The Residency Interview

Try to make a list of question you want to ask during your residency interview based on the research you did about the hospital or you can make a general list of questions that you will ask each program.

Some of my questions were about the research opportunities at the hospital, what help do you receive finding a position next year (if it was for a preliminary spot) or my favorite “what do you look for in a candidate?” I can guarantee that during every interview, no matter what field, they will ask if you have any questions, and the last thing you want to do is say “umm NO.” You want to ask at least a couple of questions because it shows interest in the program and you do not want to ask about anything covered in the presentation given in the beginning of the interview session, because that shows you weren’t paying attention. So here’s the basic layout of almost all the interviews I had:

First you start the day with attending the morning rounds/conference at the hospital with other residents (not all programs do this), then you have breakfast, which is usually donuts and muffins (most people don’t eat anything in fear of either bad breath, getting clothes dirty, or nerves). After that, the program director or a member of the faculty will have a quick presentation about the program, which usually includes the facilities, layout of the program, benefits, and hours. Usually after the presentation the interview begins, which can mean you could talk to one to five people, including the program director, a member of the faculty (attending), and a resident.

Once the interviews are done, you take a tour of the hospital with one of the residents, where you can ask more questions or just chat with them. Finally, you may be dismissed, have lunch, or stay for noon conference (depending on the program). Then closing remarks and you are free to go home. Remember to get the names of people you interviewed with or email the program coordinators about them so you can send thank you notes later.