Know The Program Very Well

Review all the information they send you.

Visit the program's web site.

Ask for an interview schedule ahead of time if it was not included (fax or e-mail).

Ask the program what to expect and what materials to bring for the interview day.

Find out about the faculty, particularly any interviewers (Medline search, web search).

Speak with any Rush graduates in the program or others you might know.

Speak with residents and M4s on interview day for the real story.

Know a great deal about the specialty's culture:

What do practitioners in the field really do?

What types of procedures do they perform?

How are they perceived by other specialists?

Do they have opportunities for subspecialty training?

Specialty board exam requirements?

What do they value or view as important as a specialty?

Questions to ask from Faculty and PD

What is the success of graduates: board scores, help finding jobs/fellowships?

What are the clinical, non-clinical, and administrative responsibilities of the residents?

Are there research opportunities?

Status of the program and hospital: Have any house staff left the program? Accreditation?

Quality of current residents? Have any left the program recently?

How are residents evaluated? How often? By whom? How may they give feedback?

Teaching opportunities?

Do you foresee any changes in the next three years?

What makes this program so unique?

Common Interview Questions!!!!

Tell me about yourself.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Why are you interested in this specialty? (#1 question asked)

What other specialties did you consider?

Why are you interested in our program?

What are you looking for in a program? Where else have you interviewed?

Why should we choose you? What can you contribute to our program?

How well do you feel you were trained to start as an intern?

Describe your learning style.

Tell me about... item(s) on your CV or transcript, past experience, time off, etc.?

Can you tell me about this deficiency on your record? (do not discuss if you are not asked)

What do you see yourself doing in five (ten) years?

What do you think about...the current and future state of healthcare, this specialty, etc.?

What do you do in your spare time?

Present an interesting case that you had... as if you were in clinic.

Tell me about a patient encounter that taught you something.

What would you do if you knew one of your more senior residents was doing something wrong? (filling out H&P's without doing the evaluations, tying someone's tubes without consent...and other ethical questions.)

Which types of patients do you work with most effectively? (least effectively?)

How do you make important decisions?

If you could no longer be a physician, what career would you choose?

How do you normally handle conflict? Pressure?

What to do think about what is happening in...? (non-medical current event questions)

Teach me something non-medical in five minutes.

Interview attire

The first impression you make on a potential employer is the most important one. The first judgment an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why it's always important to dress professionally for a job interview, even if the work environment is casual.

What's the appropriate dress code for an interview? You'll want that first impression to be not just a good one, but, a great one. The candidate dressed in a suit and tie is going to make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in scruffy jeans and a t-shirt.

How to Dress for an Interview:

Men's Interview Attire

* Suit (solid color - navy or dark grey)
* Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
* Belt
* Tie
* Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
* Little or no jewelry
* Neat, professional hairstyle
* Limit the aftershave
* Neatly trimmed nails
* Portfolio or briefcase

Women's Interview Attire

* Suit (navy, black or dark grey)
* The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably
* Coordinated blouse
* Conservative shoes
* Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)
* No jewelry is better than cheap jewelry
* Professional hairstyle
* Neutral pantyhose
* Light make up
* Neatly manicured clean nails
* Portfolio or briefcase

What Not to Bring to the Interview

* Gum
* Ipod
* Coffee or soda
* If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only, is a good rule)
* Cover tattoos

Interview Attire Tips

* Before you even think about going on an interview, make sure you have appropriate interview attire and everything fits correctly.
* Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don't have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview.
* If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners after an interview, so they are ready for next time.
* Polish your shoes.
* Bring a breath mint and use it before you enter the building.

Dinner Before the Interview Tips!!!!

Interview Dining Tips:

• Are you really nervous? Check out the restaurant ahead of time. That way you'll know exactly what's on the menu, what you might want to order and where the rest rooms are located.
• Be polite. Remember to say "please" and "thank you" to your server as well as to your host.
• Is the table full of utensils? My British grandmother taught me an easy way to remember what to use when. Start at the outside and work your way in. Your salad fork will be on the far left, your entree fork will be next to it. Your dessert spoon and fork will be above your plate.
• Liquids are on the right, solids on the left. For example, your water glass will be on the right and your bread plate will be on the left.
• Put your napkin on your lap once everyone is seated.
• Remember what your mother spent years telling you - keep your elbows off the table, sit up straight, and don't talk with your mouth full!

During the Meal:

• Don't order messy food - pasta with lots of sauce, chicken with bones, ribs, big sandwiches, and whole lobsters are all dangerous.
• Don't order the most expensive entree on the menu.
• Do order food that is easy to cut into bite-size pieces.
• The polite way to eat soup is to spoon it away from you. There's less chance of spilling in your lap that way too!
• Break your dinner roll into small pieces and eat it a piece at a time.
• If you need to leave the table, put your napkin on the seat or the arm of your chair.
• When you've finished eating, move your knife and fork to the "four o'clock" position so the server knows you're done.
• Remember to try and relax, listen, and participate in the conversation.

To Drink or Not to Drink:

• It's wise not to drink alcohol during an interview. Interviewing is tough enough without adding alcohol to the mix.

After the Meal:

• Put your napkin on the table next to your plate.
• Let the prospective employer pick up the tab. The person who invited you will expect to pay both the bill and the tip.
• Remember to say "thank you." Consider also following-up with a thank you note which reiterates your interest in the job.