Residency Mock Interview

Prepare for 43 Residency interview questions covering clinical scenarios, patient care philosophy, and program fit.

Question 41 of 43

What are your weaknesses?

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

During residency interviews, leaders from programs know that every graduating medical student will come with their own set of weaknesses. Think about some true, authentic weaknesses that you have and come up with a plan for attacking them once you match to a program. Your interviewers will respect an honest answer versus one that is perceived as disingenuous, so make sure to put some thought into this question. Also, make sure not to discuss a weakness that will be essential to your future as a resident and practicing physician.

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.

"One personality weakness that I'm always trying to overcome is the fact that I'm introverted and naturally shy. At times, I can be hesitant to speak up in large groups and I've been working on small things to help with this discomfort. I know I'll be participating in things like tumor boards and family meetings as a resident and look forward to breaking free of this shell over the next three years. The only other perceived weakness that I would say I have is unfamiliarity with this region as I've never visited here and don't have family here. But I've done my research ahead of time and know my fiance and I will thrive here."

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43Residency Interview Questions & Answers

Experience

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

Career Goals

2.What are your career plans and goals after completing our residency program?

Diligence

3.What drives your passion for a career in medicine?

Discovery

4.What do you wish to gain through training in our residency program?

Creative Thinking

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

Discovery

6.Competition for our program is intense. What makes you a stand-out resident for our program?

Career Goals

7.Why are you choosing to match into this particular specialty?

Creative Thinking

8.What do you see as the biggest difference between the U.S healthcare system and that of another developed country?

Experience

9.While attending medical school, what fascinated you most about your cadaver?

Education

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

Discovery

11.We would like to know you on a more personal level. Outside of medicine, what are your interests?

Direct

12.Are you applying to any other residency programs?

Creative Thinking

13.What is your opinion on socialized health care versus privatized health care?

Discovery

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

Discovery

15.As a resident with our program, how would you express your opinions on controversial topics such as abortion, euthanasia, and cloning?

Discovery

16.Would you have any trouble working with a religiously affiliated hospital or medical facility?

Education

17.How would you stay on top of trends and changes in the medical industry as a resident?

Conflict

18.What would you do if you witnessed a fellow resident acting unethically?

Discovery

19.If being a Physician was not an option, what career path would you have chosen?

Stress

20.Practicing as a Physician is an incredibly stressful and demanding career. How will you manage the high amounts of stress that are a part of being a resident?

Ask The Interviewer

21.Is there anything we haven't covered during your interview that you would like to ask about?

Education

22.How would you invest in your personal development as a resident with our program?

Discovery

23.Describe your personality to us in three words.

Discovery

24.Are you willing to relocate for your residency?

Creative Thinking

25.What do you believe is the greatest challenge our specialty will face in the next few years?

Education

26.While attending medical school, what was your favorite course? Why?

Discovery

27.What book are you currently reading?

Adaptability

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

Discovery

29.What is your personal mission statement?

Discovery

30.What strengths you would bring to our program as a resident?

Common

31.All of our residency program candidates must pass a criminal record check and education verification. Is there any reason why you would not be comfortable with this?

Discovery

32.Tell us a bit about yourself.

Discovery

33.What types of activities keep you busy outside of work?

Common

34.Do you have any questions for us?

Discovery

35.What would your dream job be if you could choose any?

Communication

36.How would you describe the communication skills you would bring to our program as a resident?

Experience

37.What EMR programs did you get experience working in as a medical student?

Accomplishment

38.What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment to date?

Teamwork

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

Competency

Residency Mock Interview

What are your weaknesses?

43Residency Interview Questions & Answers

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

2.What are your career plans and goals after completing our residency program?

3.What drives your passion for a career in medicine?

4.What do you wish to gain through training in our residency program?

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

6.Competition for our program is intense. What makes you a stand-out resident for our program?

7.Why are you choosing to match into this particular specialty?

8.What do you see as the biggest difference between the U.S healthcare system and that of another developed country?

9.While attending medical school, what fascinated you most about your cadaver?

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

11.We would like to know you on a more personal level. Outside of medicine, what are your interests?

12.Are you applying to any other residency programs?

13.What is your opinion on socialized health care versus privatized health care?

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

15.As a resident with our program, how would you express your opinions on controversial topics such as abortion, euthanasia, and cloning?

16.Would you have any trouble working with a religiously affiliated hospital or medical facility?

17.How would you stay on top of trends and changes in the medical industry as a resident?

18.What would you do if you witnessed a fellow resident acting unethically?

19.If being a Physician was not an option, what career path would you have chosen?

20.Practicing as a Physician is an incredibly stressful and demanding career. How will you manage the high amounts of stress that are a part of being a resident?

21.Is there anything we haven't covered during your interview that you would like to ask about?

22.How would you invest in your personal development as a resident with our program?

23.Describe your personality to us in three words.

24.Are you willing to relocate for your residency?

25.What do you believe is the greatest challenge our specialty will face in the next few years?

26.While attending medical school, what was your favorite course? Why?

27.What book are you currently reading?

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

29.What is your personal mission statement?

30.What strengths you would bring to our program as a resident?

31.All of our residency program candidates must pass a criminal record check and education verification. Is there any reason why you would not be comfortable with this?

32.Tell us a bit about yourself.

33.What types of activities keep you busy outside of work?

34.Do you have any questions for us?

35.What would your dream job be if you could choose any?

36.How would you describe the communication skills you would bring to our program as a resident?

37.What EMR programs did you get experience working in as a medical student?

38.What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment to date?

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

40.As a new resident of our program, would you be able to handle patient care with little supervision?

41.What are your weaknesses?

42.Why should we give you a high ranking as a new resident to join our program?

43.Why do you want to pursue a career as a physician?