Personal Interview

How to Prepare
While intimidating for some MBA-hopefuls, the personal interview represents a prime opportunity. Interviews allow you the chance to not only put a face and personality to the name and credentials on your application file, but also to express your academic, personal, and professional accomplishments, experiences, and intentions. Duration of interview sessions can vary widely. For busy admissions officers, 15 minutes is not uncommon. For some alumni interviewers, one hour is often the minimum, with the maximum sometimes stretching beyond two hours. Typically, expect interviews to last between 30 and 60 minutes. Most business-school interviewers pose similar questions. Usually, they're interested in what you've accomplished and experienced (academically, personally, professionally), and why you made the choices you did. In some cases interviewers are intimately familiar with your application file, and simply want more detail expressed live and in person. In others, interviewers know only your academic or professional credentials and count on the interview to hear your story for the first time. Our b-school admissions sources hint that while some questions differ from one school or interviewer to another, most adhere to three lines of questioning: 1. Why do you think now is the right time to pursue an MBA? 2. How will you fit into our program? What will you bring? What will you add? And, 3. How will you do in the real world after you graduate? Why do you think now is the right time to pursue an MBA? For this question, interviewers are looking for responses incorporating specific examples from your academic, personal, and professional experiences. Further, they want to know the reasons behind your major life decisions. Our advice to tackle this kind of question is to focus on that school's strengths, and answer the "Why Now?" query in terms of both your short- and long-term objectives. Interviewers also want to determine how serious you are about attending their particular school. If a school is interested in you, they want to find out how interested you are in them. To this end, it's not unusual for interviewers to ask you where else you're applying and why. Also, it's in your best interest to demonstrate that you've done your 1

research by asking about specific aspects of a school, like their curriculum, class size, facilities, faculty, or alumni network. How will you fit into our program? What will you bring? What will you add? Most b-school class sizes are relatively small and take on characteristics of small societies. Coursework is more often than not organized around a team approach, so teamwork becomes critical in and out of the classroom. For many admissions directors, establishing and maintaining effective, successful teamwork is a top priority. Therefore they're looking for applicants who will flourish in a team atmosphere. Emphasize your most successful team experiences. Highlight too your critical thinking, leadership, and social abilities. Don't be shy about expressing yourself confidently, but avoid egotism, or bragging. Admissions reps are looking for personalities who will fit into their program's culture, and add value to it. How will you do in the real world after you graduate? After graduation when you're back out in the real world, you represent the MBA program you were a part of. Admissions officers care greatly about the reputation of their program out in the world marketplace, knowing well that their graduates can add to it, or bring it down. Your skills in personal interviewing give them a sense of how you'll do in the job market. Listening skills, professionalism, and that intangible, confidence, are the three principal attributes interviewers listen and watch for to indicate how you might do down the road, with your MBA in hand. The motivation of B-Schools is threefold: to assess the overall "marketability" of each candidate to aggressively recruit the truly outstanding candidates away from competitive schools to market and promote their own programs The interview allows the school to determine whether your interpersonal skills are as stellar as your academic ones. 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. They have good academic record and CAT scores, along with a few years experience in a professional setting. The B-Schools know that most of them can handle the program and build a successful career after graduation. But they are seeking only the BEST candidates: those dynamic individuals who possess that rare balance of academic prowess and interpersonal strengths to become an effective leader. They value many traits beyond what is on the

