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Interviews for the VIRMP – In-person

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VSG VIRMP In-person interview

VIRMP Interview Series (click for more)

Most of the rotating internship programs do not offer in-person interviews. There are simply too many applicants to offer these. Residency programs, on the other hand, do offer these much more commonly. 

The type of interview will depend on the program: one single interview/visit day; various dates where you can visit depending on your availability; and by invitation only. If a program only interviews a select number of applicants and you didn't get invited, you can pretty much assume they will not rank you high (if at all). This shouldn't make you drop them from your ranking list, but it's good to be aware of this.

This post has a phone / Skype interview counterpart, and should be read in conjunction. There's no reason to repeat everything in both posts. 

The basics - Do's and Dont's

  • Don't be late. Plan to get there at least 15min earlier. Sometimes you can't do anything about it (flight cancelled/delayed due to weather for example) and since interviews occur in the winter, weather should always be in your thoughts while planning travel.
  • Dress appropriately. This means business attire. No jeans, shorts, flip-flops, etc. You get the point. Have a lab coat, stethoscope and maybe scrubs (depending on the specialty) in the car. No perfume or cologne - what might be mild for you will be too much for someone else. 
  • Be yourself. Don't fake it, be nice, speak clearly and sound happy and excited about the program you're interviewing with!
  • A firm handshake and eye contact goes a long way when you're meeting someone for the first time. Remember there is verbal and body languages. Make sure they match. No slouching!
  • Do your research about the program and the people you might meet, along with their research interests.
  • You'll be nervous, there's no way around it. But don't let that nervousness prevent you from being yourself. The people you're meeting are looking to find the candidate(s) to train for the next three (or one) years, and the ability to handle stressful situations is definitely something they'll be paying attention to.
  • Be polite and act professional at all times. This includes towards the other candidates. Yes, you are basically competing for the same position, but you are colleagues first. 
  • Anticipate tough questions and have good, ready to go answers to those.
  • Keep your answers short and concise. No rambling! Plus, answering with a simple Yes/No is not acceptable. Always explain. 
  • Make sure to listen! There is so much you can learn from listening and paying attention to others' body language. Plus, you really don't want to interrupt when other people are talking. 

After the interview

  • Immediately after the interview/visit, write down what you liked, disliked and questions you might want to ask as a follow up. 
  • Make sure to thank everyone for their time and again, say goodbye with a smile and firm hand-shake.
  • Send a thank you email the people you met within 24-48 hours. Feel free to send a thank you card by mail if you prefer, although I personally think an email is enough.  
  • Use the above email to ask any questions you didn't have a chance to ask or that you came up with information you gathered during the interview. 
  • Use the email or letter you're sending to restate your interest in the program and what you've learned makes you even more interested (if that is actual the case).  
  • Do your research about the program and the people you might meet, along with their research interests.
  • Use what you learned from visiting programs to order your ranking list. 

Make sure to read all four posts on this VIRMP interview series!

VIRMP Interview Series (click for more)

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER POSTS:

Textbooks, which ones should you buy?

The VIRMP algorithm explained

Is it too late to go through the VIRMP Match?

Do you know what your net worth is?

How to interpret PCR test results and how it relates to COVID-19

What is disability insurance and why you need it

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