After countless hours of hard work and three demanding years of medical school, it’s now time to face the spotlight! If your interview invites have started rolling in and you are feeling intimidated by the thought, follow these tips to land your first choice of clinical residency.

1. Be prompt with your responses to interview invites 

Be sure to set your inbox to automatically refresh every hour during the interview season so you don’t miss out on the interview dates because most residency programs have multiple interview slots that are taken up quickly. You also need to make sure your interview dates don’t clash with other events so know the schedule in advance and plan accordingly.

2. Prepare in advance for different types of interviews

Different types of interviews need different preparations. For instance, if you are preparing for an in-person medical residency interview you can do a mock session with a mentor so you are all ready to answer comfortably and confidently in your face-to-face interview.

When preparing for a video interview, you would need to ensure that you are in a quiet, clutter-free space and wearing the right attire. Also, make sure that the backdrop is absolutely distraction-free, and finally test your webcam and microphone so you know they work and there are no last minute surprises.

Lastly, if you are prepping for a phone interview, do your homework just as you would for a face-to-face interview. You should be able to confidently discuss your strengths and skills during a telephonic conversation so keep your resume handy if you need to refer to it during the interview. You may also be asked about deficiencies in your application, whether it is a poor grade, a gap in your educational history or a course you may have repeated to see how you respond under pressure. So, be prepared to give an honest explanation that elaborates on what you learned from the experience without making it apparent that your answer is rehearsed.

3. Rehearse your elevator pitch

Once all the pleasantries are taken care of, you are most likely to be asked one question, “Tell me something about yourself”?

So, make sure you leave a lasting impact with a well-rehearsed pitch that efficiently highlights your clinical skills and experience while also mentioning important personal facts like your interests, hometown, and your accomplishments.

4. Conduct a mock interview with behavioral questions 

This is a medical residency interview so you can expect that you will be bombarded with a ton of questions. Even though you may be well-prepared inside-out, behavioral questions often make even the best of candidates fumble. When faced with such questions, it is best to describe the situation in detail followed by your course of action and the outcome. The most commonly asked behavioral questions are:

• Tell me about a difficult time where you managed to work efficiently under pressure.
• Describe a demanding situation during medical school and also how you managed it.
• A mistake that you made at medical school and how you handled it.
• Explain how you would deal with a colleague who is not doing his/her share of work.

5. Ask questions to leave a lasting first impression

At the end of your clinical residency interview, you are likely to be asked, “Do you have any questions?”

Just the way you set the stage at the start of the interview with your well-prepared pitch, this is your final chance to make an impact or change the perception of the interviewer if you felt that things did not go in your favor so far.

6. Know the format and think through the structure

You should be receiving an agenda prior to your clinical residency interview where you will be given all the details regarding who will be on the interview panel, if there are one or more interviews and if current residents are also participating in this interview. When you know how the interview will be conducted, you would be in a better position to think through the arrangement and sound confident even if you are in a room with 20 people.

7. Prepare a list of commonly asked questions and be ready to deliver impressive answers

There are certain questions that are asked in every medical residency interview regardless of where you interview or who the chairperson is. Write out your answers to common questions like: why did you opt for this residency program, how will you be an asset, how will you handle disagreements, what are your strengths and weaknesses or what is the last book you read?

8. Use your strengths to stand out

If you have compelling clinical skills, find a way to share them. Even if you have a hobby or an accomplishment that may add value to your residency program, talk about it. This is your chance to shine so flaunt whatever it is that makes you unique and leave an impression on the interviewer’s mind.

Cory Fawcett is a general surgeon and can be reached at his self-titled site, Dr. Cory S. Fawcett.  He is the author of The Doctors Guide to Starting Your Practice Right, The Doctors Guide to Eliminating Debt, and The Doctors Guide to Smart Career Alternatives and Retirement. Eric Brown is a standardized patient and adviser, New York Clinical Skills Prep.

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