Fellowship Mock Interview
Master 40 Fellowship interview questions covering research goals, funding justification, and academic potential.
Question 17 of 40
If being a Physician were not a career option, what career path would you have chosen?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
How to Answer
Community Answers
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.
Your interviewers want to get to know each candidate better personally during their interviews. This hypothetical question will give the interviewers some insight into other topics that interest you outside of the medical field and let them get a glimpse of your personality.
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.
"I do not regret the direction I have taken my career, and I'm looking forward to additional fellowship training. If I were forced to start over in a new direction, I would likely pursue a career in social services. I am passionate about helping the underserved in the medical field, and I'm sure I would carve out a niche working with either the homeless or developmentally disabled populations."
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but be sure to think about questions like this before your fellowship program interviews. Talk openly and honestly with your interviewers about where your career path would have ideally taken you if becoming a physician wasn't an option.
Interview Coach
Jaymie
A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.
Typically responds within 24 hours.
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Anonymous Answer
I would have become a teacher. I find it heartening to impart knowledge and to learn from the people I am teaching, which I discovered as a student instructor for pathology and biochemistry in medical school and continued through residency when working with junior co-residents.
Jaymie's Feedback
It's apparent throughout your responses that you enjoy mentoring and teaching others, so I think sharing this natural second choice will make sense to the interviewer.
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