How to Put Your Best Self Forward in Plastic Surgery Residency Interviews

Abstract

“Whatever you are, be a good one.” Abraham Lincoln The annual American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ “Plastic Surgery: The Meeting” is always filled with great educational events and endeavors, and the 2015 gathering in Boston was truly exceptional. Perhaps the most memorable and most rewarding panel that we had the honor and pleasure to be a part of was the Medical Student Session, moderated by one of the first Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Resident Ambassadors to the Editorial Board and the ASPS Board of Directors resident representative, Jacob Unger, M.D. This session included a dialogue to help prepare an already anxious group of medical students for the highly competitive plastic surgery residency interview process. For the past 2 years, both Dr. Rodriguez, from New York University, and Dr. Rohrich have fielded questions about what to say and what not to say in this, at times, challenging process in which medical students will be interviewing across the country at multiple programs in a rapid manner. In order to help medical students prepare to put their best selves forward, here are 25 tips we have compiled from our own experiences and adapted from a few interesting reads1,2 which we find to be helpful and especially germane with regard to plastic surgery residency interviewing; they can help students find not only their home for the next several years but also the best match for their personality, lifestyle, and work ethic. These tips are even more far-reaching in that they will help students as they eventually go out to find their first job in the field of plastic surgery. We recommend that medical students—and anyone preparing for a professional interview—do the following: Remember that yourinterview starts the moment you enter the city. You must be especially “on” once you walk into the building or university, as anyone you meet may be connected (and should be treated as such) with the process. So, be nice, be cordial, and, most importantly, relax. Always arrive early; do not be late. If there are extenuating circumstances, please call ahead to forewarn them! Do your research about each program individually by going to the program website or other sources of veracity. Do not rely entirely on what people tell you on the interview trail, as this information can be inaccurate or even deceiving. Know who the key faculty members are and their areas of expertise, so you can hold an intelligent conversation with them during the “Q and A” session of the interview. Your preparedness and insight into the program and its faculty will prove valuable. “To thine own self, be true.” Always be yourself, as we want to see who you really are. Don’t “fake it” or try to be someone you are not. Not only will we know it in a heartbeat, but you will only be hurting yourself. You want to end up at the program that is best “matched” to you. This is a marriage and you should thus aim for the best possible fit. Some of the faculty will likely end up being mentors for a long time. Be humble; let your résumé and recommendation letters speak to your accomplishments as you begin the individual interviews. However, you DO need to sell yourself in a modest manner by referencing your accomplishments appropriately in context. Just make sure your delivery does not come off as simply bragging about how great you are! Make sure you meet as many current residents as possible and find out what the program is all about. Ask salient and appropriate questions about the diversity of cases, strengths and weakness of the program, current issues, and so on. The most important thing to discover is if the residents are generally and genuinely happy with—and confident in—their training; they will not fake it! Also, ask yourself, “are these the type of residents that I can befriend and work with extremely closely and intensely for 6 or more years?” This will be of great help during the interview process, as residents can provide invaluable feedback about you and