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 25–36 of 482

What do you perceive as the most significant difficulty facing <specialty> today?

Career Specialty-Specific
Why this question?
This question checks if you're aware of the big issues in your field and if you can think critically about them. They want to see if you know the challenges and if you have a proactive mindset about tackling them.
Best practices
  • Pick a real, well-known challenge in the specialty. Make sure it's something a senior physician would agree is an issue.
  • Explain why this challenge matters. Talk about the consequences if it's not addressed.
  • Show a proactive attitude. Mention efforts being made or how you hope to contribute to solutions.
What to avoid
  • Don't say there are no challenges. Every specialty has them, and saying otherwise shows a lack of insight.
  • Avoid a negative tone. Listing complaints without any optimism or solutions can make you seem jaded.
  • Don't criticize the interviewers' institution or make it too local. Stick to systemic issues.

What elements of <specialty> do you find less appealing?

Career Specialty-Specific
Why this question?
This question checks if you're aware of the big issues in your field and if you can think critically about them. They want to see if you know the challenges and if you have a proactive mindset about tackling them.
Best practices
  • Pick a real, well-known challenge in the specialty. Make sure it's something a senior physician would agree is an issue.
  • Explain why this challenge matters. Talk about the consequences if it's not addressed.
  • Show a proactive attitude. Mention efforts being made or how you hope to contribute to solutions.
What to avoid
  • Don't say there are no challenges. Every specialty has them, and saying otherwise shows a lack of insight.
  • Avoid a negative tone. Listing complaints without any optimism or solutions can make you seem jaded.
  • Don't criticize the interviewers' institution or make it too local. Stick to systemic issues.

If you could change one aspect of <specialty>, what Would it be?

Career Specialty-Specific
Why this question?
This question checks if you're aware of the big issues in your field and if you can think critically about them. They want to see if you know the challenges and if you have a proactive mindset about tackling them.
Best practices
  • Pick a real, well-known challenge in the specialty. Make sure it's something a senior physician would agree is an issue.
  • Explain why this challenge matters. Talk about the consequences if it's not addressed.
  • Show a proactive attitude. Mention efforts being made or how you hope to contribute to solutions.
What to avoid
  • Don't say there are no challenges. Every specialty has them, and saying otherwise shows a lack of insight.
  • Avoid a negative tone. Listing complaints without any optimism or solutions can make you seem jaded.
  • Don't criticize the interviewers' institution or make it too local. Stick to systemic issues.

What qualities do you value in your future co-residents?

Career
Why this question?
Residency is all about teamwork! This question checks if you understand what makes a great team player and if you'll fit into the program's culture.
Best practices
  • Highlight teamwork traits like reliability, communication, and support.
  • Explain how these traits improve patient care and learning.
  • Share how you'd handle challenges professionally, like poor communication.
What to avoid
  • Don't use negative labels like 'lazy' or 'arrogant.'
  • Avoid saying you get along with everyone; it sounds unrealistic.
  • Don't skip explaining how you'd handle difficult situations.

Which types of people do you have trouble working with?

Career
Why this question?
This question checks how well you handle teamwork and conflict. They want to see if you can work well with others and solve problems professionally.
Best practices
  • Focus on behaviors, not labels. Talk about actions that make teamwork hard, like poor communication.
  • Explain why these behaviors are challenging, like how they can affect patient safety or workflow.
  • Share your strategy for handling these situations, like having a respectful conversation or seeking help if needed.
What to avoid
  • Don't use negative labels like 'lazy' or 'arrogant.'
  • Avoid saying you get along with everyone; it sounds unrealistic.
  • Don't just complain about others; show how you'd handle the situation constructively.

What are you looking for in co-residents?

Career
Why this question?
They want to see if you understand teamwork and if you'll fit in with the program's culture. It's about checking your interpersonal skills and how you handle conflicts.
Best practices
  • Highlight teamwork traits like reliability, communication, and support.
  • Connect these traits to better patient care and learning.
  • If discussing challenges, focus on behaviors, not labels, and explain how you'd handle them.
What to avoid
  • Don't use negative labels like 'lazy' or 'arrogant.'
  • Avoid saying you get along with everyone; it sounds unrealistic.
  • Don't just complain about issues; offer a strategy to handle them.

