Interviews: the good the bad and the ugly

Interviews are very shortly about to begin. You already overcame the greatest hurdle - you got the interview, now make it count. This is your opportunity to really get to know programs and in turn let them get to know you. While you may find in the end that you love the spot you always thought you'd go, most applicants are surprised along the trail and fall in love with an unlikely program that captures their heart. Be open to the change that is likely to occur during this process. The interview trail is designed to do just this - let  you slowly gain exposure and with it find what you truly need and want.

Ways to succeed:

• Make the pre-night events - almost all EM programs will have a pre-interview social gathering the night before you interview. Residents will be there to answer your questions and get to know you. This is your chance to really get the feel for a program. You can see how the residents interact with one another, with interviewees, and with faculty if they attend. This is the most honest exposure you will have - take the time to go and discover if you fit with the group already at the program.
• Try your suit on now and get a friend to give you input on your appearance. How you present yourself counts - an ill fitting suit reads as ill prepared.
• Compose questions before you arrive. This makes you appear genuinely interested - if you have no questions you seem disinterested. You are spending time and money to be there, set yourself up for success. If you have the names of the faculty you will be interviewing with, go ahead and look them up so you can explore interests you share. Ask what matters to you - consider asking:
• What keeps you at this program?(gets at strengths)
• What issues have arisen over the past year and how did they get handled?(gets at weaknesses)
• What changes do you foresee over the next few years?(gets at vision) 
• Lean in(literally) - lean forward in your chair and make eye contact. Body language counts. If you slouch or fail to look at your interviewer you look disinterested, overconfident, or worst awkward. You only have a few minutes to stand out, so lean in make eye contact and have a conversation.
• Finish with a thank you note (electronic is fine but I remember the hand written) - it certainly won't hurt.

Classic Blunders:

• Don't check your luggage - carry just what you need and have it with you so you are not the applicant this year in jeans and a teeshirt.
• Don't be late - early is on time - on time is late - and late is unacceptable.
• Plan for weather - it snows in many spots you will be traveling to - expect it and have appropriate clothes and extra time.
• Don't over schedule - you can do two interviews per week no more. When you try to squeeze more, you can't make the pre-night, you end up tired and don't present your best self. 
• The sherpa applicant - there will be a safe spot for your luggage and carry on - you don't need anything but yourself in the interview. If you want to carry a CV or card with you go ahead but programs have this information and don't need it from you.
• Needy and nervous are not positives. If you want to make contact with your top choices once after you interview, go ahead but do not call or write repeatedly.

Lastly the rules of the game:

Conduct for interviews:

• Most programs will offer interviews after your Dean’s letter is released on October 1st on a rolling basis(sending a group out at a time, waiting for answers then sending more)
• You may hear an answer quickly or have to wait to hear - breathe
• Many programs purposefully send invitations after 5pm to avoid you having to check email during your rotations(try and be respectful of your rotation and patients)
• Once you receive an invitation answer it quickly
• Do not double book - it is unfair to programs, your fellow applicants, and against policy. Programs will be notified after 72 hours if you hold two interviews for the same date - they may choose to cancel your invitation.
• If you need to cancel, do so as soon as you realize you need to. Give programs enough time to allow another applicant to fill the spot, at least two weeks.

Lucienne Lutfy-Clayton is an Associate Program Director at UMASS Baystate Health, Chair of the CORD Application Process Improvement Committee and former Clerkship Director. She has the attention span of a nat and needs shiny sincere applicants to draw her attention. She is also really short and some believe this is where the real problem begins.