Virtual Interviewing Tips and Tricks

By Cassandra Mackey MD and Christine Kulstad MD COVID-19 has led to a change in the practice of medicine and medical education. One area where the impact of COVID has been felt profoundly is in the area residency and fellowship application. In the past this would be accomplished with in-person interviews and meetings. These face-to-face opportunities were the best way for both the department and the applicant to find their perfect fit. COVID has changed all of that. To avoid spread of disease, there is a focus on minimizing in-person contact. Restrictions have been placed on the number of people who gather in groups and how far apart they must stand when gathering. The AAMC now recommends virtual interviews and meetings for all fellowship and residency applicants. Our goal in creating this piece is to provide guidelines for virtual interviewing and advice on how to put your best foot forward during virtual interviews. Virtual interviews are certainly a change from traditional interviews, but they have been used successfully in the past for residency and fellowship positions (as noted by Vadi et al 2016, Jones et al 2020, and Healy et al 2017.) There are many ways to optimize your success; we encourage you to invest in the time to determine which ways work best for you.

Preparation

Before interview day, download the residency program’s application. If the program application is one you have used before, ensure that your display name is a professional version of your actual name. To ensure the program’s technology/application works with your computer, run through a mock interview. Focus on the functionality of your camera. If your computer’s camera is low quality, consider using an external webcam. Evaluate the performance of your speakers and sound system and consider using headphones for better sound quality and to prevent feedback or echoing. Record and play back the mock interview, paying close attention to your unconscious habits (e.g. adjusting your glasses, playing with your hair, stroking your beard/mustache, chewing on your nails etc.) as these can be distractions. Note these habits and make a conscious effort to avoid them in the future. Having a friend or mentor watch the interview will give you additional perspective on areas for improvement. Spend some time before your first interview learning how to optimize your internet connection and image quality. Explore the options that are available on the application you will be using. Close other programs on your computer that might make the application run slower. Turn off other devices that use the Internet or at least temporarily turn off their WiFi connection. Find a place with a strong WiFi signal, close to the router, to maximize internet connection or, if possible, consider using a wired connection. All of these steps should help avoid a frozen video or lost audio signal. Just as you would prepare for any other interview, develop answers to questions you think will be asked. Explore the program’s website and watch their promotional videos to become familiar with the institution. Develop a list of questions.

Figure 1 QUESTIONS

Who has ownership of patients? Who do you present to on shift? As an intern? As an upper level? Availability of fellowships? Do residents feel ready for independent practice at the time of graduation? What would you change about the program? What is the culture of mentorship? How do residents go about finding a mentor? What unites residents? How do residents and faculty get along with ancillary staff? Consulting Services? How often do residents hang out with colleagues or coworkers outside of shift?

ASK…

Residents and Faculty Residents and Faculty Residents and Faculty Faculty Residents and Faculty Residents and Faculty Residents Faculty and Residents Faculty and Residents

Remote interviewing can make it difficult to get a general “feel” for a place, so ask questions that might help bridge this gap. For example, ask about mentoring, activities residents do together for fun, or how comfortable residents feel about contacting their attendings during non-work hours. (See Figure 1 for other example questions.) If the option is offered, consider contacting residents after the interview to try to replace the social interactions missing from virtual interviews.

Environment

Make sure you have a neutral, light-colored background without a direct light source behind you, which can cause an unflattering shadowing or make it difficult for the interviewer to see your face. A warm light source positioned just off to the side but shining on your face is generally the most flattering. A neutral background will bring you to the foreground. Try to avoid images or artwork in the background; although potentially a key to your personality, they can be a distraction. Barking pets and active children, adorable as they may be, are also distractions to try to avoid during your interview. Consider having someone keep an eye on the pets and children from a different room that’s not within earshot of the room in which you are doing your interview. If your institution allows, an empty classroom or office on campus may provide the quiet environment you need.

Appearance

Just as with an in-person interview, dress for success. If you would wear a suit and tie or formal dress to an in-person interview, wear the same thing during the virtual interview. Groom your hair, beard, etc., just as you would for an in-person interview. Although what you are wearing on the bottom may not be shown on video, dressing professionally is an unconscious reminder to you that this is an interview to be taken seriously. In addition, there have been many examples of virtual meetings where participants did not realize how much of themselves was visible on screen! Look directly at the camera when you are speaking and not at the screen (watch your recorded practice interview to see how both options come across). Just as meeting someone’s eyes during an in-person interview exudes confidence, so does keeping your eyes fixed on the camera. Looking at (and seeing yourself on) the screen may also distract you from what you are saying or make you feel self-conscious. It can also be helpful to look at the interviewer when they are speaking to pick up on their non-verbal clues. It’s harder to project your personality through a virtual interview and easier to come across as low energy, which can be interpreted as uninterested. If you decide to sit during the interview, make sure you are sitting upright in a chair and not lounging on a sofa or bed. Consider arranging your laptop on an elevated surface so that you are standing during the interview. Practice with both options before the actual interview and watch the recorded interview to decide which option shows off your personality the best without creating distractions. Keep your phone away from the computer during the interview and remove anything that lights up or makes noise that could possibly distract you from the conversation. Just before the interview starts, make sure you turn off all alerts and pop-up windows on your computer. (It is especially obvious during a one-on-one interview when someone is distracted.)

Closing Remarks

We hope that by applying these tips you will be prepared for a successful and worry-free virtual interview day. (And if you start to feel stressed about the changes, consider the time and money you're saving — more than $3,000!.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Dr. Mackey is an assistant professor in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and a former medical education fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center @casscln. Dr. Kulstad is the clerkship co-director and an associate professor in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern