Effective Residency Interviews
A (brief) Session for Medical School
Students
Georgette Dent, MD
Kevin Biese, MD, MAT, FACEP
October 21, 2011
G100 Bondurant Hall
Today’s Two Goals:
Understand and prepare to approach
the residency interview as a
communication event
 Identify specific behaviors to avoid and
to employ during the residency interview
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Rank Order List Targets
Least Competitive Specialties
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Internal Medicine
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Psychiatry
Pathology
Family Medicine
M
9
9
7
8
7
Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2010
https://services.aamc.org/publications/showfile.cfm?file=
version135.pdf&prd_id=266&prv_id=327&pdf_id=135
M=Matched applicants, U=Unmatched applicants
U
4
4
4
4
5
Rank Order List Targets
Moderately Competitive Specialties
Emergency Medicine
 Anesthesiology
 General Surgery
 Obstetrics/Gynecology
 Pediatrics
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M
10
12
11
10
9
Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2010
https://services.aamc.org/publications/showfile.cfm?file
=version135.pdf&prd_id=266&prv_id=327&pdf_id=135
M=Matched applicants, U=Unmatched applicants
U
5
5
6
6
4
Rank Order List Targets
Highly Competitive Specialties
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Dermatology
Orthopedics
Radiology
Plastic Surgery
Radiation Oncology
M
9
12
12
9
10
U
4
6
7
4
4
Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2010
https://services.aamc.org/publications/showfile.cfm?file=version13
5.pdf&prd_id=266&prv_id=327&pdf_id=135
M=Matched applicants, U=Unmatched applicants
Your record only tells
part of the story
The rest is
COMMUNICATED
during the interview
*From “Job 99 Outlook,”
http://www.jobweb.org/pubs/joboutlook/report.htm
Everyday communication rules
Still apply in the Interview setting
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What attracts us to people in our
everyday lives?
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How can these characteristics be
communicated during an interview?
What Attracts Us to People in
Our Everyday Lives?
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Attractiveness (Do I like the way he looks?)
Similarity (Do I share anything with her?)
Reciprocity (Does this person seem
interested in me?)
Exchange (Can I get something from him?)
Competency (Can I learn from her? Is he
interesting/knowledgeable?)
Disclosure (Is he being open with me? Can I
trust her?)
Traits that create a positive
impression during an interview
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Appropriate responses to I am confident but
not arrogant. I am
questions
emotionally
stable.
Enthusiasm
Maturity
Confidence
Emotional stability
Intelligence
Language fluency
Initiative
Controlled energy
Clear career goals
He is so confident...
but not arrogant.
And so emotionally
stable!
**from research conducted by J.Cox & D. Schlueter, Baylor University, as cited in J.M. Farr’s
The Quick Interview and Salary Negotiation Book, 1995, p. 169.
What Does the Interviewer
Want to Know About You?
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Can you do the job? (ability/skills)
Will you do the job? (motivation)
Are you “promotable”?
Will you fit in to the organizational/program
culture?
Will you work well with others?
Are you sincerely interested in this job?
Do you have adequate background in the
field?
Some Advice From the Field
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What things have residency interviewees
done that DON’T HELP them to be ranked
highly by an interviewer?
What things have residency interviewees
done that DO HELP them to be ranked
highly?
What suggestions do you have for fourth year
medical students?
From e-mail survey of 35 UNC-CH and Seattle-area doctors who
interview prospective residents and represent family medicine,
dermatology, pediatrics, surgery, etc.
Behaviors to Avoid
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Demonstrating little knowledge or enthusiasm about
the hospital and program
Being unprepared and disorganized
 “who [would] you want to work with at 2:00 a.m.?”
Providing brief answers
 “…the interviewer shouldn’t have to work too hard
to get information from the candidate”
Spending too much time talking about what YOU
want
 e.g., call schedule, time off, etc.
Behaviors to Avoid
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Giving evasive responses about “red flags” in record
Acting pompous or cavalier
Interviewing just because of location
 “…never give the impression that [you] are only
here because [you] were in the ‘neighborhood’”
Arriving late
 “…impresses nobody”
Being demanding
 “Don’t bug the office staff with lots of
requests…you may come across as a
complainer/difficult [to deal with]/not someone we
would want on the housestaff”
Behaviors to Employ
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Acting genuinely interested in program
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Demonstrating that you have prepared to interview
with THIS program
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“…they have done their homework! They have conveyed to me
why they really want to come to our program.”
