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Screwed up an interview?

E

Hey everyone used this board for a couple of years on and off but just wanted to post about an interview I had for a doctorate.

I would be a mature student having finished my undergraduate nearly 10 years ago and finished a masters a couple of years ago.

I have been doing my job for 7 years and would say I'm completely experienced in my field but I gave the worst interview ever! Normally I'm eloquent, confident and feel very good about all interviews I give.

In the doctorate interview I had a fog in my brain and got thrown off by things like quant/qual being quantitative and qualitative. It's because I don't work in academia that I wasn't fully au fait with it.
I was also giving answers that I knew weren't right and overcomplicating my responses.

I prepared loads and really wanted it but gave a bad account of myself.

As I was walking down the staircase afterwards I was getting excellent answers coming to my head and things I wanted to say.

Really frustrated and not holding up much hope.. I find out by the end of the month. I really wanted to email the interviewer and say 'THIS IS WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SAY TO THOSE QUESTIONS!' But that would be weird and creepy so I'll just sit tight and hope for the best..

T

Hiya, I feel your frustration, interviews are horrible. I had one today and I'm sat here thinking the same as you - why of all things did I use that example etc

Just to reassure you, messing up on technical details isn't the end of the world. They are often looking for behaviours and ability in a PhD interview, not just knowledge, so don't lose hope yet!

C

I've messed up lots of interviews in my time - it's an awful feeling. Fingers crossed for both of you - I thought my PhD interview was catastrophic and was amazed when I was offered the place!

T

I completely screwed up my first PhD interview... all night for about 3 nights I had the perfect answers running through my head, and then kept hearing my stupid answers... SO FRUSTRATING - you've brought back memories of that awful feeling!

Anyway - it may not have been as bad as you think - in fact, it very likely wasn't. If you don't get the positive response you're looking for, just treat it as practice.

E

Hi guys thanks for all your comments, just wanted to share an update.
I have been offered a place on the course!
Really unexpected but really pleased and looking forward to starting!

E

Congratulations! I've found there's no correlation at all between how I thought an interview went and whether I actually got the place/job

T

Congratulations! That is such great news!

T

Congrats Escortboy! Well done :)

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