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H ave you ever worked with someone you felt didn't belong in EMS? I think most of us have. We tell friends, family members and even each other that EMS isn't for everyone, yet we meet colleagues who seem to have missed that message. Perhaps it's anxiety or immaturity or a poor grasp of medi- cine that makes it hard for them to fit in. Whatever the cause, an EMS provider who fails to thrive in our profession risks compromising not only themselves, but also patients and partners. EMS educators often are in the best positions to spot misdirected pros- pects before they make poor career decisions. An early and often effec- tive way for instructors to intervene is through student interviews. An interview is a decision-sup- port tool that allows two parties to evaluate an area of mutual interest. It works best when the interviewer and interviewee come prepared to exchange information and are equal- ly proficient at verbal and nonverbal communication. This article focuses on practical techniques for the inter- viewer—usually a faculty member. Something to Talk About Evaluating candidates' abilities to master the science of EMS is essen- tial, but anyone who's worked in EMS knows being "book smart" isn't enough. Equally important is whether applicants can apply didac- tic material to practical scenarios. That was my biggest challenge as a paramedic student. Given classroom variables like multiple instructors and diverse student backgrounds, not to mention the unscripted nature of real EMS, interviewers should try to judge sub- jects' maturity and adaptability. To what extent will candidates' capabili - ties grow to accommodate increas- ing demands of the program? Are applicants flexible enough to tolerate unimagined stressors? It's also wise to consider whether candidates might become labor- intensive students. Not only are high-maintenance learners dis- proportionate drains on classroom time, but disruptive or inconsiderate pupils can compromise the reputa- tions of their schools during practi- cal rotations. STUDENT INTERVIEWS This article is the first in a three-part series about interviewing techniques. In Part 1, EMS World columnist Mike Rubin discusses student interviews. It's your best early chance to spot candidates not suited for EMS By Mike Rubin EMSWORLD.com | JUNE 2015 25