Tell me about a time when you worked under pressure and how you managed it.
ExperienceResilience
Purpose
Residency is stressful, and this question checks if you can keep your cool when things get intense. They want to see if you have strategies to handle pressure effectively.
Tips
- Pick a specific high-pressure situation you've faced, like a clinical or personal challenge.
- Use the STAR-L method: Situation, Task, Action, Result, and Lessons Learned.
- Highlight how you managed stress, like prioritizing tasks or seeking help, and share what you learned.
Common mistakes
- Avoid vague answers like 'I just push through' without a real example.
- Don't skip the reflection part – share what you learned from the experience.
- Steer clear of blaming others or taking all the credit; show teamwork and accountability.
Background
Use STAR-L to structure responses to questions about your experiences: -Situation: Briefly set the scene - where/when and what was going on? -Task: What was your specific role or challenge in that situation? -Action: What you did - focus on your steps, decisions, and contributions. -Result: Share the outcome - ideally positive or meaningful. -Lessons Learned: Reflect on what you took away and how you’ve grown.