Tag: interviews

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Why Rapid Speech Can Destroy An Interview!

rapid speech

Rapid speech is prevalent when people are in unfamiliar situations. I, myself, tend to talk a bit quickly at times. But an excellent radiology residency interview can turn into something else if you don’t remember to take down the speed of speech a notch or two. We have seen it all too many times. Here are some reasons you should listen to yourself, pace your speaking, and prevent yourself from rapid speech with your interviewer at the speed of light.

Flight Of Ideas Suggests Lack Of Focus

Whether it may or may not be accurate, when you sputter, it implies that you may have difficulty concentrating on one topic at a time. Or, otherwise, this mental state we call a flight of ideas. Residency directors do not want residents that cannot focus on studying, reading films, and performing procedures. All these parts of radiology residency take tons of mental energy and focus. All this ability is cast into doubt when you are speaking rather quickly.

It Might Be Very Difficult To Understand

When you speak quickly and do not enunciate your words well, your speech can become very difficult to understand. Sometimes older folks have an even more challenging time comprehending what you are saying because their hearing is not as good. Regardless, if you are hard to understand because you are speaking so rapidly, imagine what might happen when you have a team of surgeons expecting a verbal wet read. Will you keep on talking incomprehensibly? These thoughts are, first and foremost, among the faculty interviewing you!

Rapid Speech Can Give Your Interviewer An Unsettling Feeling

Have you ever tried to interview a patient with hyperthyroidism? Many times you can’t get a word in edgewise. Why? Because all that thyroid hormone circulating in their system causes elevated metabolism, a rapid heart rate, and pressured speech. Moreover, a conversation usually involves a bit of give and take. In this situation, it is very unsettling to have a conversation with someone that barely lets you respond. The interviewer will most likely be trying to imagine what it would be like to have someone next to them for hours that didn’t ever stop yammering! This trait is not favorable for a radiology resident!

Trying To Hide Something?

In our culture, we perceive those that speak fast to be hiding something. It could be a personality flaw, an issue, or a problem with the application. Regardless, rapid speech could portend deeper issues with the interviewer at hand. We want our candidates to be open book and easy to approach. So, jabbering can destroy the impression that you are trying to make.

Rapid Speech While Interviewing

Talking too quickly is something that you can easily correct, but you will need to think about it and be deliberate. Listen to yourself by taping a mock interview with your colleagues or family on your smartphone or computer. And play it back and see how fast you are talking. If you find yourself hard to understand or with a bit of pressured speech, dial back your speed at the following conversation/interview. And be aware of the pace of your speaking. Although not harmful in and of itself, talking quickly can leave an impression of a lack of focus, incomprehensibility, unsettling feelings, and ideas that you may not be forthcoming. And this is an issue that you can quickly repair. So, fix this issue before you get to your following radiology interview. It can make the difference between achieving a spot in your desired program or not!

 

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What Hobbies Correlate With Becoming A Successful Radiologist?

successful radiologist

After reading a gazillion personal statements and participating in another bazillion interviews, I would be a kazillionaire if I had a dollar for every time I read that a medical student will make a successful radiologist because of one of their hobbies. And, if you gave me a small rock for every time a medical student claims that they are great at one of these hobbies and how that applies to radiology, I would be sitting on top of Mount Everest! So, do hobbies have any correlation whatsoever with becoming a high-quality radiologist? The answer to that question is yes. But, not the way you might think at first. And indeed, not in the way most folks add their hobbies to their personal statement.

So, let’s go through some of the more common hobbies applicants think will make them great radiologists. Next, I will disclose why applicants believe these hobbies make them higher-quality radiologists. But, of course, I will debunk this perceived correlation. Finally, I will reveal how hobbies help the average radiologist!

Photographers

One of the most popular themes in personal statements is the correlation between becoming an excellent radiologist and one’s love for photography. I often hear how they can see subtleties and make those same findings on a film. Well, I can think of several resident photographers, and their radiology abilities are all over the map. Some are excellent radiologists, and others are more average. So, I am not sure if this skill makes a significant difference in your findings skills. 

Video Gamers

Like photography, I have seen tons of applicants talking about video games as one of their hobbies. A more rarified few will claim that they are extraordinary competitive video gamers and have won prizes or cash for their endeavors. On this point, I have seen several articles talking about improved hand-eye coordination. But, it can also lead to distractions and decreased reading during residency. So, I feel that in terms of becoming a better radiologist, playing video games is kind of a wash.

Art Connoisseurs

Like the photographer, these folks talk about their love for paintings and museums. Others will even paint pictures themselves, some that have even made it to a gallery or two. And then folks tend to claim that they have a “good eye.” It is also a typical statement that I hear about in recommendations that usually tell me nothing. Why? Anyone can make this claim, and it is hard to back it up with facts as a medical student. Nevertheless, this hobby is a popular radiology applicant pursuit. In and of itself, I am not sure if it correlates that well with quality!

