The questions a candidate will be asked during a residency interview are difficult to predict. However, there are a few common questions that a person should think about as he prepares for his interview. The reasons for the candidate’s interest in the program and desire to pursue a career in medicine are among the most common residency interview questions. Interviewers may also inquire about the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, as well as their interests outside of medicine and coping mechanisms.
“Why do you want to join this residency program?” is one of the most frequently asked questions during a residency interview. This is a common question asked interviewers to find out if and why their residency programs are at the top of a candidate’s list. Interviewers are usually interested in learning what the candidate has learned about the residency program, what he thinks the benefits of completing his residency through the program are, and why the candidate believes he will be a good fit for the program.
Strengths and weaknesses are also frequently asked questions during residency interviews. Interviewers frequently ask residency candidates questions intended to reveal how they see themselves. Some people may consider admitting flaws to be a negative trait, but interviewers may be looking for candidates who are capable of self-criticism and candor about areas where they need to improve. Similarly, interviewers are usually interested in hearing how a residency candidate excels and what qualities and attributes he values the most.
Interviewers frequently inquire about a candidate’s motivation for becoming a doctor during the residency interview process. While obvious reasons such as saving lives and assisting others may come to mind, there are numerous other ways in which an individual can assist others. Interviewers may want to know why the residency candidate believes a medical career is the best option. The answers to these questions may reveal the residency candidate’s interests and passions, as well as how he hopes to express them through a medical career.
Questions about a candidate’s interests and activities outside of medicine are also common in residency interviews. These are some of the questions an interviewer might ask to see if a candidate is well-rounded. He might also ask these questions to figure out how the candidate will de-stress at the end of the day, because having other interests can help a resident cope with the stresses of his training program. An interviewer may also inquire about a residency candidate’s approach to adversity. The answers to these questions may have an impact on the candidate’s chances of completing a residency as well as his ability to get along with other members of the medical team.