Residency Interview Tips 2019 Main Residency Cycle By

Residency Interview Tips 2019 Main Residency Cycle By O. Nefertiti Umeh DIGA Residency Interview Database Director

Interview Tips Residents have input on the final decision! Update coordinator with any changes Interpersonal skills and interactions with ALL faculty and staff are the most important things considered from the PD perspective when ranking applicants!

Before the interview Be prepared for pre-interview communication with programs: Interview invites can be sent via email and/or through ERAS from the Program Director’s workstation. All email communication should be concise, succinct, and professional. Prepare your one-minute pitch: A pitch is a brief summary used to quickly define a person. Your pitch should highlight specific points of your medical education journey. You can begin your pitch by discussing your current status and working backwards addressing any relevant work experience and education or vice versa. Use the answers to write a message that you can share with someone in one minute or less.

Assess your greatest strengths and weaknesses Your response to this question can dictate the direction of the interview. Here are some things you may want to consider when responding to this question: STRENGTHS: You want to avoid the common responses that interviewers will hear from applicants such as “hard worker, dedicated to the specialty, and determined, ”. Create three to five strengths that match what the residency program is seeking and provide BRIEF examples to demonstrate why that is your strength. WEAKNESSES: Responding to this question will consist of two important aspects: − Describing your REAL weakness − How you are working to improve your weakness? Identify your weakness as “an area of opportunity you can improve in” and discuss the steps you are taking to improve this weakness. Refrain from cliché examples like being a perfectionist, being hard on yourself, or too detail oriented.

Common interview questions Tell me about yourself. Why did you choose Dermatology? Who is your role model and why? Tell me about your research? Tell me about a particularly memorable patient. Tell me about a challenging time you had in medical school How would you handle working with someone you disliked? What causes you stress and how do you deal with it? How would you spend 1 million dollars? **For more please see DIGA’s fall newsletter!!

KNOW YOUR RESIDENCY APPLICATION! Everything you have submitted is fair game to be asked about. Be prepared to talk about it all. example; clinical experiences from your clerkships, academic work, publications, research experience, and anything featured on your personal statement.

Research the program and prepare your own questions Familiarize yourself with the programs where you will be interviewing and be prepared to ask thoughtful questions to show that you are interested in the program. Gathering information about the program will not only assist you in formulating well thought out questions but it will also help you make informed decisions on where you will place programs on your rank order list

DURING THE INTERVIEW Attend dinner the night before (if offered) Arrive early the day of the interview Arrive prepared Have copies of your documents: CV, personal statement, transcript, notepad, and a list of additional “relevant” accomplishments, including any published articles. Dress professionally and conservatively Shake hands Do not speak negatively of any other programs or your school Be polite Do not display arrogance, disinterest, or lack of sincerity. All verbal and nonverbal communication should display enthusiasm. Make sure to be polite and friendly with EVERY INDIVIDUAL you interact with at all times. This includes residents, faculty, coordinators, secretaries, and all other hospital staff.

Post interview Take notes of your impressions of the program to assist in your rank list later on Consider the appropriate time to contact the PD to express strong interests and Thank you notes. Average number of contiguous ranks = 9 92% of applicants ranked programs by “preference” 7% of applicants ranked programs by “likelihood of matching” 38% of applicants ranked a handful of programs in an alternative specialty as “fall-back plan”

YOU GOT THIS!!!!