How to Answer: Tell us about a time you had a setback or failure during your residency training. How did you respond?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Sports Medicine Fellowship job interview.
3. Tell us about a time you had a setback or failure during your residency training. How did you respond?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
In the field of sports medicine, quick decisions don't always go the way you hope, and you will experience some clinical setbacks during your time in fellowship training. Knowing that experience can often lead to future results, the program you are interviewing with wants to hear how you work in the face of adversity. They also want to know that they will match a candidate who will rise to the occasion when the going gets tough.
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 28th, 2023
How to Answer
You must be able to give a concrete example of a failure you experienced during your residency training and then show how you were able to improve your circumstances. Walk the team of interviewers through the situation you faced, what happened, and the steps you took to make the situation right. You should be able to show that you learned from the failure and that you won't make the same mistake again.
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 28th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"During an HIM rotation during my second year, I miscommunicated an IV order for a patient when the unit was full one night. Thankfully, the charge nurse caught my mistake before the medication was administered by the floor staff. First, I took full accountability, thanked the charge nurse, and apologized for my mistake. I realized that trying to work quickly in a busy situation could have negative results, and I will take this lesson with me into your fellowship program and my career in practice."
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 28th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"At the beginning of my final year of residency, I was admittedly in a bad place emotionally and burned out. I had always prided myself on not letting pressures get to me. I'm so proud that I was cognizant enough to approach my program director and administrator about how I felt. I received some great advice from another attending physician to whom my program director referred me. I've moved forward since then, prioritizing 'me time' and 'family time' when not on my shifts."
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 28th, 2023