Preparing for an MBA Interview
Written by Michelle Miller, CEO ARINGO Americas, www.ARINGO.com
Youve been dreaming of acceptance into that prestigious MBA program. Now you have an interview. Its time to wake up and get fully prepped for your big day.
Show you are already invested in a particular program by having extensive knowledge about the schools history and the career trajectories of high-profile alumni. You may not be asked for such information directly, but being aware of a programs history and the personal characteristics of previous grads can help you focus on how you, personally, fit into the program. It can give you background to fill in the blanks when faced with general questions such as, Why do you wish to attend this school?
Researching a school can also help you ask relevant questions at an interview. Its generally preferable to formulate or phrase questions in direct response to the interview itself. Doing so shows you are following along, and helps avoid asking pre-prepared questions which may already have been answered within the course of the interview. It doesnt hurt, however, to prepare some thoughtful questions in advance, should you be nervous and not fully able to focus. Just make sure you dont end up asking the administrator to repeat information they have already made explicit. Overall, making intelligent inquiry exhibits a genuine interest in attending the school, and its application process.
Be ready to address your failures with a productive slant that is not boastful. Everyone knows that everyone has failed at something, some time in their life. If you arent willing to own up to your failures, you are not ready to lead in the business world. Glossing over failure or reframing it in terms of a successful outcome after a setback, will be suspect to a seasoned administrator. Take responsibility for your role in organizational mistakes. Be straightforward about what you learned and how you applied that knowledge to avoid subsequent error. All successful business requires some measure of calculated risk. Show how analysing mistakes has helped you adjust the equations of risk calculation within your life or that of an organization for which you have worked.
Know the conditions of a specific interview. Some schools conduct lengthy interviews to suss out intellectual vigor. Others give less time for one on ones, relying heavily instead on their application package. A current trend for many, major North American MBA programs is a quick, video interview. Regardless, of how casual the medium may seem, always be professional in demeanor for your interview.
If your session is being conducted via Skype, be sure your immediate surroundings are professional. Set the stage by setting up your computer in an private, office environment. Sometimes it is the little things which can make the largest impression upon an initial meeting. Even when the interview is being conducted over the internet, be sure to dress in business attire.
As with any interview, nerves will be a factor. But you are selling yourself, so take a deep breath and relax. Know yourself and have fun expressing who you really are, and why any one program gets you excited.
If you draw a blank on any one question, ask to move on and return to the question at the end of the interview. Chances are, something will pop up in a subsequent response, that will help you frame an appropriate answer, as your unconscious mind takes up the challenge.
Likewise, if you are unsatisfied with an answer you have given to a question, simply ask to clarify your response at the end of the interview. Providing your answer is not meandering, asking to respond more thoroughly to a question, demonstrates your capacity for self-awareness and thoroughness in communication.
The reality is that many people pursue higher education when they are dissatisfied with their current job. If that is the case, honesty is probably not the best policy if an interviewer asks you why you are applying for an MBA. Even if your workplace concerns are legitimate, it may leave the impression that you arent capable of rolling with the day-to-day punches in an organization. Be proactive. Focus on future goals and how the MBA program will help you achieve those, without diminishing the reputation of your current position.