Are you comfortable with the potential physical risks that will come during psychiatry residency training and in practice down the road?

"Yes, I'm very comfortable with these risks that few psychiatric patients pose and I am very confident in my ability to help diffuse these situations while doing what is right for the patient. As a psychiatric resident, I know that a patient's history is the number one indicator of violent behavior and I would follow all hospital protocols for ensuring the safety of me and my team when working with a potentially violent patient."

Due to the nature of the illnesses, you will be treated during your psychiatry residency training, you have to realize that this medical specialty will put you at more risk for physical harm from a patient compared to most other medical specialties. Your interviewers want to hear that you are aware and comfortable with this fact and that you would match to their program with a good framework on how to spot and manage potential physical threats from patients.

First, you want to reiterate to your interviewers that you are aware of the risks that come with working with patients that have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or other related psychoses and that you would come to their program ready and willing to accept that risk. Then, to seal the deal on your answer to this question, think about and research some strategies for helping mitigate potential risks before they become a threat. These can include assessing a patient's history of violent behaviors and keying in on small cues to know when a patient is about to lose control.

How will you manage the high amounts of day-to-day stress that are a part of being a psychiatry resident?

"I know that I will be facing the most grueling four years of my life as a psychiatry resident and I'm both mentally and physically prepared for it. I plan to utilize my free time wisely by doing what is necessary to recharge my mind and rest my body. Some ways I like to do this are playing golf, hiking with my dog, and reading. When working directly with patients, I have the thick alligator skin to be able to take any verbal onslaught brought my way by patients. I would come to your program with the ability to see past this and treat each patient with compassion and care."

Physicians are known to have a high amount of stress and burnout due to the nature of the work. Psychiatry residency training provides a completely unique set of stressors that include verbal abuse from patients, medical errors, academic performance, and mistreatment by other members of the care team. You need to be aware that the time demands and pressure of residency can lead to fatigue and little sleep. Your interviews want to hear about your plan to handle the high amounts of stress during your time with them during your psychiatry residency training.

Explain to your interviewers that you have the tools to keep your mind, body, and spirit in the best shape possible to learn and grow every day during residency training. Talk about your ability to maintain perspective, use your downtime to recharge, and come to each shift prepared for the challenges that you'll face.

If you had to be truthful, what do you feel is your greatest weakness heading into psychiatry residency training?

"I feel that my greatest weakness can be my desire to be social with every person I interact with. While this has never been a weakness in my life or education to this point, I realize that I need to have boundaries with my patients moving forward now that I will become a resident in training. While I know this is a positive trait when building rapport with my patients, I will strive to never cross any boundaries with my patients."

As your interviewers connect with and consider many great candidates for their psychiatry residency program, they know that every candidate has flaws. Your interviewers want to hear that you are cognizant of any shortcomings you have and that you are willing to do what is necessary to overcome those shortcomings.

This is your chance to promote yourself despite your flaws. Your answer should point out a salvageable weakness; you should admit that you're imperfect but have the gumption to work on your weakness because you are committed to being the best you can be. Most importantly, talk in detail about how you have and will continue to work on this potential weakness if you were to match into this training program.

Psychiatrists are very busy people, yet patients can often need care at a moment's notice. Do you feel you can assure your patients you'll always be available to them as a psychiatry resident?

"Just living to work is not much of a life and not being committed to the care of patients is just not acceptable from any physician. I realize coming into psychiatry residency training that there is a fine line to balance between these here. My work is a crucial part of my life, among other things like family, recreation, or outside interests. I have to be honest with my patients if I go on a vacation or take time off. In these situations, I will have someone in my place who is just as knowledgeable and dedicated. In modern healthcare, I know that online resources are readily available to patients, and I know your online system is great because I checked it out before interviews. The 'Ask a Nurse' line and messaging through an online patient account triage patients to the correct person."

In psychiatric practice, you get to enjoy the benefits of continuous care of patients and, even as a psychiatry resident, you will provide care for common patients for four years. Your interviewers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of this responsibility and that you'll work diligently to be available for your entire patient panel.

You might think that you should tell your interviewers that you'll do everything you can to always be there for your patients, but this is unrealistic. Your interviewers want to know that you can do what's best for both you and your patient. Openly discuss how you will assure patients that you will be there when needed with any questions that they may have, and talk about how you will rely on your care team and automation from any online patient care portal as well.

How will you work effectively and collaboratively as part of a larger care team as a psychiatry resident with our program?

"During medical school, I learned how important teamwork is in both a clinic and hospital setting. I intend to bring my top-notch communication skills to your psychiatry residency program. I maintain open lines of communication with my colleagues and support staff. In a busy clinic setting, there can be a hundred things happening at once, and the only way for the team to keep abreast of everything is through communication. I'm also excited to come to your program and take charge of a care team. You'll quickly find that people typically work well with my leadership style. I listen to ideas from everyone, show respect for everyone I work with and don't hesitate to grab the bull by the horns when needed."

