How to Nail Your Residency Interviews

Step 2: Make an Unforgettable First Impression

Residency program directors and interviewers will speak to dozens, if not hundreds, of candidates during interview season. You need to stand out, and we’re here to help you make an unforgettable first impression.

Below are the best tips for distinguishing yourself from the crowd with a stellar first impression:

• Put care into how you dress and look. Dress like a professional, preferably in a suit/pansuit. Brush your hair. Make sure your breath smells good. For virtual formats, ensure you have a quiet, clean space where you won’t be interrupted (no one wants to see your dirty laundry during an interview).
• Be punctual, as in early. “If you’re on time, you’re late”, as they say.
• Be courteous to everyone you interact with on interview day, no matter how small the interaction. Try not to be a wallflower. Use positive body language, with interviewers, employees, and residents.
• Treat every aspect of the interview day like it’s part of the interview. All informal meet-and-greets with anyone, for instance, are part of the evaluation process. Conduct yourself well on tours and in Zoom waiting rooms.
• Offer a confident greeting (and a firm handshake if you’re in person).
• Sit up straight. Slouching looks lazy, and leaning forward can be perceived as aggressive. Sit comfortably with your back and shoulders straight.
• Don’t fidget. Fidgeting makes you seem nervous and high-strung.

Studies have shown that the first few seconds are critical to a successful interview. By exuding an aura of calm self-confidence through body language, eye contact, and facial expressions, you’ll create a lasting impression of competence and professionalism.

Step 3: Answer Questions with Confidence

Part of preparing for the residency interview process is practicing how to answer questions with the right mix of confidence, competence, and candor. Here are some tips on preparing to answer questions with confidence:

• Show, don’t tell — when possible. Showing (in other words, using narratives, anecdotes, and examples) is the most memorable way to answer questions. Telling, in which you just answer a question with dry facts, can be forgettable and, at worst, a bit annoying.
• Without being arrogant, be confident. This is no time to be modest and self-deprecating.
• Pause to collect your thoughts, if necessary. A good answer after a pause is generally better than an immediate, meandering answer filled with um’s. Don’t be afraid to say, “Let me think about that for a second,” before answering.
• Have examples ready from your time in medical school, relevant clinical practice, impactful patient care anecdotes, or extracurricular experiences where you were a leader or had to practice teamwork. Knowing about the program where you’re interviewing and these examples will prepare you to answer all of the common questions to expect on interview day.
• Prepare questions to ask the interviewer in advance. Try to tie in something you know about the program, such as research you’re interested in, with your own experience.
• Study STAR, which stands for “Situation,” “Task,” “Action,” and “Result.” STAR is a structured way to answer behavioral questions. Describe the situation you were in, the task you were given, the action you took, and the result you got.
• Demonstrate your professional, concise candor in the way you answer. This confident way of answering may showcase your fit for the program.
• Write down your strengths and weaknesses before the interview. Decide how your strengths can be discussed to convince decision-makers that you’re better than anyone else they will interview.
• Use storytelling to help give color, context, and memorability to your answer. You may be able to call on life experiences. Incorporating multiple languages, negotiation tactics learned growing up in a large family, and any accomplishments you’ve earned in and out of school into your storytelling might give you an edge.
• Don’t stop at a short answer when talking about your strengths. Most applicants will nervously volunteer a lame response. “I have excellent communications skills,” is a common, forgettable answer. If your interview starts with a broad question like, “Tell me about yourself,” you should be able to answer comprehensively in a way that paints a clear, unforgettable picture.
• Be honest and open about your own challenges — where you may have made missteps or where you’re in the process of pursuing personal growth.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has compiled a list of questions most commonly asked in medical residency interviews. AAMC also has a list of residency interview questions.

Step 4: Document Your Impressions

Immediately once you complete your interviews, document all your impressions — what you liked, didn’t like, and what stuck out.

This documentation will help you prepare for future interviews and also know how to drill down your rank order list before Match Week. In a few months, you may not remember the good or the bad things you noticed while interviewing or while touring the program.

Also, it’s good to review your own performance so that you can improve with each interview.

Read Next: Average Resident Salary

Step 5: Send Thank-You Letters

Thank-you notes are not just a formality; they show your professionalism, remind interviewers of your strengths, and may boost your odds of getting an acceptance offer.

Who to send these to: Send thank-yous to the interviewer(s) you spoke with.

What they should include: Reiterate your interest in the program and mention highlights about your discussion. 

How soon you should send them: As soon as your interviews are finished, send thank-you letters.

Learn More: Send a Letter of Intent to Your First Choice Residency

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