Why did you become a Psychiatrist?
The interviewer wants to know why you chose to become a Psychiatrist to better understand your motivations and passions for the field and gauge your level of commitment and dedication to the profession. It could also help them assess whether you are a good fit for the role and the organization. As a Psychiatrist, you must enjoy studying, diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental disorders from a medical standpoint. Tell the interviewer when you knew you wanted to work with people and pursue a career in Psychiatry.
"Knowing that I wanted to pursue a medical career, I studied hard to get into medical school to pursue my MD. Once there, I found that the field of Psychiatry was the most intriguing to me because it was such a diverse and unknown medical field. The human brain has always fascinated me, as well as the has human behavior. My intrigue into the field has led to a passionate career, to say the least."
"I was inspired to become a Psychiatrist during my senior year in high school elective AP Psychology class. In learning more deeply about human psychology and the spectrum of mental illnesses, I knew that my pursuit of becoming a doctor someday would involve Psychiatry, and I have never doubted that decision one bit."
"During my college years and coming out of the military, I was inspired by my Psychiatrist that was helping me through a bout of depression. Knowing that I had the desire to go to medical school and seeing how effective he was at treating me, I knew that I wanted to follow in his footsteps to one day help people that were in my same shoes at such a vulnerable time in my life."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
1- I've always been interested in understanding why others behave the way they do.
2- I enjoy the 'art of psychiatry.' Someone said, 'a psychiatrist has to use his words with the same skill that a surgeon uses a scalpel". I appreciate that analogy, and I enjoy the discernment in the words I use.
3- As I've progressed throughout my career, I've started to realize that I probably started psychiatry to learn more about myself. I've gained a lot through self-reflection over the past few years as I've focused more on early childhood development and attachment.
Rachelle's Feedback
What an excellent quote! This is a very memorable answer; genuine and heartfelt.
Anonymous Answer
I really want to help people improve their quality of life. Most people will be tormented for a long time before they seek help from a psychiatrist. I want to help people improve their quality of life, return to function, and have meaningful relationships. I really enjoy that emotional connection with patients, being able to gain their trust and share their most private thoughts and feelings. I value the experience of being with them at their most vulnerable. I enjoy hearing their personal narratives, like where they come from, where they are now, and where they want to go. Lastly, I think the flexibility of psychiatry will help me juggle professional and family life and allow me a fair bit of control over who I see and when and where I work.
Rachelle's Feedback
It is apparent that you have a genuine desire and passion for this field and for helping others find relief in their life. This answer is very well crafted, with a lot of excellent detail and heart.
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