Virtual Interviews: Assessing How Expectations Meet Reality

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the post-matriculation perceptions of interns and faculty who participated in the 2020-2021 virtual interview process and how their expectations of the program and the applicants, respectively, aligned with reality. Published surveys on virtual interviewing were reviewed and modified to design two surveys, for interns and for faculty who interviewed. Interns and faculty members from the Departments of Surgery and Medicine at one institution who participated in the 2020-2021 virtual interview process completed the surveys four to six months after the start of the academic year. Following survey completion, surgical interns from the same application cycle participated in one in-person focus group nine months after the start of the academic year to clarify points raised in the surveys. Forty-six interns and faculty members responded to the survey (subgroup response rates ranging from 13-30%) and ten interns participated in the focus group (participation rate 100%). Most faculty and intern participants found that expectations formed during virtual interviews were accurate. However, our respondents noted limitations to virtual interviews that reduced their usefulness, including challenges with unnatural social interactions, understanding city fit, and getting a sense of resident and program culture. Participants provided possible solutions to address these challenges. Overall, this mixed-methods study at a single institution found that perceptions from virtual interviews were generally accurate but with some limitations. We describe several opportunities to improve the virtual interview process and optimize the application experience.