MBA Interview Day: Tips to Face the Interview Board Confidently


Your MBA interview day is one of the most important days. Your performance in the interview determines your admission into the university of your choice. It is common for candidates to be wary of what lies ahead during the interview process. It is imperative that you impress the interviewers so that you can secure admissions into the program of your preference. We have listed down a few strategies which should help you tackle the questions on your interview day. So, read on! 

Tips to Face the Interview Board Confidently

Stay confident and proactive:

You have already crossed several hurdles to reach the final stage of admissions. It is essential that you remain calm during your interview and answer all the questions posed to you in a confident manner. You should be able to explain your capabilities and strengths to the interviewers. Another important point to remember is to begin your interview preparation immediately and not postpone your preparation till you receive the interview invite.

Learn about the commonly asked questions during an MBA interview:

Most of the MBA interviews have a series of questions that are repeatedly asked to all prospective candidates. The questions could range anywhere from being generic to specific questions about your interests and future career plans. Some common questions listed by GMAC (the official creators of the GMAT exam) are listed here below:

  • Why do you want to pursue an MBA?
  • Explain your leadership traits and examples of where you have showcased these skills.
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Why did you select this particular business school or program?
Do adequate research about the interview process at the schools you are applying to:

Each school will have their own interview process and you must be well prepared to handle any situation. Ensure to check who will be on the interview panel  (i.e) if it will be an alumni, a graduate recently passed out or an admissions director. 

Next you will need to check what information and details of your application the interviewers will have. While some colleges provide the entire application details, other universities share only your resume with the interviewers. This will help you to accordingly fill in the gaps as well as add more information to what they have. 

Finally, you must also have an approximate idea about the duration of the interview so that you can be prepared for the same. For example the interview process at HSB is generally 30 minutes long, while at Stanford it takes about an hour. The questions at Stanford are behavioural based, whereas the questions from Michigan Ross and Wharton are Team based MBA interviews. Some colleges like Yale, INSEAD, Kellogg will expect you to submit a video essay in addition to attending the interview.

 Ask relevant questions to your interviewers:

Ensure you have meaningful questions to ask your interviewers. The questions should not have answers which can be found easily on the college website. This shows the interview panel that you are genuinely interested in the course and the college. If you get to know the name of your interviewer before the interview, then do appropriate research by looking them up on LinkedIn so you can modify your questions accordingly. Learn about their favorite part of their MBA journey, the employment opportunities present after graduating, what additional learning credits you can get for your course, etc.

 Identify your strengths and key selling points:

One of the ideal ways of preparing for an MBA interview is to read your own resume and essay that you have already submitted. You will need to prepare your answers in such a manner that it is in line with the school’s core values. When you talk about your strengths, you should be able to illustrate how you exhibited these skills in a situation. You can talk about your leadership qualities, communication skills, etc. 

 Be prepared to answer tough questions:

While you may have done adequate research before your MBA interview, you might still be faced with unexpected questions. Remember to stay composed even in such situations when you encounter a question which was not anticipated. The important point is to answer the question in an honest manner. Don’t lose your confidence. 

We hope the above tips will help you prepare for your MBA interview day. 

Good Luck!

 


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