IMG Residency Interview & Coaching for Medical Professionals
"Tell me about yourself"
Hi, I’m Andrea Junker Anderson. I support medical graduates as they prepare for U.S. residency and fellowship interviews.
My work with IMGs began through OET preparation, but I soon realized that the work I found most meaningful went beyond language skills. As an ICF-trained coach with experience in hiring, workplace training, and communications, I bring both a coaching perspective and an understanding of how candidates are assessed.
For nearly ten years, I have supported candidates through residency and fellowship interviews, as well as other major professional transitions. I believe every person has a story worth understanding—and that recognizing the threads that connect their experiences can help them communicate what makes them distinctive.
"What are your strengths?"
I am naturally curious about people. I enjoy understanding how someone thinks and what they value—and how those deeper qualities shape the way they work with others and the choices they make throughout their career.
I also pay close attention to meaning and interpretation: not only what a client intends to say, but how interviewers with different perspectives and priorities may hear it. This helps us create answers that are personal, clear, and appropriate to the interview context—while helping clients stand out among other qualified candidates.
"What can clients expect from working with you?"
Clients can expect a collaborative process that goes deeper than polished, generic answers. I ask detailed—and sometimes difficult—questions, challenge vague responses, and give direct feedback.
This is also a space to think out loud, address uncertainty, and work through the questions that feel difficult to answer alone. Interview season can bring disappointment, frustration, and self-doubt; my goal is to help candidates stay grounded, recognize their progress, and keep moving forward with confidence.
"What do you enjoy most about this work?"
I love the moment when things begin to come together—when a client hears an answer and says, “Yes, that sounds like me.”
Residency and fellowship applications can be competitive and unpredictable, and a strong candidate will not always receive the outcome they hoped for. I find it deeply meaningful to see clients draw on their experience, reorient after disappointment, and keep moving toward a path that feels right for them
"What makes interview preparation worthwhile?"
You cannot prepare for every question, but you can prepare to communicate a clear message.
The most useful preparation helps explain what a candidate would bring to a program, what they are looking for in training, and why there is a genuine fit between the two. That makes it easier to respond with confidence and flexibility to unexpected questions rather than relying on memorized answers.
"Why do you work with IMGs?"
I work with both AMGs and IMGs, but I feel a particular connection to international applicants. As an American who was born in England, grew up internationally, and now has Spanish nationality, I understand what it can feel like to navigate a culture you are connected to without feeling entirely of it.
IMGs often bring rich experience, adaptability, and perspectives that may not be immediately understood in a U.S. interview process. I enjoy helping clients make those strengths visible—and approach more complex parts of an application, such as potential red flags, with honesty, context, and sound judgment.
"What is a weakness of yours?"
My style can be more informal than people initially expect. I believe a relaxed, human approach helps clients feel comfortable enough to be honest, ask questions, and do their best work. I take the work seriously; I simply do not believe professionalism has to feel intimidating.
