How to ace the top five questions in the MBA interview.
Instead of stressing yourself out, why not focus on perfecting your responses to the questions you are most likely to be asked? To help you in your preparation, we created a list of five interview questions that you should always ace. These are some of the most frequently asked questions in MBA admissions interviews at elite institutions.
These questions may appear to be primarily resume-based, but you should be prepared to dive further into some of the specific experiences you included in your application.
1) Please walk me through your résumé.
The challenge with this open-ended inquiry is determining how much detail is excessive. Imposing a framework can be beneficial. Consider this question to be the foundation for a more in-depth discussion about your history and accomplishments. Begin with where you grew up and where you went to college, followed by something you like doing outside of work. Then, go on to a succinct account of your professional career, beginning with your first position and continuing to the present day, including explanations for your decisions and what you learnt in each key role. If you have a three-month or longer gap because of unemployment or another cause, be prepared to explain it. This high-level overview provides your interviewer with an excellent opportunity to inquire further about certain areas.
2) What are your professional goals?
You will already have a well-honed response to this question, which you will have created and refined as part of your essay writing process. If you desire to change industries, this is your time to explain why and what could be involved in completing the switch effectively. Remember why they are asking this question. They want to know how focused you are on the MBA and if you will be able to take use of the resources available in business school or whether you will get overwhelmed. Provide a specific post-MBA goal. Schools like to enroll who can define exactly what sort of profession they want to pursue after graduation and how it will set them up to achieve their long-term career goals. Schools want to know if your goals make sense and are achievable in light of your previous experiences. Can you clearly describe your strategy and plan?
3) Why this particular school?
Schools want to know whether you've done your homework on their program and if you'll fit in with their culture. Begin with the academics; for example, mention specific courses and instructors from whom you want to study. Second, list particular clubs, conferences, and other unique activities that can assist you achieve your work goals. Even better, show how you want to contribute to the school community, such as organizing an event to share specialized information with your future classmates. Third, show that you understand the school's community, culture, class size, and location and have considered how these would fit with your personality, aspirations, and history. Also mention if you have visited campus or spoken with current or former students. This gives the interviewer a picture in their mind of you on campus, which is always beneficial.
4) Give an example of a time when you took on a leadership position.
This question might range from "Describe your overall leadership style" to "Share your most remarkable leadership experience." It's critical to remember the fundamentals of leadership. A leader is someone who has a strong vision or point of view and can see things that others cannot. A leader must also be able to communicate effectively. Select an example that exemplifies these concepts. You can explain a situation when you negotiated and convinced important stakeholders, such as clients or a supervisor, to buy into your vision, and then assigned the task and supervised colleagues or juniors. If you faced any roadblocks, describe how you overcame them. You should also aim to demonstrate achievement through quantifiable results. Also, recognize that no one is successful on their own, so show that you understand that great leadership entails cooperation and working well with others.
5) Tell us about a time when you failed.
As appealing as it may be to claim that you have never failed at anything, this is exactly what the admissions committee is not searching for. This is their favorite question to ask, particularly of MBA applicants who appear to be "rock stars" on paper. However, even rock stars make errors, and giving an example of a moment when things did not go as planned may demonstrate humility as well as your ability to adapt and improve. The best answer to this question should conclude with a more recent incident in which you used the lesson you learnt from the failure, resulting in a better outcome.
These are not all of the questions you will be asked during your interview, but they do cover the most popular ones. Take some time out and think about each of these questions, drawing on prior experiences and practicing your replies. Don't over-practice to the point of sounding over-rehearsed, because it's crucial to appear both true and genuine; but, prepare enough to be ready to actually put your best foot forward.