Cooking

Here is a hobby that I also love. I prefer to eat my food than the food I purchase at restaurants. And, it does involve some hand-eye coordination, creativity, and knowledge. However, when I look at the applications of incoming medical students, I find nearly every other one has the same hobby. Because it is so prevalent in society, it doesn’t add much except for an excellent conversation between myself and the interviewee!

Music And The Successful Radiologist

We have all sorts of “radiologists-to-be” that either listen to, play, or dance to all kinds of music. For those that play different instruments (like myself), it undoubtedly is a great outlet to have fun and mix with other like-minded bandmates and friends. And, for the dancers and players among us, these folks may have slightly better hand-eye coordination. (plus or minus) Some may DJ on the weekends, and others may perform gigs. The extra time can detract from residency studying or improve hand-eye coordination. Nevertheless, I don’t see a strong correlation between the love for music and becoming a better radiologist in the way you might think!

So, How Do Hobbies Correlate With Becoming A Successful Radiologist?

Well, here is the kicker! None of these hobbies have much to do with the quality of radiologist that you will become. (as much as you might think!) However, having a hobby is more important than the hobby itself. You have something else to discuss and fall back upon when things may not go your way during residency. So, don’t worry about your hobby per se and how it will turn you into a great radiologist. It will not transform you into the “radiologist Excalibur.” In that respect, it is not so important. But add your hobbies to your application because it adds to your persona and character. We do like real people in our specialty of radiology!

 

 

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Live Second Look Interviews Post Covid: A Permanent Paradigm Shift?

live second look interviews

Nowadays, all radiology programs have migrated to a completely remote online interview model. And I get it. With Covid around, it needs to be that way. Regardless of the reasons, there are a few advantages to Zoom interviews. Especially now, applicants don’t have to waste time and money traveling from program to program. But it’s not all a bed of roses. The remote interview system leaves some significant issues. How do you get a good feel for the program when you are not present? And how do you know about the area around the residency? Here lies the new role for live second look interviews!

Rank Lists Will Be Different With Online Interviews!

I harken back to my interview experience back in the days of the dinosaur! If I couldn’t join the residents at my Brown University residency dinner the night before, I am not sure that I ever would have ranked them. By meeting the program’s capable and happy residents the night before (maybe it was something in the fruit punch!), I changed my opinion entirely. I don’t think I would have gotten that sense if I wasn’t there. My entire rank list would have looked wholly different, and not for the better. All these issues lead me to believe that we may have a significant problem. We have an application pool of residents this year who are applying to programs they might not want to go to but don’t quite know it yet.

So, how can we keep the low cost/time solution of Zoom interviews and allow residents to know the programs they are applying for? I am even thinking about the world post–Covid (yes, I believe that it is coming soon!). Well, the answer is straightforward. The second look will play a critical role as a new paradigm for interview seasons going forward.

The Rejuvenated Live Second Look Interviews

Second look interviews used to be the domain only of borderline or unsure candidates. Please take a look at my previous blog on this topic from 2017 about second looks. I mean, who else would want to return to a place they have already been for interviews? It’s expensive and time-consuming to do it again. Right? 

But, I have a feeling that this paradigm is about to shift in the long run. In the post-covid future, the second look interview will become the shortlist domain, those programs that residents are most interested in ranking highly. At the same time, I believe that residencies will also use this second look to reevaluate the candidate live to make sure that it is the right fit.

Think about it. Instead of going to ten to fifteen interviews or more, now you can go to your top two or three choices. And, you can get to know these programs well. Simultaneously, other programs that applicants are not interested in will not have the pleasure of meeting the resident. It makes a lot of sense because most applicants get one of their top three choices anyway. And now, applicants no longer have to waste as much time and money on interviews as they did before Covid.

Live Second Look Interviews Will No Longer Be Optional

So there you have it. The second look interview, I predict, will no longer be the domain of the few. It will become the tool for most residents to make sure they make the right choice for four years. Choosing a residency can be difficult. There is no reason you should make that decision without getting all the information you can. Think about taking a shot at a second look!

 

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Online Interviews: A Waste Of Time Or An Effective Screening Tool?

online interviews

We are not the first. Many industries have been using online interviews for candidate screening for a while now. Yet, we, in the medical field, have shunned using these technologies for resident interviews for years. As physicians, we have felt the interpersonal connection of a live in-person interview was critical for candidate selection. Now, for the first time this year, the pandemic will force radiology residencies, like all other medical subspecialty training programs, to follow suit.

