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The Plastic Surgery Residency Interview Revisited: Virtual Interviews and Beyond

2020; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 146; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/prs.0000000000007321

1529-4242

Brett T. Phillips, Amanda A. Gosman, Renata S. Maricevich, Eduardo D. Rodriguez, Rod J. Rohrich,

Advances in Oncology and Radiotherapy

There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction. —Winston Churchill Residency interviews are a critical part of the match process and mean you have already made the "cut" based on your academic and personal achievements. This is your time to showcase yourself and your personality and observe the culture of the program with which you are interviewing to find a good match for your future profession. The residency interview should be perceived as a formal job interview. With that in mind, you need to present yourself as a professional. The following interview tips have been modified from a previous editorial on etiquette for in-person interviews.1 These tips apply to this day, but new tips have been developed to deal with the change in times according to the Virtual Interviews Policy advanced by the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the way the residency programs interact with and assess future plastic surgery applicants. The need for social media presence and activity has been a huge change in the visibility of applicants to programs and of programs to applicants. In this time of change, we must embrace these new approaches to our application process and also keep in mind the necessary formalities of the interview process. To guide our future plastic surgeons on their journey through virtual interviews, we have provided updated general interview etiquettes and the do's and don'ts of this new virtual course. Interview Etiquette Be prepared: One of the basic principles of interview strategy. You need to do your homework and research the program, faculty, and residents. Be able to answer why you want to be at that specific program. Most of this information is found on the program websites, but if not, do not be afraid to inquire ahead of time! Be your humble self: You have already been invited for an interview, which means you already have the credentials to become a plastic surgery resident. The interviewers want to get to know you and your interests. As far as your academic achievements, allow your application to speak for itself. Overstating your accomplishments can be a turnoff. Meet everyone: Try to meet with as many people in the program as you can. This includes faculty, residents, program coordinator, assistants, and others. The more people you meet, the better view you will have of the program as a whole. Be nice to everyone! Be engaged: Make sure you maintain eye contact and connect with your interviewers with a smile and politeness! Show equal attention to each interviewer in the room rather than focusing on just one person. Be aware of your physical presence and attire: Make sure you wear conservative formal attire. A dark suit with low-key accessories is the safest way to go. Maintain good posture throughout the interview without slouching. Remain positive always: Try to keep everything in a positive light. Do not speak negatively about other programs, faculty, or residents. Plastic surgery is still a small community and negative talk can reflect poorly on your character. Prepare interview questions: Have a quick pitch about yourself ready to go at all times. Common questions may include: What makes you unique? What are your career goals? What are your strengths/weaknesses? What should we know about you that isn't on your application? How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted and changed your personal and professional life? Know your research: You should be able to respond quickly to questions about your current and previous research without giving it much thought. This is especially important for those who have committed months to years of their life to this endeavor. Be able to answer, "What was your most significant research project and why?" Be a good listener: Many interviewers want to talk about themselves and their program. Give them the chance, and take it all in! Talking the most during your interview is not necessarily a good thing. Ask salient questions: Try to think of several good questions that may not have been asked previously. Be sure not to ask the same questions in each room. The interviewers discuss interesting questions that the applicants ask during the postinterview briefings. Be a differentiator: The applicants for plastic surgery residency are extremely gifted students. Try to find something that sets you apart. Diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and interests makes residency programs well-rounded and balanced. Practice makes perfect: Make time for practice interview sessions with friends and colleagues. Ask recent graduates or mentors for interview tips. These individuals can also provide you with particular strengths and weaknesses that you may have on your application and how you may address these in your interviews. Now that the basic interview rules have been abbreviated into a 12-part guideline, we need to delve into specifics and what to do and not do during your future virtual interviews. Virtual Interview Dos and Don'ts Virtual Interview Dos Do engage ahead of time: Social media and Web-based meetings have changed the ability to get to know programs before your application cycle. These include Instagram Live, Meet and Greets, Program Q&A's, and Virtual Sub-Internships. Reach out to residents by means of social media messaging or e-mail. Always be transparent with your questions and interests. Do mute your microphone: Keep your microphone off until the interview starts. Do position the camera correctly: Make sure the camera is set at a stable position at eye level. Check your lighting so that there is adequate light for the interviewers to see your facial expressions and that you are not sitting in the shadows. Do limit distractions: Turn off your cell phone, turn off notifications, and minimize other programs running on your computer. You don't want unnecessary beeps, chimes, vibrations, or alerts during an important interview. Do join the meeting/waiting room early: Be ready early and become familiar with the platform that will be used. Make sure you understand which platform it will be (e.g., Zoom, Citrix Webex, Webinar, FaceTime) Do be prepared for computer/Internet failures: Choose and test a location with reliable high-speed Internet to ensure seamless video transmission. Consider having a personal cell phone hot spot ready for Internet issues. Keep the computer plugged in and charged. Consider headphones to limit background noise and provide a clear voice. Do have the coordinator's phone number: Make sure you know whom to call at a moment's notice if there are issues. Do set up an interview location that is not distracting. Consider reserving a private room at the medical school/library. Make sure there is nothing distracting in your background and that you will not be interrupted. Do dress appropriately and maintain posture: Don't dress down or forget to wear full appropriate professional attire. This includes shoes! Sit up straight with good posture and eye contact with each interviewer. Do practice: Have some practice virtual interviews ahead of time with colleagues, friends, and family. This will provide real-time feedback on small behaviors or movements that you would not otherwise be aware of. Virtual Interview Don'ts Don't forget this is a real interview! Act and conduct yourself in the same way you would in an in-person interview. Don't multitask: Do not look through the program's website or your application during the interview! You should have been prepared ahead of time and should not try to search out last-minute details. Stay 100 percent engaged by keeping eye contact with the interviewers. Don't eat or snack: Be sure to eat or drink ahead of time or during breaks. Do not have any food, drinks, or coffee visible in your background. Take a minute or two between interviews to collect yourself. Don't interrupt! Virtual meeting software has difficulty broadcasting more than one voice at a time. This will make it difficult to answer questions and hear what the interviewers have to say. Don't use virtual backgrounds: Try to set up a nondistracting neutral background at a neutral location. A neutral virtual background may be better than a distracting room. Don't leave the camera or microphone turned on between interviews: Be sure to turn off the video camera or microphone when you step away from your computer or you are on breaks. Don't take your computer around the house: We shouldn't have to say this, but your computer or wireless headphones should never be brought to the bathroom! Don't interview in the bathroom or closet: Take the time to set up or arrange an appropriate interview location. Limit excessive personal background material, such as your bed, nightstand, or clothing. Your interview space sets the stage for your interview. Make it professional. Don't have excessive paperwork in front of you: You don't need to physically show the interviewers your publications and application. Keep the clutter to a minimum. Don't fidget too much: Try to stay still and not fidget or swirl in your chair. Be aware of your body language and actions while on camera. Practice video sessions will help identify these movements. Proper interview etiquette will help current and future plastic surgery applicants navigate the interview season as we continue to move forward during these exciting and dynamic times. There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still. —Franklin D. Roosevelt