Interviewing Tips for Residents
Interviewing Tips for Residents
November 15, 2019
In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Proffitt talks with a panel of expert interviewers on how to conduct an interview as a resident. The panel provides tips and tricks to the resident interviewer when it comes time for interviewing medical student candidates for a spot in their programs.
Host
Tiffany Proffitt, DO, MABS
Attending Physician
Honor Health, Scottsdale, AZ
Guests
Michael Gisondi, MD, FACEP
Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Education
Department of Emergency Medicine
Hospital Affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine
Twitter: @MikeGisondi
Tarlan Hedayati, MD, FACEP
Chair of Education
Assistant Professor
Associate Program Director in the Department of Emergency Medicine
Hospital Affiliation: Cook County Hospital in Chicago
Twitter: @chitwngurl
Andy Little, DO
Associate Program Director, AdventHealth
Co-founder/Host @EMOverEasy
EMRA*Cast Fellowship Director
@andyglittle
Overview
In this episode, Tiffany talks with a panel of expert interviewers on how to conduct an interview. The panel provides tips and tricks to the resident interviewer when it comes time for interviewing medical student candidates for a spot in their programs. They discuss everything from putting interviewees at ease, to canned speeches to present to the unengaged interviewee, and some unexpected questions to set yourself apart as an interviewer. Our panel also reminds the resident interviewers of the honor it is to be a part of the interview process. Your program chose you as an interviewer because it values your opinion; don’t waste the opportunity.
References
- 10 Tips to Become a Successful Interviewer: Do’s and Don’ts, ALiEM, Medical Education, Sep 15, 2016, Meg Pusateri, MD and Nicole Battaglioli, MD https://www.aliem.com/2016/09/10-tips-become-successful-interviewer
- EM Match Advice: Interviewing Strategies, ALiEM, EM Match Advice, Aug 29, 2014, Dr. Michael Gisondi, MD https://www.aliem.com/2014/08/em-match-advice-interviewing-strategies/
- Collings J. Residency Interviews (PDF handout from Dr. Jamie Collings https://www.aliem.com/wp-content/uploads/Collings-Interview-Tips.pdf)
Questions
- Who was your favorite teacher ever – from nursery school to now - and why?
- What’s the last book that you read? What is the book about, why did you pick that book, what do you like about the book?
- Ask about a flaw in the application.
- Ask about recent travel or a favorite trip.
- For four hours you will be placed on a monitored bed and you get to experience any illegal substance without risk of negative side effects or addiction, which would you try?
- Favorite movie.
- What is your biggest failure—can be non-medical. If your candidate struggles, then the interviewer shares one of her or his failures.
Key Points
- To the senior residents - your program chose you as an interviewer because it values your opinion; don’t waste the opportunity.
- When all else fails, play the tape.
- To the interviewees – we’re not out to get you, except maybe Dr. Little.