But, what do we gain and what do we lose by ending the in-person interview process? Are residencies going to recruit a higher percentage of unprofessional or incompetent residents? Or, are we going to discover that the format of the interview matters less than we ever thought in the first place? Lots of questions remain up in the air for this year. So, let’s talk about some of these issues by discussing some of the benefits and disadvantages of the online interview process. Then, we will end off by coming up with some hints for prospective interviewers and predictions for this interview season.

Advantages Of Online Interviews

Saves Tons of Cash

Fourth-year medical students are some of the most debt-laden medical professionals out there. By this time, many have accrued hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. In the past, programs expected them to shell out umpteen more dollars to attend an interview. No longer. Save on your travel and interview expenses, rapidly adding up to thousands of dollars.

Time Savings

All that time that went into travel before, now you can use it for other purposes. Whether you desire to catch up on Netflix  or study a bit more for exams, additional “me” time is always useful.

“Decreased Pressure” For The Interview Candidates

Indeed, in previous years, live in-person interview situations were a bit more nerve-racking. Of course, with the new online changes, lack of this direct pressure can lead to false comfort levels in the online setting. However, there will be no more sitting and chatting with colleagues in the seats next to you, drumming up your anxieties before your interview!

Disadvantages Of Online Interviews

More Difficult To Get A Feel For The Program

Residency directors and chief residents will now have a tighter grip on the interview process. They will be able to show you more what they want you to see- no more wandering around the premises to figure out what happens in the hospital. You will only get online tours, carefully curated to ignore all the negatives. Moreover, you won’t get a chance to talk to that disgruntled resident in the corner. It will make it that much more challenging to make a final choice!

Also, you will miss meeting anyone in the program, not on the Zoom meeting. These include other physicians, residents, program coordinators, technologists, and more. From my experience, critical staff such as these can also make your residency a delight or a misery.

Harder For Programs To Get At The Real Candidate

The longer you stay in an interview situation, the more likely your real personality will shine. If you get bored quickly and are at the live program director’s lecture, you are much more likely to start using your cellphone. Now, with only a few online interviews for 15 minutes apiece, it will be easier to maintain your cool without lapsing. And, you can have the program director only see what you want! But on the other end for the interviewers, it will be harder to catch the nuances of both candidate and program director personalities alike. That sidewards glance or frown can be much more difficult to detect in a Zoom meeting. Or, we can no longer detect an unkempt smell. It is just not the same. Programs may not get what they bargained for when they match prospective candidates for the following year.

So What Should You Do To Make Online Interviews Worthwhile? (Hints For Online Interviewers)

You need to treat the interview as you would if you were going to an on-site interview. Maintain the same dignity and decorum as you have otherwise. A lapse in judgment or the wrong statement can throw a wrench in the process just as it would have done in years past. By that same token, I would recommend you take a look at some of my previous blogs on this subject, such as Ten Ways To Sabotage Your Radiology Interview and How Important Is My Radiology Interview, Really?  And don’t wear a fancy top or suit and forget to wear pants even though you are online. You never know. You may accidentally stand up and show your briefs!

Predictions For This Interview Season. Will These New Radiology Residents Be Better Or Worse?

In general, interviews are sometimes helpful to weed out candidates that don’t fit the mold of a particular residency. For the most part, I believe that these online interviews will mostly give the same information about candidates as in years past. Candidates will usually put on their best airs regardless of the interview forum.

However, this year, we may see a candidate or two slip through the cracks that would not have made it past the interview process in the past. We may miss some subtle hints, more evident in an in-person forum. But, I believe this to be a very, very small percentage of the total candidate pool. Most likely, this will be hearsay and conjecture anyway, because it is complicated to measure the quality of the candidates in any given year to the previous ones. Nevertheless, I will wait and see this year’s results. The truth will eventually come out!

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Radiology Fellowship Interviews: What’s The Difference?

radiology fellowship interviews

Question About Radiology Fellowship Interviews:

Hi Dr. Julius,

Thanks so much for the great piece about writing a fellowship personal statement. I recently went through the process myself and can appreciate the truth behind the points you stated.

As a follow-up, do you have any tips when preparing for the fellowship interview, after being shortlisted?

Thanks once again for all the high-quality posts. 🙂

Yours sincerely,
A Concerned Fellowship Applicant

Answer:

 

Thanks for the excellent question. It turns out that I have never delved into the differences between residency and fellowship interviews. And, there are a few significant differences between the two that I should mention. So, I thought that in addition to answering your question, it would make an excellent post.

To begin with, I highly recommend that you take a look at my original posts on residency interviews called How Important Is The Interview, Really? and Ten Ways To Sabotage Your Radiology Residency Interview. These rules still apply. And, once you have gone through some of this essential advice, take a look at some of the other specifics below about what you should look out for on your fellowship interview trail.

