Fellowship Interview Pearls

By Lawrence Ho, MD

Congratulations on deciding to pursue a fellowship in ophthalmology! Every year around August and September, fellowship applications have already been submitted and applicants are waiting anxiously for the invitations regarding interviews. As an individual who is currently in his first year of a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship and who recently went through the interview process, I would like to offer my tips for success in obtaining the fellowship position of your choice.

1. Don't take a break. During this time period you could relax because your application has already been submitted but I would strongly advise against this. You should use this time efficiently to work on any research projects or publications that have yet to be completed. Since you have included them on your CV with the application, it would be nice to have some closure to these items so you can update your interviewers along the interview trail.

2. Be organized. You will begin hearing back from programs shortly regarding invitations for interviews. Try to be prompt when accepting interviews because the days and times may fill up quickly and you may not get your first choice. Also, be courteous and decline interviews promptly in order to allow the programs to invite other prospective candidates. You can also create a spreadsheet to make sure your flights, accommodations, and car rentals are in order as you may be interviewing in several different cities in one week.

3. Practice. You have had many interviews already (undergraduate, medical school, residency, etc.) but because you don't do this all the time, you need to practice. Come up with a list of questions that you think will be asked of you and have answers for these questions beforehand. Questions that always come up include, "Why you are pursuing this fellowship?" or "Why did you apply to this program?" Also assume that anything on your CV or application is fair game. You want to be able to speak eloquently and not sound like your answers are rehearsed.

4. Familiarize yourself with the programs. Come prepared for the interview day. You should have some idea about the basics of the program (e.g., number of faculty, number of fellows, research requirements, surgical volume, etc.) before showing up for several reasons. This allows you to ask informative questions during your interview day in order to clarify some of these points and also it allows you to concentrate on the other qualities of the program that are not apparent on paper. Also, if possible arrive the day before and familiarize yourself with the surroundings. The last thing you want to do is be late to the interview or get lost on the way.

5. Dress the part. This may seem obvious but make sure you dress appropriately. Most of you probably have not tried on your interview suit/outfit since residency interviews. First off, make sure it still fits! If you have any wear and tear that is visible, then it is time to invest in a new interview suit or outfit. When you show up for your interview, make sure nothing is wrinkled and your shoes are well shined. These small details go a long way especially when trying to make a good first impression.

6. Maximize face time. You should try to make as many pre-interview or post-interview events as possible. This will not only allow you to get a better sense of what a fellowship program is like outside of the physical confines of the fellowship. It will also give you more face time with the interviewers and allow you to distinguish yourself from the rest of the candidates.

7. Last but not least, relax. Make sure you be yourself and let your personality shine. By receiving an invitation for an interview you have already made it through the screening process. The purpose of the interview is to see if the program is a good fit for you and to see if you are a good fit for the program. Looking back, although there were some stressful moments, most of the memories of my interview experience were very positive. I was able to meet many people considered to be at the forefront of my subspecialty but most importantly, I have met many people who will remain my friends for life.