MBA Interview Guide

The MBA Interview is important for two reasons. First, the interview is your chance to show admissions committee that you can effectively present yourself to others. Secondly, the MBA interview is a chance for you to learn about your business school of choice from someone who has an extensive knowledge of that particular MBA program. The MBA interview is required or encouraged at most business schools. That's why it would be wise to arrange for an interview, especially if you are a good speaker with strong leadship skills. More information about the MBA interview including general MBA interview tips, tips on preparing for the MBA interview and MBA interview questions, is provided below.

MBA interviewers will be judging you on your leadership, communication and analytic skills as well as your proficiency with the English language. You’ll be asked about your career, your goals and how a particular MBA program will help you achieve your goals. There are no right or wrong answers. The interview will begin with broad questions then goes into specifics of what you can bring into that particular MBA program and your community involvement. Lastly, you'll be asked if you want to share any additional information to help the admissions committee make their decision.

MBA Interview Preparation

• Reflect on why you want to apply to a particular school.

• Reflect on what makes you unique and what you can bring to that program.

• Be ready to tell the interviewer what you see yourself doing 5 to 10 years from now.

• Look at your weak points of your MBA application and come up with ways to address them during the interview.

• Prepare at least one positive story that isn't already on your application. It doesn't have to be a story from your job -- you could also talk about a social setting, hobby or something you did while pursuing your undergraduate degree. Make sure it demonstrates of how you've exhibited leadership in that situation.

• Talk to current students or alumni of the school where you’re interviewing to see if they can provide you with additional information about the admissions committee or a list of questions common to that school. Admissions and the alumni office can usually help you find people to speak to in your chosen field. 

• Research the school and the people interviewing you. Read the marketing materials as well as the website.

• Answer the schools application essay question before attending the interview, since this will help you focus on what your goals are.

• Arrange for a practice interview with someone who has a strong history of interviewing other people. Below are a few common interview questions you can use as a starting point.

MBA Interview Questions

• Why are you applying to business school?

• Why have you chosen this school?

• What makes your stand out among other candidates?

• What can you contribute to our program?

• What are your expectations of this program?

• What are your goals?

• How do you plan to use your degree?/What do you plan to do after business school?

• Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?

• What is your greatest weakness?

• What is your greatest strength?

• What is your definition of teamwork?

• How would your colleagues describe you?

• What are your hobbies?

MBA Interview Tips

• Treat the MBA interview the same way you'd treat a job interview. That means dressing professionally, arriving on time and not saying anything bad about your previous job. It also means demonstrating that you have good interpersonal skills through a strong handshake, maintaining eye contact and exhibiting a good energy level.

• Listen carefully to the interviewer. There are some things they may ask about indirectly, such as what your weaknesses are.

• Visit the campus if at all possible and sit in on classes to see how they are taught. That way you can ask questions based on your on-campus observations and see if the classes and campus culture are a fit. It also makes for better essays, since you can better express why you are a fit for that particular school given that you have a better idea of what the school is like.

• Don't be afraid to ask questions. Even candidate questions, like "Do you think I would be a good fit for your program?" can be appropriate toward the end of an interview. You will usually be asked if you have any questions, so be prepared with some good questions to ask.

• Answer questions directly. Don't waver.

• Relax, or at least try to.

• Be yourself.

• Be confident. Avoid coming off as desperate, since that makes you look like you doubt your ability to get in.

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