When you’re living out of a suitcase, you find yourself thinking the same things. “What time is the interview dinner, when did I get my suit dry cleaned last, what time do I have to make my next flight?” As you go through the interview process, you find yourself preparing the same questions, more or less. By the 10th interview, it feels like old hat. So in the spirit of preparing for interviews (also when you Google “interview questions,” you will see thousands), here are some of the top questions I’ve been asked in interviews:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why this? (Literally, anything on your resume. Know your resume cold.)
- Tell me about this research. (Based on your CV. I didn’t experience any pimping in my interviews).
- What’s your greatest weakness?
- Tell me about a memorable patient.
- When did you disagree with someone?
- How do you work on a team?
- Tell me about your greatest accomplishment.
- Why this program?
- What do you see yourself doing in 15 years?
- How do you want to spend your research years (if the program has a required or optional research part)?
- What questions do you have for us? Always have questions. I had an 30 minute interview that was only this question. Be prepared.
- Why surgery? What sub-specialty?
- Why not something else?
- Tell me about your hobbies. (Be prepared to go into detail, this is where programs want to learn and will remember things that will stand out).
What other questions have you seen while interviewing?
