Congratulations on reaching the final step of the application process! You have worked hard to get to this step. Now, you should work even harder to present the best version of yourself for the interviews. Here are some tips and guidance on how to excel in your interviews!
General Tips:
Be confident - You have passed your exams, and your resume and personal statement were worth offering you an interview. Now is the time to feel confident about your journey and showcase your achievements. However, remain humble and grateful for all the opportunities and people that have led you to this stage.
Honesty and sincerity are key - Everyone faces obstacles in life. It's important to accept them, cherish the lessons learned, and highlight your growth.
Practice, practice, and practice - Think of all the possible questions that can be asked about your journey. Review your resume and personal statement for potential topics of discussion. Read through your research work as you might get asked about it. Look up common interview questions and reflect on how best you can answer them while ensuring they align with your values and personality. Practicing for common questions in front of a camera and giving mock interviews are essential. (To book a slot for a mock interview with feedback: https://www.carms-for-imgs.ca/booking-calendar/interview-mock-feedback)
Appropriate setting and professionalism - Ensure you have a good quality camera and your video is crisp. Check that your mic is working properly. Dress professionally. Make sure that people around you understand that you cannot be distracted and need to be focused during the interview.
Potential Interview Questions
Here is just a compilation of some common interview questions. Reflect on these questions, jot down the points you would like to include in your answers and then practice. This will not only reduce your nervousness on the day of the interview, but also help you in presenting the best version of yourself. Practice well in advance so that it comes naturally on the day of the interview.
Common Questions:
Tell me about yourself.
Strengths and weaknesses.
Where do you see yourself in 5/10/20 years?
What kind of a residency program are you looking for?
Why do you want to do residency in this particular field of medicine?
Why do you want to come to our program/ university for residency?
What do you think would be the biggest challenge in coming to this city/province and how do you plan on overcoming it?
Tell us about your medical school. What would you want to change about your medical school?
Tell us about your electives/ observerships/ past clinical experiences?Â
Tell us about your research or specific work that you have mentioned on your resume?
Tell us something which is not mentioned on your resume?
Tell us something interesting you have done recently?
What are some things that you like to do for fun or in your spare time?
How would your friends describe you?
How do you deal with stress? Are you sure you can handle busy hectic rotations?
Tell us something unique about you that will help us remember you?
Why should we choose you over other applicants?
Why do you think you are a good fit for this program?
What academic accomplishment are your most proud of?
Personality questions:
What is your idea of success? When you look back at your career how would you measure your success?
Where do you get your motivation from? Who or what is your inspiration?
Tell us about a patient who had a great impact on you and explain why.
When are you least efficient and effective?
If you couldn’t be a physician, what would you be?
With what types of people do you have trouble working?
Teach me something non-medical in 3 or 5 minutes.
Describe a disappointing event in life and how you coped with it?
Tell me about a time when you made a choice that ended with a good result?
Tell me about a time when you made a choice that ended with a bad result?
What non-academic accomplishments are you most proud of?
What person have you met in medical school who has inspired you? (Or outside of medical school.)
What do you want me to know about you that didn’t fit in your application? Or is there anything else you would like to tell me?
What leadership roles/experience have you held? How would you describe your decision-making style?
What is the greatest sacrifice you have made to reach where you are?
What was your favorite course in medical school?
Describe the best attending you have ever met?
How well do you take criticism?
What have you learned about yourself from previous jobs/work experience? Â
How well do you function under pressure?
How did you manage your time with so many activities?
What is your greatest fear?
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Situational questions:
Tell us about someone on your team not pulling their own weight?
Tell us about a situation you had to work with someone you did not like. How did you handle it?
If your house was burning, what three objects would you save?
What would you do if you saw another resident or physician not being professional/ negligent?
Tell us about an embarrassing situation you encountered.
Tell us about a mistake you made in a clinical / non-clinical situation.
Tell us about a time you had a conflict and how you resolved it.
Tell us how would you deal with a situation where you don't agree with your senior or person in authority.
If you didn’t match this year, what are your alternative options/what would you do?
Tell us about a time you had to adapt quickly.
Tell us about a time you worked in a team of people with conflicting opinions.
Tell us about a time where you were at a leadership position. What did you learn from it?
If you could change one thing about your personality, what would it be?
If you had unlimited money but limited time, what would you do?
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Perspective questions:
What physician characteristics do you admire the most? The least?
What do you think we should look for in our applicants?
What differences will you see between health care systems in Canada and your home country?
How do you anticipate working in a new healthcare system will be different from the one you have previously worked in? What learnings will you bring with you?
How do you think the changes in health care policy will affect you in future?
How do you think medicine will evolve in the next 10-20 years?
What is the solution to the healthcare crisis?
How prepared are you to treat the patient and disease population here? How do you think it differs from your home country?
Potential Questions to ask the Interviewer/ Faculty/ Program Directors / Residents
Here are some questions that you can ask when given an opportunity to ask at the end of the interview. Make sure to ask about what matters and what you value the most.
In your years here, in what ways do you feel the program has evolved?
What is the biggest change you have seen in the program in recent years?
What are some of the changes this program has undergone in response to resident feedback?
What changes do you anticipate in the next few years?
What is your vision for the program?
What are the mentorship structures like for the residents?
I am really interested in this that you talked about during the orientation, can you please tell me more about it?
You see residents grow from interns to seniors and graduates; what are some of the qualities you see them develop during their residency?
What is the support system like amongst the residents?
What is the learning environment like?
How much time do you get to do research and what resources do you have available? How much research does the faculty do?
Where do residents go after residency? How many residents go into fellowships? How many start working in the same hospital or city?
Again, these are just some questions for you to prepare beforehand. There might be some weird and wonderful questions that are asked, just remember to present the best version of yourself. Additionally, it is extremely important how you answer more than what you answer. Keep it organic and enjoy the conversation!!!
If you found this helpful and want to book a mock interview session with feedback:
https://www.carms-for-imgs.ca/booking-calendar/interview-mock-feedback
