Tell me about yourself

Start with your current role and the most relevant clinical experience, focusing on the past 5 to 10 years and the types of cases you manage most often. Briefly highlight one or two measurable achievements, such as improvements in throughput or patient outcomes, and connect those to why you are interested in this role. Keep the narrative focused, practice a two-minute delivery, and avoid reciting your entire CV or unrelated personal details.

Why did you choose anesthesiology?

Explain the combination of acute decision making, physiology, and perioperative patient care that drew you to anesthesiology, tying that to specific experiences in training or practice. Give a short example, such as managing a complex trauma case or developing an interest in regional anesthesia after a rotation where you saw clear patient benefit. Be honest about the challenges too, and emphasize that you want the role because you value teamwork and steady, evidence-based care rather than prestige.

How do you approach a difficult airway?

Outline a stepwise plan starting with assessment, preparing equipment and personnel, calling for help early, and moving through awake intubation, video laryngoscopy, supraglottic devices, and surgical airway if needed. Offer a concise example, for instance a morbidly obese patient with limited mouth opening where you prepared an awake fiberoptic plan, topicalized the airway, and succeeded with fiberoptic-guided intubation. Mention common pitfalls to avoid, such as delaying help or skipping plan B, and stress clear team communication and role assignments.

Describe how you manage intraoperative hypotension

Start with rapid assessment to identify likely causes, including hypovolemia, vasodilation, cardiac dysfunction, bleeding, or anesthetic depth, then treat the most likely cause while monitoring response. Give a short case example, such as a laparotomy where sudden hypotension followed blood loss, and you initiated fluid resuscitation, vasoactive support, and surgical communication which stabilized the patient. Advise documenting trends, reassessing frequently, and avoiding reflexive heavy bolusing when cardiac function is uncertain.

What is your approach to rapid sequence induction (RSI)?

Describe patient selection, preoxygenation strategy, choice of induction and paralytic agents, and how you plan for failed airway management with backup devices and personnel ready. Provide an example like a full-stomach trauma patient where you used preoxygenation with high-flow nasal oxygen, cricoid application as indicated, and rocuronium with immediate readiness for video laryngoscopy. Point out things to avoid such as inadequate preoxygenation, poor positioning, or not briefing the team on the contingency plan.

How would you recognize and manage malignant hyperthermia?

Explain the typical signs, including sudden hypercarbia, unexplained tachycardia, muscle rigidity, rising temperature, and acidosis, and emphasize immediate discontinuation of triggering agents. Describe a specific response: stop volatile agents, hyperventilate with 100 percent oxygen, give dantrolene per protocol, cool the patient, and monitor labs while notifying the MH hotline and the team. Warn against delaying dantrolene while searching for rare causes, and recommend confirming MH susceptibility testing and family counseling after the event.

How do you decide between general anesthesia and regional techniques?

Discuss patient factors, surgical requirements, anticipated postoperative pain, coagulation status, and patient preference, balancing risks and benefits for each case. Offer an example such as choosing a lumbar plexus block plus sedation for a high-risk hip fracture patient to minimize respiratory depression and facilitate early mobilization. Note that you should avoid overstating advantages, always document informed consent, and coordinate with surgeons and nursing for postoperative monitoring plans.

How do you communicate with surgeons and the perioperative team under stress?

Emphasize clear, direct communication, closed-loop confirmation, and assigning roles quickly, while maintaining professional courtesy and focus on patient safety. Share an example where rapid debriefing during a major bleed allowed you to prioritize airway, vascular access, and transfusion, which streamlined care and reduced confusion. Recommend short preoperative briefings and structured check-ins during critical phases to reduce errors, and avoid vague statements or blaming language in high-stress moments.

How do you manage postoperative pain while minimizing opioid-related side effects?

Describe multimodal analgesia, combining acetaminophen, NSAIDs when appropriate, regional techniques, and judicious opioid dosing tailored to patient factors and procedure type. Give a concrete plan, for instance after total knee arthroplasty using adductor canal block, scheduled acetaminophen, an NSAID, and opioid rescue doses, which reduced opioid consumption and improved early physiotherapy participation. Warn against overreliance on opioids, monitor for respiratory depression especially in sleep apnea patients, and document pain plans and follow-up.

How do you stay current with anesthesia practice and guidelines?

Explain your routine for continuing medical education, reading key journals, attending conferences, and participating in morbidity and mortality meetings or local case reviews. Provide a specific example such as implementing new airway management guidelines after attending a workshop and reviewing the literature with your department, leading to updated checklists. Encourage setting aside regular time for learning, engaging in simulation training, and being open to changing practice based on new evidence.

