Fellowship Mock Interview
Master 40 Fellowship interview questions covering research goals, funding justification, and academic potential.
Question 32 of 40
How do you react under unexpected pressure when split-second decisions need to be made?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
How to Answer
Community Answers
Christine Pasqueretta is a human resource and recruitment professional with experience creating, developing, implementing, leading, and measuring HR impact initiatives.
Your experience as a resident has exposed you to pressure-packed situations. The pressure-packed clinical situations will continue into your fellowship program, and your interviewing team needs to know that you are confident and comfortable in your ability to work under pressure.
Christine Pasqueretta is a human resource and recruitment professional with experience creating, developing, implementing, leading, and measuring HR impact initiatives.
"In the second year of my IM residency training, I was on a busy hospital rotation. In 15 minutes on a night shift, we had two patients go into code blue status. While the first cardiac arrest was fairly standard for our busy unit, the second patient put us into scramble mode. I relied on my training to stay calm and think straight. I guided the second code blue team through administering CPR and getting the crash cart at the bedside. I operated the defibrillator while a respiratory assistant ventilated the patient. Thankfully, we revived the patient. Looking back, this situation taught me how to handle a chaotic situation when a life is on the line, and I know that my ability to stay focused helped that night."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Tell the interviewers about a specific time you had to make a split-second decision and made the right choice, despite being under unexpected pressure. Outline the situation, describe the last-minute decision you were required to make, and explain how you came to your final decision. Give as much detail as you can regarding how you weighed the pros and cons of the decision. If your final decision made a measurable impact, be sure to discuss the results you generated.
Interview Coach
Jaymie
A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.
Typically responds within 24 hours.
0 - Character Count
Anonymous Answer
As ENT residents we were put into this situation quite often with emergent airway consults. And with our night float system as second-year residents, we are thrust into these situations, so I built confidence in these situations early on in residency. By the time I was a senior resident on my consult chief month, I was running taking the lead in several Airway events, and directing traffic among the code nurses and anesthesiology physicians without qualms by maintaining focus and continuously and quickly assessing available options.
Jaymie's Feedback
You did an excellent job reassuring the interviewer that you can perform under pressure. Your experiences say a lot about your abilities and comfort level when having to make split-second decisions.
Unlock All 40 Fellowship Questions
Unlock expert responses that selection committees use to identify top fellowship candidates.
Get StartedJump to Question
