CaRMS interview prep is essential to secure your spot at your top-choice residency program. While in general, residency interview questions will be similar with CaRMS and ERAS, there are some specific points you need to be aware of with CaRMS interview preparation. In this blog, we will go over the entire prep process and give you failproof tips for how to ace your CaRMS interview!
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How to Prepare for CaRMS Interviews Before You Receive Invites
It is important to begin your CaRMS interview prep before you receive any invites. Why? You may receive very short notices or multiple interview invites, which will make your interview prep even more challenging. This is why starting even before you receive the invite is advisable, especially if you are applying to one of the best residency programs in Canada.
For example, depending on how many residency programs you applied to, you might be facing a variety of interview formats or interviews for programs in different specialties. The most common residency interview formats are the one-on-one traditional interview, panel interview, and the MMI.
The first step in CaRMS interview prep should be figuring out what kind of interview formats and styles the programs of your choice use.
To learn all this information, make sure to do the following:
When you find relevant information about your programs’ interview processes, create a spreadsheet where you record this information. This will help you gauge what kind of interview formats you might be facing. Remember, if you are invited to the interview, most programs will send you all this information in the invite, but if you gather it early on and keep track of which program uses which format – you can manage your expectations and start preparing for your interviews in advance.
Knowing this information will also help you research potential residency interview questions. The format of the interview will determine what kind of CaRMS interview questions you should get familiar with, such as MMI questions, traditional questions like "tell me about yourself", and so on.
What To Do When You Receive Your CaRMS Interview Invite
Replying to the Interview Invite
Each program you apply to will update their interview offer status through CaRMS to let you know if you've been selected for an interview or not. In general, in the CaRMS timeline, interview invites are sent out from late December to early January.
If you have been selected for an interview, you will receive an email from the program within a few days of your status change in CaRMS, which will confirm your interview and will include information about the interview such as interview type, location, duration, etc.
Be sure to reply right away to all email invitations you receive, thanking each program for the opportunity and confirming your intent to interview. Some interviews will take the form of a video interview, while others will require you to be there in person. Most programs will give you around three weeks' notice for an in-person interview to allow time for you to make travel and accommodation arrangements. Plan your arrangements carefully!
Here's what to do once you receive your residency interview invitations:
Scheduling Your CaRMS Interview
There is an established interview period for Canadian medical grads (usually from January to February), but the interviews for international medical graduates or IMGs, can take place anytime between the opening of file review (usually late November) and the rank order list deadline (usually late February).
For Canadian grads, CaRMS interview scheduling is specialty dependent. Some specialties have a cluster of dates that occur at the beginning, middle, or end of the interview period. Other specialties move from East to West across Canada.
Programs typically give candidates a limited range of dates within the interview period they have, and the candidates are allowed to select times and dates within that range on a first come first serve basis. Other programs may simply assign a date to you. If you have the option to pick, you can follow the same general tips for scheduling medical school interviews. You should space out multiple interviews out as much as possible so you have time between, but also consider your own personal needs such as allowing lots of time between travel and interview. There may not be as much flexibility in scheduling for residency interviews, so don’t stress if you don’t have an ideal time. Make sure you do confirm your interview time right away and don’t forget about thank you letters if appropriate.
If you are invited to multiple interviews and the times conflict, you should contact the programs directly to make arrangements. Most programs will try to accommodate you, but this is not always possible.
Planning Your Travel Arrangements
If you have multiple in-person interviews, plan your interviews in an order that makes sense. For example, you definitely don't want to fly from BC to Newfoundland to Alberta to Nova Scotia all within a couple of days turnaround. Try to schedule your interviews in a way that would allow you to travel east to west or west to east so that you're not doing any unnecessary travel in between.
Arrive at your destination at least a day before the interview to attend any pre-interview social events, which are valuable for networking and assessing whether the program is a good fit for you. Additionally, arriving early allows you to familiarize yourself with the interview location, ensure parking, and relax before your interview, helping you to be well-rested and mentally prepared.
Check out our MMI interview tips to prepare:
How to Prepare for Your CaRMS Interview
Once you have an interview invitation, you will need to begin intensive CaRMS interview preparation. Securing an interview is a huge step towards matching with your dream program, but the reality is, all the time and effort you put into your residency application will be irrelevant if you don't ace your CaRMS interview.
Participate in Mock Interviews with Sample Questions
One of the best ways you can prepare yourself for your CaRMS interview is to do mock interviews. Just as medical school mock interviews are valuable, they can be essential for your residency interviews as well.
Firstly, participating in a mock interview will help you practice accurately with the correct interview format. As we already discussed, CaRMS interviews can be conducted in a variety of different formats. The formats are very different, so simulating the appropriate format is essential in preparing effectively and combatting any nerves you will have on your interview day.
Secondly, mock interviews will really help you identify and practice important residency interview question types that will appear on almost every CaRMS interview. The most common CaRMS question categories are:
Make sure to look up potential interview questions from your desired specialty such as emergency medicine residency interview questions, pathology residency interview questions, pediatric residency interview questions, and so on.
