7 Tips on How to structure great answers
Not too short, not too long - Your answers should be 1.5 to 2 minutes long (3 minutes if the subject is broad). Any longer and you will put the interviewer to sleep. Any shorter and you will simply not have the time to provide any valuable information about yourself.
A strong structure. A good answer addresses 3 or 4 key points which are well delimited. If relevant, announce the structure of your answer upfront. This will keep the interviewer interested as he will know what to expect. For example: If asked about your strengths, start with “I feel I have three main strengths”. If asked why you went into your specialty, start with “Essentially there are four main reasons that made me choose this specialty” When talking about the skills gained during your research experience, announce “I have gained both research-based and personal skills from my experience”.
Step one involves signposting your message. Step two is to deliver your message effectively. Use a series of headlines and then expansion style statements. Focus ruthlessly on delivering your key point number one and then back it up with your personal examples. Then go to key point number two, etc.
Substantiate your answers - Keep to statements that provide real information about your skills and abilities. Avoid vague statements such as “I find teaching really interesting” or “I went into paediatrics because I like it.” What really matters is why you find it interesting or why you like it. Use facts to substantiate your general statements. Use the 5 “w” questions to gain knowledge about yourself and add content.
Be personal - Use “I” rather than “we”, using “we” gives the impression that you do not get involved in the work as much as you say. Provide suitable examples to illustrate your mess ages. If the question is of a generic nature, provide specific but generic examples such as “I am often involved in breaking bad news to vulnerable patients such as women who have recently miscarried or patients who have struggled with IVF treatment for s ome time.” As well as giving a good picture of the breadth of your experience, it will save you getting lost in the detail of a particular patient’s experience (which by itself could take 5 minutes!) Only mention your experience of specific patient scenarios when prompted for an example.
Provide objective measures of success - If you can, try to use objective measures as much as possible e.g. “My consultants often praise me for the way in which I approach communication with patients when breaking bad news” or “I have received numerous letters from patients, thanking me for the clarity of my explanations”. It sounds much better if others say you are good than if you are the only one to say it.
Try to broad the question out and initiate a discussion at the end. If you can increase the proportion of time spent listening to the interviewer, you will enhance your chances of interview success. The interviewer will perceive you as a good listener and may also consider you to be more of a peer than a subordinate.
Think laterally and diversify the argument. Ascertain whether you are able to describe additional accomplishments that you are able to talk about because part of your response. E.g. talking about conflict could direct you to talking over how expert communication terminate conflict. Ensure that everything you talk about refers the answer back to you and the task. Whenever the question is hypothetical for example. “What constitutes a good doctor?”, “What skills should an effective leader have?” then answer the question and close by explaining how you match the criteria i.e. why YOU are a good doctor or why YOU are a good leader. By broadening the debate, you will create a discussion; this should help you develop a better rapport with your panel and may give you an edge over the challenger.
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