6. Midyear

 
 
“it’s not that bad but pack granola bars, first aid kit, 100 CVs, 1000 thank you cards, paper clips, pens...”
— everyone smh
 

Midyear 2023 will take place in Anaheim, CA. Its significance will vary from program to program, which will most likely have a mix of virtual and live interviews. Hopefully, all your interviews aren’t crammed into a 3-5 day period over the conference.

Things seem to be headed in the right direction with less emphasis on the type of CV paper you use and more on the connections you make with recruiters. We have updated this page to hopefully be a good balance of tips for both the virtual and in person parts of the process.

- Your a27p fam

Fellowship programs may schedule you through the PPS calendar platform, a separate scheduling platform, or may not schedule your interviews until PPS opens. Here is our guide to help manage your midyear/PPS interview schedule.

 

PPS Dates

PPS officially begins December 3rd and ends December 6th. Since PPS is being used differently across programs, it may be when 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round interviews occur. Be sure to note when registration opens if PPS is a major component of your interview process. There are also programs that will not require attendance. Of course, it will be advantageous to gain exposure with programs/fellows during this time. Plan to stay at Midyear through Wednesday afternoon for any programs that may hold receptions on Wednesday morning.

 Important Dates

  • September 13, 2023 - PPS registration will open. Candidates can register for PPS and begin to build their online profile

  • September 22, 2023 - Fellowship opportunities will go live for candidates to view and apply for open positions.

  • October 10, 2023 - PPS online will open for all open positions. Candidates can begin to view and apply for open PPS positions and connect with PPS employers.

  • December 3-6, 2023 - PPS interviews will be held inside of the PPS hall at the 2023 Midyear.

Planning Interview Times

Most programs will assign you interview times instead of allowing you to choose your times. This makes it extremely important to block off times before and after the interview to avoid back-to-back interviews. When placing the interview on your calendar make sure to include the name of the program, time, and location (booth #).

 

What to do after an interview

When in-person, always make sure to exchange business cards. This is a quick and simple way to ensure you remember the names of everyone you interview with. Try to make the time to quickly write down a few key topics that were discussed during the interview — this also applies to virtual interviews.

 

Handling Back to Back Interviews

This may not happen as often with the changing format, but programs understand it is possible. Do your best to let the programs know you have back to back interviews and may need to leave a few minutes early or will be arriving a few minutes late. Develop your own tool to quickly refresh yourself about the next interview. This will help get your mind focused on the interview you are about to have and will help avoid distractions from the interview you just finished. Here is an example tool we created for this scenario.

 

Digital or Paper?

Should candidates use electronic or traditional planners? Either is fine but stick to ONE! I preferred traditional planners because I had little time to check my phone and did not have to worry about my phone dying halfway through the day. We created crisp calendar template 💁 for your use.

 

Multiple Rounds of Interviews

Expect a total of two rounds of interviews with fellows, preceptors, directors, or other employees of the fellowship program. Some programs may only conduct one or even three rounds of interviews.

 

Reception Invites

Many programs hold receptions for candidates to get to know the program in a more casual setting. These receptions are held during the nighttime, but some may occur during breakfast or lunch hours. Anticipate overlap between these receptions which is a small challenge. How is it possible to juggle all of this without making a poor impression? Here are a few tips.

  • Take a deep breath! Programs are aware that most candidates will have conflicting receptions and do not expect you to be in attendance the entire time

  • During the time you are at the reception make sure to meet as many people as possible (other candidates as well because they may be your future co-fellows)

  • Before leaving always make sure to say goodbye and thank the programs for the opportunity

 

“If I'm shinin', everybody gonna shine” - Lizzo