What are the most common job interview horror stories?

Unprofessional interviewers can create horror stories too. Some might be checking their phones during the interview or seem uninterested. One person told me that the interviewer was yawning constantly, which made them feel like they were boring the interviewer. This lack of professionalism from the interviewer's side can really put off the candidate and make the interview a horrible experience.

One common element is being unprepared. For example, not knowing basic information about the company. Another is technical glitches, like a bad internet connection for an online interview. Also, unexpected interruptions, such as a noisy background during a phone interview.

One of the most common horror stories is when the employer has clearly not read your resume. They ask basic questions that are already answered on the resume, which makes you wonder if they are actually interested in hiring. Another is when there is miscommunication about the job requirements. You think you're applying for one type of position, but during the interview, they start talking about a completely different set of responsibilities. It can be really frustrating.

A common one is when the interviewers are running extremely late, leaving the candidates waiting for a long time. It makes the candidates nervous and can disrupt their whole day's schedule. Another is when the interviewers are overly aggressive or intimidating in their questioning, making the interviewees feel like they are on trial instead of having a conversation about potential residency.

One horror story could be showing up to the interview and the interviewer being extremely rude and dismissive from the start. They might not even let the interviewee finish answering questions. Another could be the interview location being a complete mess or in a very noisy and distracting environment, making it hard to focus on the interview.

One common horror story is when companies take forever to get back to candidates. They keep you waiting for weeks or even months without any update. It's really frustrating. Another is when they mislead about the salary. They advertise a certain amount but then offer much less when it comes to the actual hiring.

Another common horror story is workplace bullying. A new hire might be constantly picked on by colleagues. They might be excluded from team meetings or given false information on purpose, just to make their work difficult. This creates a really hostile work environment that's hard to thrive in.

In job interview success stories, a clear understanding of the role is very common. People who do well know exactly what the job entails and how they can fit in. Another aspect is building rapport with the interviewers. This can be through shared interests or simply having a friendly conversation. And of course, having unique selling points. Whether it's a special skill, a different perspective or a particular achievement, it helps to set you apart from other candidates. For example, if you've won an award in your field, highlighting that can make a big difference.

Nervousness is a big one. Many students get so nervous that they can't perform at their best. For example, they might forget important facts or concepts they've studied for years. Another common element is unexpected questions. These can range from really strange hypothetical situations to questions that seem to come out of left field and are not directly related to the student's area of study. And then there's the pressure of the interview environment itself. The formality and the knowledge that a lot is at stake can make students feel extremely stressed.

Misunderstanding the scope of the interview. Some students might study the wrong materials or focus on the wrong aspects of their subject. Then when they face unexpected questions, they are completely lost, which is a horrible situation to be in during an important interview like at Oxford.