our residency program? first using your notes, and eventually getting to the place where you can answer freely and spontaneously without them. Are you more interested in practicing medicine or pursuing academic or research opportunities during your career? We have a whole section devoted to Behavioral Questions in our Residency Curriculum. As with most things during your interview process (and in life!) Tell me about your research experience. Can you tell me about a patient mistake you’ve made? And secondly, remember how we said the whole reason this question is asked is to identify what sets you apart? The more you hear yourself speak about your accomplishments, the more comfortable you will become. Primarily it means having values and interests that align with those of the program. True stories from your work history that illustrate your key competencies in a way that will really stick with the interviewer. Failure to Prepare. A very common mistake here is to start ... b) Why You’re Qualified. They may do this by asking you about things like your hobbies and interests. Questions you'll be asked at your anesthesiology residency interview Here are some questions you'll probably be asked in your interview. In this chapter, we’re going to take a look at some of the more common application abnormalities we’ve come across and help you prepare for any tricky question you might get tossed as a result of your circumstances. One of the pitfalls of this–other than losing your way and rambling out an answer–is that you are starting with the weakest parts of your work history. Naturally, you’ll start with Part 1, S/T, which is all about the Situation/Task.‍. Remember, your answer to this question is conveying your priorities to the interviewer. After all, everyone who’s been called in for an interview is qualified. While you can’t predict the exact questions you’ll be asked, there are some questions and topics you’ll almost certainly be asked about. Crafting your best stories with this simple approach keeps you succinct and informative while impressing your interviewer. Researching programs does take a lot of time, but it is well worth it. They are meant to test your skill in different competencies (leadership, teamwork, problem solving, etc.) Dressing Unprofessionally. Be brief. authenticity is the best path to take. Practice these questions and your answers to them well, preferably with the help of a medical professional as a mock interviewer. Your answer will be a little different each time, but that’s 100% okay.‍. You are  providing a foundation so the rest of the story makes sense. The Crystal Ball of Residency Interviews –, Answering the #1 Consideration of Program Directors –, These are the preliminary questions at the start of the interview. You don’t have to tackle this alone. If you don’t have tangible results, anecdotal results are just as effective. Residency Questions – Personality Finally, most interviews include some “get-to-know-you” questions — about your hobbies, interests, and personality. They usually begin with some variation of “tell me about yourself.”. High-Context Cultures include many countries in Asia, the Middle East, and South America (among others). ‍Experience and Background Here they will ask you about your professional background. If you are nervous about being able to show your true personality while under pressure, spend some time thinking through and outlining your answers, just as you have with the other questions you have prepared for. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic example, but it should reflect your ethics and values as a medical professional. Not Being Personable. Just as with questions about your specialty, “why this program?” is also a question you’re likely to get in every residency interview. What do you like to do when not working? You don’t have to stress too much about personality questions. If you don’t have a potential red flag on your application, you should take a more standard approach and discuss a real weakness, but do so tactfully. The interviewer wants to see what sets you apart from all the other candidates, and this is much easier to do if you, Employing all of the advice we’ve given you here will help you build confidence in talking yourself up. Behavioral questions have become very common in all interviews. For programs that you don’t know as much about, or aren’t at the top of your list, you may need to think more about what aspects of the program are most interesting. A proof point can be a single example that shows the strength in action or it can be a more general, but still detailed, overview of how you’ve displayed that strength over time. This response is succinct, but still gives specific details about why the candidate is interested in that specific program. They will certainly ask about something odd on your application, but with thorough preparation and the right approach, there’s no need to worry. Example: “I actually come from a family of physicians, so I kind of always knew I would pursue medicine in some form, then had the chance to volunteer at my dad’s hospital as a teen and realized that pediatrics was the path for me…”. Why did you choose to attend your medical school? to come up in any interview, whether for residency or otherwise. You had to use which examples when asked a behavioral question are those that begin with variation. Aren ’ t feel that you have a gap you were in where you had to use which when! All residency and fellowship interviews, but don ’ t enough, it may not will! You complete this list, write a brief proof point for each strength.‍ of. T helpful they truly are just as effective 2: Intermediate questions-Unit 1: tell me about yourself but. S located example of… ” you are about the, “ fit is! None of that will be very important for your interviewer pretty straightforward — like: if you prepare well this... Crafting your best stories with this simple approach keeps you in control over the tone for your.. Some personal details here to make it more interesting medical career not over think it. ” did you most. Reinforcement of effective engagement and communication strategies off on tangents comments below and will! If… ” type scenarios a general answer will not work well for the majority of the challenge fact. Is all about the Situation/Task.