Radiology Fellowship Interviews: What’s The Diffference?

First of all, you will notice that different from a residency interview, most fellowship interviews tend to be more intimate. Most of the time you will be the only candidate at the site at this time. So, you will get to know the few interviewers much better than on a typical residency interview day because you will no longer be just another one of ten candidates. In that sense, it will often be a bit less nerve-racking. However, the general rules for interviewing still apply!

Next, the interviewer will expect you to have a background and a specific interest in the fellowship field of choice. So, you cannot have makeshift answers to why you are choosing to train in the field of radiology in general. Instead, you need to get down to brass tacks and come up with specific reasons for choosing this area of specialty.

Moreover, you will need to know more about the individual program to which you are applying. It is not enough to say that this will be a well-rounded program for your radiology training. No. You need to say why this particular fellowship would be an excellent fit for you. So, you should verse yourself in the specific equipment and unique training that this program has.

Also, make sure that you can talk about specific areas of research that may interest you. Fellowships, more so than residencies, tend to expect that you will perform research. So, talk intelligently about some projects that might interest you in this specific facility.

Other than that, it comes down to the same rules for interviewing in general. Be enthusiastic, conversational, well-dressed and groomed, etc.

So there you have it: some additional rules of the road for the residency interview. Let me know how it all goes.

Regards,

Barry Julius, MD

 

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2018-2019 More Competitive For Radiology? A Midyear Perspective

At our program, we have completed a little more than half the radiology residency interviews through this season so far. And in the midst of interview season, many of you, applicants and radiologists alike, are wondering has radiology become more competitive this year compared to years past? To answer that question, I will analyze the current facts and give you a preliminary conclusion. And then, I will provide you with a little summary of what to do with all this information.

The Hard Evidence

So, which individual pieces of evidence highly suggest increasing competitiveness? First and foremost, we need to look at board scores. Overall, applicants to our institution have had a significant increase in the USMLE board scores year over year. Based on the current candidates, I would say overall, USMLE scores have increased by 5 to 10 points compared to the previous year.

What else? Our institution looks at the Caribbean, American Osteopathic, and American Allopathic medical students. Noticeably, when the numbers of American Allopathic and Osteopathic applicants increase compared the Caribbean applicants, that is a hard sign that the competitiveness of our program has climbed. We see exactly that.

The Soft Evidence 

This year, the applicants have more numerous and exciting extracurricular activities. Typically, I notice this trend when the applicant pool expands. Likewise, we tend to interview more of these applicants instead of the bread-and-butter type. I believe we are following this pattern.

Moreover, applicants have stated that they have heard that the landscape has become more competitive. To support this theory, on interviews, many have indicated that they understand more than usual are applying to radiology from their medical school.

Interestingly, many applicants have explicitly stated that they are no longer worried about artificial intelligence (AI) taking over the world (or the radiologist’s job!). A few years back, many more interviewees had expressed this fear. I believe that the more accurate information about how AI will function as a tool to assist the radiologist has worked its way to the applicants versus the message of replacing radiologists from Silicon Valley. 

And finally/most propitiously, interviewees are well aware of the improved job market in radiology. Usually, the applicants follow the money!

So What Does More Competitive Mean For Applicants This Year?

OK. What to do about it is the critical point. We are pretty sure that applications have become very competitive. But, that must mean something for the applicant, right?

Well, yes. I am going to make a short list of the critical tasks that you should complete. For many of you, make sure that you rank enough programs on the list. Occasionally, some of you may feel that you are likely to match at your first few choices and that’s it. So, some folks will make a short list. Instead, make sure to rank a few more than you may think you need.

Also, you should write thank you letters to all programs of interest. Some programs will use them as a way to bump up your application in the rank list a tad. It does show interest in the program. And, some use it as a marker of a possible good match. It can make the smallest difference between ranking and not ranking. 

Then, for some of you, make sure to take a second look at the programs that interest you, if you can. Like the thank-you letter, coming back for a second look expresses that you are serious about a program. Occasionally, it can help your chances.

Lastly, be prepared for the possibility of having to scramble in the SOAP. What will you do if you do not match? You will need to collect your thoughts and get it to together rapidly if the process does not go the way you wanted.

Are you going to be willing to do a prelim year in medicine or surgery and reapply again next year? Or, are you going to try to match in a different specialty entirely. You should think about these possibilities just in case it does not work out.

Summary

So, there you have it, a review of my thoughts about the competitive environment for the radiology residency applications of 2018-2019. My final piece of advice- make sure to remain humble throughout this process. Unfortunately, as much as we do not like to admit, there is an element of chance in the application. Therefore all applicants should hope for the best, but plan for any eventuality. Good luck!