Residency Interview Prep

Search, practice, and track progress. Press / to focus search, ↑/↓ to navigate cards, Enter to open guidance.

All Adaptability Advocacy Behavioral Burnout Career Career Goals Challenges Clinical Scenarios Communication Conflict Conflict Resolution Core Decision-Making Diversity & Inclusion Equity Ethical Ethics Experience Feedback Hypothetical scenarios Interprofessional Collaboration Introduction Leadership Miscellaneous Motivation Patient Encounter Patient Safety Personal Personal Attributes Professional Growth Professionalism Program Fit Quality Improvement Research Residency CV Resilience Resource Stewardship Self-Reflection Specialty Specialty-Specific Systems-Based Practice Teaching Teamwork Telemedicine Time Management Top Wellness
Showing 145–156 of 482

What’s your approach to manage conflicts in a professional setting?

Behavioral Communication Conflict Resolution
Why this question?
Conflict management is crucial in residency. This question checks if you can handle disagreements maturely and constructively, without resorting to unprofessional behavior.
Best practices
  • Stay calm and address issues privately to avoid public embarrassment.
  • Express your perspective without blaming others.
  • Listen actively to understand the other person's viewpoint and find common ground.
What to avoid
  • Avoid ignoring conflicts or hoping they'll just go away.
  • Don't confront someone aggressively or in front of others.
  • Saying 'I've never experienced conflict' might suggest a lack of awareness.

What’s your approach to effectively collaborate with your team during complex or lengthy procedures?

Behavioral Communication Specialty-Specific
Why this question?
This question checks how you handle teamwork in high-pressure, long-duration scenarios. They want to see if you can keep the team coordinated and focused when things get intense.
Best practices
  • Start with a pre-procedure huddle to discuss the plan and assign roles.
  • Communicate clearly and consistently during the procedure to keep everyone informed.
  • Stay aware of your team's needs, like suggesting breaks if someone seems fatigued.
  • Encourage a culture where everyone feels comfortable speaking up with concerns or observations.
  • Debrief after the procedure to discuss what went well and what could improve.
What to avoid
  • Focusing only on your own tasks and ignoring team dynamics.
  • Thinking too much communication is distracting instead of helpful.
  • Not checking in with team members to see if they need help or a break.

How would you manage in a situation where you suspect your chief resident is working while impaired?

Behavioral Hypothetical scenarios Core
Why this question?
This question tests your judgment, courage, and adherence to professional standards. It checks if you'll prioritize patient safety and know how to handle hierarchy when things get tough.
Best practices
  • Always put patient safety first. If you suspect impairment, act quickly to ensure no patients are at risk.
  • Verify your suspicion discreetly before taking action. You want to be sure before escalating.
  • Report your concerns to the appropriate authority, like an attending physician, following your institution's policy.
What to avoid
  • Don't ignore the situation or think it's not your business. Patient safety is everyone's responsibility.
  • Avoid confronting the chief resident publicly. Handle the situation discreetly and professionally.
  • Don't let fear of hierarchy stop you from acting. It's crucial to address the issue through proper channels.

Approach a situation where you observe a colleague consistently seeing fewer patients than you and the rest of the team?

Behavioral Hypothetical scenarios Core
Why this question?
This question is about fairness and teamwork. Interviewers want to see how you handle a colleague not pulling their weight, and if you can manage this professionally without just complaining or ignoring it.
Best practices
  • Start by understanding the situation. Have a private chat with your colleague to see if there's a reason behind their lower workload.
  • Offer support and help them find resources or tips to manage their workload better.
  • If the issue persists and affects patient care, escalate it to a supervisor, but frame it as a concern for patient care, not a complaint.
What to avoid
  • Don't jump to conclusions or immediately report them without understanding the situation.
  • Avoid ignoring the issue or just complaining to others without taking action.
  • Don't be confrontational or dismissive in your approach; aim for a supportive and understanding conversation.

Respond if a patient's family member expressed dissatisfaction with your care and requested a different physician?

Behavioral Hypothetical scenarios Core
Why this question?
This question checks how you handle criticism and maintain professionalism. They want to see if you can stay patient-focused and not take things personally.
Best practices
  • Stay calm and listen to their concerns without interrupting.
  • Apologize for their distress and try to address any misunderstandings.
  • Involve a senior physician early to support the family’s request and get guidance.
What to avoid
  • Don't get defensive or dismiss their feelings.
  • Avoid arguing or trying to convince them they're wrong.
  • Don't refuse their request or make it about your pride.

Imagine you are working as an intern, and you notice that one of your co-residents has made some significant errors. How would you approach this situation?

