How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?

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Everyone handles the stress and disappointment of setbacks differently. When you enter a fast-paced residency program, these setbacks can certainly be amplified, and your interviewers want to know you will handle any situation with ease if you are accepted into their program.

Describe how you typically cope with setbacks in the workplace. As you answer, focus on your ability to learn from your mistakes and stay calm, cool, and collected in the face of any situation you would be handling as their next resident.

"Experiencing a setback is always disappointing and can be disheartening, especially when it involves a patient. I understand that setbacks happen often in residency. If I experience a major setback while on your team, I will take a few moments to internally debrief, get some fresh air if possible, or discuss what I could have done differently with a mentor. Then, I move on. I need to recover quickly so I can concentrate on the next case."

Having a setback or an unanticipated event happen is always challenging. While it is easy to get upset or frustrated, I try to look at things objectively, reframe the situation, and do what is necessary to correct or improve the situation. Additionally, seeking advice from other team members or trainers is also helpful. Taking a break to get fresh air or have a snack gives me a mental break and allows me to return to the situation with a fresh perspective. Taking a walk or exercising is also a good way to relieve stress and renew my energy level.

"Suffering a setback can be challenging. When suffering a setback, I try to look at it as an opportunity. With each setback, I try to learn something from the experience and move on."

"Setbacks are usually unexpected and often challenging to navigate. I think emotional reactions to them are natural, but I try not to let them impact my clinical work or patient care. Optimistically, setbacks can be viewed as a platform for introspection and personal growth."

"Setbacks are common, and I view them as an opportunity to learn and improve. While setbacks may be disheartening initially, I take a moment to regroup and remind myself that setbacks are normal whenever we try to get tasks done. I then take a critical look at what went wrong and how I can work on this to prevent such setbacks in the future."

"I think part of doing meaningful work is facing challenges. This can sometimes come in the form of setbacks, but I try to remember that setbacks are part of every process and that they allow us to learn from our mistakes or missteps and think more creatively about whatever challenge we face."

Anonymous Answer

"I understand setbacks are almost inevitable. Even people that have years of expertise and experience might still experience some setbacks. If that happens, I would calm down first, because panicking has never been shown to help, pray (because God is really important to me), and I would also seek advice from a mentor or someone in a position to advise me."

Kevin's Feedback

Your response offers a general perspective on your approach, but no applicable techniques that you've put to the test. You say you would first calm down, but how would you go about calming down? What if praying wasn't enough to calm down? If you were working in a high stressed, fast-paced environment, how often would you be praying to calm yourself down, and how effective would that be? You mention you would consult a mentor, but what if they were not available, or there was not the luxury of time to reach out to them?

"I’ve faced some setbacks during some high stressed times. At those times, I decide to move fast and act fast. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches and just keep moving forward. So, if I can afford a few minutes, I’ll take a three-minute break and listen to this song that instantly boosts my mood. I’d then watch this video my mom sent me years ago where she gave me a pep talk telling me I could do anything. Then I’d get back to work. As soon as there was some downtime, I’d examine what led to that setback and take what I could to learn from the experience."

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"Although setbacks are disappointing, I believe every setback can teach me something, and I try to make it a step toward a positive change and move on because I know that I need to save my energy and positive attitude to be able to reach that goal and provide excellent care for my patients."

Rachelle's Feedback

You are right - it's essential to save energy and keep a positive attitude. It's for the good of you and your patients :) Do you have an example of a time when you suffered a setback but recovered by using the situation as a learning opportunity? If so, this question presents an excellent storytelling opportunity.

Anonymous Answer

"Setbacks are always there but whenever I face such things I try to be calm and think what is going on, I always focus on the solution. I also try to have some rest. A glass of wine sometimes helps. Lol"

Jaymie's Feedback

Interviewers want to know that you won't dwell on a mistake and let it interfere with your productivity and ability to move forward. It sounds like you take the time to reflect, learn from mistakes or setbacks, and move on. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"Having setbacks at work is disappointing but inevitable. I understand this and use these opportunities to learn so I can prevent or reduce a bad outcome the next time. To emotionally deal with it, I would take a deep breath, clear my mind, and ask for the assistance of my seniors for their advice. I also compartmentalize so that it doesn't affect the other aspects of my day such as caring for other patients and family life."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent answer! You reassure the interviewer that you can deal with the situation and move forward instead of dwelling and allowing it to interfere with your work.

Anonymous Answer

"I see setbacks as opportunities to grow both professionally and personally and therefore I cannot let them negatively affect my emotions. In the past, I viewed them negatively and felt shame and disappointment when I did not perform to the highest standards but having encountered such situations while in medical school, I learned to view them positively and address them with self-compassion."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent answer! You reassured the interviewer that you can accept the situation for what it is, learn from it, and move on, which is precisely what they are looking for.

Anonymous Answer

"We have to be able to separate personal life from professional life, but at the end of the day, we are human with feelings and emotions. I deal with setbacks by taking a quick break to clear my ideas and resume my activities with the best attitude."

Jaymie's Feedback

It's great that you acknowledge that, despite the need for separation between personal and professional life, being human involves having feelings and emotions. This demonstrates self-awareness, which the interviewer will find valuable in a candidate. While your response is concise and to the point, consider adding a bit more depth by briefly sharing an example of how this approach has worked for you in the past. Consider including a sentence about what you learn from setbacks. This can demonstrate your growth mindset and your ability to turn challenges into opportunities for improvement.

Anonymous Answer

"Although setbacks are disappointing and challenging, every setback can teach me something; I try to do what is necessary to correct or improve the situation, get some fresh air, or discuss with a mentor what I could have done differently. Then, I move on. I need to recover quickly to concentrate on the next case."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your response demonstrates resilience and a proactive approach to setbacks, which is positive! Mentioning seeking advice from a mentor is a good point, as it shows your openness to guidance and continuous improvement. Additionally, your focus on moving forward and concentrating on the next task reflects a forward-thinking and determined attitude. Overall, it's a well-structured response that highlights your ability to cope with setbacks in a constructive manner. Good job!

How to Answer: How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Residency job interview.

5. How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Written by Rachelle Enns

How to Answer

Written by Ryan Brunner on February 12th, 2022

Answer Example

Written by Rachelle Enns

Internal Medicine Example

Written by Dr. Shani Saks on November 4th, 2022

Family Medicine Example

"Suffering a setback can be challenging. When suffering a setback, I try to look at it as an opportunity. With each setback, I try to learn something from the experience and move on."

Written by Dr. Griswold on November 5th, 2022

Radiology Example

Written by Dr. Rodman on February 1st, 2023

Dermatology Example

Written by Dr. Yumeen on December 19th, 2022

Emergency Medicine Example

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Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent answer! You reassure the interviewer that you can deal with the situation and move forward instead of dwelling and allowing it to interfere with your work.

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Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent answer! You reassured the interviewer that you can accept the situation for what it is, learn from it, and move on, which is precisely what they are looking for.

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