US Residency

Interview Tips
Resiyay Residency Services
Dr. Tabby Fayyaz
Dr. Ahmed
Dr. Wasif
& Numerous Dedicated Residents
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 Contents

Letter of Interest template - 3

Interview Setup - 5

Answer length - 7

How to address common questions - 9

What to avoid - 20

Questions to ask - 22

Post-interview thank you email - 28

 Letter of Interest

● Caution: Avoid sending LOI if programs specifically do not encourage this

● Provide a brief explanation of interest

● Long emails are not encouraged

● The following example is a template

○ Utilize it to understand the content of a letter of interest
○ Provide a brief explanation of interest
 Letters of Interest

● Caution: Avoid sending LOI if programs specifically do not encourage this

● Simple Format (for IM)
○ Greeting: Good Morning Dr. XYZ or Dear (Program Coordinator's name),
○ Paragraph 1: I hope my email finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to reiterate my strong interest in [Program Name
Speciality] Residency Program. Currently, I am a [state position] at [institution], and interested in an opportunity to pursue my career at
[Program Name]. I am a [punctual, ambitious, and committed professional - the attributes that distinguishes me from my peers.]
○ Paragraph 2: My credentials are:
■ Step 1 -
■ Step 2 CK -
■ USCE -
■ ECFMG Certification - Yes
■ Publications -
■ Visa Status -
○ Paragraph 3: What distinguishes [Program Name Speciality] Residency Program for me is the fact that residents are supported with a
rigorous academic platform in a friendly environment. Apart from the work-life balance, flexible schedule and supportive staff, I am
specially drawn by the in-house [list attributes you admire] that this institution offers. Importantly, I have special ties with [Place/City/State
of the program] and consider it a place near to my heart. After a successful match, I plan to settle here and practice medicine.
○ Paragraph 4: I believe my energy for growth, enthusiasm for [certain aspect], and clinical experience of more than [x years] backed up
with leadership qualities, makes me a desired candidate for [Program Name Speciality] Residency Program.
○ Closing remarks: Thank you for your time and consideration.
○ Best regards,
■ Your Name
■ AAMC ID #
● As this is a template, focus on personalizing and adding unique qualities and attributes
 Interviews

● Organize!
● Set Reminders for Interview Day
○ Check Time Zone
● Create a separate note/document for each program and note
■ Interview date - Title “Nov 19th - XYZ program” for easier access
■ Location
● Research travel time from home
● Discover your interest in the local area (coffee shops, golf, nature, etc)
■ Any deadlines for signed documents
■ PC’s information for emergencies on interview day
■ Interview day schedule
■ Interviewer’s names and research
● Medical school/Residency location/Fellowship
● Primary interests
● Duration with program
 Virtual Interview Set Up

● Video call a friend prior to starting interview

● Join 5-10 minutes prior
○ Time Zone: Confirm and set reminders
○ Camera: Confirm if eye level is with camera or screen
○ Lighting: Check for glares, blurry spots
○ Internet: Have backup ready and PC’s contact
○ Background: Plain or a few meaningful pieces

For More Tips on Setup: Interview Prep

 Answer length

● Maximum: 2-3 minutes

○ Exception: You are asked to elaborate further
● At the end of a question
○ (If appropriate) present your answer and tie in how
that quality makes you a competent resident for
the program
 General

● Match enthusiasm of interviewer

○ Be professional and welcoming in all interactions
● Presentation
○ Utilize conservative colors (black, blue, gray, etc)
○ Smile when appropriate
○ Avoid yawning, frowning, leaning back excessively
● For any personality traits or strengths - related question
○ Illustrate how it adds to your life
○ What it will contribute to program
● When asked to describe a case
○ Present in vignette form “35 yo F came to the clinic with….”
○ During interview (especially with Faculty and the PD)
■ Present a case if there is ample time
■ This reflects your ability to effectively present information
 Addressing Red Flags

● Avoid
○ Complaining or making excuses
○ Ex: Achieved low step 2 score due to excessive workload as an intern/student
● Address it maturely
○ 1. Take responsibility
○ 2. Describe
■ Utilize STAR method in a modified format
● State the situation (failed step, gap years, etc)
● Talk about your role during that situation (student, intern, attending, etc)
● Describe what you learned from that red flag
● Emphasize how that red flag added to your positive qualities and the
measures you will take to avoid a repeat
○ Highlight what you have accomplished after that red flag
■ This demonstrates you have learned and improved from that difficult situation
 Tell Me About Yourself