Tell me about a time you managed a critical intraoperative emergency

Situation: During a complex abdominal case a patient developed sudden hypotension and rising end-tidal CO2, suggesting massive hemorrhage and possible pulmonary embolus. Task: As the attending anesthesiologist you had to stabilize circulation, secure the airway, and coordinate with the surgical team to identify and control the source. Action: You called for additional help, initiated rapid transfusion protocol, started vasopressors, arranged point-of-care ultrasound which identified free fluid, and guided surgical control while maintaining oxygenation. Result: The team controlled the bleeding, hemodynamics improved, and the patient survived with an uneventful ICU recovery, and the event prompted updates to the massive transfusion checklist.

Describe a time you had a disagreement with a surgeon about patient management

Situation: A surgeon wanted to proceed with a lengthy case in a patient with unstable cardiac signs that you felt required further optimization. Task: You needed to advocate for patient safety while maintaining a collaborative relationship and avoiding escalation. Action: You presented concise data, suggested postponing surgery until a brief cardiology evaluation and stabilization could occur, and proposed alternative intraoperative monitoring and a staged approach to minimize delay. Result: The team accepted a short delay, cardiology cleared the patient after optimization, and the case proceeded with better outcomes and improved mutual respect for perioperative decision making.

Give an example of when you improved a protocol or workflow in your department

Situation: Your department had frequent delays in block start times due to inconsistent nerve block equipment and consent processes. Task: You aimed to reduce delays and improve block efficiency while maintaining safety checks. Action: You led a small team to standardize a block cart, created a preoperative checklist, trained nursing staff on preparation steps, and implemented a tracking sheet for block start times. Result: Block start delays decreased by measurable minutes, turnover improved, and staff surveys reported clearer expectations and less last-minute scrambling.

anesthesiologist Interview Questions: Complete Guide

In anesthesiologist interview questions you can expect a mix of clinical scenarios, protocol knowledge, and behavioral questions that probe your judgment under pressure. Interviews are often a combination of panel clinical interviews, case-based discussions, and behavioral rounds, so prepare examples and concise reasoning for each topic.

Common Interview Questions

Behavioral Questions (STAR Method)

STAR Method: Structure your answers using Situation, Task, Action, and Result to tell compelling stories about your experience.

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Show your interest by asking thoughtful questions

•What does success look like in this role after six months, specifically for the anesthesia team?
•How is perioperative risk stratification handled here, and who leads multidisciplinary discussions for high-risk patients?
•Can you describe the typical case mix and the proportion of regional versus general anesthesia in this practice?
•What opportunities are there for involvement in protocol development, quality improvement, or teaching within the department?
•How does the department support wellness and scheduling to reduce burnout during high-volume periods?

Interview Preparation Tips

Practice concise, structured case explanations out loud, focusing on assessment, immediate priorities, and planned interventions in that order.

Bring two specific cases that show your judgment under pressure, prepare the key facts and outcomes, and rehearse the timeline to present them clearly.

During scenario questions, verbalize your thought process and risk assessment so interviewers can follow your clinical reasoning step by step.

Ask clarifying questions when presented with a case, and if you need more data, state what information would change your immediate plan.

Overview

This guide prepares anesthesiologists for the full range of interview scenarios you’ll likely face: phone screens, one-on-one faculty interviews, multidisciplinary panels, and simulation-based assessments. Typical interviews run 30–90 minutes; panels often include 3–6 interviewers and 12–20 core questions.

Interviewers evaluate clinical judgment, crisis management, teamwork, teaching ability, and fit with department priorities.

Begin by mapping the interview types you expect.

•Phone screen: 20–30 minutes; expect questions on CV highlights and general goals.
•Faculty/panel interview: 45–75 minutes; expect clinical scenarios, behavioral questions, and program-specific topics.
•Simulation: 15–40 minutes plus debrief; expect airway, hemodynamic instability, or regional anesthesia emergencies.

To prepare, assemble these concrete deliverables:

•10–12 STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result) covering leadership, teaching, conflict resolution, and patient safety.
•A 1-page clinical binder with 3 recent cases: diagnosis, anesthetic plan, complications, and outcomes.
•A 60–90 second elevator pitch summarizing your clinical focus, scholarly work, and what you offer the department.

Additionally, practice time management: allocate 45–60 minutes per day for two weeks before interviews to review cases, practice simulation steps, and rehearse answers aloud. Remember to prepare 5–7 thoughtful questions to ask interviewers about call structure, mentorship, and quality metrics.

Actionable takeaway: build your 10–12 STAR stories, create a one-page clinical binder, and rehearse for a minimum of 2 weeks with timed mock interviews.

