Thread by @KevinCChiang

🧵 The 7th and final part of my Residency Interview Prep Series and the 11th thread in my #Tweetorial series for #Match2022 and #PedsMatch22: Out-Of-The-Box Questions 🧵

Can you think on your feet? Here are 20 examples people have been asked before. Let’s begin!

Here’s the thing about out-of-the-box questions. You’re unlikely to get asked them, so I wouldn’t invest much time into preparing for them. However, you may get asked one or two, so it’s not a bad idea to have at least thought about them briefly so you have an answer.

1. What would you give a Ted Talk on?

Quite honestly, this might be one of my favorite interview questions, not because I enjoy answering it, but because your answer tells a lot about your values and passions, as well as what you might want your impact and legacy to be.

2. Teach me something in 30 seconds.

This is one of the few out-of-the-box questions I would actually prepare for because I have seen it come up in the past. It can be something simple (you only have 30 seconds after all); my go-to is an easy recipe!

3. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

People often give pretty common and generic answers to this, and while that can be fine, I am always more intrigued by those “superpowers” that you don’t hear about as much but are still very thoughtful and clever.

4. Riddle / Logic Question

I’ve had friends who have been asked these, and it’s a tough situation to be in. Stay calm, think through the problem logically, and come up with a reasonable answer. Explaining your thought process is important as well.

5. Tell me a joke.

I would definitely encourage having one joke in your back pocket that you can always rely on as your go-to. Honestly, this is also practical for everyday life.

6. Tell me about a random act of kindness you did recently.

Do you exhibit the same kind of generosity and compassion programs hope you embody as a physician when you are out of the hospital as well? Actions speak louder than words.

7. If you were to write an autobiography of your life, what would it be called?

This can often become an indirect way to learn more about the formative events and people in one’s life, which can shine a light on who you are as a person.

8. If you could have one wish, what would it be?

Personally, I don’t think there’s necessarily a bad answer to this question. From my experience, it more or less comes down to the thought or intent behind the wish.

9. What does a perfect or ideal day look like to you?

This question can elicit some of the things you love or enjoy doing and can help programs determine if the city they are located in would be a good fit for you.

10. What color are you?

A simple, but effective way to get at who you are, how you would describe yourself, and what you value.

11. What is your spirit animal and why?

Surprisingly, this topic somehow came up in casual conversation with one of my interviewers last interview season. It’s a fun one to answer, but it also highlights some of your key characteristics.

12. If you could have dinner with any person, living or dead, who would you choose?

What used to be a more popular interview question is now asked much less frequently, but it still remains a good way to learn about one’s inspirations and curiosity.

13. If you won the lottery, what would you do?

I’ve always found this question to be intriguing because it brings out peoples’ priorities. I highly doubt you’ll encounter this question, but I have heard of it popping up here and there, so I included it just in case.

14. What is your biggest pet peeve?

This is a clever way to go about asking about interpersonal relationships and your ability to interact with others in both work and social settings. Programs want to know that their residents will get along well with others.

15. Would you rather fight a horse sized duck or 100 duck sized horses?

There have been more ridiculous questions asked in the history of interviews, but questions like this one are meant to give you a chance to demonstrate your analytical thinking (and sense of humor).

16. What is one talent or skill you wish you had?

The talent or skill itself is one thing; what’s more important is what you would do with it.

17. What would your ideal three course meal be?

As a foodie, I absolutely love this question. It’s a great segue to talking about the food scene within a city, which can easily turn into a conversation about much more.

18. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A more fun and relaxed question that is also a conversation starter. If you have a particular interest in global health, this could be a neat opportunity to thread that interest into your discussion.

19. What Disney character describes you best?

This one is pediatrics-oriented, but there are variations of this question with movie characters, TV characters, etc. Like other questions, this is yet another way to gauge your personality.

20. Suppose you have a pet dragon. Describe him or her to me.

Like many other out-of-the-box questions, you can use opportunities like this to make your creativity and innovation shine.

And that wraps up my Residency Interview Series! I hope that you’ve found this 7 Part Series helpful! Interviews can feel daunting at times, but if you put some time into preparation, you’ll be more relaxed on interview day, which will allow your true self to shine.