● One possible technique is to organize the answer in 3 parts

● Part 1
○ Talk about your origin: where you grew up/home country, family
● Part 2
○ Talk about your hobbies
○ Ideally 1-2 hobbies - why you enjoy them and how they add to your life
■ This is an opportunity to show your strengths in the form of hobbies “I
enjoy hiking because it allows me to adapt to new challenges; I will
face new territories in residency and will draw upon my experience to
successfully adapt”
● Part 3
○ Talk about your journey to medicine and what you are doing currently
 Strengths

● Strengths/Why choose you/What can you bring to the

program/What did you learn from previous jobs
● Self starter/Self motivator
● Do not require external motivation to start
● Highlight leadership skills
● Mention the diversity you bring
● Emphasize what makes you stand out “I would like you
to know…”
● Avoid: work well under pressure
● Indirectly implies you only do well under pressure
 Weaknesses

● Reflect on a quality you have been told about from

friends/colleagues/attendings
● Present the trait or weakness
○ Describe why it was/is a weakness
○ Describe what you have done to overcome it or what you
are doing if you currently possess it
○ Emphasize what you have learned from that weakness
● This question is an opportunity to express both maturity in
your thought process and self reflection
 Behavioral

HIPAA! Emphasize if it is unethical, it is wrong

Patient Colleague

● Ensure patient safety & ● Ensure patient safety

care was not compromised ● Speak with colleague and
● Check documentation ask to self report
● Speak with colleague ● Report if colleague does not
 Plans for Fellowship
as an incoming intern

● Utilize your best judgment according to your speciality

● Prepare a genuine explanation for chosen fellowship
○ Simply stating interest without reasoning would reflect lack of
preparation
● Internal Medicine
○ Emphasize your focus on becoming a competent physician
○ If you are interested in a fellowship
■ Confirm the program offers that or graduated residents have
pursued fellowship
■ It would not be ideal if your focus is on a subspeciality and the
program you are interviewing at does not support that
 Resolve Conflict
● Avoid involving a third individual/party
● Reflect maturity by stating conflict is imminent/inevitable
● Demonstrate the ability to openly communicate
○ Invite the other individual to an informal conversation
○ Open the door to communication
○ Focus on a goal of resolution
● Ex: Conflict with co-worker (Utilize STAR technique)
○ State the situation
○ Describe your task briefly
○ Mention the action taken
○ Highlight the resolution
○ Emphasize how you will continue to use this tactic for future
conflicts
 Why this Program

● Pay attention to program strengths on website or brochures

● Highlight Academics
● The program graduates competent and empathetic clinicians
● Highlight Personal Ties
● Family
● Senior Residents
● Visited before
● Emphasize Location
● Mention any family or ties to area
● Can mention you are single and willing to relocate easily
● Other Factors
● Research
● Teaching opportunity - Medical/PA/NP/Pharm students
● Continuity clinic and community outreach
● For More Information [Link]
 Why this Speciality

● Emphasize growth
○ Growth over years of development (vs impulsive)
○ “I channeled my passion through volunteering….”
● Express how you feel practicing this in the future
● Express how this will add to your personal goals
○ Primary Care, Fellowship, Free clinic, Research, etc
 Mention something not in your CV

● This is an opportunity to highlight strengths

● Ideally state a personal quality and elaborate on how
that adds to your life
 Research

● Mention why you like Research

● Briefly mention research title
● If asked - elaborate on details
● If asked repeatedly - present beyond 2-3 min rules
● This could be the case if the interviewer has similar
interests
 Don’t Do

● Do not mention negative qualities about yourself or school or

speciality or home country
● US vs home country
■ Highlight the attractive points of US residency
■ Draw from impression during first USCE or most
memorable USCE
● Red flags
● If asked: describe situation, take responsibility, emphasize
what you learned
 Don’t Do (cont’d)

● Do not ask faculty or PD

● How many weekend calls/night shifts/ICU
● This information is readily available on websites
● Do not ask
● Faculty/Resident/PD to vouch for your during the
interview if you are from the same institution/country
● Remain professional
 How to formulate Questions

● Observe website for program highlights

○ Inquire about the highlights in a question format
● Observe introductory material sent prior to interview
○ Ask about new additions to the program and how they have affected
the program
● Observe overview presentation/video during the interview
○ Ask about particular aspects incorporated in the video “I learned about
the new continuity clinic, could you please help me understand the role
of interns in running that initiative?”
● Inquire about genuine interests
○ Procedures and Simulation labs
○ Educational material/support for Step 3 and Speciality Boards
○ Away rotations
 Questions for PD

