This year we will be conducting our resident interviews virtually. We have provided below a list of virtual interview tips from the Virtual Interviews: Applicant Preparation Guide offered by the AAMC.
Preparing for a Virtual Interview
Identify Sample Experiences
Reflect on your experiences related to the competencies or skills to be assessed during the interview.
- Review your CV and reflect on your experiences and learning before you conduct the interview. Try to identify some situations you think best exemplify your skills.
- Discuss your experiences with your advisors. Which are the best examples of your knowledge and skills? Your examples should demonstrate your highest level of proficiency.
- Consider creating a brief list of experiences that demonstrate your skills and could be used in response to different questions. It may be helpful to have these experiences readily available as you prepare your response to each interview question.
Identify a Suitable Environment and Technology
To complete virtual interviews, you will need the following:
- A stable internet connection.
- A computer or tablet with a good webcam and microphone. Although a mobile phone may be used, we recommend using a computer or tablet to improve stability. We also recommend using a device that will not accept phone calls during interviews because a phone call will interfere with your ability to complete your response.
- A private, quiet, and well-lit space that is free of distractions where you can be alone.
Practice Describing Your Experiences
Conduct mock interviews to practice developing responses using specific examples from your life and experiences with your peers and advisors. These mock interviews can be done in person or over a web- based application.
Practice With Technology
- Practice responding with the device you’ll be using during the interview.
- For a live video interview, practice with peers or advisors.
- Check your microphone and camera to make sure they’re working well and the picture and sound are not poor quality.
- Check your internet speed. You can do this it at SpeedTest.net. Sometimes switching from Wi-Fi to a wired ethernet connection improves your internet speed. If your home’s internet connection is too slow, consider going to a local library or find space at your school where you can do the interview in a private room with stable Wi-Fi.
- Make a note of how the camera and microphone are positioned so you can recreate a setup that works when you log in to the system to complete your actual interview.
- Look at the device’s camera, not at the screen, and keep your head and shoulders centered in the camera’s view.
- If possible, record yourself so you can get a sense of your eye contact, sound quality, and whether you’re fidgeting, swiveling in your chair, or making distracting gestures, such as covering parts of your face. Try to present a calm, engaged demeanor during the interview.
Setting Up
Technology
- We recommend using a computer or tablet with a good webcam and microphone. Although a mobile phone may be used, a laptop or tablet improves stability.
- Allow time before the interview starts to conduct a technology check:
- Double-check your microphone and camera to make sure they’re working well.
- Position your camera and microphone as you did when you practiced.
- Shut down all programs on your device so that no alerts, notifications, or other electronic interruptions distract you.
- Make sure your device is fully charged. Carry a charger with you and make sure you can plug into an outlet in case there is a problem with your battery.
- Have a backup plan in case the technology fails ― this may be as simple as providing your phone number to the interviewer in advance.
Environment
- Identify a private, quiet, well-lit space where you can complete the interview by yourself, free of potential distractions, and where you can speak freely. Make sure you have control over the background noise, so avoid open spaces in libraries and places where you could be interrupted such as coffee shops and other communal spaces. Consider completing the interview at home or find a space offered by your school.
- Avoid having sources of bright light such as sunlight and lamps directly behind you because they will cast a shadow on you. Instead, make sure a light source is in front of you so the interviewer can see you clearly. If you’re doing the interview at night, make sure there’s a lamp available that can light up your face.
- Consider the backdrop you will use during your interview and try to keep it clean and neat and free of distractions.
- Try to have an outlet nearby in case you need to plug in your device.
Presentation
- Dress professionally, as you would for an in-person interview.
- Position the camera at eye level so it looks like you are looking directly at the interviewer.
- Try to be rested and focused. As with any formal interview, you want to be able to focus on understanding the questions, crafting coherent responses, and presenting your best self.
Completing the Interview
Responding to Questions
- Try to focus on providing detailed examples of behavior that you engaged in from your experiences when responding to questions.
- Use clinical and nonclinical experiences in your responses, as appropriate.
- Provide detailed responses and try to avoid speaking in generalities. Typically, one strong example is better than several weak or tangential examples.
- Do not provide patient information that could be used separately or in combination to identify a patient, such as names, locations, diagnoses, or other distinguishing characteristics. Refer to a patient as “the patient.”
- If your response may portray a colleague in a negative light, do not provide information that could be used separately or in combination to identify that colleague, such as a name, title, location, or other distinguishing characteristic.
- Provide a complete response to each question. In general, when responding to:
- Behavioral questions
- Share past experiences and be sure to discuss the situation or task you encountered, the actions you took, and the outcome of your actions.
- Situational questions
- Discuss the actions you should take, why you should take those actions, and what you would expect the result of your actions to be.
- Behavioral questions
2024-2025 APPLICATION DATES
The date we will begin accepting applications for the 2025 Match (for positions that will begin July 2026) is September 1, 2024 The deadline for applications is October 15, 2024.
If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding our program, please contact Anna Williams, Academic Coordinator, Dermatology at anna.williams@hsc.utah.edu.