Coming out of medical school and into psychiatry residency training, you need to be prepared to step in and be the ultimate team player with faculty, fellow residents, and all members of the larger care team. This larger care team for psychiatrists includes social workers, therapists, nurses and primary care physicians. The interviewers want assurance that you would join their program as a team player, regardless of personality or work style differences. They'll also want to hear that you will be a natural leader.

The goal of your response is to describe your approach to collaborating with others while highlighting how your collaboration style will be a good match for the residency program you are interviewing with. Highlight your leadership skills, communication skills, listening skills, and the respect you show for others in a working environment. If you have examples of times you've proven to be a team player, don't hesitate to share them.

Coming into our psychiatry residency program as a new medical school graduate, what is your comfortability in handling direct patient care with little supervision?

"Coming out of medical school, I feel confident in my ability to work with any patient without someone watching over my shoulder. I was very fortunate to have some great inpatient and outpatient psychiatry experience during medical school to help me build this confidence. With that said, I also want every interaction with a patient to be a learning opportunity, and I know your faculty has an excellent reputation for providing those opportunities to blossoming psychiatry residents."

Your initial year of training in psychiatry residency will likely be the first time you work one on one with patients as the key decision-maker. Your interviewing team asks this question to gauge your own personal comfort level in working one-on-one with patients without a mentor or attending physician in the room with you. This also gives them the chance to hear about the type of mentoring you will need from the start if you were to match into their program.

Prove your ability to work confidently with little supervision while not being overconfident. As a psychiatry resident, your work with patients will be scrutinized and used as a learning opportunity, so let your interviewers know that you are aware of that. Speak with modest confidence in your ability to work with patients with little to no supervision.

In psychiatry, communication skills are essential. How would you describe your communication skills?

"My communication always stays centered around an empathetic and compassionate approach with patients and this is so critical in treating mental health disorders. I treat every conversation with the utmost respect, no matter the nature of the communication. As a psychiatry resident, I know that my colleagues and faculty will expect my communications to be well thought out to give great information and keep the team atmosphere in great shape. I am upfront and honest in all communications with colleagues and I don't shy away from difficult conversations."

Patient-centered communication is vital for the residents of any psychiatry residency training program, and your interviewers want to know that you are a great communicator. They want to hear that you have strong verbal and written communication skills when communicating with patients, faculty, fellow residents, and your patient care team.

Before your interview, think about your communication strengths. Come to your interview prepared to talk about what makes you great at communicating with patients, colleagues, and support staff. More important, make sure to explain why solid communication skills are vital for any resident and physician.

What do you foresee as being your most challenging patient type during your time in psychiatry residency training?

"I'm honestly a little fearful of patients that would have a propensity for violent behaviors. I am pretty small in stature and would struggle defending myself if I were ever in a situation where I needed to. With that said, I know that all hospitals and clinics have safety measures in place and I'm confident that your program would never place a psychiatry resident in a bad situation."

Psychiatric patients span a wide spectrum of mental illnesses, many of which can be very challenging to diagnose, treat and manage and your interviewers are obviously very aware of this situation. To hopefully help debunk any potential myths that you may have coming into psychiatry residency, your interviewers are posing this question in hopes that you will talk honestly about the specific patient type of diagnosis that you are fearful of or may find challenging.

Dealing with difficult patients is an unfortunate fact of life in the mental health field. As a psychiatry resident, you will learn how to identify, understand and respond to your patients and that can make your work life safer and less stressful. Talk openly and honestly with your interviewers about what you feel will be the most challenging type of patient during your time training with them. As you answer, be sure to speak with confidence in your ability to meet this challenge head-on.

What role do you think psychiatrists play in the overall healthcare system?

"I know that mental health is often a very overlooked piece from care providers that see patients. The fact that mental health is consistently on the top of healthcare needs lists nationwide really proves this. I see psychiatry as a vital role in working with all primary care specialties to provide services for patients that need a diagnosis and treatment. I would come to your psychiatry residency program ready and willing to help educate primary care providers on the role that I can help play with their patients that need mental health services."

As a psychiatrist, you have the potential to play a crucial role in the early identification of illnesses and intervention with your patients. In asking this question, your interviewers are looking to hear how you interact with other providers throughout a health system and your overall thoughts on the importance of the field in the overall functioning of a hospital and healthcare system.

An ideal answer to this question will both talk about your thoughts on what part psychiatry plays in the overall healthcare system and how you can help make that prophecy come true as a resident through a true team effort. As you answer, be sure to highlight how mental health is an extension of primary care and plays a critical role in working with other medical specialties like family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, neurology, and others.

Do you have any preferences on a future practice being focused on either an inpatient or outpatient setting?

"During my training, I am looking forward to being exposed to practicing in both inpatient and outpatient settings and I know your program offers ample opportunity for both. Right now, I can envision a future practice that is a majority focused on the outpatient setting and following up with patients should they be hospitalized for any reason."

For a psychiatrist leaving residency training, the practice options are endless. Your interviewers pose this question as another way to learn about your future career goals in practice and how you would like to see your training path tailored during your four years with their psychiatry residency program.

