Analyzing the 10 Most Commonly Asked MBA Interview Questions (Part II)

Many applicants are gearing up right now for their MBA interviews, and beginning to practice their answers to common interview questions. This is part two of a two part series breaking down 10 of the most common MBA interview questions where I will address the reasons behind why they are asked. We covered five questions here in Part I, and today we’re covering questions 6 – 10. I won’t write out answers to the questions here, but I’m instead writing down the meaning behind the questions will help you to formulate your own tailored answers.

1.     What are your future goals?

When you go into your interview, you need to have a very clear picture of how you’re going to use your degree when you graduate. Are you going to found your own company? Are you going to become a management consultant? Interviewers ask you future-goal oriented questions in order to gauge the path you see yourself taking, and evaluate whether it is viable. Business leaders always set goals and think in terms of what’s coming in 5 – 10 years ahead. Interviewers want to understand that you already have thought about your career path down the road, and have a clear idea how you can achieve it.

2.     Can you walk me through your resume?

Interviewers don’t want you to sit there and read through your entire resume with them – they have already read it. I often tell people that interviewers want to understand what “is not on your resume.” In other words, they want to understand the story of who you are and why you made the decisions you made. Why did you study what you studied as an undergraduate? Why did you choose to work at your first company, and switch companies to your second and third? They want to see the logic and reason behind the choices you’ve made to get to where you are.

3.     Can you give me an example of a time that you demonstrated leadership?

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Business leaders need to have leadership skills, so you need to have leadership skills, and tell a persuasive story about a time you led others to success. At the end, refect upon what you learned and improved upon during the experience.

4.     What is your definition of teamwork?

Group work is a seriously important aspect of any MBA program. Interviewers aren’t looking for a literal definition of teamwork here – don’t memorize something out of a dictionary. Instead, tell a compelling story about a time where you worked successfully on a team, and what you learned by working with others. Interviewers need to understand that you can learn from people who have different skills than your own, and that you aren’t a selfish person who will offend or argue with everyone on the project team. Use this question as an opportunity to showcase your people skills.

5.     What would you say is your biggest weakness?

This is a very important question, and much related to the question “what makes you stand out?” Business leaders and executives are constantly evaluating their own personal weaknesses, and the weaknesses of their organization. If you aren’t able to give a clear and constructive answer to this question – interviewers will feel that you are not able to reflect on yourself and don’t have what it takes to succeed in business. It takes an honest, transparent look at yourself to be able to grow in a high pressure, high intensity environment like an MBA program, and you should show your interviewers that you’re capable of rising to the challenge when you answer this question.

This has been part two of my two part series on the top ten most commonly asked MBA questions, and the why behind the questions. You can find part one here. When you start to get into the mind of your interviewer, when you start to think about the meaning behind their questions and the process of the interview itself, that’s when you’re preparing yourself in the best way you possibly can to ace your interview.

If you have other questions or would like some personalized coaching to prepare for your upcoming MBA interview, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, David, at transcendadmissions@gmail.com.

Analyzing 10 of the Most Commonly Asked MBA Interview Questions (Part I)

Many applicants are gearing up right now for their MBA interviews, and beginning to practice their answers to common interview questions. This is part one of a two part series breaking down 10 of the most common MBA interview questions where I will address the reasons behind why they are asked. I won’t write out answers to the questions here, but providing the meaning behind the questions will help you to formulate your own.

1. Why business school?

When interviewers ask this question, they are trying to understand how much thought you have really put into your decision to apply. Think about it for a second - thousands of students apply for MBA programs every year, and many of them do so just because they think it sounds good or other inappropriate reasons, not because an MBA would be useful to them.

Be sure you have a thoughtful answer which clearly demonstrates how useful business school will be to helping you accomplish your career goals.

