Internal Medicine Residency Mock Interview

Prepare for 40 Internal Medicine Residency interview questions covering clinical reasoning, patient care philosophy, and program fit.

Question 30 of 40

Describe your personality in three words.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
How to Answer
Example Answer 2
Community Answers

Rachelle Enns

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 pose this question for two reasons. First, they want some insight into your personality to get a feel for how you will fit in with the program. They also want to hear how you view yourself. Notice they do not ask how others would describe you but how YOU would describe yourself.

Rachelle Enns

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.

"If I could describe my personality to you in three words, I would say that I am compassionate, intelligent, and fluid. My personality is well suited for a healthcare-focused environment as my patients' well-being is always at the top of my mind. My intelligence will carry me through residency and into my career as a physician-focused in both clinical care and translational research. My ability to adapt and change with any situation sets me apart from most people because I thrive in environments where things don't remain constant every day."

Ryan Brunner

Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.

Since you only have three words, make sure the words that you use will make a lasting impact on your interviewers. Some possible words to use include adaptable, brave, compassionate, respectful, helpful, positive, thoughtful, and versatile. As you prepare for a question like this, try to avoid giving the same answer other candidates give. Explain your reasons for choosing these words to describe yourself.

Dr. Griswold

"Compassionate, hardworking, critical-thinker."

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

-Resilient: I have shown resilience in sticking with medicine0 despite many years away. I never gave up on the dream. I steady but decisive, incremental steps to turn my life around. I successfully dealt with my illness, then I found financial stability. Till I came to the point where I was able to study and review medicine- took Step 2. Found work that got me in touch with medicine and gave me clinical experience. Finally, I took it one step further and completed Step 3 with a good score.
-Empathetic- I have always had an empathetic nature. Since I was young I found myself understanding and feeling others' pain. That and my interest in medicine have brought me here. My empathetic nature has translated into my care and connection with patients. I was able to empathize with a patient and really listen to her…took her pain seriously…despite the hand-off from the night shift as a possible drug seeker. I was able to diagnose her with an aortic dissection.
I have been nominated for the GHHS award for my excellence in patient care. Also a result of my compassionate empathetic nature. I can connect with most people. That also extends to my teammates and working well with others.

-Flexible: Regardless of whatever has come my way, from an early age. I have been adaptable. Came to the US as an immigrant kid, not knowing the language or culture. My teacher told my mom…. it's like he’s been here.
Also, despite my recent struggles, I found a way to succeed and keep on. I’ve kept my eye on the prize. My ability to adapt and change with any situation sets me apart from most people because I thrive in environments where things don't remain constant every day- and I know from experience that it is especially true for IM.

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! The interviewer will be happy to hear that you consider yourself to be resilient, empathetic, and flexible. These are all great qualities for someone in medicine to possess. You also do an excellent job of supporting these assertions with examples and explanations. Good response!

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40Internal Medicine Residency Interview Questions & Answers

Discovery

1.What motivated you to pursue an Internal Medicine training program?

Diligence

2.Talk about a difficult patient experience you had during medical school. How did you deal with it?

Career Goals

3.Where do you see yourself in five years following your Internal Medicine Residency training?

Discovery

4.Take some time to tell us about yourself.

Common

5.Do you have any questions for us?

Conflict

6.How would you deal with a disagreement among resident colleagues or senior residents as an Internal Medicine Resident?

Creative Thinking

7.What are some challenges that the field of Internal Medicine is currently facing?

Adaptability

8.What worries you the most about joining a reputable Internal Medicine Residency?

Discovery

9.Why was your motivation to pursue a career in medicine?

Common

10.What aspects of our Internal Medicine Residency program interest you?

Competency

11.What will you bring to our Internal Medicine Residency?

Discovery

12.What do you like to do for fun?

Diligence

13.What is the biggest challenge you faced in medical school?

Adaptability

14.What are your thoughts about relocating to and living in this city as an Internal Medicine Resident?

Creative Thinking

15.What animal best describes you?

Common

16.What are some key things that you are looking for in an Internal Medicine Residency program?

Conflict

17.Tell us about a time you had a conflict or witnessed a physician in conflict with a patient. How was it resolved in a healthy manner?

Common

18.What does the perfect day look like for you?

Stress

19.How do you think you will perform under pressure as an Internal Medicine Resident?

Conflict

20.What personality type or characteristic do you find most difficult to work with?

Common

21.Do you consider yourself an organized person?

Education

22.I see that you struggled with 'X course or rotation' in medical school. Why was that?

