Every year, around this time, dental students from around
the nation collectively invest a great amount of time and money traveling and
interviewing for residency positions. There is no doubt that it is a lengthy,
time consuming and expensive process that many people find uncertain and
unclear. However, the one thing you do want to be clear on is how to interview
well.
As a student going through this process currently, I wish to
share some advice that has been passed down to me from several of the recent
graduates.
1. Be on time. Even during the interview season,
the residents are still working hard. Be respectful of their time and try to
come just a little bit earlier. If you are going to be late, let them know.
There is nothing wrong with asking for a contact number a few days prior to the
interview, just in case you get lost or have any other type of emergency.
2. Review the program prior. Remember, residency
interviews are an opportunity for the program residents and faculty to get to
know you, but for you to also interview and get to know the program. Be sure to
review information regarding the residency program prior to your interview so
that you may ask the right questions during the interview. Interviewers like to
see that you are actively interested in the program, and by asking more in
depth questions based on your review of the program, this can definitely be
achieved.
3. Interact with the other applicants. I cannot
stress this enough. Although you are all competing for the same spots, you are
all colleagues. Interviewers do not just listen, but they also watch. They will
be spending considerable amounts of time with you, and they want to make sure
you get a long well with others and are relatable.
4. Be sure to attend all of the interview
“festivities”. Regardless of how comfortable you are with the program, you
should always attend everything that is planned as part of the interview, from
the socials the day before to the tour. If possible, come the day before and
give yourself plenty of time. If you cannot do this, communicate with the
program coordinators so that they may plan accordingly.
5. Thank everyone. From the residents to the
program directors, from your interview colleagues to the program coordinator,
be sure to thank them all for helping to give you the full interview
experience. Many of the graduates that I spoke to have highly suggested
following up with emails or even hand written thank-you cards within a week
after the interview.\
I fully understand what a daunting experience interviewing
can be; you really do not know what to expect. However, by following some of
the tips above, you can at least be more certain that your interview will be
much better.
Good luck.