How Positive Body Language can help you in USMLE Residency Interviews?

What you say during a residency interview is well known to have a significant impact on how well the interview goes. Prepared candidates spend a significant amount of time carefully crafting responses to the most commonly asked interview questions to ensure they are portraying themselves in the best light. However, many candidates fail to consider the message their body language conveys in addition to the words they say. 

A recent study of interview applicants showed that communication is 7% what you say, 38% is how you say it the rest 55% is your body language.

Your body language while speaking can be more honest than the words you say. For example, your tone may appear confident and assured, but if you're wringing your hands and staring elsewhere you're sending a mixed message to the person conducting the interview. They may notice your nervousness or suspect you are not telling the truth.

Now that you have started preparing for the residency interviews,  you should be aware that what stands out between two candidates, other aspects being similar, is how you present yourself and the responses. That’s right, your body language! As a matter of fact, poor body language with great answers won’t mean much. Even for virtual interviews, which season 2023 will continue with, body language matters.

There are a few things you should be aware of when it comes to body language in order to provide the most effective communication during an interview.

Making your best first impression: Communication, both digital and in person.

There are multiple advantages to attending medical school interviews in person, but some interviews must be conducted virtually. This presents many unique challenges, and while virtual interviews save time and money, it can be difficult to convey your true self through a computer screen.

Dress as if you were going to an in-person interview.
You should present yourself professionally as if you were interviewing in person. Dress formally and appropriately. Maintain a neat and clean appearance. This means you should wear a suit, a conservative blouse or collared shirt, a tie, and dress pants even if you are seated. You never know when you'll need to stand up during an interview, and you don't want to be caught in your PJs.

Click here to know more about how men and women should dress for interviews.

Set up, Internet and Background Check 
Start by preparing your hardware. Hardware is essential for virtual interviews. Check that your laptop or other device has a working video function. Many interviewers use the built-in webcam on their computers. Others have purchased HD webcams and ring lights. Both options are viable. The audio must be top-notch. Get an external mic if needed. Audio makes a lot of difference. 

High-speed internet is a must. Make sure it is on a wired connection. A high-speed Ethernet connection is highly recommended. 

Every pixel the interviewer captures of you makes you more human and relatable. You should also make sure that the webcam is at eye level to make the conversation feel more realistic. Be aware of your background. Everything that your camera sees is visible to your interviewers. Use no filters or animations. Make sure the background is neutral, you can also go in for a virtual background. 

There is some debate about whether you should look at the camera or at yourself on the screen when speaking. Look directly at the camera's aperture to simulate eye contact. Consider disabling your preview function.

Mute Distractions, Such as Phone and Computer Notifications
You cannot keep your cell phone with you simply because you are at home. Keep it nearby so that if you experience a technological malfunction, you can contact the program coordinator, but make sure it is turned off. Do not answer the phone or even glance down at a text or notification.

You don't want the buzz of a notification or the bark of your pet to cut you off in the middle of your sentence. If you have small children or pets, ask a family member or friend to watch them elsewhere.

Exercise your content, tone of voice, and body language
Examine your application to ensure that you are comfortable discussing anything you wrote down. This is your opportunity to shine. You can keep a list open to the side of your screen. Make a list of talking points or questions to keep on hand for future reference. Don't look at it while speaking. It's only there for a quick glance before you return your focus to the interviewer.

Be mindful of your tone of voice, as it can influence how the interviewers perceive you. Certain aspects are different, such as no handshake, difficulty making direct eye contact, and so on. However, body language and speaking habits remain consistent.

Some basic mistakes to avoid 
Based on working with hundreds of students on virtual interview guidance and practice, we have noticed the following mistakes which can doom your virtual interviews.

  1. Make sure your audio is good. 
  2. Along with audio, internet speed is important as well. Sometimes you might get cut off, picture or audio is frozen.
  3. The other mistake is people try to take these interviews over phones or iPads. Please Don't Do That. 
  4. Coming to the room, the room where you take the interview must be calm and well-lit. Make sure the glare is not on your face.
  5. All these are the basic things that you have to consider before the interview.  

USMLE Sarthi provides mock interviews with mentors and program directors who have served on admissions committees and interviewed hundreds of applicants for residency. We also provide a comprehensive course on How to Ace the Interview, which covers everything from creating a questions sheet to answering the most common interview questions?

Contact us or visit our website for more information.

Click here to enroll in Residency Interview Preparation Plan. 


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