Behavioral Hypothetical scenarios Core
Why this question?
This question checks how you handle a teammate's mistake while ensuring patient safety. It looks at your professionalism, communication, teamwork, leadership, and ethics. Can you address the error responsibly without ignoring it or overreacting?
Best practices
  • Start by acknowledging the seriousness of the errors and their potential impact on patients.
  • Talk to your co-resident privately to understand the situation and gather context.
  • Make sure patient safety is your top priority by correcting any immediate errors.
  • Offer help or feedback to your co-resident to support their improvement.
  • If necessary, escalate the issue to a supervisor, framing it as a patient safety concern.
What to avoid
  • Don't ignore the errors or assume they'll fix themselves.
  • Avoid confronting your co-resident publicly or in a harsh manner.
  • Don't skip the step of talking to your co-resident before escalating the issue.

Imagine you are the program director of a residency, what core values would you focus on?

Behavioral Hypothetical scenarios Core
Why this question?
This question is about stepping into a leadership role and identifying the core values you think are crucial for a residency program. It reveals what you prioritize in medical training and healthcare, showing if your values align with the program's.
Best practices
  • Mention key values like patient care, education, teamwork, integrity, and professionalism.
  • Explain why each value is important and how it contributes to a successful residency program.
  • Show a balance of values, like combining clinical excellence with resident well-being and diversity.
What to avoid
  • Focusing too narrowly on one aspect, like just research or discipline.
  • Ignoring important values like patient care, teamwork, or ethics.
  • Sounding too rigid or authoritarian, like emphasizing hierarchy over collaboration.

What’s your approach to earn the trust of a patient who mistrusts the health system?

Behavioral Hypothetical scenarios
Why this question?
This question checks if you can build rapport with skeptical patients. It's about showing empathy, communication skills, and understanding of why some patients might distrust the system.
Best practices
  • Start by listening to the patient's concerns without judgment.
  • Acknowledge their feelings and validate their experiences.
  • Be transparent about your actions and involve them in decision-making.
What to avoid
  • Don't dismiss their mistrust as irrational or 'their issue'.
  • Avoid using a paternalistic tone like 'I'm the doctor, you need to listen'.
  • Never say 'just trust me'; instead, show you're trustworthy through your actions.

How would you manage if you found that a senior doctor was having a relationship with a patient?

Behavioral Hypothetical scenarios
Why this question?
This question tests your ethical judgment and willingness to uphold professional standards, even when it involves someone senior to you. It's about ensuring patient safety and integrity in the profession.
Best practices
  • Acknowledge that a doctor-patient relationship is unethical and unacceptable.
  • Outline a clear plan: gather information, consult a trusted superior, and report to the appropriate authorities.
  • Focus on patient safety: ensure the patient is reassigned and protected.
What to avoid
  • Don't ignore the situation or think it's not your problem.
  • Avoid confronting the senior doctor directly; use formal channels instead.
  • Don't be vague or indecisive about your actions; be clear and firm in your response.

What is your approach to making critical decisions?

Behavioral Core
Why this question?
Interviewers want to see how you handle high-pressure situations and make complex decisions. They're checking if you think things through, consider important factors, and know when to ask for help.
Best practices
  • Start by gathering all the relevant information you can, like patient data and team input.
  • Prioritize what's most important, like patient safety or addressing urgent issues first.
  • Use evidence-based guidelines and consult with colleagues if needed to make informed decisions.
What to avoid
  • Don't rely solely on gut feelings or defer decisions to others.
  • Avoid being too vague or general; be specific about your decision-making process.
  • Don't forget to mention patient safety and ethical considerations in your decision-making.

Prioritize the following qualities in a resident: clinical knowledge, social skills, and hard work?

Behavioral Core
Why this question?
This question is about understanding what qualities you value most in a resident and how you balance them. It's a way to see if you get that being a good doctor is about juggling different important traits.
Best practices
  • Acknowledge that all three qualities are important.
  • Explain your ranking with a reasoned argument.
  • Show how these qualities can complement each other.
What to avoid
  • Don't dismiss any of the qualities completely.
  • Avoid giving an oversimplified answer that lacks nuance.
  • Don't assume everyone is inherently hard-working without explaining your own work ethic.

What difficulties do you anticipate in balancing your professional responsibilities with your personal life?

Behavioral
Why this question?
Residency is tough, so this question checks if you've thought about work-life balance and burnout. They want to see if you're ready for the stress and have a plan to handle it.
Best practices
  • Be honest about the challenges you expect, like long hours or missing family time.
  • Share your strategies for coping, like scheduling personal time or using support systems.
  • Show that you value self-care and have realistic expectations about balancing work and life.
What to avoid
  • Saying you don't expect any challenges – it sounds naive.
  • Being too negative about the impact on your personal life – it shows a lack of resilience.
  • Ignoring the need for a plan – they want to know you've thought this through.
0 / 0
0:00