The Ultimate Interview Question (Or, at least one of them...)

A really popular topic that all premed students are always eager to hear about is the interview questions that are usually asked. I am posting a page on the most common questions and will help you answer them in the near future (So check back soon and read it), but in the mean time i wanted to touch on one that most people will never expect. You think you are having a great interview and have had the answers to all the questions thus far... but then the Dean says to you "Name the biggest character fault that you have." Wow. I personally had had this question for a job interview a few years back for a phlebotomy position, however I was still stunned. Honestly I had no idea what to say, and I was scrambling for words to pop into my head. After making it through, and providing a decent answer (to follow), I now feel like I am prepared to help you tackle this part of your interview and nail it.

After speaking with the director of admissions at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine I was provided with some advice for next time (A little too late for me, but for you... READ UP)

OK...

1. First, think about the characteristics that a physician must posses to be successful. The point of even asking the question by the interviewer is not for just the answer per say, but they are actually looking at the bigger picture. The admissions board wants to see how you react under pressure. Throughout medical school and especially as a physician, you are required to think on your feet and provide a thorough answer to many questions or problems that may come up without any warning at a moment's notice. So first, even though you may be FREAKING OUT on the inside, whatever you do do not come across nervious, or show that you are having a tough time answering.

2. After the first few seconds of anxiety have passed think again about why they are asking this question in the first place, and once agian the point is not to see if you are messy, irresponsible, yada yada yada but to watch your reaction and see how you handle pressure situations. So from here we find the second thought to take with you. Back to desirable physician characteristics. Although doctors are required to think on their feet, they can't blurt out the first thing that comes to mind and be expected to stick with it. SO, don't be afraid to be honest, and ask for a second to answer the question. Don't say that you don't know the answer, but simply tell your interviewer "May I have a few seconds to compose a thorough answer?" BAM that's all you have to do and you have already showed your responsibility (in that you know that saying the first thing that comes to mind is no way to answer important questions, especially if you are in charge of someone else's life), and you have showed that you don't break under the pressure.

3. Once you have taken a few seconds, and I do mean a FEW SECONDS (By no means take a whole minute because in the dead quiet interview room it will seem like an eternity to the one waiting for the answer), Provide your answer. This should be the easiest because believe it or not, everyone has flaws, and the admissions board knows this. Don't say "I don't have any flaws in my character, or that you are a perfect person, because they know that you are lying and are just afraid to reveal the truth. They don't want to take the chance of finally figuring out the truth when it comes out in medical school that you are a procrastinator and they wasted your admission spot when someone else would be able to keep up with the workload. Instead, answer honestly, but I will tell you KEEP IT POSITIVE. Think about something you have that is a great quality, but others often make fun of you for it, or they resent you for it. For example, you could say that you are very detail oriented or that you freak out when given long term projects so you will often start them the night they are assigned no matter how far of the due dayte is. Whatever answer you come up with, keep it honest, and keep it positive.

4. One last note about interviews in general, and one that will greatly help you with this question: Pretend that you are already a doctor and treat your interviewer as one of your patients. I don't mean act like you are better than them and talk down to them, because that is no way that you should ever treat a patient, (that's another blog post) but have a sense of confidence about yourself. Act like you really know what you are doing and you will come across as a person ready to succeed in medical school. You would never show a patient you are scared, so why show your interviewer?

I hope this helps, again there will be more to follow on the interview as a whole coming shortly.