Residency Interview Tips

When I started this blog, I was applying for residency. Now I am in my fellowship. While looking for both residency and fellowship, I have been interviewed dozens of times and I have personally interviewed residency and fellowship applicants, hosted pre interview dinners and have interacted with residency and fellowship interviews applicants. I have also had the chance to attend interview workshops which were not residency specific but are still very applicable. I wanted to share my experience with residency applicants, particularly International Medical Graduates
Please dont hesitate to ask any questions in the comment section, I will try to answer them.


How Important is the Interview:

Getting an interview call from a residency program is a very important step in getting a residency spot. Once you are called for an interview, you have a fair chance of getting that residency position unless any thing goes wrong. Once you have an interview that means the program considers you eligible for that spot, its up to you to prove them right and strengthen their belief.

Interviews calls are given based on academic credentials but in final selection a lot of other things play a very decisive role. 

Communication Skills

Health care in America is different from third world countries. if you have an average amount of medical knowledge you can survive very well and have a decent career. Every thing is specialized. For example if you an internist and you know a lot about subspecialties, but you are still forced to refer a patient to a specialist for insurance reimbursement, avoiding law suits or simply on patient demand.

Health care is very complex, there are a lot of other parties involved. Consultants, nurses, pharmacists, chaplan, social worker, case managers. You have to communicate a lot with other people. Thats why communication skill are very important.

Be a team player

Programs prefer Friendly, easy going, social people who can fit in their team well. A talkative, outgoing person is considered better than shy and quiet.Since medicine is a team work they are looking for team players.

Communicate with the Program

Good communication with a program is very important even before the interview. When you get a call try to respond ASAP. Tell them you excited and very interested. Alway thank them. Take a note of program coordinator's phone number and store it in your phone. 

Alway inform them if there is a change in travel plan. Winters can be harsh in the Northern states and trip delays are common. If you are stuck somewhere always let them know.Answer you phone. 

(I personally know of an applicant who was late for pre interview dinner and didnt answer when program called because he had a prepaid phone and was trying to save his prepaid minutes)

Know the Program in and out

Spend some time on program's website and familiarize yourself with the key people.(program director, program coordinator, faculty members, senior residents and the chief resident). These are the people whom you will be meeting with. Take a look at their pictures (if available on website) and try to remember them.

A lot of time spcial interests (academic and non academic) are mentioned on the website. Try to remember them, it can be a topic of discussion during the interview (if you get a chance and you are out of questions for them). People love then things they do, really like people who share that common interest. Google search faculty's name or run a pubmed search and take a look at their research papers and ask them about that project. (most the of the time they will be delighted and by very proud while telling you about it).

Plan your travel

Make a good travel plan, use google maps for directions. Avoid getting lost. One wrong turn and you may end up in a bad neighborhood and you obviously dont wanna get lost in a winter storm. Having a smartphone with GPS maps or printed google maps with a compass is a good idea.

Pre interview Dinner

Some programs invite you too interview dinners. Its a very nice opportunity to meet with the residents and some time faculty before you actual interview day. You can get a lot of useful information about the program. Business casual in an appropriate dress code. Neck tie or business suit is not recommended but jacket or sports coat is good. A lot of times the resident create their opinion about the candidates during the pre-interivew dinner. Try to stay engaged in ongoing discussion and avoid sitting quietly. Try to engage the important people (chief/senior residents) during the dinner. You can ask residents a lot of things about the programs and the area in general like call schedule, time off/vacation rules, food avaiablitity while being on call, continuity clinics, rotations, residential areas, cost of living, schools for kids (if applicable), moonlighting, didactics, sports facilities, out door activities, weather, safety of hospital area and residential neighborhoods. Common hobbies and interests can be a good topic of discussion.

On the Interview Day

On the interview day try to arrive at the program office slightly early (10-15 minutes is good). Dont arrive to early. You will be emailed you itinerary before the interview or some time a printout is given on the day of interview. You can even take some notes on that paper about you main discussion topics.  Be prepared for the routine questions, which may be stupid at times

To Be Continued