Hi everyone! Yesterday I had my first (and only by now) skype interview for a PhD position... I think it wasn't good, I didn't answer 1-2 questions and I think I gave them some answers on why I would like to do a PhD that they didn't like. Is normal the feeling that everything went bad? It really upsets me!

See this thread: http://www.postgraduateforum.com/thread-47496/

And keep your fingers crossed!

Thank you TreeofLife, I already read that thread and I found it very encouraging!!! :-) I'll have my result only after 3 weeks.. But tomorrow I've got another skype interview, I hope it will be better!!

Good luck for tomorrow's one! Keep us informed!

Thank you Tudor_Queen!! The interview was really good, the professor told me that my CV is very interesting and that in a few months they will have funding! The university must advertise the job so I'll have to applicate...

Sounds positive!!

Update: yesterday I received an email which says that they want a 2nd skype interview. I think it sounds positive (I thought it was an awful interview), but now the question is: what will they ask? In the 1st interview they asked me about exams I did on my bachelor and master degrees, my thesis, the reason why I want to do a PhD (generally speaking) and in which research topics of their department I'm interested in. I don't know anything about the exact project because they didn't tell me what that will be. So, again.. What will they ask? I'm really confused, because I thought they would have said yes or no to the application.. I'm sorry for my blabbering, I'm just anxious!

Definitely a positive sign that they've asked for a second interview; I doubt they would bother to do that if they weren't seriously considering you.

Maybe it'll be similar questions but a chance for different people to interview you before making a final decision? Or they might ask more detail about your research interests, longer-term career plans, why you want to work in this department/university/with this supervisor etc specifically. Whatever happens, just be as positive and enthusiastic as you can - and good luck :)

Thank you Ephiny!! I'll try to stay positive and thank you for all the suggestions about the questions they will ask, maybe as you said there will be different people interviewing me. This forum really helps me because I know there's someone out there who is (or was) in a similar situation!

Hey Mako!

I had a 2nd interview too, which they used to narrow it down. Getting through the 1st one means they think you have what they want. In my 2nd one they asked me identical questions to the first one! I was a little thrown and didn't elaborate as nicely as I did in the 1st one, which I regretted. They may have asked me the same questions as this time the big wig of the department was present, and he hadn't heard my responses previously - even though the rest of the panel had!

I would say try not to sweat and just go for it. They obviously like you so just be yourself again and be prepared (for some new questions but also potentially for some repetition - since there may be new people, or the same ones with short memory spans).

Best
Tudor

It's great that you have a 2nd skype interview. It clearly means that you made an an impact in the first one. This is where anxiety doesn't help - your appraisal of the first skype chat certainly didn't match theirs which is great. Just stay positive for the 2nd one and as relaxed as you can be and I'm sure you will be fine.

Thank you Tudor_Queen!! I've just done it: there was only one professor, who is the one I talked with in all the e-mails, and he also interviewed me the first time, but he said he wanted to talk again. He asked me approximately the same questions and he told me I'll have a definitive answer by the end of tomorrow. I don't think it was a good interview though...

Well done! Well, you may be surprised - you never know. Whatever the outcome, you obviously impressed him. Hope you're managing to take your mind off it while you wait to hear back... horrible isn't it? :D Good luck :-)

I'll try to relax, thank you so much for your support Tudor_Queen!! :-)