Subtopics to Master Before the Interview

Focus your prep on discrete subtopics that interviewers probe repeatedly. For each, practice specific examples and measurable outcomes.

Clinical scenarios and decision-making

•Sample question: “How would you manage a sudden hypoxemia during induction?”
•Prep: outline stepwise actions (position, suction, ventilation, intubation), list differential diagnoses, and cite times (e.g., attempt ventilation for 30 seconds before next step).

Crisis resource management (CRM)

•Demonstrate closed-loop communication, role delegation, and 2–3 minute stabilization priorities.
•Practice: run 3 mock CRM scenarios with a team in the 2 weeks before interviews.

Pharmacology and dosing

•Be ready with dosing ranges (e.g., propofol induction 1–2.5 mg/kg, succinylcholine 1–1.5 mg/kg) and rationale for adjustments in renal/hepatic dysfunction.

Regional anesthesia and ultrasound

•Discuss block selection, contraindications, and a short checklist for nerve-stimulator vs. ultrasound-guided blocks.
•Practical prep: perform 10 ultrasound-guided scans on models or simulators.

Obstetric and pediatric anesthesia

•Provide two examples each: preeclampsia with C-section and emergent pediatric airway.

Leadership, education, and quality improvement

•Bring one QI project: aim, intervention, 6–12 month metric (e.g., reduced PACU hypothermia by 25%).

Interview practice routine

•Daily plan: 3 clinical vignettes (30 min), 20 min pharmacology review, 30 min mock interview — for 2 weeks.

Actionable takeaway: prioritize 6 subtopics (clinical scenarios, CRM, pharmacology, regional skills, specialty populations, leadership) and practice them on a timed schedule.

Resources for Targeted Interview Preparation

Use a mix of textbooks, curricula, journals, and practical tools to prepare efficiently.

Key textbooks and curricula

•Miller’s Anesthesia and Barash/Clinical Anesthesia: read 1–2 high-yield chapters per week (airway, cardiovascular, obstetrics).
•SCORE (Surgical Council on Resident Education) modules: complete 6–10 modules focused on your interview topics; track module completion percentage.

Journals and guidelines

•Anesthesiology and Anesthesia & Analgesia: skim 3 recent clinical review articles relevant to your subspecialty.
•ASA practice guidelines: print the airway and neuraxial anesthesia guidelines to reference in interviews.

Online learning and practice

•OpenAnesthesia.org: use case-based question banks and flashcards; aim for 80%+ correctness on topic sets.
•ASRA (regional anesthesia) resources: review 5 nerve block technique guides and safety checklists.

Simulation and hands-on practice

•Local simulation center: schedule 2 sessions for CRM and airway drills; record debriefs and note 3 areas for improvement each time.
•Ultrasound phantoms or low-cost models: perform 10–15 probe-handling drills before interviews.

Networking and mock interviews

•Contact 3 mentors or recent hires for 30-minute mock interviews; ask for specific feedback on clinical reasoning and teaching statements.

Additional tools

•Salary and benefits: consult AAMC and MGMA reports for regional median salaries and call expectations.
•CV/resume checklists: use department templates to ensure 1–2 page academic CV highlights clinical volume, teaching, and QI metrics.

Actionable takeaway: complete targeted SCORE modules, schedule 2 simulation sessions, and conduct 3 mentor mock interviews in the month prior to your interview.

anesthesiologist Interview Questions: Complete Guide

Emily Thompson

Common Interview Questions

Behavioral Questions (STAR Method)

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Interview Preparation Tips

Overview

Subtopics to Master Before the Interview

Resources for Targeted Interview Preparation

Interview Prep Checklist

Build your job search toolkit

anesthesiologist Interview Questions: Complete Guide

Emily Thompson

Common Interview Questions

Q1Tell me about yourself

Q2Why did you choose anesthesiology?

Q3How do you approach a difficult airway?

Q4Describe how you manage intraoperative hypotension

Q5What is your approach to rapid sequence induction (RSI)?

Q6How would you recognize and manage malignant hyperthermia?

Q7How do you decide between general anesthesia and regional techniques?

Q8How do you communicate with surgeons and the perioperative team under stress?

Q9How do you manage postoperative pain while minimizing opioid-related side effects?

Q10How do you stay current with anesthesia practice and guidelines?

Behavioral Questions (STAR Method)

B1Tell me about a time you managed a critical intraoperative emergency

B2Describe a time you had a disagreement with a surgeon about patient management

B3Give an example of when you improved a protocol or workflow in your department

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Interview Preparation Tips

Overview

Subtopics to Master Before the Interview

Resources for Targeted Interview Preparation

Interview Prep Checklist

Build your job search toolkit