Hopefully, you have put some thought into what your ideal practice looks like once you complete your psychiatry residency training. As you answer, speak openly and honestly on whether you have an interest in an outpatient or inpatient practice once you get into practice following your residency training. Keep in mind that it is also okay to be undecided at this time and you can explain to your interviewers that you are keeping an open mind during your initial years of training.

Would you have any issues relocating to join our psychiatry residency program?

"Yes, I am willing to relocate anywhere around the country for a program that is the right fit for me. I researched this city and region, and I can see myself thriving here. I can easily pick up and go where I am needed because my family is fully supportive of my decision to pursue a great psychiatry training program, and from what I've learned today, I'm confident that I found that here."

To better the odds of matching with a great program, most medical students will apply to residency programs all over the country. As they consider your application, your interviewers want to know that you are serious when it comes to your willingness to relocate and put your full focus on training in their psychiatry residency program.

The goal when answering this question is to assure the interviewer that relocating will not be a problem for you. Hopefully, you've put some thought into this prior to the application process for residency programs. If it's a challenging relocation for you, but you are willing to do it, explain your willingness to move for the sake of joining this program. Don't hesitate to talk about your personal or family situation and the support you have to pursue this dream of yours.

Psychiatric providers and mental health services are in high demand right now across the entire country. Why do you think that is?

"I think that mental health is finally being made a priority in a lot of states throughout the country and for very good reasons. Due to the new priorities, many new positions have opened and the number of physicians looking to enter the field has certainly dwindled in recent years. I'm very passionate about mental health and can't wait to successfully train with a reputable program like yours and help make the difference in the lives of many people down the road."

Psychiatry is an extremely high-demand field right now across the country, and even the world. Your interviewers want to hear that you have a basic understanding of why this is and that hopefully, this is part of the reason for you pursuing training in a psychiatry residency program.

In the simplest of forms, the demand for mental health services is greatly exceeding the supply right now and the reasons for this are plenty. Mental health continues to be brought to the forefront of our society and more and more people are seeking help where they necessarily haven't in the past. On the opposite end of the spectrum, mental health issues stemming from opioid and alcohol addictions continue to increase. In turn, depression and suicide also are increasing dramatically. There is no right answer to this question and your interviewers will simply be looking for you to answer logically and with passion.

Outside of medicine, what are your interests and hobbies that keep you busy?

"My hobbies include music, reading, and cooking. I grew up taking piano lessons and played several woodwind instruments in the band through college and still play when I have the time. I have a passion for fiction novels and find that reading is a perfect respite for me to keep my mind at ease."

Having hobbies and interests outside of your psychiatry residency training is an important part of maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Your interviewers want to get to know you a bit better as a person. They also want to know that you will have a healthy balance during your time training with them.

Talk openly and honestly to the interviewers about the activities that interest you outside of the medical field. As you answer, talk about how these activities will be important in your life as a resident in their program to help keep you happy, healthy, and refreshed during your training. Keep in mind that as you answer, your interviewers will be getting to know you a bit better personally and how you will blend with their team of residents and faculty.

What career path would you have chosen if pursuing medicine wasn't an option?

"I do not regret the direction I have taken my career, and I'm looking forward to my psychiatry residency training. If I were forced to start over in a new direction, I would likely pursue a career in education. I have a passion for teaching and look forward to this aspect during my career, shaping the futures of medical students and residents. I could see myself teaching the arts or sciences at the middle school level, where teenagers can feel the influences of these subjects on their future."

Your interviewers want to get to know each candidate a bit better during the interview process. This hypothetical question will give them some insight into other topics that interest you outside of the medical field.

There is no right or wrong answer, but be sure to think about questions like this before your psychiatry residency interviews. As you answer, 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.

Who in your life has been the biggest mentor or inspiration to you?

"I find inspiration in a variety of people and things. The person who has most greatly inspired me is my grandfather. From a young age, he instilled a strong work ethic and a sense of compassion in me in all that I do. He was always there for me growing up when I needed important life lessons in my life and I want to pass this along to my patients. To this day, I miss the stories that we shared and the lessons I learned from him, but am forever grateful that we got that time together."

Your interviewers want to gain some insight into the personalities and personal motivations of each candidate they consider to match into their psychiatry residency program. This question allows your interviewers to see who influenced you to become a life-changing physician.

Your life's inspiration can come from a book, a mentor, your family, or a celebrity. Talk to the interviewers about who has inspired you and why. If possible, explain how this mentor or influence has inspired your choice to pursue a career as a psychiatrist.

Are you considering any other psychiatry residency programs?

"I am keeping an eye out and applying to several reputable psychiatry residency programs throughout the country. No matter the number of interviews I complete, I hold your program in the highest regard because of the academic and research success that your past trainees are now having in practice. These aspects are extremely important to me as I look at my future career goals."

It is no secret that 4th-year medical students are encouraged to apply to many residency programs to better their odds of matching. For psychiatry residency programs, the demand nationwide has slowly increased the competitiveness to match into programs. Your interviewers pose this question to get a feel for how you would rank their program if you were to be one of their top candidates following their interview process.

