INTERVIEW TIP # 9 : DURING DINNER WITH RESIDENTS!
Most often, the dinner will take place at a nearby eating joint and is paid for by the residents. This dinner on the day prior to the actual interview is, in a way, a first impression that the program has about you through it's residents. Though, at most places, the residents will say, "Please feel free, we are not in any way related to your selection", I believe that a little bias, directly or indirectly, does play a role somehow, somewhere.....for example , a resident informally mentions to his chief resident about how sulky or how superior-feeling a candidate was during the interview.....now, you don't want that !
American residency programs need team players and one of the first characteristics of team players is that they are open, communicative, with understandable english and friendly. A lot of studious medical students forget this important aspect of personality - taking pride in intelligence and high USMLE scores and all is one thing - but being approachable, communicative and helpful in a team is another thing.
1. I am laboring over all this to emphasise one point - at the dinner, don't try to overtly impress the residents and dont try to hard to display out your medical IQ but don't let them flag you as a bad egg either. It really is a very cool, chilled out experience ..play along and dont make it hard for yourself - Be free, talk general stuff and also ask a few questions about the program now and then.
2. And yeah - the magic formula - SMILE !
3. Quit the all-too-common IMG habit of only talking to Residents from your Country
4. No talking in your native language, ( unless of course it is English or if you are alone with the resident who understands it) - That's downright rude, rude and rude.
5. Try to refrain from ordering alcoholic drinks - but again, thats a personal choice :-)
6. Be on time - always call and let know if circumstances force you to be late
7. Tipping the waiters is common practice in USA and good manners too. So do carry a 2-3 dollars in change to leave a tip on your table - of course, there is no need to tip if it was a self-service dinner. Well - I dont mean the residents will be watching whether you leave a tip a not - he he, thats' as ridiculous as Adolph Hitler being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (which in fact he was - Read Wikipedia entry here!!!) - it's just good dining-out manners.
8. And don't hog like the gal in the picture above ;-) Coz you want to stay in good health and alert the next day !
Labels: Residency Dinner
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posted by Digitaldoc, MD at 11:36 PM
Comments on "INTERVIEW TIP # 9 : DURING DINNER WITH RESIDENTS!"
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (September 11, 2007 11:43 PM) :
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deepthimani said ... (September 13, 2007 1:32 PM) :
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Nandita said ... (September 13, 2007 1:38 PM) :
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David said ... (October 15, 2007 3:57 PM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (October 15, 2007 5:02 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (November 20, 2007 10:50 AM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (November 20, 2007 3:24 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (December 2, 2007 5:38 PM) :
Post Your Comment !Anonymous said...
hello. so are we supposed to leave a tip even if the dinner is paid for by the program?
At 8:15 PM, Digitaldoc, MD said...
Well, if you are taken to eat outside and if the waiter was involved in serving u , then yes :-)
At 10:27 PM, Anonymous said...
but what if somebody else already tipped them? i mean, they don't need two tips. and wat if its a dinner for a group of candidates, not just one individual. lolz..does everybody tip them? the waiter's will be rich by the end of the night.
At 10:52 PM, Digitaldoc, MD said...
ha ha dude..u are cracking me up with ur incessant search for precision in the art of tipping ;-)
The dinner IS normally for a GROUP and not an individual. These are not rules for the group, just etiquettes we talking. You can your use your own judgement on the occasion about this - its really no big deal for the interview..If the dinner is arranged within the hotel where you are staying, dont bother. But if taken out to eat at a restaurant, then u may consider. At some places, the tips are the only wages the part-time waiters receive. :-)
At 9:24 AM, Anonymous said...
what is the dress code at these dinners?casual or formal dining attire?
At 1:39 AM, Digitaldoc, MD said...
business casuals - NO jeans !
Dockers Khaki pants (not 6-pocket cargos) with a semi-formal shirt for guys works..for gals, would need a gal to guide on this ..any contributors ? write to digitaldoc2002@gmail.com
At 10:32 AM, Anonymous said...
Thanks, for your tips on dinner with residents. It is veryful to know that though the dinner is said to be informal, it is quite formal and it is important to maintain a professional demeanor. I would suggest that for girls, the dress code would be a nice formal sweater(keeping in mind the cold weather) with a good dressing pant.
Thanks.
Priya.
At 12:20 PM, Digitaldoc, MD said...
THanks Priya - I would not call it "formal" - u are free to joke around and have some fun ;-) But as u said...never to forget the professional side !
This post has been removed by the author.
I have never used spoons n forks n knife, and have never been to a formal dinner before..Is that gonn be a real problem..this may sound silly, but honestly it a major concern..ny tips?
Should guys wear ties to these informal dinners? Will a long sleeve shirt and khaki pants (dockers )do.
Naah - dont worry too much knives and forks..jst emulate others ;-) It aint THAT big a deal
David, tie is not a necessity. Semi-formal is good
Hi digital doc,
I have been offered interview fron two places but none of them give me any information regarding dinner with residents ? Not every program invites for dinner ??
Please reply,
Thanks
Thats true - not every program offers a dinner night before - and some programs have been cutting down those expenses
Well few things about this discussion related to the dinner before or after your interview. Americans usually get the dinner after as well as before but this is not a common practice for IMGs.
Here are few things that I would suggest and please feel free to accept or reject these comments but I am telling you this after years of my experience of taking the candidates for lunches or dinner as part of the interview process.
1. DO NOT TIP, first of all you don't need to spend any more money second of all the resident who is paying usually carries the deparment'sca credit card and there is usually a protocol of 15% which department allows for tip. SO ITS NEVER PAID BY RESIDENTS at least in all the good programs.
2. DO NOT SHOW UP WITH A SUIT AND A TIE, it will make alot of others look bad and trust me when as a resident you get an invitation for these lunches/dinners formality is the last thing on their minds, they are tired and hungry :))))
3. DO NOT COMMUNICATE IN YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE.
4. DO NOT EXPECT RESIDENTS TO BE LOYAL TO YOU, so keep it nice and safe by not trying to get inside scoop about the program infront of everybody.
5. TRY AND LAUGH WITH RESIDENTS only if you get the joke otherwise don't be afraid to ask what are they laughing about.
6. EATING TOO MUCH IS NOT A PROBLEM but yes keep this in mind that this certainly will leave an impression on residents and there are still interviews left for the afternoon in which you don't wanna be sleepy and groggy because of all the food you ate.
7. NO ALCOHOL, its not a matter of choice to me. NOBODY DRINKS AT WORK even if they drink their ass off at their own time.
8. Always take names and emails of the residents so you can thakn them individually later on. Everybody appreciates that.
9. The reason residents are there is that free food but also to get to know the future residents who they would be working with in the years to come. Every resident fills out an evaluation form later on and in which they rate you on everything including knowledge, communication skills, social skills and few other things. It doesn't hurt anybody if there is no comment on medical knowledge column but please do not shoot yourself in your rear end by saying something which is clearly idiotic.
At last, be yourself or if you pretend then be very good at pretending. I hope this would be helpful to you all.
Good luck
SM