Effective Residency Interviews A (brief) Session for Medical School Students

1. Effective Residency InterviewsA (brief) Session for Medical School Students Georgette Dent, MD Kevin Biese, MD, MAT, FACEP October 21, 2011 G100 Bondurant Hall

2. 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

3. Rank Order List TargetsLeast Competitive Specialties M U Internal Medicine 9 4 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 9 4 Psychiatry 7 4 Pathology 8 4 Family Medicine 7 5 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 Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2010

4. Rank Order List TargetsModerately Competitive Specialties M U Emergency Medicine 10 5 Anesthesiology 12 5 General Surgery 11 6 Obstetrics/Gynecology 10 6 Pediatrics 9 4 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

5. Rank Order List TargetsHighly Competitive Specialties M U Dermatology 9 4 Orthopedics 12 6 Radiology 12 7 Plastic Surgery 9 4 Radiation Oncology 10 4 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

6. 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

7. Everyday communication rules Still apply in the Interview setting • What attracts us to people in our everyday lives? • How can these characteristics be communicated during an interview?

8. What Attracts Us to People in Our Everyday Lives? • 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?)

9. Traits that create a positive impression during an interview • Appropriate responses to questions • 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! I am confident but not arrogant. I am 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.

10. What Does the Interviewer Want to Know About You? • 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?

11. Some Advice From the Field • 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 havefor 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.

12. Behaviors to Avoid • 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.

13. Behaviors to Avoid • 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”

14. Behaviors to Employ • Acting genuinely interested in program • “Residency programs are interested in candidates who are interested in them” • Demonstrating that you have prepared to interview with THISprogram • “…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. • “Be ready to explain why you chose this specialty.” • Talking about something interesting you have done • “…some interviewees just seem to ‘shine’ during their interviews and others are lackluster” • “…have at least one interesting patient to talk about.”

15. Behaviors to Employ • Asking insightful questions • Communicating humility but also self-assurance • Smiling, laughing…showing a sense of humor • “…smile, you’re a family doc, not a surgeon!” • Dressing appropriately but comfortably

16. Men's Business Attire: 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.

17. Men’s Business Attire

18. Women's Business Attire: • 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.

19. Women’s Business Attire

20. General Tips for Women 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.

21. Insightful questions • 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!

22. Remember to “Thank You” • 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

23. 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.”

24. 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.”

25. Take Home Message • 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

26. Online Resources • 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?fuseaction=Product.displayForm&prd_id=197&prv_id=238 • UNC-CH Career Services http://careers.unc.edu/ interview readiness video