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Interview thoughts

How to do well with some thought and preparation(Or: Don’t “wing it”)

Peadar G Noone MDProfessor of Medicine

UNC Chapel Hill

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Interview thoughts

Structure of interview.  Opening:  Intros, take candidate through their

career, put the candidate at ease. Main body:  Questioning and probing. Closing:  Offering the candidate opportunity for

questions, summarize their suitability for the role etc.

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Interview thoughts

The whole visit is an interview Don’t be too lulled by casual conversation, coffee,

cookies and relaxed chats You are on stage the whole time That includes the assistants, desk reception

people, residents, tour guides etc. Be friendly certainly, but be relaxed professional,

and avoid slip ups or saying something unguarded

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Interview thoughts Listen to the question carefully:  Do NOT interrupt the

interviewer with an early answer, it may miss the key aspect of the question, and it is annoying to the interviewer.   Avoid over-nodding your head early in a question too, for much the same reason.

Openers usually to get you relaxed – take me through your CV, or tell me about yourself. (not all interviewers will have read your CV beforehand)

What was your pathway to medicine and where you are today Why UNC (or whatever program) – this is a deep question – it

should not be the climate, or to be near family, or cheap housing

And don’t quote that UNC / other is # 1 in one thing or another without knowing what that means

What do you bring to the program?

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Interview thoughts

Difficult questions; strengths, weakness, how do other see you, difficult situation, how you learnt from it, and how you will use the lesson into the future.

Team work questions. General knowledge – health care, EPIC, ACA etc. Outside interests, hobbies Some have quirky questions – what’s in your

fridge, and the like

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Interview thoughts Don’t talk too much, don’t talk too little Give lots of examples when you make a statement At end – either have a good question (not time off, or

benefits, or timetables, or pay), or offer a summary statement – but have something ready, even if its “no”

Don’t ask the interviewer – what brought you here, why do you like it etc (very repetitive for the interviewer)

Have five – ten things you’d like to get in during the interview, work them in as time permits, and if they have NOT been covered, offer in a “summary statement”.