2.     Why did you decide to apply to this business school?

This question is trying to determine whether you have done your research and really value the unque programs and culture the school offers. Interviewers need to see that you’ve put thought into the usefulness of business school in general, as well as into what makes their school perfect for you. There are lots of business schools out there – why is this particular program the right one for you? Mention some specific courses or professors in your interview which you believe will be useful in advancing your professional knowledge to show you’ve done your homework.

3.     What makes you stand out among other candidates?

This isn’t a chance to boast. Interviewers need to see that you are capable of assessing both your strengths and your weaknesses. When you answer this question, speak about your values, how you make decisions based on evidence, and how you bring lots of initiative and passion to every project you work on.

4.     What can you contribute to our program?

Just like interviewers need to see why their program is right for you, they need to be persuaded that you are also right for their program. Think of these questions like a matchmaking game, and talk about how you value diversity of opinion, and learning from others in groups. Make it clear that you are a team player, but also that your leadership has delivered real value to your clients or employers in the past, and that this is precisely the attitude you will bring to their MBA program.

5.     What are your expectations of this program?

This is another sneaky way for interviewers to see how much thought you have put into your decision to apply to business school. If you have an overly vague and general answer to this question, they will think that you don’t have the ability to discern value, and pick between schools. When you answer this question, emphasize that you are looking to connect with similarly minded ambitious self-starters and strategic thinkers, people you will be able to learn from and grow with over the course of the rest of your lifetime.

This has been part one of my two part series on the top ten most commonly asked MBA questions, and the why behind the questions. I’m not covering scripts and answers you can copy to use in your own interview, because what the MBA process is all about is critical thinking. By beginning to break down the why behind these questions with my help, you’re preparing yourself mentally for the type of conversation and thinking you need to ace your interview. I’ll cover questions 6 – 10 next time, so be sure to check back in a few days so you don’t miss any chances to succeed at your interview.

If you have other questions or would like some personalized coaching to prepare for your upcoming MBA interview, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, David, at transcendadmissions@gmail.com.

5 Ways to Make an Excellent Impression on Your Interviewer

When you apply for an MBA program, an interview is one of the most important parts of the process. Whether you are interviewing with an admissions committee officer or an alumni interviewer – it’s extremely important that you make a good impression on them. Last time, I talked about how to make a terrible impression on your interviewer (the things you should avoid doing in your interview). Today, I’m breaking down five things you can do in your interview to communicate confidence, leadership, and excellence to your interviewer.

1. A Good, Strong Handshake

You really should use a strong, firm handshake to greet your interviewer. A handshake communicates confidence, the ability to lead, and self-assurance. Use a firm grip, not a death grip. Keep your wrist firm, but not locked like a shotgun. Pump your hand 2 – 3 times, smile, and look into your interviewer’s eyes while you shake their hand. Clasp their hand slightly when you release the handshake, and say something like “it’s wonderful to meet you, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today!”

2. Direct, Assertive Eye Contact

You need to make direct, assertive eye contact with your interviewer when you meet with them. Look straight into their eyes with an open smiling face, and an open forehead. Don’t stare into their eyes like you’re looking into a crystal ball. 3 – 5 seconds of direct eye contact when you shake their hand, and direct eye contact intermittently spaced through the rest of your interview are what’s appropriate, and needed.

3. Get Your Interviewer Talking About Themselves

Match the interviewer’s general demeanor and get them talking if you can. If they talk enthusiastically and quickly, you should try to match their energy and enthusiasm. If they are brief and professional, try to match their professionalism and style in your own conversation. Everything they say and the way in which they communicate is all information that you have at your disposal to help make the interview go well. Get your interviewer talking about themselves with questions like “why did you decide to get involved with interviewing prospective students?” And listen, listen, listen.

