Admissions Tip: Interviewing the Interviewer

by Clear Admit, Nov 28, 2010

Weve been offering a good deal of advice lately on how to conduct oneself and prepare responses to MBA interview questions. Today wed like to highlight the importance of thinking about what you might ask. Virtually all business school interviewers conclude their discussion by offering the applicant a chance to ask some questions about the program. While it might be tempting to claim that youve already learned all you need to know about the school, this is actually a great opportunity to gain additional insight, show your enthusiasm about a specific element of the curriculum or community, and demonstrate that you appreciate the opportunity to learn from your interviewers experiences.

Here are a few simple guidelines to keep in mind while thinking about what you might ask:

1. Focus on the positive.

Now is not the time to conduct due diligence or express skepticism about a schools academic program or career resources. Youre still marketing yourself to the adcom at this stage of the process, so youll want to project enthusiasm and demonstrate a desire to become more familiar with a programs merits and your potential fit.

2. Avoid the obvious and the obscure.

Because this is an opportunity to tap the interviewers unique knowledge and point of view (and he or she will assume that you did your basic research before applying), its best to avoid asking questions that could be answered by perusing the schools website or speaking with anyone you might happen to encounter on campus. On the other hand, you dont want to ask something so obscure or specific that your interviewer might not have an answer. Seeking the interviewers opinion on or impression of some element of the program often makes for a discussion that both parties will find interesting and enjoyable.

3. Mind your audience.

Remember that students, alumni and admissions staff will all have a different perspective on and level of familiarity with the program, and that its wise to pose inquiries tailored to his or her experience with the school. For instance, alumni interviewers generally feel strongly about their schools but might not have the most current information on the academic programs and campus culture, so a good question might focus on the classes they have found most useful in their post-graduation career.

We hope that these guidelines are helpful in thinking about how you might approach the end of your discussion, and wish everyone interviewing at business schools in the coming weeks the best of luck! For personalized interview coaching, mock interviews and school-specific advice, feel free to contact Clear Admit at [email protected] or investigate the downloadable Clear Admit Interview Guides in our online shop.

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