How to Answer: What personality type or characteristic do you find most difficult to work with?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship job interview.
2. What personality type or characteristic do you find most difficult to work with?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
In Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship training, you will work with a diverse group of fellows and faculty, each with a unique personality and work style. Your interviewers ask this question to understand your ability to work with even the most challenging personality styles.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 14th, 2022
How to Answer
You ideally want to discuss 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 in the program. Instead, choose a quality that prohibits even the most competent and hard-working doctors from delivering high-quality care or working as part of a high-functioning team.
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 14th, 2022
Answer Example
"I sometimes find it challenging to work with people who are not team players. When I experienced this during my Emergency Medicine residency training, I made every attempt to make them feel included so they were comfortable participating as a team member. If things went deeper than that, it made busy shifts challenging. I learned that dealing with people straightforwardly when communications broke down was the best way to steer things the right way."
Written by Ryan Brunner on December 14th, 2022