Creative Thinking

23.What are your thoughts on the relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry?

Discovery

24.If I asked your friends, what would they say are your strengths and weaknesses?

Discovery

25.Who would you say is your hero?

Creative Thinking

26.Do you believe telehealth is an effective form of healthcare delivery?

Creative Thinking

27.How do you feel about the 80-hour work week limit for residents?

Conflict

28.Tell me about a time you received criticism from an attending physician or resident during your time in medical school. How did you handle that situation?

Education

29.While attending medical school, what was your favorite course and why?

Discovery

30.Describe your personality in three words.

Education

31.How would you stay on top of trends and changes in the medical industry as an Internal Medicine Resident?

Common

32.Are you considering or interviewing with any other Internal Medicine Residency programs?

Education

33.Have you completed all ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) requirements to start an Internal Medicine Residency?

Creative Thinking

34.How would you like to see the delivery of healthcare evolve?

Education

35.Tell us about the most interesting case you were exposed to while attending medical school.

Customer Service

36.A recent patient survey comes back, and you find out that you did not meet a patient's expectations as their physician. What are the next steps you would take to improve as an Internal Medicine Resident in training?

Scenario Based

37.As a new trainee in our Internal Medicine Residency, how would you handle being asked to do a procedure or task that you were unfamiliar with and uncomfortable handling?

Communication

38.As an Internal Medicine Resident, how will you explain a complex diagnosis, procedure, or other medical term to a patient using verbal instructions?

Behavioral

39.Tell us about a time you had to work with new technology. What did you do to ensure proficiency as quickly as possible?

Behavioral

Internal Medicine Residency Mock Interview

Describe your personality in three words.

40Internal Medicine Residency Interview Questions & Answers

1.What motivated you to pursue an Internal Medicine training program?

2.Talk about a difficult patient experience you had during medical school. How did you deal with it?

3.Where do you see yourself in five years following your Internal Medicine Residency training?

4.Take some time to tell us about yourself.

5.Do you have any questions for us?

6.How would you deal with a disagreement among resident colleagues or senior residents as an Internal Medicine Resident?

7.What are some challenges that the field of Internal Medicine is currently facing?

8.What worries you the most about joining a reputable Internal Medicine Residency?

9.Why was your motivation to pursue a career in medicine?

10.What aspects of our Internal Medicine Residency program interest you?

11.What will you bring to our Internal Medicine Residency?

12.What do you like to do for fun?

13.What is the biggest challenge you faced in medical school?

14.What are your thoughts about relocating to and living in this city as an Internal Medicine Resident?

15.What animal best describes you?

16.What are some key things that you are looking for in an Internal Medicine Residency program?

17.Tell us about a time you had a conflict or witnessed a physician in conflict with a patient. How was it resolved in a healthy manner?

18.What does the perfect day look like for you?

19.How do you think you will perform under pressure as an Internal Medicine Resident?

20.What personality type or characteristic do you find most difficult to work with?

21.Do you consider yourself an organized person?

22.I see that you struggled with 'X course or rotation' in medical school. Why was that?

23.What are your thoughts on the relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry?

24.If I asked your friends, what would they say are your strengths and weaknesses?

25.Who would you say is your hero?

26.Do you believe telehealth is an effective form of healthcare delivery?

27.How do you feel about the 80-hour work week limit for residents?

28.Tell me about a time you received criticism from an attending physician or resident during your time in medical school. How did you handle that situation?

29.While attending medical school, what was your favorite course and why?

30.Describe your personality in three words.

31.How would you stay on top of trends and changes in the medical industry as an Internal Medicine Resident?

32.Are you considering or interviewing with any other Internal Medicine Residency programs?

33.Have you completed all ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) requirements to start an Internal Medicine Residency?

34.How would you like to see the delivery of healthcare evolve?

35.Tell us about the most interesting case you were exposed to while attending medical school.

36.A recent patient survey comes back, and you find out that you did not meet a patient's expectations as their physician. What are the next steps you would take to improve as an Internal Medicine Resident in training?

37.As a new trainee in our Internal Medicine Residency, how would you handle being asked to do a procedure or task that you were unfamiliar with and uncomfortable handling?

38.As an Internal Medicine Resident, how will you explain a complex diagnosis, procedure, or other medical term to a patient using verbal instructions?

39.Tell us about a time you had to work with new technology. What did you do to ensure proficiency as quickly as possible?

40.Tell me about a time you showed initiative by taking the lead on a team project.