Free Guides from a Former PD

Residency Interview Guides — What Program Directors Actually Think

Every guide below was written by a former Program Director — Built from inside the evaluation room across multiple ACGME-accredited programs. No generic advice. No recycled blog posts. Just the evaluation logic PDs use — explained so you can prepare for it.

Unlike generic advising websites or crowdsourced forum tips, every ResidencyWorks guide is built on the actual evaluation rubric Program Directors use to rank candidates.

Built for applicants preparing for Match 2027

Written by a former PD
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Free Interview Preparation Guides

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Interview Prep
7 min read

The 10 Residency Interview Questions That Impact PD Rankings Most

Not all interview questions carry equal weight. A former PD ranks the 10 questions by their actual impact on rank list position, maps each to ACGME competencies, and explains what separates a forgettable answer from one that moves you up the list.

Interview Prep
12 min read

Residency Interview Tips for IMGs: What PDs Actually Think

The 5 concerns every PD has about IMG candidates — commitment, communication calibration, clinical adaptability, professionalism norms, and YOG gap — and the exact interview strategies to address each one before the PD even asks.

Application Strategy
14 min read

What Program Directors Actually Evaluate in Residency Interviews

The 7 mistakes that silently sink candidates, the interview formats that catch applicants off guard, and a 4-week preparation timeline from a PD who built one. Includes the Story Bank method and STAR-R framework — the system that turns scattered preparation into interview confidence.

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The scoring sheet a Program Director actually uses to evaluate interview candidates — mapped to all 6 ACGME Core Competencies. Free, instant download.

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You Know What PDs Evaluate. Can You Deliver It?

These guides show you the framework. The question is whether you can execute it under pressure. Interview Drills lets you find out — with real-time, PD-calibrated scoring on every answer.

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Interview season begins September 2026.
The applicants who start earliest are consistently the most prepared.