One common Skype interview horror story is the bad connection. I had an interview once where the video kept freezing and the audio was choppy. It was really hard to communicate clearly. The interviewer seemed frustrated too.
A lot of people have stories about technical glitches during Skype interviews. For example, the camera suddenly stops working in the middle of the interview. This happened to my friend. She was so embarrassed and it completely threw her off. She couldn't focus on answering the questions properly after that.
Another horror story is when there are distractions in the background. I've heard of someone whose neighbor started mowing the lawn right outside their window during a Skype interview. The noise was really loud and it made it difficult for the interviewer to hear the interviewee. Also, the interviewee was distracted by the noise and couldn't give their best answers.
To avoid background distractions, choose a quiet place for the interview. If you live in a noisy area, try to use a room with thick walls or use noise - cancelling headphones. Also, let your family or roommates know that you have an interview so they can be quiet during that time. And make sure your background looks clean and professional, not messy or with inappropriate things.
Well, a typical horror story could be the long waiting time before the interview starts. You arrive on time, but then you have to wait for hours without any proper explanation. Some interviewees have had the misfortune of being interviewed by a faculty member who has a very strong bias. For example, if they have a preference for a certain type of research that you're not into, they might not give you a fair chance. And there are those cases where the interview room is in a chaotic state, with papers everywhere and a noisy environment that makes it hard to focus on the interview.
A lot of people share horror stories about technical glitches during virtual interviews. Such as the Wi - Fi cutting out in the middle of answering an important question. Also, some have had the experience of accidentally insulting an interviewer without realizing it, like making a comment that could be misconstrued about the school's curriculum.
One common element is unprofessional interviewers. For example, they may be late, rude, or not prepared. Another is unexpected and inappropriate questions, like asking about your political views when it has no relation to the job. Also, a bad interview environment can be part of it, such as a noisy or dirty room.
One common element is unprepared interviewers. They might not have read your resume properly before the interview and ask you basic things that are already on there. Another is a very uncomfortable or intimidating interview environment, like a super cold room or an interviewer who stares at you in a really unfriendly way.
One Skype horror story I heard was about a user who got constantly harassed by an anonymous person. This person would send disturbing messages and images at all hours. The victim tried to block the user but they kept creating new accounts to continue the harassment.
One common horror story is being grilled on extremely difficult legal questions right from the start without any ice - breaking. It makes the candidate super nervous. For example, being asked about a very specific and complex area of law that you may not be fully prepared for. It's like they're trying to trip you up instead of getting to know you as a potential employee.
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.
Time pressure is a big factor in these horror stories. Sometimes the interviewer gives too little time to think through a complex case. This means the candidate has to rush through their analysis and solution, often leading to incomplete or inaccurate answers. Also, unfriendly or unhelpful interviewer behavior can be common. If the interviewer is cold and unresponsive to the candidate's questions or concerns, it can create a very nerve - wracking experience.
Rude behavior from the interviewers is also common. They could be dismissive of the teacher's experience or ideas. I know a teacher who was told her previous teaching experience in a small school was 'not good enough' in a very condescending way during an interview.