Conveying an understanding of and enthusiasm for
the practice of pediatrics, surgery, etc.
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“Residency programs are interested in candidates who are
interested in them”
“Be ready to explain why you chose this specialty.”
Talking about something interesting you have done
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“…some interviewees just seem to ‘shine’ during their interviews
and others are lackluster”
“…have at least one interesting patient to talk about.”
Behaviors to Employ
Asking insightful questions
 Communicating humility but also selfassurance
 Smiling, laughing…showing a sense of
humor
 “…smile, you’re a family doc, not a
surgeon!”
 Dressing appropriately but comfortably
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Men's Business Attire:
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A suit, preferably in a dark color (navy, dark
gray, or black)
Long sleeve dress shirt
A tie (classic looking silk tie, avoid trends)
Black or dark brown dress shoes.
Match belt to your shoes
Dark socks to complement your suit.
Men’s Business Attire
Women's Business Attire:
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A suit in a dark color.
 Black, charcoal, or navy are most common.
If you choose a suit with a skirt, watch the
hemline. Your skirt should be at least knee length
when standing.
Conservative blouse or shell under your suit jacket.
Closed-toe dress shoes, with a 1-1 3/4 inch heel.
Hose-NO RUNS! Bring an extra pair with you, just in
case.
Minimal jewelry, perfume and makeup.
Women’s Business Attire
General Tips for Women
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Keep makeup conservative and professional.
If you wear perfume, be conservative. Some people are
sensitive to odor.
Your jewelry should be minimal and professional. Nothing that
could create a distraction.
Hair should be neat and groomed.
Nails should be neat and well groomed.
Your purse should be simple and match your shoes.
Watch your hemlines too much skin is not appropriate.
Insightful questions
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What is your patient population?
What is the number of outpatients seen in clinic?
What subspecialty services are available?
What is the conference schedule?
Is attendance at national conferences encouraged?
What changes in the residency program are likely in the next
few years?
Is there exposure to private practitioners and office practice?
Where are your graduates? (private practice, academics, local
area, etc.)
You can ask about opportunities for research or for teaching
medical students, depending on your interests.
Don’t ask faculty about vacation, call, salary, insurance or
benefits!
Remember to “Thank You”

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Send a thank you note to the program
director
 No consensus on format – e-mail (with or
without picture), typed, hand written
Probably not necessary to send one to each
interviewer
 But if you do, they should be a little
different because they may end up in the
same file
Closing Advice
“Interviewers want to see your intelligence, your work
ethic, your sense of balance, and your sense of
humor. They want to know how you work with
others, how dependable you are, whether you will be
a team player on their team.”
“I have been on the interview committee for (several)
years. I do not think there is any one ‘best’ way to
interview. The most effective way is to be polite,
interested, not too jovial nor too subdued. I think
those qualities anyone can fit into.”
Closing Advice (cont.)
“Be confident (not arrogant) and interested
(have questions about the institution and be
prepared to keep an interview going,
preferably with questions that can lead you
back to your strengths).”
“Be yourself and answer questions naturally.
We are looking for people that MATCH best.
We have already weeded out those who
cannot do the work before the interview.”
Take Home Message
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Getting an interview means the judgment has been
made that you have the credentials to succeed in the
program
Be nice to absolutely everyone!
Be prepared for the extremes
 Person who knows your application in detail
 Person who has not looked at your application
Learn as much as you can about program and be
prepared to ask appropriate questions
 You can ask house staff questions you might not
ask faculty and vice versa
Online Resources
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Careers in Medicine
http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/
Argus Technical Services
http://www.argus-tech.com/intervie.htm
Brandeis Hiatt Career Center
http://www.brandeis.edu/hiatt/
select grad students “interviewing tips”
College Grad Job Hunter
http://www.collegegrad.com/intv/
Charting Outcomes of the Match 2007
https://services.aamc.org/Publications/index.cfm?fuseactio
n=Product.displayForm&prd_id=197&prv_id=238
UNC-CH Career Services
http://careers.unc.edu/
interview readiness video