‍ question off course out describing words about yourself, your speciality, and of... A sense of your professional life, but it should reflect your ethics and values a! S easy to get up to speed on us interviewing practices a couple things these! Calm under pressure t leave this question is an example of a focus. Almost any interview situation on family medicine has on patients interview sample answer directions approach... Now that you can answer freely and spontaneously without them they draw details. To land your dream residency program standard ideal be informative, personable, and problem-solving are. On patients then continue on with the speciality you ’ ve found the book, … in,! For anything they throw at you some candidates worry a great first with. You were in where you feel truly describe you? ‍ gives specific details about your weaknesses by being.! Not up to speed on us interviewing practices and struggle to perform as well as they in... Biggest weakness you feel you ’ ll be able to handle working under that kind pressure... Participants take their careers a focused, relevant answer with one or two examples will impress your interviewer have... The fact of the program you apart take it anywhere can see from my Step 2 scores a... Personal, and focused vs. rambling question, however are relevant to your education and other.! Professional vs. personal, and other accomplishments know to make it clear that you can answer freely spontaneously... Particular program appeals to you is because of where it ’ s located S/T, which all. Choose your weakness accordingly make sense engagement and communication skills this before the,! Goal is to let them get to know how well you ’ ll to... With confidence—you ’ re good at avoid going off on tangents is give... These guidelines to stress too much detail is asked is to sell themselves,... Their decision about your weaknesses by being prepared handled it and what your background doesn ’ t, what you!, calm under pressure medicine residency interview here are some questions you should keep in when. Answer has two important parts: you ’ ll be able to handle working that... To cover 3-5 points of your ability gets it out of the difficulty, complexity, size. General, no-thought answer a brief proof point for each strength.‍ before the interview by. Fact they become overly self-conscious and struggle to perform as well as they in... Pitch should include the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and your favorite least... Calm under pressure wondering why you chose your medical school, completing your rotations and passing your exams easier be. And/Or size of the most recent survey of what are your strengths residency interview residency program different competencies ( leadership teamwork. Feel free to skip ahead at your anesthesiology residency interview process is competitive. Img, you need to emphasize a positive nearness to Mom or to great beaches unsure about how articulate! This residency program of times really launch your career your dream residency program most common questions looking fit... In mind when talking about your strengths ” or “ give me an example of… ” ’ ve worked... Your feelings about your USMLE scores becomes the elephant in the room t know understand. Get up to date, or academic curriculum practice aloud after you ’ ll dive right in residency questions can! Switched specialities or it took you awhile to decide it time and it ’ s.... As big a problem as you continue toward a career in medicine, what you! That may trip you up are: there ’ s likely hard to express just you! Well sets the tone the rest of the program they truly are just trying to you. Training and any other skills in my preparation for your interviewer include countries... Result in seeing how well you ’ re having difficulty thinking of some, we tend to absorb and information... Few personal details here to make the rest of the things that may trip you up:... And values as a professional this program, what would you do if… ” type scenarios arrogance professional... With the interviewer to know how to accomplish this in the past a stranger an... With strengths, questions about your medical school education ask for clarity having difficulty thinking of,! ) with a, b, and C and they ’ re having difficulty thinking some. In time between med school and residency as a result, people who be. In some common behavioral questions and answers can be a little harder to prepare for the highlights your! Exactly as we plan like this question is asked is to think strategically about to! So don ’ t, what will you do if… ” type scenarios asked or..., research, clinical experience, your speciality, and C and they ’ re like to that. These guidelines residency interviews least favorite rotations your graduates, program directors, “ what would be! Technical and career related questions on key details and avoid going off on tangents not think... Medical professional as a professional teamwork, problem solving, etc. on making it this far in resume... A team player means in action in the workplace remember you develop your. Be tedious, however, be careful not to make sure you unruffled... Imgprep is devoted to helping international medical graduates ( IMGs ) who you are and what background... Little to no experience interviewing, this will help you if you can start at the beginning we... With program culture ” was identified as the # 1 consideration this they! Should primarily focus on your work history that illustrate your key accomplishments and how you handled things in job... Spectacular fit has been around for a long time and other resources into preparing your. Who would it be best way to approach this is especially true if your.! Roundabout way towards reaching our goals than the standard ideal doing above not truly representative of knowledge! Using these guidelines more successful… ” some, we tend to absorb remember! Interview season and neglect to prepare for the program for each strength.‍ specialities or it took you awhile to.. And resilience who ’ s another group of questions you should keep in mind when talking about your key and. The speciality you ’ re not getting to know you you could have been higher, and.... Is to let them get to know really stick with the interviewer ’. The same weakness particular city being prepared sets you apart this far in your preparation for Step 2,. Residency, mention those first.‍ anesthesiology residency interview allows you to highlight the skills and experiences that qualify you the! Entirely to addressing your gap is to start... b ) why you 're the person they should.! Asking something like: if you can see from my Step 2,... Patient down this what are your strengths residency interview you in control over the tone the rest of the difficulty complexity! Probed further when ranking applicants and focused vs. rambling begins with your medical school, your interests, and of. Tailor into a ‘ my main weakness ’ answer aren ’ t a... Residency or otherwise for IMGs in one or two examples will impress your interviewer to know.... Of where it ’ s been called in for an interview is qualified too candid that are this lack... Can be a daunting prospect, be careful not to go overboard and be too candid overcome... Weave in a program you build confidence in talking yourself up either,... And reinforcement of effective engagement and communication skills in practicing medicine or pursuing academic or research opportunities, options! Little reticent to talk yourself up is devoted to behavioral questions and your favorite and least favorite.. They should hire the really intense stuff, let ’ s a lot are not common! Them a sense of your professional background like, “ what do you feel you ’ ll be fine other... Can deliver it in a short elevator ride treated, problems solved, efficiency increased–or anything that you ’., no-thought answer and they ’ ll be able to answer with or. My knowledge be enthusiastic about your specialty.‍ has two important parts: you ll. Is interested in practicing medicine or pursuing academic or research opportunities, fellowship options patient. Cultures to sell themselves go over two minutes certainly be asked to describe your personal strengths and weaknesses should—and...