candidates application, including integrity, negotiating skills, sensitivity and good judgment. An interview is your opportunity to distinguish yourself from the pack and demonstrate your managerial potential. You may wonder how can a short meeting be weighed the same as four years of academic achievement? Quite simply, the interview isnt ABOUT academic ability; it's about whether you have the temperamental and psychological strengths required to be a successful leader. Your interviewer wants to learn what you are like as a person and how well you respond and communicate. We want to understand your values, how you think and how well you handle yourself under pressure. The B-Schools want to admit students who are able to handle the rigors of business school on an academic, personal, physical and psychological basis. Your interview is your opportunity to convince us that you are up to the challenge. A Profile of Successful Applicants B-Schools particularly probe the following five areas: a) Professional experience. Some B-Schools 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 for at least two years after completing their bachelor's degrees. Be prepared to discuss your experience, including volunteer work, and how it shaped your understanding of business. b) Knowledge of the field. Be prepared to discuss different specialty areas in business and their responsibilities. Interviewers will also expect you to discuss current issues in business, including the economy, taxation, foreign competition, the role of technology and ethical challenges in the field. c) Personality. Leaders must communicate clearly, handle complex issues, manage stress and successfully interact with people from all walks of life. Be prepared to demonstrate that you are a happy, healthy, well-adjusted person with a strong commitment to leadership. Also be prepared to discuss your experience working on project teams, including situations which yielded less-than-optimal results. d) Motivation. For many years, applicants flooded top MBA programs because they wanted to make the big bucks. Others applied because they weren't happy with their current job prospects. Many candidates fail to articulate why they wanted the degree or what they hoped to accomplish in the future. This is an obvious red flag in the admissions process. Top business schools use the interview process to carefully screen out applicants who are fuzzy on their goals.

Be prepared to clearly explain why you want/need an MBA, why you are applying now, and why you selected that particular school. e) Balance. We seek 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 academic performance. There's much more to life and business than memorizing and regurgitating facts. Successful applicants are animated, full of life, with enthusiasm for their family, friends and the world around them. This is reflected through knowledge of current events, sustained interest in hobbies and outside interests and a strong interactive role in their communities. Interview Preparation A school visit is your best opportunity to see the facility, interact with faculty and students and impress multiple members of an admissions committee. You will see first-hand whether this is the right place for you and whether you will fit in. Being on campus also allows for a natural conversational flow about the program, equipment, class size, resources, etc., that is hard to establish off-site. Review as much information as possible on your resume. Your interviewers will review your file before speaking with you and jot down notes for possible interview questions. Re-familiarize yourself with your grades, essays and research topics so they will be fresh in your mind before the interview. 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 Whenever possible, incorporate these strengths into your answers. Also be prepared to discuss your weaknesses. Most applicants naively think that they don't have any shortcomings and are blindsided by these questions. Although it's difficult to talk about possible deficiencies, your job at the interview is to recognize questionable points in your background and to discuss them confidently and directly. 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; you'll sound limited and shallow. Focus instead on the school's excellent faculty and their reputation for finance. Know what areas of research they are famous for and the companies that employ their graduates. Read every bit of material you can find about the particular school and be prepared to customize your answers to reflect its strengths.

What youll 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. Nothing is more disheartening than interviewing an "academic genius" who doesn't know who the Vice-President is. 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. This is enough to share a few thoughts and to stimulate further discussion if the interviewer desires. Try to avoid simple yes and no answers or responding in monosyllables. Show interest in the questions and sincere thought in your responses. 2) Avoid sounding self-centered. Cite your achievements, but demonstrate an appropriate level of humility. When discussing professional accomplishments, acknowledge the help and support of your teammates, mentors, teachers and role models. 3) Don't reveal insecurities. Accentuate the positive and don't dwell on the weaknesses in your background or application. Don't give any indication that you aren't willing and able to meet the rigors of business school. Your job on the interview is to convince them you are the right candidate: they won't believe it if you don't sound sure of yourself. 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. Your tone can be revealed in both the words you choose and your voice. Practice responding to difficult questions with a friend before the big day. It will help. 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.

Best Tips for Interview Success 1) Prepare for the interview extensively: review your application, learn about the school, and prepare answers for the typical questions 2) Practice answering questions aloud before the interview until you can handle all types of questions confidently 3) Walk into the interview with an air of confidence and professionalism. Offer a firm handshake and a professional demeanor 4) Listen carefully to the interviewer's questions and answer accordingly. Don't babble incessantly about a related topic or answer the question you wish he had asked 5) Be yourself. If your answers are ambiguous or inconsistent, the interviewer will likely consider you a poor candidate. Don't send out any unnecessary warning signs. Your success will ultimately depend on your ability to sell yourself to the interviewer. (S) He is seeking the following traits:
:Maturity High Energy Level Listening Skills Communication Skills Honesty Confidence Sense of Humor Pride Analytical Skills Motivation Initiative Leadership Potential

If you have them, flaunt them.