MBA INTERVIEWS: What happens if you aren’t sure how to answer a question?
In the last few months, you have done everything in your power to impress the admissions committee. You’ve spent sleepless nights studying for the GMAT, crafted deeply thought-out MBA admissions essays, received convincing letters of recommendations. Now, you got the interview. You are literally one step away from studying at your dream business school!
Now, how do you not mess this up? Prepare, prepare, prepare. But also know - even if you’ve been preparing your heart out – there will always come a moment where you could strike a blank. What do you do?
What happens if you aren’t sure how to answer a question?
The number one thing you need to do is be confident. Even if you've prepared your heart out, just know that there will always be a question, a part of a question, or a moment in any interview where things could go sideways. Maybe you flub an answer, maybe you forget to say something, or maybe you see the admissions committee have a weird reaction to what you just said, and they keep questioning you about it and that’s making you nervous. Just know, if the admissions committee asks you what your personal or professional opinion or assessment is – always answer honestly.
Don't tell the admissions committee what you think they want to hear.
Don’t tell the interviewer from the admissions committee (at HBS especially) what you think they would want to hear. They will sense that, and then they will start drilling into that and you will crumple. However, if you do answer in an honest way that you personaly feel strongly about, then go for it.
A past client from Amerasia (who got into HBS):
A past client from Amerasia was asked in an HBS interview to convince the admissions committee about something in which he felt strongly about. He blanked and had no idea what to say. The first thing that came to his mind could seem controversial, but he went with it because he honestly and deeply felt for this matter: the death penalty. He chose to convince the admissions committee that the death penalty, in his opinion, was wrong. He went on to question how do we know for certain if someone is 100% guilty? And what does “without a doubt” really mean?
At the time, of course, he wasn’t sure if he should have chosen something that controversial, but he did. And, spoiler alert, he later graduated from HBS. This is exactly what Harvard is looking for. So, if you’re thinking, “I don’t want to say anything controversial, rude or be offensive” – you’re playing defense. You’re pulling your punches. That is a very weak foundation from which to start, especially in the HBS interview round.
This is your chance to one-up your competition.
There is so much emphasis that's put on the HBS interview, as opposed to other schools's interviews. You can literally move that needle up or down for yourself. If there are MBA candidates being interviewed that are similar to you (same background, job, undergraduate program) – this is your chance to one-up your competition. Say your competition has always had a slightly better job or a slightly bigger promotion (they went to Deutsche Bank and you went to ACME Bank for example) this is your chance! If you prepare, if you take it seriously and if you are on a level playing field, then this will be your springboard.
If in doubt, go with your gut.
Bottom line is, if you’re caught off guard by questions or moments that throw you off, go with your gut. In that way, you will come off as confident and original and stand out. You won’t have to make up stuff or rely on something you once read on an unregulated internet forum.