Posted by Deborah on June 5, 2009
Medical Specialty Interviews
June is the month when most medical specialty training program interviews are held across Australia, and as I prepare to assist doctors for these interviews I was thinking about what makes these interviews unique.
What all candidates have in common is:
· A very similar level of skill, talent, experience and knowledge;
· Have undertaken research projects, made presentations at conferences/meetings and have at least one publication; and
· Have teaching experience, a lot may have postgraduate qualifications or have started another degree and all have contributed, in some form, to the community.
Keeping this in mind, it is important for each candidate to identify what are the particular skills and personal attributes that make them uniquely suitable for the training program. Remember, when the panel is assessing your overall suitability, your interview performance is worth 40%.
Here are some tips to consider when preparing for a specialist medical interview:
· What skills, experience and personal attributes are the panel looking for? Put yourself in the panel’s position and consider this from their perspective;
· Why do you want to specialise in this area? The answer is about interest, aptitude, skills and passion;
· Why should they give you a place? What do you have to offer? In considering, this question, you need to focus on the following:
o Medical and technical knowledge and experience. The types of patient conditions you have diagnosed and treated, ranging from common conditions to complex or unusual symptoms/conditions. If you are applying for a surgical program it is essential to discuss the types of operations you have assisted with, observed or performed supervised/unsupervised. These need to be discussed in terms of routine, level of complexity and if they were unusual/rare. Providing numbers from your logbook will substantiate your claims. You also need to mention your level of competence with surgical techniques and equipment.
o Research – when discussing research, the important part is how your research projects contribute to improved patient care, diagnosis, treatment or better use of limited resources. It is not just about the methodology and results.
o Communication – is about the two way flow of information. Understanding the needs of people and adapting your language and style of information delivery for different audiences e.g. patients and their families, colleagues, students etc. The choice of communication style needs to be considered within the context of cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.
o Leadership – discuss a situation when you took on a leadership role, this can be in a clinical setting or a social, sporting or community setting. Be clear in describing the circumstances, your contribution and the outcome,
o Teaching experience – discuss this in terms of who you taught, groups/individuals, what topics, and did you prepare and deliver the program or just deliver an existing program. It is also important to mention any positive feedback, or if the feedback was negative how you have improved your teaching skills.
o Making Decisions – the ability to describe the process you use to make decisions, that is what you take into account, is fundamental to success at interview. The panel needs to assess your ability to think clearly, logically and broadly before a decision is made.
o Member of a Team – the ability to work as part of a team in a variety of roles is essential to providing patient centred care. Be clear about the roles you have taken and the contribution you made when discussing team work.
The above tips are just a guideline of how to fully prepare for the interview.
Remember
· Re-read the information package provided and any other information on the college website,
· Re-read your application from the perspective of a stranger, and most importantly,
· Have examples ready which clearly demonstrate your experience for each criteria.
· Get copies of previous interview questions and practice with a friend, family member or colleague.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Deborah Barit.
Good luck