Dermatology Residency Interview Tips

Preparing for dermatology residency interviews can feel both exciting and overwhelming. As one of the most competitive specialties, standing out requires more than just a strong CV—it’s about showcasing your passion for dermatology, understanding the unique aspects of each program, and demonstrating that you’re a great fit. In this post, I’ll share practical tips to help you navigate interviews with confidence, ask insightful questions, and leave a lasting impression on faculty and residents. Whether you’re gearing up for virtual or in-person interviews, these strategies will set you up for success.

1. Prepare stories and anecdotes

Some program interviews may focus heavily on behavioral questions. To prepare effectively, it's beneficial to have a few versatile stories ready that can be adapted to various scenarios. Below are some examples of different prompts for which I would have stories ready. Remember, these stories don't have to be related to medicine; in fact, selecting stories and anecdotes that highlight other parts of your history or experiences can be advantageous, as applicants often default to medical scenarios or professional encounters. Take a look at my latest blog post, where I provide tips to prepare your answers for high-yield questions and offer a list of additional questions you might encounter during interviews!

• Describe a time when you had to overcome a challenge

• Describe a time when you made a mistake

• Describe a time when you had a conflict and what did you do?

• Describe a difficult patient encounter and how did you respond?

• Describe a time when you had to step up or when you went above and beyond

2. Remember the SAR method

The recommended approach for answering behavioral questions is the SAR or STAR method. 'S' stands for situation, where you set the scene and describe the context you were in. 'T', which is optional and less crucial in medicine compared to business or other fields, involves outlining the task you were assigned. I often skipped this step. 'A' represents action, detailing the actions you took and what transpired. Finally, 'R' is for result, arguably the most important part, as it allows you to reflect and demonstrate what you learned. It's acceptable to not always portray yourself in the best light, especially when discussing mistakes or conflicts, as long as you reflect on them and highlight your learnings. Additionally, keeping your responses concise, around a minute, is important to avoid being too wordy and to allow for further discussion.

3. Don’t miss tests

Some programs like to ask “test” questions that very quickly and easily identify red flags among applicants. Some of these questions are very easy and straight forward and others are designed to assess your character and make you think. I have listed some of these types of questions below.

• Imagine you get a call from your chief resident and they tell you one of co-residents is out and you need to cover an extra week of call. How would you handle this and what would you do?

  • The correct answer is always you would cover your co-resident no questions asked. You may express concern as to why they may be gone, but never question their absence as a way of excusing yourself from covering them.

• How would you approach disagreeing with an attending?

  • There are a few different ways to answer this question. You can talk about how in dermatology many things are not necessarily black and white and that differing opinions are common or you can talk about providing literature supporting your opinion, but at the end of the day unless a patient's safety is imminently in danger, you always say that you would respect the attending's decision.

• What would you do if you found out that a co-resident was behaving inappropriately such as skipping clinics, ignoring serious consults, or calling in sick when they really weren't?

  • Culturally or realistically, some individuals might choose to remain silent, but I believe attendings often expect you to personally approach the colleague to check on them and ensure everything is alright. If, after a few attempts, no changes occur, you should report them to the appropriate authorities. Whether or not this reflects your real-life actions is irrelevant; it demonstrates your willingness to confront a colleague and acknowledges that their behavior is unacceptable.

4. Don’t be "too" professional

Interviewers may find it off-putting if a candidate is not authentic during their interview. Interviewers want to get to know you as a person and don't want to see you as a robot. For example, if someone asks you how you would spend a day off, responding with overlying professional things such as studying or reading or anything academic is an immediate red flag. Responding this way doesn't tell us anything about you as a person and makes it hard for interviewers to see how you will fit in with their program.

It's perfectly fine to state what you would realistically do, as long as it doesn't involve partying, drinking, or any illegal activities.

5. Take time to think

At times, you may encounter questions that catch you completely off guard. Instead of hastily responding, it's perfectly acceptable to take a few moments to formulate an answer. I usually say, "That's a very interesting question, let me think about that for a moment," and then pause for about 5-10 seconds. Although this pause might feel lengthy to you, it typically seems quite brief to the interviewer. This brief pause allows you to gather your thoughts and provide a more coherent response, rather than rushing and saying something unintended.

6. Know why specifically that program, don't just emphasize location

Even if the location is your primary reason for choosing a program, it should be the last reason you mention when asked, "Why do you want to come here?" For programs in major or popular cities, most applicants have connections like a significant other or family living nearby. Thus, having a personal connection doesn't necessarily make you stand out. A more effective way to distinguish yourself is to provide various other reasons why you appreciate a program, such as the patient population, clinical experiences, specialty clinics, faculty interests, etc. After listing these reasons, or if someone specifically asks, "Why do you want to be in [INSERT CITY NAME]?" you can then discuss personal ties and connections.

7. Be prepared to ask questions

During my interview trail, there were several instances where I entered a room and the attending didn't have any questions for me, instead asking, "What questions can I answer for you?" Fortunately, I had prepared a lengthy and detailed list of questions for such situations. Check out my other post here that includes a comprehensive list of questions you may want to ask to help with you interview planning.

8. Prepare but don't sound scripted

If you're planning to prepare answers for frequently asked questions, I suggest jotting down bullet points instead of writing a complete script. A full script will likely make you sound rehearsed, whereas memorizing bullet points of your key points allows you to speak more naturally. I did this particularly for the questions you can expect in almost every interview, like "Why dermatology?" or "What interests you about our program?"

9. Interview Logistics

Particularly while many programs are still interviewing on Zoom, it's important to get very comfortable with your interview setup. Check out my other post here for specific tips for Zoom interviews. If you have any in-person interviews, it is important to know that you need to be "on" from the moment that you step out of your hotel/uber to the moment you leave. Treat administrators, residents, and attendings with equal respect, as everyone's opinion matters in the deliberation process. Remember to shake hands with the interviewers and introduce yourself with a smile to begin the interview positively. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post with specific tips for in-person interviews.

10. Take some control of the interview

When suitable, pose questions that allow you to share your interests or hobbies. For instance, if you have conducted several research projects on blistering diseases, being in the presence of a blistering disease expert might be the perfect moment to inquire about their current work and relate it to your past experiences. On a less formal note, if the opportunity arises to discuss non-medical topics you share with the interviewer, such as coming from a similar hometown, enjoying the same TV show, or having recently traveled to the same place, feel free to steer the conversation in that direction when appropriate. Most interviewers are tired of discussing medicine all day, so it's a chance to chat about something they genuinely enjoy.

11. Roll with the punches

At times, you might find yourself in an interview room where you feel you didn't perform well or faced an unexpected, uncomfortable question. Mistakes can occur, but instead of dwelling on your response, it's crucial to clear your mind before entering the next room. In programs with numerous interview rooms, an error in one is just a small part of your interview day. Ultimately, having just one or two people on your side can significantly boost your position on the list. Moreover, the mistake might not have been as significant as you perceived, so it's best not to let it affect your entire day.

Good luck everyone! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below. If you found this post helpful, consider checking out some of my other blog posts including my posts on commonly asked interview questions, questions to ask in dermatology interviews, and Zoom residency interview tips.