Residency Interviews Part 1 Georgette Dent, MD Robert Dixon, MD August 29, 2014 G100 Bondurant Hall

Today’s Three Goals: Understand and prepare to approach the residency interview as a communication event Understand and prepare to approach the residency interview as a communication event Identify specific behaviors to avoid and to employ during the residency interview Identify specific behaviors to avoid and to employ during the residency interview Learn your target number of interviews Learn your target number of interviews

*From “Job 99 Outlook,” Your record only tells part of the story The rest is COMMUNICATED during the interview

Pre-interview Dinner Be careful with alcohol! Be careful with alcohol! Everyone is evaluating you: secretaries, staff, maybe even the janitor! Everyone is evaluating you: secretaries, staff, maybe even the janitor! Residents typically have some input Residents typically have some input Dress business casual Dress business casual You can ask house staff questions you might not ask faculty You can ask house staff questions you might not ask faculty

Pre-Interview Preparation Read up on the program Only take in 1 item (not a clipboard) The magazine on the stand is a “prop” – do not read the magazine or book Be prepared to have a high handshake 70% of communication is non-verbal

It All Starts With a Handshake Do have a “warm-western” full handshake; where the webs of the shakers hands meet; Do have a high and semi-firm handshake Do not have a short fingered handshake; this type of handshake is quick and less casual

What Does the Interviewer Want to Know About You? Can you do the job? (ability/skills) Can you do the job? (ability/skills) Will you do the job? (motivation) Will you do the job? (motivation) Are you “promotable”? Are you “promotable”? Will you fit in to the organizational/program culture? Will you fit in to the organizational/program culture? Will you work well with others? Will you work well with others? Are you sincerely interested in this job? Are you sincerely interested in this job? Do you have adequate background in the field? Do you have adequate background in the field?

Questions Interviewers Ask: What would you like to know about my program? Could you tell me about your strengths and weaknesses? Why are you applying here? Wrong answer: referencing personal motive or benefit Good answer: Flattery about the school; the quality of the educational program Cases: if you are asked a question about a particular case and what you would do; go as far as you can, or know how THEN SAY…. “I don’t know” … but ….

The Interviewer That Has NOT Read Your Record Be prepared for the interviewer ask you open an ended question: “Tell me about yourself” (They may be taking 15 seconds to read your file and get a feel on how the interview will go) Understand this type of interviewer has a lot on their plate Enter this situation with an understanding & forgiving mind Your record is NOT that important to them His job is to interview you, while a committee makes the final decision Some estimate that 30% of interviewers have not read your application!

Insightful questions for you to ask What is your patient population? What is your patient population? What subspecialty services are available? What subspecialty services are available? What is the conference schedule? What is the conference schedule? Is attendance at national conferences encouraged? Is attendance at national conferences encouraged? What changes in the residency program are likely in the next few years? What changes in the residency program are likely in the next few years? Is there exposure to private practitioners and office practice? Is there exposure to private practitioners and office practice? Where are your graduates? (private practice, academics, local area, etc.) 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. 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! Don’t ask faculty about vacation, call, salary, insurance or benefits!

Men’s Business Attire Yes No Yes

Women's Business Attire: A suit in a dark color. 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. 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. Conservative blouse or shell under your suit jacket. Closed-toe dress shoes, with a 1-1 3/4 inch heel. Closed-toe dress shoes, with a 1-1 3/4 inch heel. Hose-NO RUNS! Bring an extra pair with you, just in case. Hose-NO RUNS! Bring an extra pair with you, just in case. Minimal jewelry, perfume and makeup. Minimal jewelry, perfume and makeup.

Women’s Business Attire

General Tips for Women Keep makeup conservative and professional. Keep makeup conservative and professional. If you wear perfume, be conservative. Some people are sensitive to odor. 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. Your jewelry should be minimal and professional. Nothing that could create a distraction. Hair should be neat and groomed. Hair should be neat and groomed. Nails should be neat and well groomed. Nails should be neat and well groomed. Your purse should be simple and match your shoes. Your purse should be simple and match your shoes. Watch your hemlines too much skin is not appropriate. Watch your hemlines too much skin is not appropriate.

Rank Order List Targets MU Family Medicine85 Family Medicine85 Internal Medicine94 Internal Medicine94 Neurology 105 Neurology 105 Pathology95 Pathology95 Pediatrics 107 Pediatrics 107 Psychiatry94 Psychiatry94 M=Matched applicants, U=Unmatched applicants Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2011

Rank Order List Targets MU Anesthesiology134 Anesthesiology134 Emergency Medicine115 Emergency Medicine115 Obstetrics/Gynecology115 Obstetrics/Gynecology115 PM&R114 PM&R114 Radiology114 Radiology114 Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2011 Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2011 Matched applicants, U=Unmatched applicants

Rank Order List Targets Highly Competitive Specialties MU Dermatology 93 Dermatology 93 General Surgery116 General Surgery116 Orthopedics126 Orthopedics126 Plastic Surgery117 Plastic Surgery117 Radiation Oncology114 Radiation Oncology114 Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2011 Charting the Outcomes of the Match 2011 M=Matched applicants, U=Unmatched applicants

If you do not have enough interviews… Depending on specialty & program, should be on your way to having enough interviews by late mid-October to early November Depending on specialty & program, should be on your way to having enough interviews by late mid-October to early November If not, contact programs you are most interested in If not, contact programs you are most interested in This can also be an opportunity to share new information with them, e.g. Step results, abstracts, papers, etc. This can also be an opportunity to share new information with them, e.g. Step results, abstracts, papers, etc. Depending on circumstances, may need to deploy your plan B Depending on circumstances, may need to deploy your plan B

Remember to “Thank You” Send a thank you note to the program director Send a thank you note to the program director   No consensus on format – (with or without picture), typed, hand written Probably not necessary to send one to each interviewer 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

Online Resources Careers in Medicine Careers in Medicine Brandeis Hiatt Career Center Brandeis Hiatt Career Center select grad students “interviewing tips” College Grad Job Hunter College Grad Job Hunter Charting Outcomes of the Match 2011 Charting Outcomes of the Match 2011 Charting Outcomes of the Match 2011 Charting Outcomes of the Match 2011 NRMP NRMP NRMP UNC-CH Career Services UNC-CH Career Services