Improving Your Interview Skills for Residency 2007

Improving Your Interview Skills for Residency Dr. Pierre Tellier Career Planning Office, Faculty of Medicine www.medicine.mcgill.ca/careerplan 398-5557 Gregg Blachford McGill Career and Placement Service (CAPS) www.caps.mcgill.ca 398-3304

What Are the Interviewers Looking for? You’ve already been screened for your skills in medicine, so they are looking for EVIDENCE of: “ Soft” skills such as Ability to communicate Analytical thinking Willingness to learn Ability to judge Hard worker Initiative, adaptability, accountability, teamwork & cooperation Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

What Are the Interviewers Looking for? A “good” personality to fit in with their team A sense that you are passionate about coming to their hospital and their program PLUS they want to feel that “ what they see is what they get” Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

What Are You Looking for at the Interview? That the hospital and the program represent a good fit with your career aspirations That you want to live in the city or town where the hospital is To demonstrate your effective two-way communication skills Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Preparing for the Interview #1 Know yourself Your “soft” skills Your passions and interests Your career target for the medium term Give examples You must have evidence to back up your claims Be ready to “tell stories” Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

“ Telling Stories” Evidence of your skills/interests is best illustrated with stories about your Achievements Stories can come not only from your academic life, but also paid jobs, volunteer work and extra-curricular activities Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

“ Telling Stories” Consider using the “ P.A.R. ” Formula: P – state the problem you faced A – describe the action you took R – explain the results of your actions In terms of %, $, #’s Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Preparing for the Interview #2 Know about: The city The hospital The specialty The program Their research The profession as a whole Where can you get that information?: Internet, literature that you received Talk to current residents, program director, residency secretary Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Preparing for the Interview #2 Prepare “intelligent” questions for the interviewer from your research Learn how to cope with stress! Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

About Your Questions Ask questions about the teaching program, not about things Your questions should reflect a strong interest in learning and should not reflect an aversion to work Don’t ask questions in which you’re not interested in the answers Don’t “cross-examine” Ask faculty different questions from the residents Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Which of These Questions Would You Ask? Can you tell me how your program will help me meet my learning objectives? For me to learn effectively, I really need to have practical, hands-on/clinical experience. Does your program offer that? How many CT scans does your hospital have? Can you tell me about the call schedule? How are residents included in hospital rounds? Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Now That You’ve Prepared, On to the Interview… What are the main elements of an interview? A: What you say B: How you say it C: Physical appearance & dress D: Your body language Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

A: What You Say Typical Interview Questions Chit-chat: show your personality, but be professional; don’t be too familiar; you are always being interviewed – even at the so-called “casual” lunch Behaviourial based on past experiences: “ Can you tell me about a time when you had to work under stress?”; “when you led a team to achieve a goal?”; “when you failed?” Behaviourial based on how you might act in the future: “ what would you do if a patient said they wanted a ‘real’ doctor?” Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

More Interview Questions To get a sense of your knowledge of the profession/program/specialty/medicine/ hospital: “ What are your expectations about this program?” “ Why are you applying here? To this specialty?” To get a sense of your self knowledge: What kinds of people are your friends? Who are your heroes? With which types of people/patients do you have trouble working? Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Other Possible Questions How do you see the delivery of health care evolving into the 21 st century? (political and social issues) What would you do if the house staff had a “job action” or strike? (ethical issues) Tell me about the patient from whom you learned the most Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Other Possible Questions If you could be any cell in the human body, which would you choose to be, and why? How do you explain… low grades, leaves of absence poor clinical narratives What is your energy level like? Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Difficult Interview Questions Please tell me about yourself Can you tell me why I should let you do your residency here? Please tell me about one of your weaknesses; strengths Any questions about your age, marital status, sexual orientation, religion or political views What are your plans for a family? Would you have any trouble working in this predominantly catholic (Jewish) hospital? Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

More Difficult Questions Where else did you apply? Is this program your first choice? How will you rank us? Be careful about verbal promises made to you at the time of the interview! Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

More About What You Say DO NOT Be negative about another program; say how the program is different from others Say “My, that’s a difficult question” DO Organize your answers Have a beginning, middle and end Be brief, to the point and interesting Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

B: How You Say It Check your volume, tone and speed Enunciate carefully Avoid fillers: “ you know”, “um”, “and things like that”, “sort of” Allow silences to occur – take time to organize your answers! Avoid slang and informal language Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

C: Physical Appearance & Dress Role: Resident Physician – a confident, neat, rather conservative individual Wash! Shave or trim beard Use deodorant, but not perfume or cologne Clean nails Breath freshener NO GUM or CIGARETTES Clothes clean and pressed Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Dress the Role Invest in appropriate attire! Men: Suit (two piece and a dark color) Grey trousers and blue blazer A white or pale colored shirt A tie (silk, no animals) Socks that match the suit Shoes conservative, polished Belt matching the shoes (pot leaf belt buckle to be left at home) Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Women: A suit or a skirt with jacket A blouse in a matching but subdued color with long sleeves or turtleneck Blouse buttoned up or a scarf around your neck Pantyhose (neutral color not fishnet) Sensible shoes matching or complementing the outfit, no spikes Make-up: natural, sparingly Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service Dress the Role Invest in appropriate attire!

Dress the Role Jewelry Less is more, none is better; discrete Eyebrow piercing and tongue stud? Outer wear Coat and boots that protect your clothes You will be interviewing in winter Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Dress the Role The Briefcase For everyone (for women-better than a purse) Contents: CV x 3 Personal statement Material not included in application Pen/paper/palm pilot to take notes Instructions/maps Material that is given to you Wallet, etc Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Dress the Role If you are travelling – Don’t travel in your interview clothes Change when you get there Once you are dressed correctly, forget about it Use carry-on baggage - if possible Always carry important papers, money, etc on you Arrive night before - if possible – and get good rest Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

D: Body Language Handshakes Posture: “walk tall” Hand gestures – yes? no? Facial expressions – smile! Eye contact – make it! Show confidence Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Finally… After the interview: Assess your performance to improve for the next time Optional: write a short thank you note to the interviewer (and secretary) referring to something you learned during the interview Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Final Notes Be yourself! Don’t lose your personality! But be your “self-aware” self Be honest! But don’t put yourself down Be passionate! But don’t overdo it; avoid superlatives Be genuine! Don’t try too hard to figure out the “right” answers Sell yourself! Give them the evidence to allow them to justify selecting you Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Ask us for help!! Review of CV’s and Personal Statements (514) 398-5557 [email_address] or [email_address] Mock Interviews @ CAPS Gregg Blachford www.caps.mcgill.ca The earlier the better!! Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office/ McGill Career & Placement Service

Improving Your Interview Skills for Residency 2007

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Improving Your Interview Skills for Residency 2007