Talk openly about the applications you submitted, but emphasize your interest in this particular psychiatry residency program. Give specific reasons you want to complete your residency with this program and explain how that will benefit you in your pursuit of becoming a practicing psychiatrist.

How do you feel when someone says that psychiatrists aren't real doctors?

"I would honestly take that personally. If this were a patient, a family member, or even someone that I knew, I wouldn't hesitate to educate them on the training path that psychiatrists take and also bluntly tell them that I hold an MD like any other physician. If this were a fellow colleague, attending to a physician or other healthcare professional, I would handle that situation differently during my training in a psychiatry residency. Depending on the relationship I had with the individual, I would either approach them directly to let them know how I felt about them saying it, or I would simply brush it off. In the case of the latter, I wouldn't give the person the time of day because they obviously know better."

It has long been known that much of the general public doesn't realize that psychiatrists obtain their MD or DO and go through residency training like any physician. What's even more disturbing is that there are a few physicians in other specialties that look down upon psychiatrists and even treat them as less than peers. In asking these questions, your interviewers want to hear that you have the mindset to squash these thoughts if you were to ever hear them and know the importance of the role that psychiatrists play in the overall delivery of healthcare.

While keeping your answer straight and to the point, assure your interviewers that you would be very frank with any person that ever said this in front of you and that you would do so while educating the person on what a truly important physician you would be as a psychiatrist. In whatever way you see fit, discuss where you see the equal importance of psychiatry and mental health fitting in the strategy of overall healthcare for the public.

Following your psychiatry residency training, do you foresee yourself practicing in an urban or rural setting?

"In looking to give back to a small community like the one I grew up in, my ideal practice post-residency training is in a rural setting where psychiatric care is most desperately needed. I hope to have a general practice where I can care for patients both in an outpatient and inpatient setting."

As a medical student pursuing training in a psychiatry residency and a future as a practicing psychiatrist, you have perhaps the widest range of options for an ideal practice compared to other medical specialties. This is given the recent focus on mental health across the country and the national shortage of psychiatrists. Your interviewers will want to know your preferred practice location and patient base so they can get a better idea of your ideal training path if you were to match into their program.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. The faculty at the program you are interviewing with has trained residents who have gone on to practice in every setting possible. As long as you answer honestly, they'll hear your passion for psychiatric medicine and be able to help shape your training for what you want to achieve down the road.

What are your thoughts on stepping away from hands on medical procedures for a practice in psychiatry down the road?

"While I did enjoy learning how to deliver babies and perform lumbar punctures during medical school training, I've been focused on a career as a psychiatrist ever since starting medical school. I would come to your psychiatry residency program ready to dive into the field of mental health care in any ways possible."

Throughout your four years of medical school, you've spent countless hours perfecting many different hands-on medical procedures. You've likely practiced and mastered many of them to graduate and you've likely taken a liking to some of them. The reality is that training in psychiatry residency and a future practice in psychiatry will pull you away from hands-on procedures to move in a completely different direction. Your interviewers ask this question simply to ensure that you will have no regrets on matching into psychiatry down the road during your time training with them.

Come to your psychiatry residency interviewers prepared to talk about the fact that your decision to pursue a psychiatric residency weighed heavily on you and that you are prepared for what lies ahead. To show a well-rounded background, don't hesitate to talk about a procedure or two that you learned that you will miss, as long as you reiterate that this path is the right one for you.

As you look to match into a psychiatry residency, are you aware of the common ethical challenges that our medical field faces?

"Yes, having really researched my residency path carefully and being mentored by a great psychiatric faculty member at my medical school, I am understanding of the ethical challenges that psychiatrists face day in and day out on the job. Properly diagnosing patients in psychiatry is a very big ethical concern, given the fact that the last version of the DSM has over 300 unique mental health diagnoses. Given that sheer number of potential diagnoses, knowing that misdiagnosis in psychiatry is very common."

There are many ethical challenges that are very unique to the field of psychiatry and mental health. Your interviewers need to be assured that every new resident that matches into their program is at least aware of these unique ethical challenges, so they are posing this question to you.

This is not a trick question because there are indeed some very unique ethical dilemmas that psychiatrists face on a daily basis in practice. While you likely know some of these challenges, it is a good idea to conduct your own research and do some reading prior to your interview so you can come to this interview and speak confidently. Some of these unique ethical challenges that you talk about could include involuntary treatment, initial diagnoses of patients, or patient confidentiality.

What interests do you have in academics and/or do research as a psychiatry resident in our program and in your future career as a physician?

"I would come to your psychiatry residency with a keen interest in clinical research on addiction disorder, particularly regarding improving patient outcomes for drug addiction and alcoholism. I would love to start publishing as well because I foresee myself in an academic setting post-residency."

Psychiatry residency programs want candidates who will give back in some way, shape, or form. From a pure practice standpoint, this is best done by teaching, publishing articles, and conducting research. Your interviewers want to hear about any future interests you have in any of these realms, either as a resident or as a future practicing physician down the road.

