Residency Interview tips and tricks

After Getting the Invitation
Once you get the interview invitation from the program, often the applicants like me are overwhelmed and get anxious to know what would be the next appropriate move.

Write short e-mail to the coordinator showing  gratitude and to provide appropriate information about the program, interviewer, travel, and accommodation etc. Most of the coordinator respond with e-mail and the information within 24 hours. They usually respond with attached documents and ask you to confirm the date of your interview.
  • One week before the Interview Day
Sometimes we loose our focus in other day to day activities. We might have difficulties in travel, accommodation in the place of our interview. Being a International medical graduate, I have faced lots of travel and accommodation difficulties but thanks to Facebook. 

We can search the program's website and find current residents and their contact address and communicate. Find them in Facebook and send them message regarding your opportunity to interview at their program. Usually we don't get any response but we may try our luck.

We can use Google to assist in our travel, accommodation and other information regarding the key person from the program. If we can manage to prepare our answers before hand regarding the program, persons and the locality, it generally pays off well. Use Google Map.
  • One day before Interview Day
Relax. You might have traveled from far away to the place. Do not get anxious about the new environment. Talk with your friends, family, seniors. I usually use Skype, Google Talk to video chat to relax myself. Don't bother about the interview, you have already worked  hard for that. This is the time for some relaxation, positive vibration and hope for wonderful day, on the interview day.

Check your interview suits. Iron them. Polish your shoes. Shave your 3 day beard. Smile. Ready documents if you are planning to submit them, if any.

Check alarm. recheck it. Calculate all possible barricades from your place of stay to the Lobby of the program and set your alarm accordingly.

After having light dinner, watch movie. A positive and uplifting movie like 'A pursuit of happiness' but not any horror movies or war movies. It helps. Gives energy. 

Don't wake up after 10. Have a good night sleep.
  • On the day of Interview
Be nice to everyone you meet on the way. Smile. Greet and again smile.

Feel comfortable and confident. What you feel, it radiates. It is shown in your face. Chest out, abs in. Chin up and smile.

Warm and firm and brief handshake to everyone. Introduce yourself with your name and the place you are from. Sit comfortably. Do not forget to smile.

Find rest room. Ask for direction. 

Know your interviewer before you meet them. Its very good to call them by their first name or Dr. last name. Even if you forget their name, don't get anxious. We are human. We make error. Its not possible to know and remember everything. Its okay.

Be confident in your answer but not arrogant. Speak loud. Smile. Speak slowly and clearly. Watch for your own body language. Slight gestures are appropriate. Maintain eye contact.

After interview, say thank you for the opportunity of that interview. Maintain eye contact and have firm handshake.

You can check more residency interview tips here.
  • After interview
Send thank you e-mail. Write specific things that you liked about the program, a person or anything that you liked in particular.

Final words: Never loose hope and confidence and optimism about Life.

1 comment:

  1. I am new to this website and I have found it very helpful. I am in college working for my Masters in Teaching. I have been substitute teaching for 3 years. Do you have any advice for substitutes as well as student teaching and what I need to do from here? Can you tell me about funny interview questions.

    ReplyDelete

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