Is there a personality type that you find most difficult to work effectively with?
As you enter Cardiology Fellowship training, you will work side by side with a very diverse group of fellows and faculty, each with their unique personality and work style. Your interviewers ask this question to understand your ability to work with even the most difficult personality styles.
"I am most often challenged by staff who are poor communicators. As an Internal Medicine Resident, I found that communication lines should always be open between residents, faculty, and the care team. If someone on my team wasn't communicating properly during residency training, I never hesitate to respectfully approach them to explain what I need from them concerning communication. If the problem persisted, I would take it up the proper chain of command. I would use this same approach in training in your Cardiology Fellowship program."
Pick a quality that doesn't reflect poorly on you. Talking about demanding personalities may make you seem lazy or unable to work with demanding faculty at the program. Instead, choose a quality that impairs the ability of even the most competent and hard-working doctors from delivering high-quality care or working as part of a high functioning team.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Most of the time, I don't have problems or difficulty working with any personality. I am easygoing and can adapt to a lot of personalities. But I kinda have difficulty working with the staff or attending who are always in my way and not agreeable with any other plans. In the management of many medical conditions, there are no clear right or wrong answers. And sometimes if the attending is not agreeable with any other plans and I have to go back to him for every detail, sometimes cause delay meant in the medical care.
Marcie's Feedback
It's completely understandable that working with staff or attending physicians who aren't willing to compromise or see someone else's point of view can be challenging. How do you overcome this issue when you're presented with it? Can you give an example of a time when you successfully managed to work with someone like this? Adding more details will further strengthen your answer. Good job!
Anonymous Answer
I find it difficult to work with physicians who treat others with disrespect. No matter how smart you are and how well you know the medicine, you cannot be a good doctor if you don't treat your patients and colleagues with respect. As a senior resident, I made it a point to advocate for my juniors when I felt they were not being treated fairly. I also think that no matter how acute the environment, you must make clear, respectful communication with patients and families your first priority.
Jaymie's Feedback
These types of professionals can be difficult to deal with. Your response doesn't dwell on that personality type or the negatives, however, it focuses on ways that you navigate the relationship and figure out ways to work together for the betterment of patients. Well done!
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