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VIRMP Interviews – What Are They Going to Ask?

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VIRMP Interview Questions

VIRMP Interview Series (click for more)

After our tips and tricks on phone/Skype and in-person interviews posts, it's now time to go over what type of questions and topics you can expect during them. Just like the previous posts, these can also be applied to "normal" job interviews. 

Keep in mind that this is not supposed to be an exhaustive list. The interview itself and where the conversation leads will be highly variable based on if you are applying for internships (including specialty internships) or residencies, and who you are meeting with. Each interview will certainly vary between you and the next applicant. 

The goal of this post it to share some core questions and topics to allow you to think about how to answer them. If you're applying to residencies, you'll be faced with more pointed questions, since a program will have to decide if you're "worth" the three years of investment into your training.

common interview discussion Topics

  • Anything you mentioned in your application package is fair game. Be ready to elaborate on it. 
  • Why and what experiences made you want to pursue an internship/residency. 
  • Why and how those experiences make you a good candidate.  
  • Describe a typical day on specialty "X" (for residency applicants). The goal here here is to learn if the caseload is similar. As a follow up question (and a must ask), ask how the service works and what a typical day is like. Some of this might already be on the program description, but you can ask for more details. 
  • Leadership roles you had in the past
  • Give an example of how you handled a difficult situation with a pet parent and/or a co-worker.  What went well, and what you'd do different.
  • Give an example of how a difficult case affected you and how you handled it. 
  • Communication training during vet school or internship. 
  • You might be given a specific situation (client, co-worker, etc) and asked how you'd go about it. 
  • Specific interests within a specialty (if applying for residency)
  • Goals after internship. It's totally ok to say that you are not decided on a specialty or even if you'd like to pursue a residency.
  • Research interests (if any). You can easily follow up this with: "I saw that Dr. "X" does research on "Y" and I'd be really interested to work with him/her."
  • Overall strengths and weaknesses / Greatest strength and weakness. 
  • Interests outside of work.
  • Keep your answers on a professional level as much as possible.   
  • If you're a foreign national that requires a work VISA, be ready to discuss this. 

Common interview questions - have answers ready to go!

  • How do you describe yourself / Tell me about yourself. As above, keep it related to the position you're applying to as possible. 
  • Why this internship/residency program.
  • How do you handle stressful situations at work with pet parents/co-workers.
  • How do you behave when under stress / pressure. 
  • How your previous experiences make you a good candidate for this position. 
  • What motivates you and why you want to pursue advanced training. 
  • If you could choose, what would be your preferred work environment. This might be related to heavy caseload with less downtime to think about cases or vice versa - FYI, there is a category in the letters of recommendation that asks your references what type of practice they think you'd do better. 
  • Short and long-term goals.
  • If one of your co-workers/professors was to describe you, what would they say.

Also check out these great pages from Colorado State University for more information: Preparing for an Interview and Building a Resume and Behavioral-Based Interviews.

Let us know what you thought about this series on VIRMP Interviews below on the comments section or, if you prefer, email us at pedro@vetmedsurvivalguide.com

VIRMP Interview Series (click for more)

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER POSTS:

No one contacted me – can I still get a position on Match day?

The Timeline for Residency Starts in Vet School

Internship and Residency Interviews

A look back at 2018 and what’s to come

Can you accept a position in the VIRMP programs you’re applying to?

Your financial advisor: friend or foe?

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