The Residency Interview: Making a Lasting Impression

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First impressions are only made once. This seems intuitive, but bears emphasis and reminding as we enter the upcoming interview season. Whether it is interviews for residency, fellowship, or you first career position, there are a few important things to keep in mind. I have had the chance to participate in a medical school admission committee, 4 residency class interview seasons, and am about to host my program’s first round of fellow applicants. Between these experiences and my own rounds of interviews I have a great deal of first-hand experience on both sides of the table. Here are some things to keep in mind for what to do and not to do:

1. It is OK to be late. On second thought, perhaps aiming to be there 15 minutes early is a better bet. These are the people you are going to work with for the next three to seven years (maybe longer). Showing up late is disrespectful and may say more about you than you intend for it to. Everyone wants to know they will be working with someone who is reliable and will be at work when they are supposed to be.
2. Utilize down-time to catch up on e-mail via your smartphone. Actually, it is best to keep your phone out of sight and out of mind. The interview isn’t just an opportunity to meet the people in the program to which you are applying, it is a unique opportunity to connect with colleagues who will be in your field for life. That’s right…your fellow applicants! You will end up seeing many of the same people on the interview trail and they can serve as great peer mentors, support systems, and friends. Cultivate these relationships early.
3. Expect to be taught everything about the program when you get there. In truth, there is little more frustrating to interviewers than being asked questions which reveal you clearly have no idea what the strengths of the program are. Do your research ahead of time; know why you want to be at each particular program. You are not expected to know everything, but it reflects poorly when you don’t know what the program is known for. You might even find yourself in a situation where you are specifically asked why you want to be part of a particular program…be prepared to answer with specifics.
4. The interview dinner is optional…come if you can. On second thought, these extracurricular activities during interview experiences are extremely important. It allows for interactions in less formal settings and is very informative for both you and the program at which you are interviewing. Make every effort to arrive promptly and stay until the end. As for the interview day, make every effort to arrange for travel that does not require that you leave early or feel rushed.
5. Saying thank you is old-fashioned and not necessary. Ok, I know you get it at this point. Many places will let you know that additional correspondence isn’t necessary and won’t impact your rank. While this may be true in many instances, this is not true at all places or for all people at each institution. Even if it is by e-mail (increasingly acceptable), a note to the program director, program coordinator, and interviewers you connected with will never hurt your chances.

I hope that you find some of these don’ts (and dos) helpful in the coming months. Be proud and confident of the work you have done to get where you are…best of luck and happy trails!

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All of the opinions expressed here are the author’s and his alone, and do not represent necessarily those of Kaplan or its employees.

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