AMA guide to interviewing with residency programs

Ace your physician residency interview by mastering 7 questions

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Frequently held virtually, residency program interviews offer you the chance to distinguish yourself and detail your unique skills and experiences in ways that an application packet alone cannot. They also are an invaluable chance for you to learn about whether a residency program offers the right fit for you. There is an art to the process—before, during and after—and the AMA has gathered this outstanding advice from residency program directors and successful residency applicants to help.

How to excel at interviewing with residency programs

1. When should you expect physician residency interview invites?

   1. The answer is going to depend on the specialty and program. Some physician specialties offer standardized interview-offer dates, meaning that in those specialties the vast majority of interview offers will go out on predetermined dates. And here’s one key tip to make sure you’re on top of responding to those invitations: set up a dedicated email address for them.

2. What to do if you aren’t getting enough residency interviews

   1. Having a bit of anxiety around physician residency interviews is natural. And if you aren’t getting the volume of interviews you aimed for, it’s likely heightened. The experts advice? Have patience, understand the context, consider additional applications and work your network. Here are the moves to make if your interview count is on the low side.

3. Residency interviews: Don’t forget to ask these 7 key questions

   1. As a medical student moving into the next phase of your professional development, the questions you ask during your residency interviews will form a vital part of determining which physician residency programs are the best fit for you. Knowing which residency interview questions to ask can make a good impression with the people who may decide whether you are a good fit in the program. It also can give insight on how you fit in.

4. Thinking about fellowship? Here’s how to discuss it in interviews

   1. If you have aims on subspecializing after residency, you can express interest thoughtfully during interviews. One expert said it’s best to keep the focus on your ambitions as a soon-to-be resident and show that you are open-minded about your career options.

5. How to address a medical school misstep in residency interviews

   1. If your time as a medical student has included a misstep in your past, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the physician you will be in the future. Still, some of those adverse results are communicated to residency programs with the information that is included with your application. Will they come up during interviews—and if so, how should you address them? Among the keys: Know what potential red flags are for residency programs, decide how to address them, be transparent and don’t let a misstep define you.

6. Impress in interviews by displaying these key traits

   1. While clinical skills and knowledge remain key aspects of an applicant profile, residency program directors have placed increased emphasis on the soft skills in interview evaluation. If you communicate clearly, listen actively and offer poignant reflections on your journey in medicine, candidates can make a winning impression during interviews.

7. What I wish I knew in medical school about residency interviews

   1. There is no question that the residency-application and interview process, as a whole, is trying, says AMA member Anna Heffron, MD, PhD, who reflected on her experience to share hard-won, firsthand advice. For one thing, doing a virtual interview gives you the chance to be in a space that’s comfortable for you and develop “cheat sheets” to help you stay focused on the key points you want to highlight as you answer questions.

8. So you wrapped up the residency interview. Do this next.

   1. What should you do after the interview? The answer is going to differ depending on your individual circumstances. Insights from recent residency applicants and faculty members offer some direction on after-interview etiquette. Here are a few key nuggets for residency applicants. One great tip: Take a few minutes immediately following the interview to jot down your impressions of the experience and what you learned. That will prove vital at the Match rank-order list stage.

9. IMG residency-applicant interviews: Follow these do’s and don’ts

   1. Over 9,000 international medical graduates (IMGs) obtained first-year residency positions in accredited U.S. physician residency programs in 2024, but the process of landing one of those coveted positions is not easy. The Match rate for IMGs is lower than that of residency applicants who attend medical school in the U.S. Two key tips: Don’t treat your CV details as a formality and do bring up the visa subject.