Do residency interviews happen on weekends?

Data indicates that most interview invitations do not go out on weekends or evenings, so they largely arrive during business hours. To navigate that, students may want to take some extra steps.

Do interviews happen on weekends?

Interviews don't generally happen on the weekend. However, if you are applying for a position advertised as evening and weekend work – your interview will most likely occur on a Saturday. Saturday interviews can sound like a great idea, especially if you have a full-time job and other commitments.

What time do residency interviews come out?

Residency interviews usually occur October through January of your fourth year, with December and January being the busiest interview months. It is important to note that each specialty, and the residency programs within them, may have their own process and associated timelines.

Are residency interviews all day?

Most residency interview visits are day-long affairs. While no one format exists, generally anticipate you'll tour the facilities, as well as interview with the program director, two or three faculty members, and one or two residents. You might also attend rounds or eat lunch with faculty or residents.

How many residency interviews per week?

Do not schedule more than three interviews per week, and potentially only two if significant travel between interviews is required. Too many interviews in a short period of time can lead to fatigue which might be misinterpreted as disinterest in the program.

What To Expect During Residency Interviews

What month are most residency interviews?

What are the odds of matching with 2 interviews?

The take home is that if you have 1 residency interview – your chances of matching is around 35%. This means there is hope with only interview. But, if you're able to bump that up to 2 interviews or even 3 – your chances jump to 40% and then 50%.

What not to say during residency interview?

Don't speak negatively about other programs.

If asked about your experience rotating at another place, or even at your home institution, do not speak negatively about them. You can compare and contrast them, but “bad-mouthing” other residents or programs is a big red flag.

How many interviews do most residency applicants get?

Stay patient. According to data from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), the median number of interviews for matched applicants in the 2022–2023 cycle was 14, but getting those interview invites can take time.

How many residency interviews should I have to match?

The probability of matching is related to the number of contiguous ranks. For allopathic and osteopathic senior medical students, the probability of matching is 80% at around 6–7 contiguous ranks and becomes > 95% at around 11–12. Therefore, the typical applicant should aim for 11–12 interviews.

Can you match with just one interview?

Remember, even if you have a single interview you have an equal chance of matching. For such candidates we highly recommend honing in on your interview skills early so that you can be extensively prepared for a successful interview and Match!

Is it better to interview early or late for residency?

First, as you review and respond to invitations, try not to be anxious about the timing of your interview and whether it occurs early or late in the cycle. Timing is not a factor in how programs rank candidates. Each interview takes some logistics planning and content planning.

What should I do the night before my residency interview?

Always go to the dinner the night before if offered. The dinners are often great sources of information and an opportunity to meet some of the residents in the program. Don't order spaghetti! (Travel with an extra shirt or tie in case you spill something on yourself.)

Are interviews held on Sundays?

Not generally. The interviewer is likely to be a regular employee who would have to give up their free time to conduct a weekend interview. You'll need to take a “personal day”, a “sick day” or a regular vacation day.

Can interviews happen on Sundays?

Overall, taking into account all the pros and cons, weekend interviews are a good idea in theory, but less so in practice. They will make life easier for candidates already employed, as well acting as a time saver for employers.

Are Saturday interviews normal?

Some candidates who are attending the interview on weekends may think that they don't follow work culture and organization makes employees work on weekends. It's absolutely wrong! There are many reasons why most organizations prefer having interviews on weekends rather than weekdays.

How do residency programs decide who to interview?

Every part of the application has to be considered—USMLE scores, grades, extracurricular activities, LORs, MSPEs, personal statements, and life experience. It is essential for residency programs to prioritize their most important applicant qualities and then consistently assess every applicant for those qualities.

Why am I not getting interviews for residency?

Having a Low score and failing to adequately address it during your application process is a reason why many applicants may not receive an interview. Many applicants address this in their Personal Statement for residency or articulate other experiences in ERAS application/CV that demonstrate they have overcome it.

Can you match without an interview?

Programs do not rank candidates they have not interviewed, and no match will occur.

What is your biggest weakness residency interview?

You should answer with a genuine weakness that isn't a deal breaker and that you've taken steps, or are willing to improve. Read on for examples. If you're applying to a program with a heavy emphasis on patient interaction, don't cite poor communication skills as your weakness.

Does it look bad to reschedule a residency interview?

Canceling or Rescheduling Interviews

Cancelling or rescheduling unprofessionally can impact both your reputation and future opportunities with that residency program or department. Under no circumstances should you be a no-show – that is, fail to attend a scheduled interview without prior notice.

Do residency interviews really matter?

Most of the respondents (90%) rated the interview experience as important or very important in their rank list decisions (Fig. 2). The weighted average score among respondents was 4.5 out of 5.

What percentage of applicants get a second interview?

It's estimated that the average job seeker needs to apply to 27 companies before being asked to come in for a first interview, and only an average of 2-4 applicants will be invited to come in for a second.

Is the first or second interview harder?

You sailed through the first interview because you were well prepared. Now you have to be hyper-focused: Questions for a second interview will go deeper, and will be tougher, than what you handled in that initial conversation. What else will be different about this interview?

Do interviewers ask the same questions in a second interview?

Second interview questions

It's hard to predict what questions will come up in a second interview. Your interviewer may want to cover the same topics as before, but in greater detail, or they may prefer to discuss different issues entirely.