During residency, which one do you think is more crucial, collaboration or clinical knowledge, and and why?

Career
Why this question?
This question checks if you understand the importance of teamwork in residency and how it impacts patient care and learning. They want to see if you can fit into their team and handle interpersonal dynamics well.
Best practices
  • Highlight the importance of teamwork in ensuring patient safety and effective learning.
  • Mention how clinical knowledge is crucial but emphasize how teamwork enhances its application.
  • Use examples to show how teamwork and clinical knowledge together lead to better outcomes.
What to avoid
  • Don't choose one over the other without explaining how they complement each other.
  • Avoid negative labels or judgments about others; focus on behaviors instead.
  • Don't claim you never have issues with teamwork; show how you handle challenges constructively.

How crucial is continuing education to you?

Career Professional Growth
Why this question?
This question checks if you're committed to lifelong learning and staying updated with medical advancements. It's also about seeing if you're interested in research and how you might contribute to the program's academic goals.
Best practices
  • Make it clear that continuing education is crucial for providing top-notch patient care.
  • Share how you stay updated, like reading journals, attending conferences.
  • Connect your learning to better patient outcomes and care.
What to avoid
  • Don't dismiss the importance of research or continuing education.
  • Avoid vague answers; be specific about your learning methods and experiences.
  • Don't forget to link your interests to the program or show how they improve patient care.

Could you elaborate on your interest in research?

Career Research
Why this question?
They want to see if you're into lifelong learning and staying updated with medical advancements. For research-focused programs, they're checking your interest in scholarly activities.
Best practices
  • Show you value research, even if it's not your main focus. Talk about how it advances medicine.
  • Share any past research experiences, like projects you worked on and skills you gained.
  • Connect your research interests to the program's faculty or projects to show you've done your homework.
What to avoid
  • Don't dismiss research or say you're only doing it because you have to.
  • Avoid vague answers. Be specific about your experiences and interests.
  • Don't forget to mention how research ties into better patient care.

Please discuss a research project you’ve participated in, detailing your role?

Career Research
Why this question?
This question checks if you're committed to lifelong learning and staying updated with medical advancements. It also gauges your interest in research and how you might contribute to the program's academic goals.
Best practices
  • Show appreciation for research and its role in advancing medicine, even if you're not research-focused.
  • Detail your past research experiences, including your role, skills gained, and outcomes.
  • Connect your research interests to the program's faculty or ongoing projects to show you've done your homework.
What to avoid
  • Don't dismiss research as unimportant or show a lack of enthusiasm.
  • Avoid vague answers; be specific about your role and contributions.
  • Don't forget to link your research experience to patient care and outcomes.

What are the latest studies or articles you have read, and what insights did you gain from them?

Career Research
Why this question?
This question checks if you're committed to lifelong learning and staying updated with medical advancements. It also gauges your interest in research and how you might contribute to the program's academic goals.
Best practices
  • Highlight the importance of continuous education for high-quality patient care.
  • Share how you stay updated, like reading journals, attending conferences.
  • Connect your learning to better patient outcomes and care.
What to avoid
  • Don't dismiss the importance of research or continuing education.
  • Avoid vague answers; be specific about what you've read and learned.
  • Don't forget to link your interests to the program and how you can contribute.

Would you engage in research during your residency, and and why?

Career Research
Why this question?
This question checks if you're into lifelong learning and staying updated with medical advancements. For research-focused programs, it also sees if you're interested in contributing to their academic goals.
Best practices
  • Show appreciation for research, even if it's not your main focus.
  • Talk about any past research experiences and what you learned.
  • Connect your research interests to the program's projects or faculty.
  • Explain why research excites you, like solving clinical puzzles.
  • Be open to different scholarly activities, not just big research projects.
What to avoid
  • Don't dismiss research as unimportant or just a requirement.
  • Avoid vague answers; be specific about your experiences and interests.
  • Don't forget to link your research interests to the program you're applying to.
0 / 0
0:00