How to Answer: When have you had to shift your priorities in response to sudden changes?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Ultrasound Fellowship job interview.
2. When have you had to shift your priorities in response to sudden changes?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
During your Ultrasound Fellowship, your routine will occasionally be disrupted by a high-needs patient or an emergency. Your interviewers need to understand how you handle sudden shifts in priorities.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 5th, 2022
How to Answer
Discuss a time you were asked to change your priorities on a dime. Paint a clear picture of the situation and explain why you needed to be flexible. Talk about the result of your actions and assure the interviewers that you will always be ready to handle anything thrown your way during your Ultrasound Fellowship training.
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 5th, 2022
Answer Example
"Over the last two and a half years, I've learned that being flexible in response to change is a vital skill for any physician to possess. I feel fortunate to have trained in both urban and rural settings during residency, and both settings required flexibility in my work. Last year, on a busy day during a spike in Covid cases, we had a patient who had been critically injured in a farming accident. An ambulance wasn't dispatched, so we had to move as soon as the patient arrived. While this left some patients hanging mid-exam, we had to prioritize the critically injured patient. Our quick action likely saved the patient's leg from being amputated that day."
Written by Ryan Brunner on April 5th, 2022