Innovations in Simulation: Career Counseling and the Mock Interview

Experience during the Fourth Year Alison Martin, MEd, Jennifer Rachow, BHS, Nate Beucke, MD, Dena Higbee, MS, Jen Doty, RN, BSN, Rachel Brown, MD

PURPOSE: Creating career counseling resources around writing effective personal statements (PS), creating a concise curriculum vitae (CV), and participation in simulated residency interviews for students entering their M4 year has proven to be a helpful integrated model to assist students with feeling more prepared for the interview season. NEED FOR INNOVATION: With increasing class sizes and stagnant growth in graduate medical education positions the residency match process becomes more competitive each year putting students who are unprepared for residency interviews at a distinct disadvantage. The results of the 2014 NMRP Program Director survey for all specialties show that 93% of programs rate interactions with faculty during interview and interpersonal skills as the two top factors when developing their rank order list. Integrating counseling activities around PS and CV development accompanied with simulated interview practice advances preparation for the high stakes interview experience.

COLLABORATION: Student Services Career Advising Surgical Educator Clinical Simulation Center Standardized Interviewers Observers

PRE-MOCK INTERVIEW TASKS: Determine simulation center availability during

September & October Avoid dates w/ academic conflicts Inform M3s during May class meeting about the

mock interview opportunity- highly recommend participation

Request CVs & PSs well in advance for advising critique

Encourage professional attire Send doodle request for date/time preference to

students Develop interview style scenarios & observation

forms Review and customize potential questions for

standardized interviewers based on CV & PS Recruit/train volunteer interviewers w/ health

education experience Recruit/train staff observers Confirm video technology/recording

POST-MOCK INTERVIEW TASKS: One observer per interview- 2 interviews total- and

interviewer give verbal feedback immediately following each interview

Group debrief with additional interview tips after interviews completed for the day

Evaluation forms collected, scanned & emailed to participants

Video recording made available to participants and observers for additional feedback, if requested

Survey students assessing helpfulness of exercise

“Loved getting questions about my CV, because that really simulates a true interview.”

Areas for Improvement

Offer the experience over three (3) months (August-October) rather than two (2) months (September-October) making it more accessible for those going through the early match and for those on away rotations.

Critiques of the Personal Statement and Curriculum Vitae shall occur several weeks prior to the interview and are automatic rather than optional.

Holistic Admissions

Patient-Based Curriculum

Career Advising CV Review

Personal Statement

Review Mock

Interviews

2015 99% Match

Rate

Class of 2015 Outcomes 57 Participants

Class of 2014 Outcomes 34 Participants

Post Mock Interview Survey n=29

Helpfulness

79% Very Helpful 21% Helpful 0% Somewhat Helpful 0% Somewhat Not Helpful 0% Not Helpful

Seemed Realistic

35% Very Realistic 48% Realistic 14% Somewhat Realistic 3% Somewhat Unrealistic 0% Unrealistic

Better Prepared for Interviews

65% Very Prepared 28% Prepared 7% Somewhat Prepared 0% Somewhat Unprepared 0% Not Prepared

Match National MU

2015 93.9% 99%

2014 94.4%

94%

2013 93.7% 95%

2012 95.1% 92%

Background

School of Medicine University of Missouri Health System Medicine.missouri.edu

Post Mock Interview Survey n=31

Helpfulness

68% Very Helpful 26% Helpful 6% Somewhat Helpful 0% Somewhat Not Helpful 0% Not Helpful

Seemed Realistic

36% Very Realistic 42% Realistic 16% Somewhat Realistic 6% Somewhat Unrealistic 0% Unrealistic

Better Prepared for Interviews

42% Very Prepared 42% Prepared 16% Somewhat Prepared 0% Somewhat Unprepared 0% Not Prepared

Methods