MBA Interviews
In many ways, the on-campus interview is a wake-up call. For many applicants, it is the first time that they interact directly with the competition and with their target schools. Believe it or not, interviews are a relatively new phenomenon in the world of business school admissions. While many of the top programs conduct interviews “by invitation only,” nearly all of them have a stated goal of interviewing all of the applicants whom they eventually admit. Other b-schools make interviews optional, but highly recommend them. Finally, some b-schools outright require interviews for all applicants. No matter what your target schools’ policies are, there is a much greater chance that you will go through this ritual than if you had applied 10 years ago.
Every school looks for slightly different attributes in its applicants, but you can be sure that the admissions committee will be looking to answer a few key questions about you:
Are you the person you say you are in your application?
How are your communication skills?
Are you someone your classmates would be glad to be around?
Are you ready for business school?
The interview is often the best way to get at these answers. The purpose of an interview isn’t to see how well you act under pressure or to try and trick you into revealing something terrible about yourself.
Top Interview Mistakes
1. Failed to make a great first impression
• Treated informal interviews carelessly
• Dressed poorly
• Ignored business etiquette
• Failed to demonstrate enthusiasm
2. Did not appear versed in the basics about the business schools, or interviewer.
3. Failed to present an effective resume.
• Didn’t have a strong story line.
• Failed to articulate value of work experience or skills.
• Failed to back up claims on resume.
4. Failed to demonstrate a fit for the position
• Unable to communicate the relevance of education or professional experience.
• Unable to communicate a fit with the culture of the Business School.
5. Had inadequate answers to common, open-ended or “turnaround” questions.
6. Failed to adequately address concerns about clear weaknesses.
7. Couldn’t explain the relevance of “nontraditional” work experience.
8. Didn’t leave a positive lasting impression.
Effective interview preparation seeks to address these common mistakes. Often, in bringing an interview to a conclusion, the interviewer asks you whether there is anything else you’d like to discuss about your record. Many of the ways you can approach this opportunity will enable you to take advantage of this chance to end the interview with a last- ing, positive impression. You should use this question as an opportunity to emphasize your winning attributes, relevant skills, and record of suc- cess.