Different Types of Interviews
There are different types of interviews and different types of interviewing techniques. Details of the latter are probably too detailed for this guide however a brief mention of the different types of interviews would be appropriate.
Standard Panel Interview
This is where more than one interviewer interviews you at the same time. Try not to get over intimidated. Make eye contact with the person who has asked you the question, but also try to look and engage the other interviewers as you make your responses. This will engage all the interviewers and you will form a rapport with each using this technique. Usually panel interviews are made up of people from different disciplines such as basic science/ research, clinical medicine, or surgery. There is often a medical student as part of the panel. So be prepared for a real range of questions.
Blinded Interviews (not so common)
This is an interview where the interviewer has not seen any part of your file. He or she does not know your grades or scores and has not read your application form. Be prepared for the worst of all possible interview questions: So, tell me about yourself. Expect to regurgitate a lot of what you have already written in your various application forms.
Partially Blinded Interviews
This is where an interviewer only sees part of your applications, such as your application form, but not any numerical grades or scores.
Open Interviews
In this type of interview it is up to the interviewer whether or not he or she will look at your file ahead of time. Be prepared, therefore, for blind type questions as well as questions addressing what you wrote in your application form.
Typically interviews are of the panel format and contain preset questions that are delivered to all of the candidates on the day, thus allowing a direct assessment of one candidates performance against another.
