THE HOT SEAT A primer for residency interviews ‘Tha Hew Physcton, December 2008 by Daniel. Sehiow, M.. Volume 57, tssue 9 Residency interviews are based on a common need. The Interviewer Is "seeing" if the Canddata isa good ft for he program, andthe candidates fading out the ob=the Tecate, facities and resgency program itsalf~is what she wants or needs. ‘The season to don th dart sult and start traveling Is upon us. In 30-some years of conducting Interviews, Ihave witnessed the gamut of human behaviors ranging from autonome storms fausing heeups end sweatng~to sukord Seating positions and lack of eye contact. Though these experience, I have developed some thoughts and blases that I wish to share with you, {and I hope that my suggestions wil help you es you set of on the fourth-yeer's tredional ‘winter inten tour ‘+ You are worthy. Yau must ways view yourself as a desirable and competitive candidste, The fact that you were granted an intevfew proof fnough ofthis fact You should think of yourself in posite arms and not fear rejection. ‘+ Keep Ieshort. You havea story to tl. The story Is you, who you are, why you want what you want and how you got to this point, The story is hat ome epiphany ordscours on your family history. Far example, you may fefer to witnessing a death during your peiatrie clerkship o to the Hardships of you Farets only Insofar at these were fermative Ife txperiences My many years of intervening mesial shidenes, however, fave taught me tht these events ae seldom unusual enough to warrant axing poste or extenclve deserpive narration, 1+ Be sincere. Let your interviewer know whe You are. Avoid trying to be who You are not ortiyrg to eanform to someone see's ides The story le bout how you have developed into the Individual that you are today. ‘+ -Artclata. Use a stbjct, a verb and an object in every sentence. Do not ‘meander in your responce or wander away fom the subject of the ‘question, 1+ Avoid verbal crutches, Dp nc use filers or “helpers empty phrases suchas "you Know sget you,” er"GK" a the end of each sentence, Or inject mesningless words in the mide kewl, ke.” These can become verbal ties. 4 Avold repetition. Try to aveld sounding manufactured, It gets more clffeut asthe [gestions over and over again. By belpg yourself and reacting f each interviewer's lvl, you may find easier to keep things fresh, ‘© Be assertive, Tetatvenes Is not a good presenting feature, but dubt Is allowed. Do not be offld to ste what you do nat know. For instenee Is beter to say" donot kenow® orl am not ura" than ¢o hem and ha. Or fr that matter, to go Int lengthy flscourss as to why you do or co net naw something or da net wane something ‘Sound assertive even in Your lnorsnee. ‘+ Keow thysaf. You wil be asked about your strengths and weaknesses. Speak with ‘equal confidence stout bath. be honest and conse, Your interviewer vill be Interested In hve well you Know yeurself and how well you plan to make up for shorteomings. Do not resort to cliché answers that sound manufectured or slf- Serving. Nobody Is eokng for perfection. You can reer to a weakness and make Itapositive statement, such 2¢ Took forward to galning more cna! and organizational Expertnes in orde! to handle stress better when tings get too busy.” “+ Find your fs Parte the intervie led a ning out you snd the institution are 2 good fit. Career coaches advise thelr cients to find out what programs “went” s the ient can address that need Ifyou have enough Information, and You tink you ere ‘ihot they wan, byall eens speak about te strengths tha yeu have tht match thee ofthe program, Gut=-and ts fe an absoute-do not fle it You lk winding up In progrem that you didnot vant, or your interviewer may think that you are Insinere™and donngrace you aneldate who hastaken the time to research the program and has conrete (questions, Qute something you reed that inlgued you, or sok a question about 2 Specie aspect ofthe program tht you learned from avaliable Information or ti Batis, Alois agpd ida to refech Your memery the night before your interview By rereading about te prosram anline ar in mstelals you've been given In advan, ‘gan: Be sincere. Da nat eign interest. + Conquer the ancy! fanety causes your eutonome ystem to goon overdrive, ero area ew tps Corry tises ora handkereNt, and dry Your sweaty palms Before {Shaking ends. Goto tha bathroom right before interview tlme so that your min is en {he inteviow snd rot on your tortured bidder. Donat drink caffene-iaden beverages HTthey ove you gatronsaphagea! reflux. sneak a mint nto your mouth f you Fear ‘elit bed breeth (not the sugar-tre Kind: Tose eontaln sorbitol, which ean esse STdominel upset and undesired sound effects). Take a deep “leasing” Bresth ‘rough your nose before you sit down forthe interview to colt yourself 1+ onot be intimidate IF you Feel ntimizated by the interviewer, oF you do nat Understand where‘ interl e hea, co not hestate to ak for redirection For trample: “can you please restate your question?” oF "Lam not sure that I understood areal." Some people advise that f you are really intimidated or nervous, you tink Uf your interviewer ina iulousstanea, kein th bathroom. But, es an interviewer, Toul ather thet you imagine yourel In font of someone you trust or ke, snd act Accordingly. Remember, Inthe end, residency Interviews are mercifly short! 1+ There le more to il than your ob. Remember that fe s more than residency. Balance is mst Important. To get he ight residency spot is important, bu is part ta whole called Ie, You may end up matching in pce that was not within your (retorted choles Never mind. Take the challenge and remember: “More important fan where you gols what you do when you gt there.” Parsons sspects of your ie need to be factored into your cholees. Happy people make happy esidents, and hepoy restdnts ore a blessing. br, Danlel V. Schldtow is Chait of Padiatries at Drexel University Collage of Medline [Bnd phystelon in Chat at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.