Interview Trailblazing: Resources for Residency Applicants

This post was peer reviewed.
Click to learn more.

Image Credit: Pexels

Author: Jessica Fujimoto MD
Emergency Medicine Chief Resident
Temple University Hospital AAEM/RSA Vice President

Ah, peak residency interview season. You’re getting tired from all of your travels. You’ve forgotten the components of the PERC rule, but can rattle off your hobbies and interests like nobody’s business. Oh yeah, and your suit is starting to get a bit snug from all the free food and drinks.

Ok fine, maybe that last part was just me...

Top Ten Things I Have Learned Along the Interview Trail

Author: Chris Ryba, MS4
Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council President

As my interview season comes to a close and Match Day now awaits on the horizon, I thought now would be the perfect opportunity to list the top ten things I have learned along the interview trail:

1. The Interview Trail is TIRING
Long days, long travel times across the country, early morning starts, and the constant goal of always trying to look your best during months of interviews can take a major toll on the body.

My advice: Rest up and keep a good sleep schedule, maintain a healthy lifestyle, pack meals for road trips, and take advantage of hotel perks.

Top 10 Ways to Ace the Interview

Image Credit: Flickr

Author: Melanie Pollack, OMSIV
Vice President, AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council '15-'16

Congratulations, emergency medicine students! You've selected your away rotations, succeeded at them, and now you're interviewing! Here are 10 ways to shine during interview season. Good luck!

1. Scheduling
Prime interview time will be November through January, so try to plan your rotations so you will have available slots. An important matter to keep in mind is geography. Try to make your life easier by lumping regions around the same time so you can save some money. Another important tip is to not schedule your top program first. Get a few under your belt so you are comfortable when you arrive at a desired program. If you have to cancel an interview, make sure there is a reasonable amount of time so the program can fill the spot. The biggest no-no would be to no show. Emergency medicine is a small world and people talk. Do not cancel the night before or no show. Just don’t do it.

2. To be Early is to be On Time. To be On Time is to be Late. To be Late is Unacceptable.
First things first, be on time. Plain and simple. Plan ahead, map out the path to take and notice possible delays. If you are late, make sure to call the programs contact and explain what happened.

3. Dress Appropriately
Especially as emergency medicine professionals, dressing in a suit and tie can be hard. You are interviewing for a job and must dress accordingly. Men, a suit and tie is easy and appropriate. For women, a nice pant or skirt suit is acceptable. For both, keep it simple with black or blue suits and a nice white or neutral colored shirt. Do not wear extravagant jewelry. Try to avoid strong perfume or cologne.

Interviewing Tips for Emergency Medicine Residency Positions

Via Flickr - Creative Commons

Authors:
Andrew W. Phillips, MD MEd
Gregory Wanner, DO PA-C

This is not peer reviewed … This is not evidence based … This is based on nothing more than our own meandering experiences that we thought may be helpful at this time of year. We invite comments below the post from everyone — students, residents, and attendings. Share your recommendations and experiences.

1) Research the program ahead of time.
Not just for 10-15 minutes, but for 2-3 hours. Know the programs leadership by their faces. Know the faculty you would seek as mentors based on their posted biographies. When you receive your interview schedule upon arrival, try to step aside during down time and look up information about your interviewers. Most interviewers know what is on their program’s website — so should you.

2) Contact medical school alumni who went into emergency medicine.
Get to know them if you don’t already. You never know what a good word from the inside can do when trying to get an interview or on the wait list. They can also give you a candid perspective on programs and their experiences.

10 Tips for the Interview Trail

Author: Sepi Jooniani, MD MPH

As you prepare for interview season, here are ten tips to help you along the way. Most of this advice is purely common sense, and after going on your first few interviews, it will become a routine that is second nature to you. However, if the anticipation of your first interview overwhelms you with pre-interview jitters, it might help to mentally prepare yourself by reading over some pointers.

“Too good to be true? It just might be.” — Notes and Pitfalls from the Job Trail

Originally Published: Common Sense, Jan/Feb 2013

Original Author: Leana S. Wen, MD MSc, AAEM/RSA President

‘Tis the season to find a job. At least it is for me and my senior resident colleagues across the country.

The first thing we learn is that this job search process is unlike any other we’ve gone through before. It’s certainly different from the rest of our medical training. Getting into medical school was no walk in the park, but it was a structured process, often with ample guidance from professors. The Match may have its own share of problems, but the process was uniform. Now, looking for an attending job, there are so many options and so many uncertainties. Whether it’s community or academia, there is no clear path to getting that ideal job.