Share Your Residency Interview Horror Stories

A common one is when the interviewers are running extremely late, leaving the candidates waiting for a long time. It makes the candidates nervous and can disrupt their whole day's schedule. Another is when the interviewers are overly aggressive or intimidating in their questioning, making the interviewees feel like they are on trial instead of having a conversation about potential residency.

One horror story is the extreme overwork. Residents are often made to work 30 - hour shifts or more. There's no time for proper rest and it affects their mental and physical health. I knew a resident who fainted during a shift because of exhaustion.

I once had an interview where the technical questions were way beyond the scope of the job description. They started asking about very advanced algorithms that I hadn't really studied in depth. I felt so unprepared and it was really nerve - wracking. I left the interview feeling really down about my skills.

Be genuine and highlight your unique experiences and achievements. Focus on what makes you stand out and how you can contribute to the residency program.

One horror story I heard was when a candidate walked into an interview at a law firm and the interviewers were constantly interrupting him. They didn't let him finish answering a single question fully. He was trying to explain his legal experience, but they would cut in with other questions or just start talking among themselves. It was so disrespectful and made the candidate feel like he wasn't worth listening to.

I have one. I went to an interview for a job I really wanted. But when I got there, they had me waiting for over an hour. And then, the interviewer started asking me really inappropriate questions about my personal life that had nothing to do with the job. It was a total nightmare.

Sure. Some students face the horror of being ghosted by programs. They apply, but never hear back from the program, not even a rejection. It leaves them in limbo, not knowing if they should keep hoping or move on.

One horror story is when a student thought they had a great match lined up. They had great interviews and connections at a top - tier program. But on Match Day, they got a completely different and unexpected program in a very rural area far from family and with limited resources for their specialty. It was a huge shock as they had to completely readjust their future plans.

In an interview once, the room was freezing cold. The employer didn't seem to notice or care. I was shivering while trying to answer their questions. And on top of that, they were asking really personal questions that had nothing to do with the job, like about my family's financial situation. It was a very uncomfortable experience.

A student walked into the interview room and immediately felt an intimidating atmosphere. The interviewers were very serious - looking and didn't give any reassuring smiles. Then, during the interview, they were constantly interrupted while trying to answer questions. This made the student lose their train of thought multiple times and they felt like they couldn't get their full ideas across. It was a very disheartening experience for them as they thought they could have done much better if they had been given a chance to fully express themselves.