By Mike SimpsonAfter tackling medical school, you’ll face a new challenge; landing a residency. And how do you get one? That’s right; by squaring off against those dastardly residency interview questions and nailing your answers, that’s how. Show
Standing out from the crowd isn’t always easy. In 2019, there were 38,376 applicants in the National Resident Match Program (NRMP), but there were only 35,185 positions. And 2020 has similar statistics, with 40,084 applicants competing for 37,256 openings. What does all of that mean for you? Well, it means that competition for spots can be fierce, especially if you have your eyes on a highly desirable program. But never fear. By practicing residency interview questions and answers, you can shine. And, if you do, your odds of getting into one of your top programs go up dramatically. So, do you want to get ready so that you can rock that interview? Great! We’ll show you how. How to Answer Residency Interview QuestionsOkay, we know you’re here for example residency interview questions and answers, and we swear that’s coming. Before we dig into the samples, however, we wanted to touch on something else that’s crucial for your success. What could that possibly be? Well, it’s your interview strategy. Having a plan for how to tackle your residency interview is a must. If you embrace the right approach for crafting your answers, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the unexpected. And, since you can never be 100 percent sure what you’ll be asked, this can make all of the difference. So, let’s talk strategy. First, it’s all about the research. You need to know what the programs want in a resident. What does the program value? What characteristics do past residents have in common? Is there a way you can show that you bring what they’re looking for to the table and a little bit more? Ideally, you want to dig into your target program a bit. Learn about the past participants, as well as the medical professionals who you’ll be working with if selected. Dig into the facility’s info, ensuring you learn about its mission, values, community contributions, research, and recent accomplishments. All of that helps you identify priorities, empowering you to speak to them during your interview. But you don’t want to stop there. Residency program managers want to know that you also have the right traits to excel not just in the program but as a physician. During the interview, they want to see if you’re easy to connect with, how you present yourself, and whether you’ve got the interpersonal skills to soar as a medical professional. MIKE'S TIP: Not sure what traits they want to see? Well, a few are fairly universal. You need to be articulate, caring, and compassionate. Additionally, organization, time management, attention-to-detail, and problem-solving skills are vital. When in doubt, talk about those, as those are always important in the medical world. Once you’ve finished your research and know what you need to highlight, it’s time for the next step: figuring out how to showcase your capabilities. Generally, the opportunity arises when you’re asked behavioral interview questions. We’ve talked about behavioral interview questions in-depth before, but here’s a quick overview. These questions are open-ended and often scenario-based. The interviewer wants you to discuss how you’ve handled certain situations in the past or how you would use your skills and knowledge to navigate something you haven’t encountered before. So, what strategy should you use? In most cases, a two-fold strategy is best for behavioral interview questions. Start with a healthy dose of the STAR Method. Next, take a heaping helping of the Tailoring Method. Blend those two techniques together, and you should be set. You’ll have compelling and relevant answers to the residency interview questions, increasing the odds that you’ll shine. We also wanted to let you know that we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview. After all, hiring managers will often ask you more generalized interview questions! Click below to get your free PDF now: Get Our Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet!FREE BONUS PDF CHEAT SHEET: Get our "Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet" that gives you "word-word sample answers to the most common job interview questions you'll face at your next interview. CLICK HERE TO GET THE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS CHEAT SHEET Top 3 Residency Interview QuestionsOkay, you’ve got a winning strategy ready to go, so now it’s time for some examples. With sample residency interview questions and answers, you can see how to craft engaging responses to some of the questions you might face. It can help you further refine your formula for creating great answers, ensuring you’re ready for anything the interviewer may toss your way. Here’s a look at the top three residency interview questions and answers. 1. Why did you choose your current specialty?There are more than 20 specialties that NRMP applicants can choose from, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the interview wants to know why you selected the one you picked. Usually, your best bet when answering this question is an anecdote highlighting why you find the specialty intriguing or critical. If you talked about why you’re heading in this direction in your personal statement, reinforce that point. You want your response to align with that information, making you consistent. EXAMPLE ANSWER:
2. What qualities do you believe are necessary to be an exceptional physician?This question is interesting as it allows the interviewer to gauge what you think is valuable to the equation of physician success. Often, it incidentally allows them to learn more about your strengths and weaknesses, as many applicants will focus on capabilities they possess or want to hone. Ideally, you want to connect at least part of your answer to an anecdote, allowing you to showcase why you believe certain traits are important. However, you can also incorporate a quick overview list to round out your response. EXAMPLE ANSWER:
3. Why are you interested in this residency program?Ultimately, there are hundreds of residency programs around. The interviewer wants to know why this one caught your eye. Now, you don’t necessarily have to lavish praise on the program in an all-encompassing kind of way to nail this question. Instead, consider what makes this one unique in your eyes, and focus your answer there. This gives your response some critical specificity and can help your answer stand out. EXAMPLE ANSWER:
22 More Residency Interview QuestionsHere are 22 more residency interview questions you may face along the way:
5 Good Questions to Ask at the End of a Residency InterviewAs your residency interview begins to come to an end, you typically get a chance to ask the interviewer a few questions. This is a crucial opportunity. Not only can you learn more about what the program is like, but it also gives you a chance to make sure it’s actually the program for you. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are five good questions to ask at the end of your residency interview:
Putting It All TogetherUltimately, facing off against residency interview questions might be a bit scary. But you’ve already come so far with your education and training, and you bring a lot to the table. Just use the tips above to help you prepare for the meeting. That way, you can sparkle like the amazing candidate you are, increasing the odds you’ll get into your preferred program. Good luck! FREE: Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet!Download our "Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet" that gives you word-for-word sample answers to some of the most common interview questions including:
Click Here To Get The Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet— Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page. How do I ace my family medicine residency interview?Top 15 Residency Interviewing Tips. Be genuine in your conversation. ... . Know the program. ... . Show some positive energy. ... . Whatever question you're asked – be totally honest. ... . Always have a token question ready. ... . Be enthusiastically true to yourself. ... . Know why you are going into family medicine. ... . Attend any extras.. What are the top 3 attributes you are looking for in a residency program?Most important factors
Reputation of program—84.6%. Quality of residents in the program—76.1%. Work-life balance—75.2%.
How do you answer residency interview questions?Keep an open mind. Your answer should convey that you are interested in exploring and learning about the specialty as a whole, even if you have a specific interest in a subspecialty. Remember that you will get training in all aspects of the specialty during residency, not only the subspecialty you are interested in.
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