Over the past few weeks, we've been dissecting various parts of the residency interview process, including the best way to start a residency interview and residency interview mistakes to avoid.
One thing we haven't quite discussed yet though is what I believe is the most important aspect of the residency interview:
Having an honest conversation and getting to know each other.💬
Allow me to explain. When I interview a medical student for our residency program, I've already done my homework🤨. From just reviewing ERAS, I know where that student is from, what languages they speak, their USMLE/COMLEX board scores, what grades they received in medical school classes...and so much more🤯.
And that is the first part of a residency interview: Getting the background demographics and statistics about the interviewee🔍. The second part, however, should be the complete opposite.
When I'm actually interviewing that student, I want to get to know them as a person. What is it like talking to them? What hobbies do they have to keep them sane? Are they enjoying our conversation? How comfortable do they feel sharing pieces of themselves with a stranger/interviewer?
As a medical student, forming a connection with the interviewer is crucial. At the end of the day, we're all humans craving connection🧬.
If I interview a student and we spend the entire time talking about why they want to pursue this specialty and all the things they did on their audition rotations it can still be a good interview, but it leaves something to be desired🫤.
On the other side of the coin🪙, if I have a conversation with a student and they tell me about their hobbies🚵🏻♀️, ask for restaurant recommendations while they're in the area🍕, and we share a few laughs😂...that's an entirely different experience. I leave the interview feeling like I got to know them on a more personal level, and that student probably ends up being more memorable💡.
It's just like the 3:00 AM Test we mentioned when discussing how to excel on audition rotations. Although residency interviews can be pretty short, I still want to get to know someone and see if we can be on the same team🤔. After all, if they end up matching at this program we'll be working together and relying on one another A LOT🩺.
Now, all of this doesn't mean that a residency interview can be 100% fun🤭. If there are big issues such as educational gaps or failed classes/exams these need to be addressed...especially if the interviewer asks🗣️.
But using what little time we have during a residency interview to form a connection with the other person makes for a positive experience, and hopefully a positive interview🌞.
❓How to Answer Residency Interview Questions: I've been breaking down how to answer common residency interview questions on TikTok, so be sure to follow me to receive all the latest videos!
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