The Admissions Interview       An increasing number of business schools now use the interview as an essential part of the admissions process to their MBA programmes. Some invite potential students as part of the normal admissions procedure; others will invite only selected students after studying the applications material they have submitted. Whichever might be the case, the interview is for most prospective MBA students a daunting task and indeed, much can be riding on it. In many ways the MBA admissions interview may well be one of the most rigorous interviews you will ever have to pass in your life, particularly as the competition for places at the top business schools will continue to become fiercer. Consider the interview to be an exam in which the interviewer will employ various techniques to find out who you really are. We have gathered below a set of tips and advice to help you prepare as best as you can for the all-important MBA admissions interview.

1. Know yourself – Rule number 1 in mastering the MBA interview is that you do not get stuck with questions about yourself. Some of the most frequently asked interview questions revolve around you, your intentions, your skills, your experiences and so on. Confused answers and inconsistent statements seldom make a good impression and it is important that you prepare for these seemingly obvious questions in advance. Remember that you are presenting yourself in a manner consistent with your CV and your essay – decide on how you would like to come across, what strengths you would like to highlight, what achievements you would like to communicate or what characteristic you would like to convey to your interviewer. Be ready to back up any of your stories and claims with anecdotes, examples and specifics. Having said that, it is equally important that your answers to the interviewer’s questions do not sound overly rehearsed or memorized. This can put the impact of all your achievements in jeopardy. Finally: the interviewer may ask you to elaborate on your admissions essay, so make sure you re-read it before the interview.

2. Be yourself – this is an extension of our first point. The interviewer wants to get to know you as a person, so take this opportunity to highlight your personality. Calm confidence is a winning characteristic in every interview and the more you know who you are and what you would like to highlight about yourself, the more confident and relaxed you will appear in the interview. It is important, however, not to overegg the pudding and put on a show for the interviewer. They will likely recognize the charade in the first few minutes. Confidence must also not be confused with arrogance. There is a fine line between the two and the latter is seldom an asset in an interview. Be honest, answer questions with sincerity and stay focused in the interview. The interviewer is likely to pay as much attention to your body language as to what you are saying and it is important to remember that your interpersonal skills are under examination in the interview process as much as your curriculum. So have confidence in yourself and your communications skills.

3. Know the business school and the programme you are applying for – this is absolutely essential. Find out as much as possible about the business school by visiting the website, reading about it or even speaking to alumni of the school. The same applies for the programme you wish to study. Here, it is not only important that you know the focus of the programme but try and find out as much about the modules and components as you can. You will most likely be asked why you have chosen the programme and what you hope to gain from it. It is important that you can give an informed answer to this question. Another, related questions might be what you think you can bring to the programme – the more you know about the details of the school and the programme the more convincing your answer can be. But be careful to use your knowledge of the programme and business school only in an appropriate context.

4. Be unique – one of the most commonly asked interview question targets your strengths and your weaknesses. This is the ideal opportunity to focus on what you would like the interviewer to remember about you and represents your chance to highlight the qualities that set you apart from the other candidates. Focus on how you are unique and how your strengths may contribute to the MBA programme. Choose your strengths wisely and keep in mind that business schools are generally interested in leadership qualities, teamwork, innovative spirit, creativity and intellectual growth. Always back your claims up with examples, anecdotes and specific details, to lend more credence to your answers. Addressing your weaknesses might seem a little tricky at first – it requires a fine balance to display self-awareness and positivity. The best approach is to discuss those weaknesses that you are keen on improving upon. It can be useful to focus on a weakness that the MBA programme would address to show the interviewer that you are aware of both, the course content as well as how you will benefit from it. We recommend writing out these strengths and weaknesses before the interview and practicing talking about them, maybe with a friend or a family member.

5. Come prepared to ask questions – in most interviews you will get the chance to ask questions, either during the interview or at the end. In some instances there will also be a seminar style group discussion during which you and other candidates will have the opportunity to ask questions to the admissions, career and other key staff. In either case, it pays off to have some informed questions prepared for the business school. Not asking any questions will look as though you are either disinterested or unprepared. Some of your questions might arise naturally during the flow of the interview, but it is always helpful to have a handful of prepared questions to resort to should that not be the case. You may for example like to inquire about research possibilities at the institution or specifics about the programme that you would like to find out more about. However, keep your list of questions relatively short so that there is a realistic chance that they might be answered.

6. Be polite and on time and dress the part – these are really etiquette basics. As you would for any job interview, make sure that you arrive in plenty of time before the interview. This is will give you an opportunity to orientate yourself, find the exact location and gather your thoughts before the interview. We all know how disorienting it can be to arrive to an important appointment late or even just in time. Always be courteous toward all staff and of course the interviewer. Take your cue from the interviewer and never be less formal than he or she is toward you. However, be aware to not let your guard down during the interview. The interviewer may make you feel very comfortable by providing a highly informal environment and adopting a friendly, even familial tone, this should not lead you to do the same. Stay professional and focused on why you are at the interview. Lastly, dress neatly and professionally. It is generally frowned upon when candidates show up to the interview in jeans and t-shirt. Dress as you would for a job interview and remember: first impressions matter.

7. Enjoy – the business school interview might be a daunting task but the more preparation you put into it, the more you can relax and enjoy the conversation with the admissions interviewer.

Commonly asked interview questions:

What can you tell me about yourself?

What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses?

What sets you apart from other candidates?

How will you address your weaknesses?

Who is your hero / idol? Why?

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

What books are you reading / films are you seeing?

How would others describe you?

Why did you decide to apply for business school? Why now?

Why did you choose this business school?

Where else are you applying?

If you don’t get accepted this year what will you do?

What can you contribute to our program?

How do you plan to use your degree?

Can you elaborate on your resume/CV?

Why did you choose your undergraduate major?

What have you accomplished in your professional role?

What leadership have you demonstrated?

What is your definition of teamwork?

What obstacles have you overcome?

What are you enjoying most in your present role?

Where do you see yourself in 5 / 10 years?

What is a significant experience you have made abroad?

What ethical dilemmas have you faced – how have you solved it?

This is merely a selection of possible interview questions; there are as many variations as there are interviewers. As is the case with any exam, preparation is key. We recommend that you practice the interview with your friends, family or even a professional interview coach.

Good Luck!