You should answer that you WOULD like to teach, conduct research, or a mixture of both down the road. While your interviewers should get a good sense of your goals by reading the personal statement you submitted, this question is your chance to express where your passion lies in either education or research. Talk openly about your goals in these areas and how this program can help you kickstart those dreams.

Psychiatrists are very prone to malpractice claims. Are you aware of what the risks of malpractice are in the field as an incoming resident?

"I was fortunate to have an amazing rotation with a great psychiatric rotation in downtown New York during medical school. In this rotation, I learned a great deal about common malpractice claims stemming from misdiagnoses, improper medication dosing, and third-party liability in the patient-physician relationship. For me, ensuring that I am paying attention to all of the fine details and seeking out the help of an attending physician as a resident in your program will be vital to ensuring that my practice is sound and free of malpractice."

Practicing in psychiatry poses a completely unique set of circumstances where malpractice claims can stem from against a physician. As a candidate interviewing to join their psychiatry residency program, your interviewers want to get a sense that you are aware of what these risks are and why they are unique to the field of mental healthcare.

Prior to your residency interviews, be sure to research the common malpractice claim types that are brought against psychiatrists and be able to talk about a few of them as you answer this question. As you discuss these, make sure to instill a way or two that you will work diligently to avoid the common practice mistakes so your interviewers know that you will be consistently diligent in staying within your scope of practice as a resident with their program.

What ultimately made you choose to pursue psychiatry residency training out of medical school?

"Many specialties deal with just the patient at a moment in time, whereas psychiatry works with and treats a patient from initial assessment through to rehabilitation. This can sometimes put psychiatrists working with their patients throughout their entire lives. I'm most looking forward to building these long-term relationships with my patients."

Being passionate about their area of patient care is essential for any physician to be successful in their craft. Your team of interviewers ideally wants to match candidates that are passionate and dedicated to future practice in psychiatry.

This is a question in which you can shine by espousing the vision of the specialty-mental illness. Share why the assessment, diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of mental illness hits home for you enough to make a career out of it. As you answer, try to include a personal touch to your story so that your interviewers can be sold on the fact that your heart is in the right place.

Are there one or two disciplines of psychiatry you'll gravitate toward or eliminate within this far-reaching specialty?

"My passion in healthcare has always gravitated towards children and my plan is to pursue fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry after residency training. Having been personally impacted by a sibling with childhood ODD and anxiety, I feel that my place in my career is working with children suffering from mental health disorders. During residency training, I want to get a well-rounded experience and I'm confident that your program can provide that."

This question may seem like a trick question, meant to reveal a lack of dedication, but your interviewer simply wants to know what special interests you will likely pursue during your time training in a psychiatry residency program. Medical professionals can't be an expert in every area of medicine, and your interviewer will not expect you to be either.

If there is a subspecialty that you are not interested in or would prefer not to pursue, share it with the interviewer. If you have a particular subspecialty within psychiatry that you hope to pursue, be sure to explain why this pursuit is important in your ultimate career goals.

What do you feel is your greatest non-medical strength you can bring to our psychiatry residency program?

"I was honestly attracted to a future in psychiatry because of my empathetic approach and respectful personality. I love forming long-term relationships with patients and look forward to building them throughout my time as a resident with your program and throughout my career in practice. I build trust with my patients through a friendly and knowledgeable approach. I take the time to get to know the little things about my patients and, in turn, they trust me to help them in their journey towards better mental health."

Practicing psychiatry requires interpersonal soft skills that many other specialties don't necessarily require. In asking this question, your interviewers want to know that you have those soft skills to be a competent resident during your four years with their program and as a future physician.

Your answer to this question could include soft skills such as empathy, charity, integrity, and consistency. Tell a brief anecdote that demonstrates why you find this strength important for your life's vocation. Be sure that your answer is well thought out and speak with a passion to impress your team of interviewers.

Psychiatric care is changing more quickly than ever. Internet collaboration and telemedicine are now the new normal. Where do you see the field going in the next five years, and what part do you plan to play in this direction?

"I think it's abundantly clear that the last few years have totally changed how mental health care will be provided into the future. While some of the changes were forced given the pandemic, I think there is so much good that can come out of it and I look forward to helping lead teams that provide care remotely for patients. Psychiatrists are uniquely positioned to provide telehealth services and the days of talking to a patient on a couch may be well in the past. If I were fortunate enough to join your esteemed psychiatry residency, I look forward to embracing new technologies and ways of providing care."

This question is meant to explore your vision for psychiatric medicine in the future because your interviewers want residents who will grow to be impactful physicians in their careers. Medical advancements happen all the time, and psychiatrists need to be ready to adapt to new technology and procedures.

Before your psychiatry residency interviews, make sure you know how telemedicine is impacting psychiatry practices around the world. You can find a lot of great reading materials on the subject before the start of your interviewers. Identify and explain whether you'll be a follower or a leader in this realm as a resident and as a physician in the future.