The third major advantage of realistic mock interviews is the personalized feedback you receive. During these mock interviews if you practice with trained residency interview prep experts who provide tailored feedback on your responses, you will refine both the content and timing of your answers. Personalized feedback ensures you know exactly where to improve, helping you eliminate weaknesses and present the best version of yourself. Continuous practice with expert evaluation allows you to gauge your progress and perfect your interview skills, making sure you're fully prepared for any question that comes your way.
Once you experience the interview format first-hand and receive appropriate feedback, you can gauge your progress and work on your interview skills to address any areas of weakness. Continue to go through practice mock interviews and receive tailored advice – this is your number one priority, and in-between you can do some additional CaRMS interview prep by following the steps we outline below.
Check out the best residency interview questions to practice with:
Prepare Questions for Your Interviewers
That's right, part of your CaRMS interview prep will involve having some questions to ask your residency interviewers when they turn to you and ask “So, do you have any questions for us?”.
Having good questions for the interviewers serves two main purposes. Firstly, it shows that you have a genuine interest in the program. Remember, it’s not just about determining if you are the smartest or most qualified candidate, but if you are the right fit for the specific program. It also is a chance for you showcase the research you have done on the program and further reinforce your fit.
Here's a list of sample questions you could ask your interviewers:
The Golden Rule: Perfect Practice Makes Perfect
The right practice really can make perfect, or as near to perfect as is possible. The most important part of your practice is that you don't want to recite your residency personal statement and residency CV or memorize your answers at any point. Memorization is bad news all around and memorized answers come across exactly as you'd expect: canned.
The whole purpose of a residency interview is for program directors and residents to get an idea of who you are as a person, what your experience is, what motivates you, and ultimately if you'll be a suitable match for their program. To gauge all of these factors, they want to get to know the real you and want your genuine response to their questions.
When rehearsing for your interview, focus on hitting key points you've brainstormed while allowing the rest of your answer to flow naturally. Practice in front of a mirror or camera to identify and eliminate nervous behaviors, ensuring you come across as confident and avoid distracting your interviewers. The goal is to be remembered for your strong responses and unique personality, not for any distracting habits.
Additional Tips to Help You Ace Your CaRMS Interview
Brainstorm your answers
- Identify key skills, experiences, strengths, and weaknesses you want to highlight.
- Practice framing your answers with concrete examples that demonstrate your abilities.
- Focus on real weaknesses and discuss how you've addressed and grown from them.
Make sure you can answer why you are pursuing your chosen specialty
- Reflect on why you are passionate about your chosen specialty and how your experiences align with it.
- Be prepared to discuss both your first-choice and backup specialties with equal enthusiasm.
- Highlight relevant extracurricular activities, rotations, and any pivotal moments that shaped your decision.
Keep Your Answers Focused
- Avoid cramming too many examples into your responses; focus on one significant experience per question.
- Provide detailed context for each example to illustrate your skills and suitability.
- Tell a cohesive story rather than listing activities, making sure your answers are clear and impactful.
Don’t be afraid to interact with your interviewers
- Show confidence by asking for clarifications when needed and being personable during the interview.
- Practice balancing friendliness with professionalism, ensuring you don't interrupt or over-talk.
- Use mock interviews to fine-tune your interaction style and responses.
Test your equipment
- Ensure all your video interview equipment works properly, including sound and video quality.
- Check your internet connection and have a backup plan, such as a mobile hotspot, in case of issues.
FAQs
1. What kind of format can my CaRMS interview take?
The most common CaRMS interview formats include a one-on-one traditional interview, panel interview, virtual interview, and MMI.
2. Should my CaRMS interview prep be tailored for each interview format?
Absolutely! Each format has its own nuances and challenges. Your interview prep must take into account the format your program of choice will use.
3. How should I schedule my CaRMS interview?
While interviews generally happen between February and March, some programs allow you to choose your preferred date on first come first serve basis, while others simply assign a date and time slot to you. If you do have a choice make sure you schedule a time and date that gives you enough prep time.
4. How long does the CaRMS interview last?
Your official interview will last around 30 minutes. However, the interview day and tour will take additional time. There is a variety of events that may be included in the interview day, such as meeting with the program director, information sessions, a social, and so on.
5. What kind of questions should I expect during my CaRMS interview?
There are three main question types you can expect: personal/past experience questions, scenario/situational, and specialty specific.
6. Will I be asked about my knowledge of a specialty I am applying to?
Most likely. You may be asked about a common approach to a condition often seen in that specialty, for example.
7. What is the best CaRMS interview prep strategy?
The best way to prepare for your interview is to practice with realistic mock interviews and receiving personalized feedback. This will help you get used to the interview format, hone your communication skills, and help you grow in confidence.
8. What can I do to prepare even before I receive my interview invite?
Search the CaRMS directory and the programs’ websites for information about the interview and what programs like to see in their candidates. You can tell a lot about a program by reading their mission, values, research projects, and what kind of opportunities they provide to their resident doctors.
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