1. Innovations in Simulation:
Career Counseling and the Mock Interview
Experience during the Fourth Year
Alison Martin, MEd, Jennifer Rachow, BHS, Nate Beucke, MD, Dena Higbee, MS, Jen Doty, RN, BSN, Rachel Brown, MD
PURPOSE:
Creating career counseling resources around writing
effective personal statements (PS), creating a concise
curriculum vitae (CV), and participation in simulated
residency interviews for students entering their M4
year has proven to be a helpful integrated model to
assist students with feeling more prepared for the
interview season.
NEED FOR INNOVATION:
With increasing class sizes and stagnant growth
in graduate medical education positions the
residency match process becomes more competitive
each year putting students who are unprepared for
residency interviews at a distinct disadvantage.
The results of the 2014 NMRP Program Director
survey for all specialties show that 93% of programs
rate interactions with faculty during interview and
interpersonal skills as the two top factors when
developing their rank order list.
Integrating counseling activities around PS and CV
development accompanied with simulated interview
practice advances preparation for the high stakes
interview experience.
COLLABORATION:
Student Services
Career Advising
Surgical Educator
Clinical Simulation Center
Standardized Interviewers
Observers
PRE-MOCK INTERVIEW TASKS:
Determine simulation center availability during
September & October
Avoid dates w/ academic conflicts
Inform M3s during May class meeting about the
mock interview opportunity- highly recommend
participation
Request CVs & PSs well in advance for advising
critique
Encourage professional attire
Send doodle request for date/time preference to
students
Develop interview style scenarios & observation
forms
Review and customize potential questions for
standardized interviewers based on CV & PS
Recruit/train volunteer interviewers w/ health
education experience
Recruit/train staff observers
Confirm video technology/recording
POST-MOCK INTERVIEW TASKS:
One observer per interview- 2 interviews total- and
interviewer give verbal feedback immediately
following each interview
Group debrief with additional interview tips after
interviews completed for the day
Evaluation forms collected, scanned & emailed to
participants
Video recording made available to participants and
observers for additional feedback, if requested
Survey students assessing helpfulness of
exercise
“Loved getting questions
about my CV, because that
really simulates a true
interview.”
Areas for Improvement
Offer the experience over three (3) months
(August-October) rather than two (2) months
(September-October) making it more accessible for
those going through the early match and for those
on away rotations.
Critiques of the Personal Statement and
Curriculum Vitae shall occur several weeks prior to
the interview and are automatic rather than
optional.
Holistic
Admissions
Patient-Based
Curriculum
Career
Advising
CV Review
Personal
Statement
Review
Mock
Interviews
2015
99% Match
Rate
Class of 2015 Outcomes
57 Participants
Class of 2014 Outcomes
34 Participants
Post Mock Interview Survey n=29
Helpfulness
79% Very Helpful
21% Helpful
0% Somewhat Helpful
0% Somewhat Not Helpful
0% Not Helpful
Seemed
Realistic
35% Very Realistic
48% Realistic
14% Somewhat Realistic
3% Somewhat Unrealistic
0% Unrealistic
Better
Prepared for
Interviews
65% Very Prepared
28% Prepared
7% Somewhat Prepared
0% Somewhat Unprepared
0% Not Prepared
Match National MU
2015 93.9% 99%
2014 94.4% 94%
2013 93.7% 95%
2012 95.1% 92%
Background
School of Medicine
University of Missouri Health System
Medicine.missouri.edu
Post Mock Interview Survey n=31
Helpfulness
68% Very Helpful
26% Helpful
6% Somewhat Helpful
0% Somewhat Not Helpful
0% Not Helpful
Seemed
Realistic
36% Very Realistic
42% Realistic
16% Somewhat Realistic
6% Somewhat Unrealistic
0% Unrealistic
Better
Prepared for
Interviews
42% Very Prepared
42% Prepared
16% Somewhat Prepared
0% Somewhat Unprepared
0% Not Prepared
Methods