Have you put any thought into the elective rotations you would like to pursue during your psychiatry residency training?

"Yes, I have put some thought into this, and my ideal elective rotations have led me to your program. I have interests in women's mental health, eating disorders, and research. I would love to focus my electives in training more in these areas."

Psychiatry residency training programs often offer a wide array of elective rotations to give future psychiatrists a wide array of skills entering a new practice out of training. Ideally, your interviewers want to hear that you have put some thought into how you want to customize your training to best set yourself up for success once you graduate from their program.

Show your interviewers that you have a calculated plan for your training with their program that will set you up for success after your time with their program. Before your interview, be sure to read through the curriculum requirements and electives for the program you are interviewing with. They can be found on the program's website. Come to your interview prepared to describe your ideal path for training and why a particular elective interests you.

What electronic medical records systems did you gain experience with during medical school?

"I was fortunate enough to get to work firsthand in a few different systems during med school and they included Cerner, Meditech, and EPIC. I'm happy that I got to learn the ins and outs of a few different programs when it comes to patient charting, looking up previous notes, and submitting orders because I feel very well prepared to enter residency and master your program quickly. If I understand correctly, your program and affiliated hospital use EPIC, and I'm confident that I would be able to function at a high level quickly if I were to match here."

Working on an electronic medical record program is an essential part of any residency training program, including a psychiatry residency. Your interviewers are aware of the fact that every new resident that matches with their program will need to be trained on their customized system. They are just looking to hear what programs you are familiar with and that you are comfortable in your ability to learn and master their program quickly.

Talk about the experiences that gained working on different programs during medical school and be sure to point out your comfortability working on any program that you train on. As well, discussing the importance of utilizing the system during your psychiatry residency training will go a long way with the interviewer.

Have you completed all ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) requirements to start a residency?

"Yes, I have completed steps 1 and 2 of ECFMG requirements for my J-1 visa. I have brought the supporting paperwork with me. Would you like to take a copy?"

This question will only be important for foreign medical graduates looking to enter a psychiatry residency training program. If you are in this category, your interviewers will need to know that you already have your ECFMG certification by completing steps 1 and 2 of the USMLE.

If you are a foreign medical graduate, come to your psychiatry residency interviews prepared to discuss the steps you have taken for the ECFMG certification. If you have any supporting paperwork, bring it with you to the interview and offer it to the interviewers. You must be prepared with an affirmative answer to this question.

What is your familiarity with the current DSM-5 and are you excited to take a deeper dive into it during psychiatry residency training?

"During the end of my third year of medical school, I was exposed to the DSM-5 in pretty great detail and I've really been enamored with learning all that I could over the last year. Given the overall medical complexities and unknowns in mental health diagnoses, it is amazing that more than 150 of the top researchers and clinicians in the world came together to put together the newest version of the manual and helped it to be a trusting document for mental healthcare workers worldwide."

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is often seen as the bible of mental health, being utilized by mental health workers all over the world as the authoritative guide for diagnosing mental disorders. While you don't have to be an expert on the contents of the DSM-5 during your psychiatry residency interviews, your interviewers want to hear that you have some familiarity with the history of the manual and how you will put it to use during residency training.

If you need to, be sure to do any research that you need to on the latest DSM manual and its history prior to your residency interviews. After being first published over 70 years ago, the DSM is now in its 5th version with the most recent coming in 2013. This is great information to share with your interviewers. You should also know that the manual contains details on the symptoms and descriptions for diagnosing each unique mental disorder and is a valuable tool for a trainee in psychiatry residency training.

What do you know about our psychiatry residency training program?

"After my first year of medical school, I knew that I wanted to pursue a future in psychiatry. Over the last few years, I have spoken with a lot of people who have spoken very highly of your psychiatry residency program and I'm very excited to be here. I love that your training program includes theory and science into the program and has great strengths in both biological psychiatry and psychotherapy. I was reading about your state-of-the-art behavioral health center that includes over 40 inpatient beds and a psychiatric emergency department. These are all wonderful perks of matching to a program like yours."

As your interviewers speak with many great 4th-year medical students that have proven their academic commitment to being a successful resident, the match decision may ultimately come down to some little things like a commitment to a program. This question is a test to see if you did your homework on the program that you are interviewing with and that you see a great match for yourself.

Once you get to the interview stage with psychiatry residency programs, you'll want to do further research about the facility. Start with the website of the program and the institution, reviewing their mission, values, and culture. With a lot of programs, you can also read about current residents and where prior residents have gone to practice post-residency. Do your homework so that you can respond confidently. Strive to impress the interviewer with your knowledge.

Anyone that matches into our psychiatry residency program must pass a criminal record check and education verification. Is there any reason you would not be comfortable with this?

"I am ready to fully comply with any background and verification checks that are required of me to join your program as a psychiatry resident. I have a clean criminal and driving record."

In any healthcare-related setting, successfully passing a criminal background check is a necessity. Your interviewers ask this question to ensure that you would be able to pass any required state or federal background checks required by their institution if you were to match into their program.

