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..

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!

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!

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.

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!

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

Congratulations! That is such great news!

Congrats Escortboy! Well done :)