● Inquire about
○ Any particular elective of interest on the schedule
○ Goals for incoming residents

For More Tips: Interview Prep

 Questions for Faculty
Inquire about

● Teaching interests of faculty

● Qualities of an ideal resident
● Education
○ Is there an orientation program for incoming residents?
○ Is there a formal didactic curriculum, and what is its structure? Confirm not already present on website
○ What are the informal learning opportunities (i.e., bedside rounds, etc.)?
○ What programs exist for resident education (e.g., lectures, journal clubs, grand rounds, board review courses,
etc.)?
○ Is there a feedback structure that allows for the resident to evaluate the program’s curriculum?
○ Is attendance at regional and national conferences encouraged? Is it funded, and, if so, to what degree?
○ Are there any required rotations that take place outside of the city?
○ Are there opportunities to do “away” rotations?
○ Is there a formal mentoring program for new residents, and do faculty serve as mentors?
● Clinical Duties
○ What provisions are made for back-up call or sick-call coverage?
○ What type of structure for supervision is in place?
○ How does the resident’s autonomy change as they progresses through the program?
○ What type of ancillary support is available (phlebotomy, respiratory therapy, social workers, etc.)?
○ Does the general volume of clinical responsibility support a balance between service and education?

For More Tips: Interview Prep

 Questions for Faculty (Cont’d)

● Employment
○ Is parking a concern for residents at your program?
○ Are meals paid for when on call?
○ What is your family leave policy?
○ Is there reimbursement for educational supplies and books?
○ Are moonlighting opportunities available? What are the rules for moonlighting?
○ How are residents represented at the institution level? How is the resident member of Graduate Medical
Education Committee (GMEC) selected?
● Program Performance
● Are there any plans for changing the program size or structure?
● How committed is your institution to resident education and graduate medical education in general? How is this
evidenced?
● What percent of your residents complete your program?
● What percent of your graduates pass the specialty boards on their first attempt?
● Where do your graduates go (e.g., fellowship, academics, private practice)?
 Questions for Residents
Inquire about

○ Program culture
○ Resident Performance
■ How often are residents evaluated?
■ What is the structure of the evaluation (forms, face-to-face, etc.)?
■ What other forms of feedback does the resident receive (in-training exam, etc.)?
■ What support structures are in place for residents in academic need?
○ Clinical Experiences
■ What is the EMR?
■ How is the nursing staff/support?
■ How often do you get to see your own patients? How does resident autonomy change through the PGY
years?
■ Is there good variety of pathology?
■ What is the ratio of residents/attendings?
■ Is the clinic located close to / at the hospital?
○ Night Shifts: Often the most daunting & thrilling experience as a new intern
■ How was your experience on nights?
■ Am I responsible for cross-cover, admissions, both?
■ Is there support from upper-level seniors/attendings?
 Questions for Residents (Cont’d)
○ Vacation:
■ How many vacation weeks?
■ Are you able to break up vacation days or have to take at a week at a time?
■ Is there vacation during the holidays (Christmas/New Years)?
■ What is the maximum time I can take off at once?
■ What blocks can I take vacation?
○ Relationship with fellows (if present):
■ How often to residents interact with fellows?
■ Do lot of residents stay for fellowship?
■ Is there mentorship from fellows during residency?
■ Are there shared research opportunities?
■ Do you have any fellowship interests?
○ Local activities
○ Any favorite aspects of the program from their perspective
○ Housing or rent costs
 Post-Interview Thank You Email
● Individual letters to each interviewer
● Define your appreciation for having the opportunity to interview
● Emphasize that you thoroughly enjoyed the visit and offer your
availability for any further questions or information they may wish to
have
● In a low key fashion
○ State that you will remain hopeful that they found your interview to
their liking and would look forward to serving as a future resident
at their institution
○ “I hope you will consider me favorably for your program”
● What to avoid
○ Additional explanation of questions conducted in IV
 In Person Visits

● Demonstrates further interest

● Schedule with PC shortly after interview
○ Only encouraged if you genuinely intend to commit to
the visit
● Generally would include visit with PD and Chief residents
● Mention name of faculty (if any) who you would like to
particularly visit with during the tour
 Practice and Perfect!
Resiyay Free Mock Interviews
For Updates