Residency interview answer guide
How would your friends describe you? Residency interview answer guide
The AAMC lists this among commonly asked interview questions. Interviewers use it to hear how you come across as a colleague, not just as an applicant. They are thinking about who they would want on a night shift or a busy service.
How to approach it
- 1
Choose traits that show up in teams
Pick two or three qualities a colleague would value, such as dependable, calm under pressure or good at explaining things. Skip traits that only matter socially unless you can connect them to work.
- 2
Back each trait with a small example
Say something a friend or classmate has actually said or relied on you for. A short, real detail makes the trait believable.
- 3
Keep it honest and warm
This question is allowed to sound human. A little humor or a relaxed tone is fine, as long as the answer still ends on something relevant to training.
A fill-in outline, not a script
My friends would probably say I am [trait one] and [trait two]. For example, [short real detail]. They might also tease me about [light, harmless habit], which is really the same quality that [link to work with a team].
This is an illustrative outline. Replace every bracket with something true from your own experience. The AAMC advises applicants to prepare rather than rehearse, so you can answer the question you are actually asked.
What advisers and program directors say
The AMA's interview guide notes that program directors have placed more weight on soft skills, such as communicating clearly and listening actively. This question is a chance to show some of those qualities through a specific example.
Dr. Eck advises approaching every conversation with kindness, empathy and professionalism, because interactions with a program's team are shared forward. Traits that come across in team settings are worth leading with.
Mistakes to avoid
- Listing adjectives with no example.
- Repeating the same strengths you gave for the strengths question.
- Choosing traits that suggest you avoid conflict or struggle to work with others.
- Making a joke that could land badly with the interviewer.
Check your answer
- Would a classmate recognise the description?
- Does each trait have a one-line example?
- Does the answer show something different from your strengths answer?
Follow-up questions to expect
- Would they say anything you are working on?
- Can you give an example of a time that trait helped a team?
- Who would you ask to describe you, and what would they say about your work?
Common questions
Is this the same as the strengths question?
They overlap, but this one is about how others see you. Use a different angle so you are not repeating yourself.
Can I mention a flaw?
A light, true quirk can make the answer sound natural. Do not use it to sneak in a serious weakness.
What if I do not have close friends in medicine?
Use friends from outside medicine if you like. The point is to show how you treat people.
Related guides
Sources
- AAMC, Questions Frequently Asked of Applicants During Interviews
- AMA, Guide to interviewing with residency programs
- AMA, A program director's do's and don'ts for residency interviews (Dec 2024)
This page is general editorial guidance based on the sources above. It is not a prediction of any program's questions or a statement of its current policies.