- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?
- How will you contribute to our program?
- Have you applied to any other residency programs?
- How important is continuing education to you?
- Why are you interested in our program?
Grouping questions by purpose and understanding the idea behind a specific question helps candidates know how to answer possible medical residency interview questions. It is undoubtedly very helpful to review and practice answering common residency interview questions.
Surgery Residency Interviews: Post-Match Discussion
How would you describe your impact on the surgical team that you’re currently part of?
This question is used to understand a persons ability to impact change in their environment. When asking this question, an interviewer is looking to see your potential as a leader and team player.
In your response, remember to highlight your strengths as an innovator and communicator. Most importantly, your answer should showcase at least one positive change youve contributed to your current team or department.
Example: “I think its essential that everyone on the surgical team is working toward the same goals. Its also crucial that we all have a high degree of confidence in one another since we regularly work in pairs or teams.
A few years ago, I noticed our team was lacking a bit of cohesion. Some surgeons didnt even know one another. I made a suggestion to our hospital manager that we start a monthly coffee social to help the team get to know one another.
She loved the idea and asked me to lead a cohort that would plan our events. Typically, we have a speaker column to give a brief presentation and all the team members discuss techniques and ideologies relating to the presentation.
Overall, these sessions have been a major success. In the last three years, the team has become very connected, and the data shows a direct correlation to improved surgical outcomes as a result.”
Can you describe a situation in which you had to give a patient, or family members of a patient, bad news? What approach did you take, and would you act similarly if you were able to have the conversation again?
If a hiring manager or recruiter asks this type of question, its likely theyre trying to learn about your bedside manner. They may also be assessing your level of experience and compatibility with the types of procedures that are typical of their facility.
Remember to answer honestly and try to offer an example that showcases your compassion and empathy for your patients at their family members.
Example: “Unfortunately, in this line of work, difficult news is sometimes unavoidable. As a surgeon, I regularly see success and patient outcomes. However, in more serious situations, there are times in which I need to speak with patients and their family members about uncomfortable topics or undesirable outcomes. A few months ago, I was treating an elderly patient with cardiovascular disease.
As he and I discussed his second heart valve replacement surgery, I was forthright with him about the procedure and statistical outcomes. I also made sure that he had a family member with him, and I listened to all of his questions and answered them with patience, kindness and realism.
I offered him comfort by explaining that Id successfully performed this procedure many times, and I wanted him to feel secure in my care. I dont think I would act differently if I were having this conversation again, because I believed I was fair, open and attentive to his needs.”
Jobs similar to general surgeons
If youre looking for a position as a general surgeon or another type of surgeon, you have many job options to consider. Here are 10 career choices similar to general surgeons:
1. Cardiothoracic surgeon
2. Plastic surgeon
3. Neurosurgeon
4. Otolaryngology surgeon
5. Pediatric surgeon
6. Orthopedic surgeon
7. Oral surgeon
8. Colorectal surgeon
9. Vascular surgeon
10. Trauma surgeon
Understand that you are being interviewed to assess your personality, work ethic, character, and how well you will get along with both faculty and your fellow residents. Final decisions on top candidates often depend more on your personality during the interview than on your STEP scores, letters of recommendation, or anything else.
These are some of the questions I personally ask medical students applying for our highly selective and competitive surgical residency. They are much tougher than the average questions you will probably be asked but you should be prepared just in case. Do not rehearse your answers too much or they will sound fake and insincere.
Once you are invited for an interview, you have passed the first and most important screening test. It means your scores and written credentials are acceptable and you are one of the chosen few to be given a precious interview. Now you have to master the interview. This is the make or break event in the residency selection process so it is worth getting prepared for. First, some general recommendations.
The Association of American Medical Colleges has a really nice section on their website. On the basis of your STEP scores, they predict how many programs you should reasonably apply to.
It’s perfectly OK to ask your faculty interviewers a question or two. It shows interest and enthusiasm for the program, but don’t overdo it.
A common general surgery residency interview question is “Why did you choose general surgery?” General surgeons are expected to perform many of the routine procedures in a hospital and have to know exactly how to do each one from memory. Prepare to explain in a concise manner why you chose this specialty above the others, such as cardiothorasics or neurology. Dont be afraid to show your passion for general surgery to the interviewer. As a follow up you may be asked what your goals are as a general surgeon or you may choose to add your goals as a part of your initial answer.
You may be asked to tell the interviewer about an encounter with a patient that you found difficult or uncommonly pleasant. When the interviewer asks this type of question hes trying to figure out what type of general surgeon you are outside of the operating room. How you interact with patients shows compassion, demonstrates problem solving skills and tells the interviewer what to expect as your bedside manner. Being able to be a good doctor outside of the operating room is a very important part of being a good surgeon.
As you complete your fourth year of medical school, its time to start interviewing with the institutions where youre considering completing your general surgical residency. Choosing the right residency program for you is an important decision that may affect the rest of your career as a surgeon.
Residing in Los Angeles, Kristin Swain has been a professional writer since 2008. Her experience includes finance, travel, marketing and television. Swain holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Georgia State University.
When completing your general surgery residency interviews you may be asked what your biggest strengths and weaknesses are. These general surgery interview questions are often used by interviewers to help gauge your personality. When answering what your biggest strength is, you dont want to sound cocky but you should be confident. As you relay what you perceive as your greatest weakness you dont want to say anything that can be considered detrimental to your performance as a surgeon, such as that you dont like conversing with patients. Keep your answer neutral, such as stating that youre overly organized. When answering both questions be honest, but stay away from self-deprecation and keep the answers short.
Comb your CV for a couple of extracurriculars to highlight. Use this question type to distinguish those activities from the “filler” that everyone uses to pad their resumes. Once again, tell a good story! How were you key in getting results? How would that event be echoed in your future performance as a resident? As a practicing physician? Circle back to those top characteristics you’ve been highlighting all along to build that comprehensive picture of yourself.
This question is essentially asking, “What are your values?” The key here is to identify the two contradicting values that make up the dilemma and then walk them through your decision process. Do not waffle back and forth. They are interested in your ethical values but also your ability to process information and make tough decisions.
On the surface, these are the types of questions that look at how well rounded you are. Do you have enough bandwidth to have an interesting life outside of medicine? However, they are a great way to loop back into highlighting one of your chosen strengths. Write an answer for a your favorite book, hero, most recent article, etc. The key is to give it some depth.
This open ended question is often the hardest! While it may be tempting to recite your CV or talk you’re hobbies, what they’re really asking is “who are you and why are you interviewing here?” Another version of this question is “Why this speciality?”
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FAQ
What questions do they ask in residency interview?
- What was the most important factor that made you choose this program?
- What is a typical week/month/year like for a resident in PGY-1, PGY-2, and PGY-3?
- What is call like? …
- When leave of absence becomes necessary, what happens?
- What community service opportunities are available?
What should you not say in a residency interview?
How do you prepare for an operation interview?
- Why do you want this particular job?
- What personal qualities would make you a good surgeon?
- What type of surgery do you want to do and why?
- Do you have any weaknesses?
- What do you do to relax?
- Where do you see yourself in five and ten years’ time?
What are the top 3 attributes you are looking for in a residency program?
