Hoping for encouragement after two interviews...

[sekhmet3]

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[Goro]

Too hard to assess over the electrons. One would have to be there. But I can't sugar coat that I despise interviewing babbling idiots.

Most people are terrible judges of their own interview performances. Let it go.

How much of a death sentence is talking at length? I am a post-bacc so I had a lot to say about a lot of things ... I also like to set up stories vividly and inject my feelings as they progressed throughout the anecdote ... I think I showed my personality and was articulate but I'm super paranoid after reading things about interviews now that having kept it more one-sided (short Q, long A, repeat) and not as conversational (short Q, short A, banter back and forth, repeat) killed me.

These two schools were my top choices and my first on the circuit so, although it could have gone totally fine, I feel like I want to cry 🙁 Any encouragement (or realism?) is welcome!

 

[ScottTenorman54]

You got this far, so you're not totally inept, right? As you relive it over and over in your head, the worst parts are standing out more and more, and all the good is fading away. You know you're imagining it worse than it was. Jot down what you need to practice before the next interview, and then go do something fun for the rest of the day. Or get back to work (idk what your situation is). You're in a good place right now overall! Keep it up, and just make some minor adjustments as necessary.

 

[aldol16]

1) It's over, so there's nothing you can do now. Thinking about it more won't help it one way or the other.

2) I've never heard of the 2-minute mark but when I was talking about a topic that I was passionate about, I didn't really keep track of time and I think many of mine were over that mark. It depends on how you convey yourself, I think. If you're babbling on and on incoherently, it's not going to help you. But if you're truly passionate about something, it'll show.

 

[ciestar]

Hi all,

I just went on two interviews. I was -- obviously -- very nervous and, although I got to present my passions and did not fumble for answers, I think my Achilles Heel was talking for too long/being a bit meandering. When I'm anxious I have a tendency to talk a lot, and, although I don't think I was being obtuse, I do think almost all of my answers went over the 2 minute mark that people seem to say is the unwritten maximum. (I would say they landed somewhere around 4 minutes probably.)

How much of a death sentence is talking at length? I am a post-bacc so I had a lot to say about a lot of things ... I also like to set up stories vividly and inject my feelings as they progressed throughout the anecdote ... I think I showed my personality and was articulate but I'm super paranoid after reading things about interviews now that having kept it more one-sided (short Q, long A, repeat) and not as conversational (short Q, short A, banter back and forth, repeat) killed me.

These two schools were my top choices and my first on the circuit so, although it could have gone totally fine, I feel like I want to cry 🙁 Any encouragement (or realism?) is welcome!

As @Goro said, we are our own worst critic. That being said, long-winded responses don't necessarily mean you were babbling or meandering. If you have a story to tell that requires some extra time, but it is really important to you, I don't see the problem there. If you're talking just for no awkward silences or as a space-filler, there is a problem. It's obviously a situational thing that cannot be assessed by anyone but your interviewer.

Don't dwell too much on this, as you don't know for sure how the interviewer felt about it, and there's nothing you can do now. If it doesn't end up going the way you had hoped, try and see what the problem was. If that was indeed it, they can tell you, but non-acceptances can occur for a myriad of reasons. For example, I have a friend who gave great answers to questions and I guess tends to interview well overall, but interviewers sensed a lack of maturity in her answers, which killed her. For me, apparently I did babble a bit (as I do when I am nervous) but I didn't give complete answers to questions as I did this (which is, from what I sense, is what Goro was referring to).

 

[Swoleserratus]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. At one school I had an interview with 2 faculty members at the same time and one of them seemed to totally stop paying attention to a meandering answer of mine. Still got in.

That being said, when I saw him stop paying attention I directed my answer to the one who was still with me and wrapped things up as fast as possible. I just think it's important that you read your interviewer. If they seem genuinely engaged then by all means give whatever story you're telling the time it needs to be told in the way that best represents you as an applicant.

 

[sekhmet3]

Thanks everyone! Really needed all of your input with all the stress I've been feeling. Wanted to curl up in a ball and call in sick to work but of course one cannot do such things IRL. I am just hoping my lengthy, energetic monologue-esque answers were perceived as enthusiasm and passion rather than lack of summary skills or inability to read the interviewer. I'll report back in December when I'm supposed to hear back ...

Update: Accepted! 🙂