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Are you worried about that medical specialty interview? Need help to prepare for the medicine interview questions and answers?

Then read on...

Medical specialty selection interviews are very competitive. The medicine specialty interview is the hurdle you need to jump to achieve your career goals. Don't leave it to the last minute to prepare..

In this competitive environment - give yourself the edge. While the quality of your application will ensure selection for the interview, for all specialties only your performance at the interview will guarantee entry..

Here are some suggestions on how to start preparing:.

  1. Begin with understanding your learning style - knowing whether you learn mainly by seeing and doing or hearing will make it easier for you to prepare.
  2. Research shows that most doctors learn by seeing and doing, so you need to develop a strategy to prepare using visualisation and visual cues to prompt your response.
  3. Learn to think laterally - look at the big picture first so that you have an overall perspective on answering a medicine interview question.
  4. Using the core competencies as the starting point, a practical approach is to use a mind map or diagrams to get an overview and then fill in the details.
  5. Next step assess what needs to be included in responding to an interview question.
  6. A medical specialty selection interview is not an exam, the answers need to cover often a combination of the core competencies.
  7. Do not memorise answers - focus on the key points you need to include for each answer.
  8. Learn to identify the styles of questions you will be asked at interview - direct, behavioural, scenario and sometimes role play and use the appropriate structure to answer questions.

Using the appropriate structure will ensure you fully answer the question and not go blank or off on a tangent.

For more useful tips Download the free EBook The 7 Deadly Sins to avoid at Medical Interviews.

We also offer an exclusive small group program to assist you to prepare for medical specialty interviews. This program developed for surgical and physician specialty interviews covers mindset, lateral thinking, how to structure an answer for different styles of questions including selecting examples and mock interview practice. For more details click here

Other available programs include an information session on how to start preparing for your medical specialty interview. For more details, click here

Individual training available by appointment, email doctors@impressiveinterviews.com.au  Mobile 0412 007 682

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About Deborah Barit

Deborah specialises in preparing clients for job interviews, training individuals and groups in interview presentation techniques. Her clients range from experienced professionals and senior managers to doctors and new graduates. She has developed and delivered training programs for community based organisations and specialist training for medical, legal and public sector candidates.

For over 10 years she has specialised in preparing doctors for specialty selection interviews surgical and physician, coached RMO's, SRMO's, Consultants and doctors for senior management positions both in Australia and New Zealand. For a list of specialties covered please go to our website www.impressiveinterviews.com.au

Deborah’s professional activities range from selection and recruitment in Australia and overseas, including chairing interview panels, labour market research, report writing and evaluation of government-funded programs through to operations manager of four medical practices and working with disability employment services.

Before establishing Impressive Interviews, Deborah worked in the Commonwealth public service dealing with professional employment issues.

Deborah holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from UTS. In 2002 she also completed the Women in Business Mentor Program and regularly attends professional development courses.

She is a member of the Australian institute of Training and Development.


About Deborah Barit

Deborah Barit is a Sydney based author, trainer, consultant and Director of Impressive Interviews who specialises in training individuals and groups for job interviews. She has successfully placed clients from professions as diverse as health, law, IT, senior management and the arts in positions of their choice. For the last 15 years she has specialised in training doctors for medical specialty selection interviews and more recently consultants for senior roles.

Prior to this, her career has included selection and recruitment both in Australia and overseas, labour market research, evaluation of government-funded programs and working with disability employment services.  She holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations form UTS.

Deborah is a member of the Australian Institute of Training and Development,