If you can successfully pass a criminal record check and education verification, explain that you have a clean record. If you have any blemishes on your records that would show up on a criminal record check or education verification, be upfront about that in the interview process. The residency program will be more forgiving if you are honest right away about any marks on your background check.

Tell us about a time when you successfully led a team. What was the biggest factor for you to succeed in this leadership role?

"If I were to successfully match into your program, it wouldn't take you long to see that I am a natural leader that promotes and fosters open lines of communications, treats others with respect, and thrives on leading by example. This is best exemplified by the three years that I was the captain of my college lacrosse team. I loved being the leader that unified our team when things weren't going well and helped to lift the team up in victory. I can definitely see this leadership style carrying over well as I enter psychiatry residency training with your program."

As a new trainee matching into their psychiatry residency training program, you will be helping to lead a care team in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Throughout your four years in the program, this can include leading nurses, therapists, and junior residents on the road. As your interviewers consider many well-educated and well-qualified students to match into their program, the decision on how they rank the candidates may come down to who has the best leadership capabilities.

As you answer, you will ideally want to showcase for the interviewers the primary factors that made your leadership style a success. Your example could come from the workplace or perhaps a time when you led a group project during medical school. No matter what example you use, you'll want to prove your ability to lead others with respect and an eye for achievement.

You see a nurse "pretend" to give a medication to your patient and put it in her pocket instead. What do you do in this situation?

"I would record the patient's name, the nurse's name, and the time of the incident. Then, I would look on the patient's chart to see who ordered the medication if I hadn't. Since it is a nurse and not officially a resident in my program, I would report the incident to the nurse's immediate supervisor. However, my responsibility doesn't end there, because I have to act as my patient's advocate and make sure the supervisor followed her own service and the hospital's protocol for this type of infraction. Just because it's not another resident, it does not excuse me from following up on this, for that nurse's sake (who has a problem), her nursing service's sake, and the patient's sake."

Substance abuse among healthcare providers and staff are becoming more prevalent. Your interviewers want to know that you are aware of this fact and that you are willing and ready to step in when you witness it. Not doing so can put the patient, the staff, and the institution you are training at a major risk.

This question is a little tricky because it involves a person who is not part of your psychiatry residency program. However, if it involves both a patient and the program that you represent, it is your business. Assure your team of interviewers that you would immediately address the situation with the nurse and take the issue up the chain of command immediately.

As a new trainee in our psychiatry residency program, how will you handle any crisis situations that would occur with patients?

"I am a person who can work through my emotions to stay focused in any situation and I pride myself on this ability. In a time of crisis, when decisions need to be made swiftly and responsibly, I would rely on my ability to think clearly, communicate with my care team members and grab the bull by the horns, and direct others when needed. I would come to your psychiatry residency program fully knowing that I will face some difficult challenges and I'm ready to prove to you that I can do this with ease."

As a psychiatrist in training, crisis situations can arise from time to time. Here, your interviewers are looking for your ability to stay calm and collected while solving a crisis situation in an efficient manner.

Prior to your psychiatry residency interviews, you'll want to put some thought into your skills and qualities that make you great at handling crisis situations so you can clearly reiterate them to your team of interviewers. Some important personality traits that you can discuss are your ability to lead others, your overall teamwork skills, your communication skills, and your emotional stability. Presenting a crisis situation that you faced in the past where you learned something for the future can go a long way with the interviewers as well. How you have handled a crisis situation in the past will often predict how you will react in the future.

