Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

This will be an interview season for the ages

Steven Rose, MD
Education
August 14, 2020
Share
Tweet
Share

The interview season has again arrived.  The circle of life repeats, the wheel of time rolls on as the new residents who were interviewees last year meet the next group of interviewees, and our senior residents again themselves become interviewees in their quest for jobs and fellowships.  However, something is different this time.  The presence of a life-changing global pandemic second only in impact to the zombie apocalypse yet to come has altered the landscape of the classic interview.

In an interview, the interviewee has but 30 minutes to show what a wonderful and ideal person they would be for the role.  They elaborate on their good qualities, make jokes, tell stories.  However, the first impression remains a factor in the interviewers’ perceptions.  Appearances count.  Classically, the interviewee travels to the place of employ and makes their arguments through communication-verbal and nonverbal.  The only piece of themselves they carry with them is their wardrobe.  How do they want to portray themselves?  Black suit, white shirt, black tie, to show they mean business?  Or would that be too dull?  Wear the flats which are comfortable for a hospital tour to show practicality, or the bright red heels that say they are here to make a splash? This year, with virtual interviews, the same continues to hold true, save there will be no walking, and pants are optional.  However, there are two brand new factors that change the field entirely: background and environment.

With a virtual interview on a computer screen, interviewees have a backdrop that takes up just as much screen space as themselves.  How many will realize the tool they have at their disposal?  Will they leave a blank wall, for lack of interest or in trying to avoid distraction?  Will they decorate, knowing a pleasing background will make them appear more pleasing?  Or, will they turn that space into an interview topic of conversation they can meaningfully plant ahead of time? Bruce Banner, an aspiring student, is planning on decorating his home with lots of plants, to show how green he is.  Robert Langdon, another, is placing impressionistic art on the wall behind his interview space, to subliminally hint at how cultured he is.  Jacques Clouseau will casually place a violin on the shelf behind his space, to give impressions of other talents beyond medicine, even though he admits to having had no formal training on the instrument.

Which leads us to the environment.  Some students, such as aspiring administrator Dolores Umbridge, are planning on leaving the space open to allow her cats to “accidentally” pounce on the computer to provide comic relief during the interview.  Molly Weasley will allow her children to wander in on her, so she can discuss them and showcase them on camera.  Indeed, the question is begged, how much mimicry of an office interview is appropriate, or even necessary?  If Bob Parr wants to carry the computer around and showcase parts of his house during the interview, should he?  If King Jareth discusses his contact juggling hobby, and happens to have a ball at hand, why not give a small performance?

Yes folks, this will be an interview season for the ages!  Now excuse me while I go fine-tune my animatronic raptor, Blue, for my interviews.

Steven Rose is a resident.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Why spiritual health is so important for medical students

August 14, 2020 Kevin 1
…
Next

Imposter syndrome and COVID: a medical student perspective

August 14, 2020 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine, Residency

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Why spiritual health is so important for medical students
Next Post >
Imposter syndrome and COVID: a medical student perspective

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • This residency interview season: Be the rebel

    Bryan Pardo, MD
  • When physicians are cyberbullied: an interview with ZDoggMD

    Monique Tello, MD
  • It goes without saying: a residency interview

    Liana Meffert
  • Getting beyond the numbers in your medical school interview

    Tiffany Ciolek, MBA
  • Top 5 interview questions and strategies for medical students

    James W. Stewart, MD
  • What I wish I knew on the residency interview trail

    Amanda Xi, MD

More in Education

  • Why medical schools must ditch lectures and embrace active learning

    Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA
  • Why helping people means more than getting an MD

    Vaishali Jha
  • Residency match tips: Building mentorship, research, and community

    Simran Kaur, MD and Eva Shelton, MD
  • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

    Rajeev Dutta
  • Why medical student debt is killing primary care in America

    Alexander Camp
  • Why the pre-med path is pushing future doctors to the brink

    Jordan Williamson, MEd
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why timing, not surgery, determines patient survival

      Michael Karch, MD | Conditions
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Facing terminal cancer as a doctor and mother

      Kelly Curtin-Hallinan, DO | Conditions
    • Online eye exams spark legal battle over health care access

      Joshua Windham, JD and Daryl James | Policy
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      G. van Londen, MD | Meds
    • Pharmacists are key to expanding Medicaid access to digital therapeutics

      Amanda Matter | Meds
    • Why ADHD in women requires a new approach [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • AI is already replacing doctors—just not how you think

      Bhargav Raman, MD, MBA | Tech

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why timing, not surgery, determines patient survival

      Michael Karch, MD | Conditions
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Facing terminal cancer as a doctor and mother

      Kelly Curtin-Hallinan, DO | Conditions
    • Online eye exams spark legal battle over health care access

      Joshua Windham, JD and Daryl James | Policy
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      G. van Londen, MD | Meds
    • Pharmacists are key to expanding Medicaid access to digital therapeutics

      Amanda Matter | Meds
    • Why ADHD in women requires a new approach [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • AI is already replacing doctors—just not how you think

      Bhargav Raman, MD, MBA | Tech

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...