Tell me about a time you were criticized and how you handled it.
ExperienceProfessional GrowthCore
Purpose
This question checks if you can handle feedback maturely. In residency, you'll get a lot of critique, and they want to see if you can take it in stride and use it to improve.
Tips
- Pick a meaningful example, not something trivial.
- Admit your initial feelings but focus on your professional response.
- Use the STAR-L method: Situation, Task, Action, Result, Lessons Learned.
- Show how you used the feedback to improve and what you learned from it.
Common mistakes
- Don't dismiss the criticism as unfair without reflection.
- Avoid sounding bitter or defensive about the feedback.
- Don't skip the part where you show what you learned or how you grew from the experience.
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.