Business School Interview Tips

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you should know that,once you submit your Application Form, the admissions committee will conduct a preliminary screening based upon your CET,MAT, GPA, GMAT or other scores what they accept. If you fulfiled academic cutoff marks, you should be invited for a personal interview to further probe your suitability for business school. The personal interview is a critical step in the admissions process and should not be taken lightly.
Their motivation is threefold:

a) to assess the overall “marketability” of each candidate
b) to aggressively recruit the truly outstanding candidates away from competitive schools
c) to market and promote their own programs

Why do they require an interview? The applicant pool for selective MBA programs is filled with thousands of candidates who all look great on paper. Candidates have perfect scores, along with a few years experience in a professional setting.But interviewers are seeking only the BEST candidates among them.They select those dynamic individuals who possess that rare balance of academic prowess and interpersonal strengths to become an effective leader. They want to search beyond what is on your application, including integrity, negotiating skills, sensitivity and good judgment.

The interview is an opportunity for the school to question you about your application, your autobiographical sketch or any issues on your transcripts or GMAT scores. But it is primarily a tool for the schools to screen out psychology. Your interviewer wants to learn what you are like as a person and how well you respond and communicate.

A Profile of Successful Applicants
Interview questions are designed to identify your stengths and weaknesses for all of these criteria. We particularly probe the following five areas:

a) Professional experience: They seek students who have been exposed to the reality of business and the exhaustive commitment that is required to succeed in top management. Ideal candidates usually have experience working in a managerial position.

b) Knowledge of the field: Be prepared to discuss different specialty areas in business. Interviewers will also expect you to discuss current issues in business.

c) Personality: Leaders must communicate clearly, handle complex issues, manage stress and successfully interact with people . Be prepared to demonstrate that you are a happy, healthy, well-adjusted person with a strong commitment to leadership.

d) Motivation. For many years, applicants flooded top MBA programs because they wanted to make the “big bucks”.But,interviewer want to know why candidates wanted the degree or what they hoped to accomplish in the future. This is an obvious red flag in the admissions process.

e) Balance: Interviewer seeks applicants who are well-rounded and well-adjusted. There’s nothing more disheartening than an applicant who looks great on paper who can only talk about his/her grades. There’s much more to life and business than memorizing and regurgitating facts.

Interview Preparation
Once you have been invited for the interview,here are the important steps to take in preparation:

a) Confirm your interview via telephone and make sure you have proper directions

b) Confirm exactly who you will be speaking with and their professional titles. This will allow you to research their background and specialty area. Be prepared for questions about the interviewer’s specific area of interest.

c) Arrive at the interview on time and properly dressed. For this occasion, conservative is best. The ONLY acceptable attire is a formal suit for both men and women, well-fitted and in a conservative color. Make sure your clothes are clean, neat and pressed and that your grooming is exceptional. For women, this means well-styled hair, no excessive perfume, makeup or jewelry. For men, wear a conservative tie, dress shoes and no jewelry other than a watch and wedding ring.

d) Review as much information as possible on your formal application. Your interviewers will review your file before speaking with you and jot down notes for possible interview questions.At the very least, be prepared to discuss your three most significant:

i) accomplishments and what they mean to you
ii) personal attributes of which you are most proud
iii) abilities that will make you an excellent leader

e) Learn as much as possible about the particular business school and its program. The more information you have, the better you can anticipate typical questions and ask intelligent ones yourself. Be ready for the inevitable questions about why you want to attend that particular business school. Don’t say something lame like it’s location or low tuition. Focus instead on the school’s excellent faculty and their reputation for finance. Know what areas they are famous for.

What You’ll Be Asked:
You should be prepared for these potential areas of questioning:

* your childhood, personality, family, college life, hobbies, sports and outside interests
* your professional and leadership experience
* your career goals, political views and breadth of business knowledge
* your motivation to obtain an MBA; why now, why our school

Be prepared for a wide range of questions, from casual inquiries about your family to probing questions about ethical/legal issues. Also be prepared for general questions about current events and items of interest in popular culture.

Tips to Asking & Answering Questions Effectively:
1) Keep your answers short, but informative. Be prepared to offer a 4 to 6 line answer to every question.Try to avoid simple yes and no answers or responding in monosyllables.

2) Don’t reveal insecurities. Accentuate the positive and don’t dwell on the weaknesses in your background or application.

4) Watch your tone. You’ll certainly be asked a few stressor questions that are designed to test your ability to handle conflict. Don’t get defensive.

5) Listen carefully to the interviewer, no matter how nervous you are. Too many candidates ask questions at the end of their interviews on topics that we’ve already covered. Although you’ll be stressed during the interview, this isn’t acceptable. It simply confirms that you weren’t listening, which is the kiss of death for a business school applicant.



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