Throughout the process of offering positions, we recommend against asking candidates how many programs offered them positions, sending multiple emails and/or phone calls. 

 To foster a process of inclusion and respect, we propose a set of guidelines that we recommend programs follow during the interview process: 

•  It is illegal to ask applicants questions about age, gender, religion, family status, race, pregnancy, veteran status, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation.  
• While the recruitment team may freely express their interest in a candidate, programs should also avoid making requests regarding disclosure of ranking preference, ranking intentions, and specialty and location of other programs to which the applicant has applied or may apply.  

• For fairness and transparency, we encourage programs to conduct interviews in-person or virtually, but not both; set a universal interview release date or small number of dates; and establish a deadline by which all applicants will be notified of their interview status. 

• To limit the logistical burden for applicants, programs should make every effort to consolidate interviews to one or multiple consecutive days. Furthermore, programs should not require or imply that second interview dates or visits are used in determining applicant placement on a rank order list.  

• Aside from exchanging clarifying information with applicants following the interview, programs should avoid post-interview and post-offer communication for the purposes of influencing applicants’ ranking preferences.   

• Although the obesity medicine fellowship does not participate in the formal match process, many current, incoming, and former fellows have expressed that they would appreciate similar protective guidelines like the Match to avoid situations in which the applicant finds coercive or uncomfortable. 

 Below we have provided questions to consider asking and to avoid throughout the interview process. 

 Possible questions to ask during the interview process: 

1. How have you handled conflicts in the workplace? What did you learn moving forward from that experience?
2. Describe a time when you received constructive criticism. How did you respond and what changes did you make?
3. What drew you to our fellowship program?
4. What opportunities are you looking for in an obesity medicine fellowship?
5. What are your 5-10 year goals?

 Questions to avoid asking during the interview process: 

1. How many programs did you apply to? 
2. How many programs are you interviewing with? Or other identifying information for other programs to which you are applying or interviewing.
3. Are you wanting to stay in (state/specific region in the US)?
4. If we offered you a position, would you accept it?
5. How high would you rank our program?

We also recommend against saying the following: 

1. We plan to offer you a position.
2. You are our first choice for this position

These guidelines were taken from the below resources: 

• National Resident Match Program (NRMP): Match Code of Conduct for Programs
• AAMC: “Best Practices for Conducting Residency Program Interviews.”  https://www.aamc.org/about-us/mission-areas/medical-education/best-practices-conducting-residency-program-interviews#dos