Episode 53

Are you getting residency Interviews? 

A matching process update:

Dr. Ferney Paez-Olmos.

His experience with the 2020 Interviewing Cycle during the COVID-19 Pandemic!

The interviewing season for 2020 is open, and some of you have successfully obtained one or more interviews. Congratulations! – So now it is the time to shine and succeed during the virtual encounter with the Residency Program Directors, Attendings, Chief Resident, and program's staff.

Dr. Ferney Paez-Olmos returned to update us on his process. They gave us dozens of great tips of advice along with some "Insider's information" on the type of questions and interactions that he had to deal with during his preliminary interactions.

In summary,

• It took him about two full weeks to start receiving the first email notifications on invitations
• He updated his computer, microphone, internet connection, and lighting to maximize the quality of the virtual interactions
• He has continued to practice his English and interviewing skills and made very clear that the only way to deal with the nervousness around it is to be prepared and rehearse over and over, to excel when it is "time to shine."
• An interview session could last from a few hours to a whole day, and there might be more than one person meeting you or a panel of them!
• Be ready, have plenty of questions available about the program, and do not hesitate to appropriately answer when asked "Tells us about yourself," which seems to be the most prevalent and common question out there
• Be knowledgeable about the program and the background of the attendings you will be meeting – Get to know their Bio!
• Portray confidence and do not forget about your professional appearance
• Turn on the cell phone/email / ERAS notifications to be ready to answer and reply rather immediately when an interview slot is offered and available. Many places are offering the spots on a "First Come, First serve basis."
• 8-10 interviews will give you an 80-90% chance to match into the specialty of your choice.
• Do not lose hope and never give up. The rumor in social media is that, on average, IMGs during this year's season is not getting that many interviews during the initial offerings, but that does not mean it won't happen later on during the cycle in 2020 and or even in early 2021 – before the interviewing season closes. So do not quit or give yourself false-negative expectations!

Ferney also had a great VIP coaching affordable experience with Dr. Varun Agrawal.

I Promised you to leave his link here with you! – and Thanks For Listening…

He can be found on Facebook as:

Ed4Med US - your Expert Guide to U.S. Medical Residency

https://www.facebook.com/ed4medus

www.Ed4MedUS.com

Alonso Osorio, M.D. FACEP, FAAEM, FAAFP.