The most awaited moment is before you….the USMLE residency interview!
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You have made it halfway through the USMLE process. Yes, you read that right!
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The USMLE exams, rotations, LORs, PS/CV, application, etc. are only 50% of the process. The other 50% rides on your interview performance.

This can be very overwhelming, but  the fact that you got the interview call, shows that you are qualified for the position and you caught their attention.

​We are here to help you polish your interview skills to prove that you are a perfect match for this residency program!

Start with the following general interview tips to easy your mind about the process:
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Interview response framing

How to respond to an interview is the most crucial aspect to get through the interview. Let’s break this process into three phases to make it easier to understand :

• Content – You must have material/content to respond to the interview questions which you will get from your practice or experience. Brush up all your work experience, if possible in detail.

• Structure – Structuring comprises practicing to organize your thoughts and respond in the limited time frame. Always remember that this isn’t a coffee table chit chat, but an interview where the interviewer is only available to pay attention to relevant responses. A response may not exceed 2 minutes unless you are asked to elaborate more on the topic

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• Articulation or Communication – Responding in the right tone with passion and enthusiasm equally matters. Clarity in responding and appropriate formation of response creates a very constructive impression indeed.

General categories of questions

• Questions to start the conversation – “Tell me something about yourself” is the most expected common question asked in the interview to start with. You don’t need to tell your whole life story starting from childhood. The key to respond to this typical question is the balance of profession and  personal information.

• Questions about your medical experience & research – The interviewer already has a brief summary of your professional experiences. Use this opportunity to elaborate on specific rotations and research. Discuss what you learned, what your role was, and the outcome of this particular experience. 

• Behavioral & situational questions – The questions in this category will be about sharing some real life scenarios/situations at work.

• Personal questions – You may also be asked about your  areas of interests/hobbies.  Use this opportunity to speak passionately about your personal interests. This makes you a real person. Try to tie your hobbies into your professional life - how do these skills carry over? Again there is a balance between too much and too little here.

• Red flag questions (specifically for those who have low scores) – The key to crack this category of questions is to not get defensive with your low score, rather acknowledge the red flag and share your strategy on how you overcame that red flag. The program interviewers have already called you for an interview so don’t dwell on this red flag, but discuss what you have been doing and will do to overcome it. 

• Residency related question – In this category the interviewer will focus on your enthusiasm as well as fears about starting residency. Here, it’s very important to give them a solution rather than only highlighting your challenges & concerns. Dealing with negative feedback- In case of negative feedback you should always take it as constructive criticism and look for ways to improve.

Remember, the  interview is all about you! How do you fit into their residency program?

Take time to practice, practice, practice and crack those interviews with confidence! 

Join us today!

Must Watch before Interview

How to answer residency interview questions?

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