A residency interview is a fit conversation with a clinical spine: why this specialty and this program, what you did in US clinical experience, and a short, honest account of any gap or attempt. It is usually a video call, and programs are forbidden by Match rules from asking how you will rank them.
Also advertised as Residency interview, Match interview, ERAS interview, IMG residency interview — the loop is the same, and so is the practice below.
Doctors' interviews are less about what you know than whether you are safe, honest and good to work with. Expect your motivation, a clinical or ethical scenario, a mistake you made and what you did about it, and how you work with nurses and seniors.
International doctors are asked about the time since graduation and how they will adapt to a new health system. A brief, honest, forward-looking answer is what panels want; a defensive or rehearsed one is what they remember.
Each round is run by the interviewer built for it, with its own scoring axes — not one generic interviewer asked to change subject.
Why this specialty, why you, and the gap in your CV — the Match interview.
Scored on Telling your story · Clinical and professional judgement · Fit and composure
Why this specialty, why you, and the gap in your CV — the Match interview.
Scored on Telling your story · Clinical and professional judgement · Fit and composure
Why this specialty, why you, and the gap in your CV — the Match interview.
Scored on Telling your story · Clinical and professional judgement · Fit and composure
Six you can expect, in the register interviewers actually use. Answer them out loud before you read the next section — reading a question and answering one are different skills, and only the second is marked.
The gap between these two is most of your score, and it is easier to see than to be told.
“Can you walk me through the time since you graduated?”
A long, defensive account of every exam, visa delay and family reason, ending on how unfair the process is. The panel hears a risk, not a story.
Two or three sentences of plain fact, what you did with the time (USCE, research, clinical work, exam preparation), and what it taught you, then a turn forward: why you are ready to start in July.
The post-mortem nobody sends you. These are specific to this loop rather than general interview advice.
For Residency Applicant (US Match) roles, a general round runs with Dr. Morgan — why this specialty, why you, and the gap in your CV — the Match interview. It is the fastest way to find out which round you actually need to work on. The first session is free.
Practise a Residency Applicant (US Match) interview →Before you practise, it is worth reading how the common rounds are marked: tell me about yourself, behavioural questions and STAR, and system design.