Psychiatry Residency Interview Questions

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1. Are you comfortable with the potential physical risks that will come during psychiatry residency training and in practice down the road?
2. How will you manage the high amounts of day-to-day stress that are a part of being a psychiatry resident?
3. If you had to be truthful, what do you feel is your greatest weakness heading into psychiatry residency training?
4. Psychiatrists are very busy people, yet patients can often need care at a moment's notice. Do you feel you can assure your patients you'll always be available to them as a psychiatry resident?
5. How will you work effectively and collaboratively as part of a larger care team as a psychiatry resident with our program?
6. Coming into our psychiatry residency program as a new medical school graduate, what is your comfortability in handling direct patient care with little supervision?
7. In psychiatry, communication skills are essential. How would you describe your communication skills?
8. What do you foresee as being your most challenging patient type during your time in psychiatry residency training?
9. What role do you think psychiatrists play in the overall healthcare system?
10. Do you have any preferences on a future practice being focused on either an inpatient or outpatient setting?
11. Would you have any issues relocating to join our psychiatry residency program?
12. Psychiatric providers and mental health services are in high demand right now across the entire country. Why do you think that is?
13. Outside of medicine, what are your interests and hobbies that keep you busy?
14. What career path would you have chosen if pursuing medicine wasn't an option?
15. Who in your life has been the biggest mentor or inspiration to you?
16. Are you considering any other psychiatry residency programs?
17. How do you feel when someone says that psychiatrists aren't real doctors?
18. Following your psychiatry residency training, do you foresee yourself practicing in an urban or rural setting?
19. What are your thoughts on stepping away from hands on medical procedures for a practice in psychiatry down the road?
20. As you look to match into a psychiatry residency, are you aware of the common ethical challenges that our medical field faces?
21. What interests do you have in academics and/or do research as a psychiatry resident in our program and in your future career as a physician?
22. Psychiatrists are very prone to malpractice claims. Are you aware of what the risks of malpractice are in the field as an incoming resident?
23. What ultimately made you choose to pursue psychiatry residency training out of medical school?
24. Are there one or two disciplines of psychiatry you'll gravitate toward or eliminate within this far-reaching specialty?
25. What do you feel is your greatest non-medical strength you can bring to our psychiatry residency program?
26. Psychiatric care is changing more quickly than ever. Internet collaboration and telemedicine are now the new normal. Where do you see the field going in the next five years, and what part do you plan to play in this direction?
27. Have you put any thought into the elective rotations you would like to pursue during your psychiatry residency training?
28. What electronic medical records systems did you gain experience with during medical school?
29. Have you completed all ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) requirements to start a residency?
30. What is your familiarity with the current DSM-5 and are you excited to take a deeper dive into it during psychiatry residency training?
31. What do you know about our psychiatry residency training program?
32. Anyone that matches into our psychiatry residency program must pass a criminal record check and education verification. Is there any reason you would not be comfortable with this?
33. Tell us about a time when you successfully led a team. What was the biggest factor for you to succeed in this leadership role?
34. You see a nurse "pretend" to give a medication to your patient and put it in her pocket instead. What do you do in this situation?
35. As a new trainee in our psychiatry residency program, how will you handle any crisis situations that would occur with patients?

Psychiatry Residency Interview Questions

1. Are you comfortable with the potential physical risks that will come during psychiatry residency training and in practice down the road?

2. How will you manage the high amounts of day-to-day stress that are a part of being a psychiatry resident?

3. If you had to be truthful, what do you feel is your greatest weakness heading into psychiatry residency training?

4. Psychiatrists are very busy people, yet patients can often need care at a moment's notice. Do you feel you can assure your patients you'll always be available to them as a psychiatry resident?

5. How will you work effectively and collaboratively as part of a larger care team as a psychiatry resident with our program?

6. Coming into our psychiatry residency program as a new medical school graduate, what is your comfortability in handling direct patient care with little supervision?

7. In psychiatry, communication skills are essential. How would you describe your communication skills?

8. What do you foresee as being your most challenging patient type during your time in psychiatry residency training?

9. What role do you think psychiatrists play in the overall healthcare system?

10. Do you have any preferences on a future practice being focused on either an inpatient or outpatient setting?

11. Would you have any issues relocating to join our psychiatry residency program?

12. Psychiatric providers and mental health services are in high demand right now across the entire country. Why do you think that is?

13. Outside of medicine, what are your interests and hobbies that keep you busy?

14. What career path would you have chosen if pursuing medicine wasn't an option?

15. Who in your life has been the biggest mentor or inspiration to you?

16. Are you considering any other psychiatry residency programs?

17. How do you feel when someone says that psychiatrists aren't real doctors?

18. Following your psychiatry residency training, do you foresee yourself practicing in an urban or rural setting?

19. What are your thoughts on stepping away from hands on medical procedures for a practice in psychiatry down the road?

20. As you look to match into a psychiatry residency, are you aware of the common ethical challenges that our medical field faces?

21. What interests do you have in academics and/or do research as a psychiatry resident in our program and in your future career as a physician?

22. Psychiatrists are very prone to malpractice claims. Are you aware of what the risks of malpractice are in the field as an incoming resident?

23. What ultimately made you choose to pursue psychiatry residency training out of medical school?

24. Are there one or two disciplines of psychiatry you'll gravitate toward or eliminate within this far-reaching specialty?

25. What do you feel is your greatest non-medical strength you can bring to our psychiatry residency program?

26. Psychiatric care is changing more quickly than ever. Internet collaboration and telemedicine are now the new normal. Where do you see the field going in the next five years, and what part do you plan to play in this direction?

27. Have you put any thought into the elective rotations you would like to pursue during your psychiatry residency training?

28. What electronic medical records systems did you gain experience with during medical school?

29. Have you completed all ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) requirements to start a residency?

30. What is your familiarity with the current DSM-5 and are you excited to take a deeper dive into it during psychiatry residency training?

31. What do you know about our psychiatry residency training program?

32. Anyone that matches into our psychiatry residency program must pass a criminal record check and education verification. Is there any reason you would not be comfortable with this?

33. Tell us about a time when you successfully led a team. What was the biggest factor for you to succeed in this leadership role?

34. You see a nurse "pretend" to give a medication to your patient and put it in her pocket instead. What do you do in this situation?

35. As a new trainee in our psychiatry residency program, how will you handle any crisis situations that would occur with patients?

34. You see a nurse "pretend" to give a medication to your patient and put it in her pocket instead. What do you do in this situation?