General Surgery Residency Mock Interview

Prepare for 30 General Surgery Residency interview questions covering clinical scenarios, surgical knowledge, and program fit.

Question 1 of 30

The attrition rate for general surgery residents is relatively high. What will you do to keep motivated and prevent yourself from burning out?

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Krista Wenz

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

According to the United States National Institutes of Health, the attrition rate for general surgery residents range from 14% to 32%, which is higher than in other non-surgical or surgical fields of medicine. The article attributes overwhelming stress during general surgery residency causes burnout and manifests in decreased job performance and attrition. The interviewers want to hear your plans to stay motivated, reduce stress, and continue your residency until completion. Describe healthy ways you manage your stress levels and keep yourself from burning out.

Krista Wenz

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

"I understand this residency is stressful, and I am prepared for that. If I feel overly stressed, I will discuss this with my attending. In addition, I eat a healthy, balanced diet, exercise, and spend time with my family on my days off. Taking care of myself mentally and physically prepares me to handle stressful situations with ease."

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30General Surgery Residency Interview Questions & Answers

Discovery

1.The attrition rate for general surgery residents is relatively high. What will you do to keep motivated and prevent yourself from burning out?

Discovery

2.There are many pros to being a surgeon. In your opinion, what are some cons of being a surgeon?

Discovery

3.Why did you decide to pursue a career as a surgeon?

Career Goals

4.What are your career goals after completing your chief resident training?

Compatibility

5.General surgery is a highly competitive residency to match. Why should we choose you over other applicants?

Compatibility

6.What qualities do you possess that will make you a successful resident?

Diligence

7.What are the pillars of excellence for an attending surgeon?

Direct

8.Tell us about your volunteer experience.

Discovery

9.How many abstracts, presentations, and publications are you responsible for?

Diligence

10.What made you choose our residency program over others?

Communication

11.How would you describe your interpersonal and communication skills?

Tough

12.How would you approach a patient who refused surgery based on their religious beliefs, even if you knew their decision could cause them to die?

Ask The Interviewer

13.Do you have any questions about our residency program?

Compatibility

14.Name some strengths you would bring to our program as a resident.

Discovery

15.What part of our general surgery residency program will be the most challenging for you?

Diligence

16.Tell us what your days will look like as a general surgery resident.

Discovery

17.What unique skill or talent do you have that will complement your job as a surgeon?

Stress

18.What part of medical school was the most stressful for you?

Leadership

19.Do you see yourself as a leader? When have you led a team?

Career Goals

20.Do you have plans to pursue a surgical fellowship?

Conflict

21.How do you handle a dispute with a colleague?

Direct

22.In your opinion, what is the future of general surgery?

Adaptability

23.How do you keep your emotions from affecting your work?

Discovery

24.Do you aspire to have your own practice one day? If so, what about business ownership interests you?

Education

25.Do you have any overseas clinical experience?

Discovery

26.What are your hobbies and interests outside of work and school?

Behavioral

27.How do you cope when losing a patient?

Behavioral

28.How would you describe your bedside manner?

Discovery

29.After researching our curriculum, what rotation are you looking forward to, and why?

Discovery

General Surgery Residency Mock Interview

The attrition rate for general surgery residents is relatively high. What will you do to keep motivated and prevent yourself from burning out?

30General Surgery Residency Interview Questions & Answers

1.The attrition rate for general surgery residents is relatively high. What will you do to keep motivated and prevent yourself from burning out?

2.There are many pros to being a surgeon. In your opinion, what are some cons of being a surgeon?

3.Why did you decide to pursue a career as a surgeon?

4.What are your career goals after completing your chief resident training?

5.General surgery is a highly competitive residency to match. Why should we choose you over other applicants?

6.What qualities do you possess that will make you a successful resident?

7.What are the pillars of excellence for an attending surgeon?

8.Tell us about your volunteer experience.

9.How many abstracts, presentations, and publications are you responsible for?

10.What made you choose our residency program over others?

11.How would you describe your interpersonal and communication skills?

12.How would you approach a patient who refused surgery based on their religious beliefs, even if you knew their decision could cause them to die?

13.Do you have any questions about our residency program?

14.Name some strengths you would bring to our program as a resident.

15.What part of our general surgery residency program will be the most challenging for you?

16.Tell us what your days will look like as a general surgery resident.

17.What unique skill or talent do you have that will complement your job as a surgeon?

18.What part of medical school was the most stressful for you?

19.Do you see yourself as a leader? When have you led a team?

20.Do you have plans to pursue a surgical fellowship?

21.How do you handle a dispute with a colleague?

22.In your opinion, what is the future of general surgery?

23.How do you keep your emotions from affecting your work?

24.Do you aspire to have your own practice one day? If so, what about business ownership interests you?

25.Do you have any overseas clinical experience?

26.What are your hobbies and interests outside of work and school?

27.How do you cope when losing a patient?

28.How would you describe your bedside manner?

29.After researching our curriculum, what rotation are you looking forward to, and why?

30.As a physician, what is your greatest weakness, and what are you doing to improve?