Top Considerations For A Successful Core Surgical Training Interview
The journey to becoming a surgeon will require more than just passion and talent. You need to put in the commitment and show determination to reach your goal of becoming a competent surgeon who will put value to the medical field. The first step to getting your goal starts with passing the core surgical training interview.
With more than thousands of people taking this interview each year, expect to face tough competition along the way. To get the best results, you need to position yourself in such a way that the odds would be in your favour. And one sure way to do it is to prepare early and to practise a lot.
There are several things you need to consider to boost your chances of success in the core surgical training interview. Among these include managing your portfolios by following the set criteria precisely as well as familiarising common surgical questions and different clinical scenarios by answering them comprehensively. Once you have internalised these things, you are on your way to outperforming yourself and many others during the actual interview.
Practice
Practice makes progress, or so we’ve been told. But what it does is train your mind to adapt to the situation you have yet to experience in real life, thus enabling you to navigate through situations that would normally be extremely stressful and pressure-filled. That said, you must put in the time to develop any skill, and interviewing is no different. Start by reciting answers to common questions. Move on to having others practice with you and perform mock interviews.
Finally, one very helpful resource is your university’s career centre (or analogous service). These centres generally offer mock interviews which can be scheduled. Do this. You will not regret it. Treat it like a formal interview. It will help come interview day to have gone through the motions and practised interviewing with a stranger who is experienced with the process.
If possible, be sure to practice mock interviews with real doctors who have already conducted hundreds of medical school and residency interviews – it’s as real as it gets.
Prepare a few examples of experiences
Apply whatever learning you’ve gained from your experiences—adversity you have faced, challenges in school or the workplace, instances of personal growth, times when you were pushed to make a difficult decision— as these can be applied to a multitude of questions. An important factor when answering interviews is to provide examples/experiences for questions rather than giving indirect or abstract answers. By tapping into your significant experiences, you can use this to better answer unexpected questions.
Scheduling the Interview
Part of your initial preparation is scheduling for the interview. This will set the tone for your goals and overall conditioning for your interview. As such, do not delay scheduling your interview as this may give the appearance that you are not interested. Also, do not arrange an appointment for a post-call day. Make sure you are as well-rested as possible. If the interview is in a city or town you have never visited, double-check the address and find out about parking or airport transportation. If the practice is offering the interview, it is considerate of them to arrange your transportation if out of town. Confirm your travel arrangements with the practice administrator/recruiter/office manager. Make sure you have allocated adequate time for travel delays or traffic.
Keep a good portfolio
As you will be going into the interview by yourself, one of the things that would back you up is your portfolio. How much detail you put into your portfolio will translate to competence and professionalism. Most interviews beyond medical foundation applications will require you to bring a portfolio of your achievements to the interview. You may visit the organisation’s website to know what you need to include and how to structure your portfolio.
Prepare your portfolio as early as you can. As you list down your achievements, you will inevitably come across accomplishments for which you have no physical proof. Allowing yourself time to obtain/find certificates will spare you from a lot of stress before the interview.
As with anything worthwhile, preparation is key to a successful core surgery training interview. For someone who aspires to become a reputable surgeon in the future, you need to bulk up your knowledge base. You can do this by gathering reliable resources on the Internet, such as question banks, courses, books, and more. As you become more knowledgeable through your reading and research, you also become more confident and well-versed at answering all potential questions that might be thrown at you. At the same time, preparing your CV and portfolios will provide the support that you need to start the interview on an impressionable advantage. But most importantly, you need to become at ease throughout the process and maintain crystal-clear focus on your goals. Doing the tips mentioned above will help you reach your goal of becoming a surgeon in the most straightforward and practical method possible.
