title: The surgical residency interview: a candidate-centered, working approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The interview process is a pivotal, differentiating component of the residency match. Our bias is toward a working interview, producing better fulfillment of the needs of both parties, and a more informed match selection for the candidates and program.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a "candidate-centered" approach for integrating applicant interviews into our daily work schedule. Applicants are informed upon accepting the interview of the working interview model. Our program offers 33 interview days over a 12-week period. A maximum of 5 applicants are hosted per day. Applicants are assigned to 1 of our general, thoracic, vascular, or plastic surgery teams. The interview day begins with the applicant changing into scrubs, attending a morning conference, and taking part in a program overview by a Chief Resident. Applicants join their host team where 4-8 hours are spent observing the operative team, on rounds and sharing lunch. The faculty and senior residents are responsible for interviewing and evaluating applicants though the Electronic Residency Application Service.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 13 surgeons are involved in the interview process resulting in broad-based evaluations. Each surgeon interviewed between 3 and 12 applicants. Faculty rate this interview approach highly because it allows them to maintain a rigorous operative schedule while interacting with applicants. Current residents are engaged in welcoming applicants to view the program. Faculty and residents believe cooperating in a real world manner aids their assessment of the applicant. Applicants routinely provide positive feedback, relaying this approach is informative, transparent, and should be the "standard." Applicants believe they are presented a realistic view of the program. Ultimately, this candidate-centered process may be attributable to our resident cohort who exhibit high satisfaction, excellent resident morale, and very low dropout rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present a candidate-centered, working interview approach used in the selection of general surgery residents. While it may require more resources than the traditional approach, it harbors advantages for the applicant and the program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Graduate Medical Education, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seabott
authors.forename: Ryan K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alseidi
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thirlby
mesh_terms: D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods*