Questions to Ask Residents
Thoughtful questions to help you connect with residents, learn about their experiences, and understand their perspective on medical training and practice.
1What drew you to your specialty and how has your experience been so far?
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What drew you to your specialty and how has your experience been so far?
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Why this works
Understanding their specialty choice helps you learn about their interests and what they find fulfilling in medicine.
2What's the most challenging aspect of residency training?
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What's the most challenging aspect of residency training?
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Why this works
Learning about their challenges helps you understand the difficulties of medical training and what they're navigating.
3How do you balance the demands of residency with your personal life?
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How do you balance the demands of residency with your personal life?
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Why this works
Understanding their work-life balance helps you see how they manage the intense demands of medical training.
4What's been the most rewarding experience in your residency so far?
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What's been the most rewarding experience in your residency so far?
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Why this works
Learning about their rewards helps you understand what makes medical training fulfilling and meaningful.
5How do you handle the pressure and stress of medical training?
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How do you handle the pressure and stress of medical training?
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Why this works
Understanding their stress management helps you learn about resilience and coping strategies in medicine.
6What's your approach to learning and staying current with medical knowledge?
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What's your approach to learning and staying current with medical knowledge?
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Why this works
Learning about their learning approach helps you understand how they stay updated and continue growing.
7How do you work with your attending physicians and what have you learned from them?
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How do you work with your attending physicians and what have you learned from them?
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Why this works
Understanding their relationships helps you see how they learn from mentors and collaborate with experienced physicians.
8What's your experience been like working with patients and their families?
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What's your experience been like working with patients and their families?
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Why this works
Learning about their patient interactions helps you understand the human side of medicine and what they value most.
9How do you handle difficult cases and what support do you have?
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How do you handle difficult cases and what support do you have?
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Why this works
Understanding their support systems helps you see how they navigate challenging situations and get help when needed.
10What's your approach to teamwork and collaboration in medical settings?
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What's your approach to teamwork and collaboration in medical settings?
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Why this works
Learning about their teamwork helps you understand how they work with others in high-stakes medical environments.
11How do you handle making mistakes and what have you learned from them?
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How do you handle making mistakes and what have you learned from them?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to mistakes helps you learn about resilience and growth in medical practice.
12What's your experience been like with the administrative aspects of medicine?
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What's your experience been like with the administrative aspects of medicine?
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Why this works
Learning about their administrative experience helps you understand the non-clinical aspects of medical practice.
13How do you approach continuing education and professional development?
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How do you approach continuing education and professional development?
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Why this works
Understanding their development approach helps you see how they plan for ongoing learning and growth.
14What's your experience been like with medical research and academic pursuits?
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What's your experience been like with medical research and academic pursuits?
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Why this works
Learning about their research experience helps you understand their academic interests and contributions to medicine.
15How do you handle the emotional aspects of medical practice?
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How do you handle the emotional aspects of medical practice?
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Why this works
Understanding their emotional management helps you see how they process the difficult and rewarding aspects of medicine.
16What's your approach to patient communication and building relationships?
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What's your approach to patient communication and building relationships?
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Why this works
Learning about their communication helps you understand how they connect with patients and build trust.
17How do you handle the long hours and demanding schedule of residency?
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How do you handle the long hours and demanding schedule of residency?
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Why this works
Understanding their schedule management helps you see how they cope with the intense demands of medical training.
18What's your experience been like with medical technology and electronic health records?
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What's your experience been like with medical technology and electronic health records?
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Why this works
Learning about their tech experience helps you understand how they work with modern medical tools and systems.
19How do you approach ethical dilemmas and difficult decisions in medicine?
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How do you approach ethical dilemmas and difficult decisions in medicine?
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Why this works
Understanding their ethical approach helps you see how they navigate complex moral situations in medical practice.
20What advice would you give to someone considering a career in medicine?
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What advice would you give to someone considering a career in medicine?
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Why this works
Learning about their advice helps you understand their perspective on medical careers and what they wish they'd known.
Connecting with Medical Residents
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Having Meaningful Conversations
Be Respectful of Their Time
Residents have demanding schedules, so be mindful of their time and ask if it's a good time to talk.
Show Genuine Interest
Demonstrate authentic curiosity about their experiences and be respectful of their expertise and journey.
Ask Follow-up Questions
When they share something interesting, ask follow-up questions to show engagement and learn more about their perspective.