RESUMEN
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, some hospitals conducted online interviews. Reports on applicants’ and interviewers’ perceived differences between online and in-person interviews for the recruitment of junior residents are relatively lacking in Japan. Methods: We administered a questionnaire to all applicants and interviewers participated in the 2020 residency recruitment interview held in our hospital. Results: 70 of 96 applicants (72.9%) and all of 24 interviewers responded. Forty one of 70 applicants (58.6%) felt they were able to show their ability in online interviews as well as in-person interviews. Thirty seven of 70 (52.9%) and 40 of 70 (57.1%) applicants felt they could convey passion and personality better during in-person interviews, respectively. Twenty of 24 (83.3%) and 13 of 24 (54.2%) interviewers felt applicants could show their ability and convey their passion in online interviews as well as in-person. Thirteen of 24 (54.2%) interviewers felt applicants could convey their personality in in-person interviews better. Seventeen of 70 (24.3%) applicants would choose in-person interviews if given the next chance for interviews. Thirty nine of 70 (55.7%) applicants would like to choose in-person interviews though they could accept online interviews. Ten of 24 (41.7%) interviewers thought only in-person interviews should be performed next year. Nine of 24 (37.5%) interviewers thought both in-person and online interviews should be performed next year. Conclusion: If the COVID-19 pandemic persists, online interviews can be considered as an option though the results indicate that in-person interviews are preferable.