4. Ensure They Know How Excited You Are About their School

Your interviewer is taking time out of their own life and work to meet with you because they care about the community they represent. Even if this isn’t your top school, always communicate very specific information to your interviewer about why you like the school they represent. Speak about the location and all of the excellent opportunities that it affords you. They have likely completed internships and jobs in the city your target school is located in. They have explored all of the restaurants in the area with their own friends, and biked and run through the streets in the surrounding town. Talk about one specific, and widely known fact or story about your school which excites you. Does your school have a great basketball team? Talk about how you had your friends over to watch the game and you sang the fight song at halftime.

Even if this school isn’t your top choice, you want the interviewer to walk away feeling like you will likely matriculate if given the opportunity. You want your interviewer to be able to picture you in the school environment which they are familiar with.

5. Early is On Time. On Time is Late.

This is a very self-explanatory point. Show up early to your interview in case your interviewer is pressed for time. If you show up on time, or even five minutes late – you are delaying a process which could have begun a few minutes early. Even if your interviewer is late, be respectful of their time and be there approximately fifteen minutes before you are scheduled to start. This is a common sense courtesy to them for taking time out of their lives, and it is always better for you to wait on them than for them to wait on you. Also showing up early might give you more valuable time to interact with them.

There are many complex things which go into making an interview successful, and these are just five of them. I wrote about five things you should avoid doing in your own interview here, and could speak for hours about all of the ways in which you can tweak your presentation and the stories you tell your interviewer to make an outstanding impression on them, ensuring a good recommendation. If you’re interested in hearing more of the details and learning more of the strategies you can use to optimize your chances for success, reach out to me directly at transcendadmissions@gmail.com.

5 Ways to Make a Terrible Impression on Your Interviewer

When you apply for an MBA program, an interview is one of the most important parts of the entire process. Whether you are interviewing with an admissions committee officer or an alumni interviewer – it’s extremely important that you make a good impression on them. I wanted to break down 5 things that you can do to make a terrible impression on your interviewer so that you know what to avoid when you’re completing your own interview. Next time I’ll be writing about what to do to make an excellent impression on your interviewer.

1. The Fish-Handshake

One of the first things you do when you meet your interviewer is to shake their hand. Handshakes communicate confidence and the ability to lead and command, and are an important opportunity to make a good first impression.

One of the best ways to make a terrible impression on your interviewer is to use the “fish-handshake.” Shake their hand with a soft grip, a limp wrist, and make them feel like they’re picking up a raw fish when they shake your hand. Using the “fish-handshake” will ensure that they see you as weak-spirited, and as lacking confidence.

2. Avoid Eye Contact

When you shake someone’s hand, you also make eye contact with them. In order to make a terrible impression on your interviewer, avoid direct eye contact with them. For bonus points, shift your eyes all over the place throughout the interview – this will make you seem nervous, insecure, and like you are trying to hide something.

3. Constantly Interrupt

One of the worst things in the world is when you constantly interrupt your interviewer with questions and statements. If you want to make your interviewer feel angry and upset, be sure to interrupt what they’re saying every time you have a chance.

4. Tell them that their school is not your top choice

Even if the school you’re interviewing for isn’t your top choice, your interviewer should always genuinely feel that you are interested in their institution, and would matriculate if admitted. To make a terrible impression and ensure a poor recommendation – be sure to tell your interviewer that some other school is at the very top of your priority list.

5.  Show Up Late

Your interviewer’s time is valuable and they are taking a break from their own work, and life to meet with you because they care about their school. In order to ensure you make a terrible impression on your interviewer – show up late. This communicates that you don’t value their time, and aren’t excited about the prospect of enrolling in their school.

These are five excellent ways to ensure you make a terrible impression on your interviewer. I’ll be talking about five ways to make an excellent impression on your interviewer soon. If you’re interested in learning more about how to ace your interview, get in touch with me, David, at transcendadmissions@gmail.com.

Four Things Interviewers Look For When They Interview You

When you go into an interview as part of your Graduate School Admissions process, you have one precious chance to make a good and lasting impression on alumni interviewers and admissions officers. Once that chance is gone, you can never get it back.

It isn’t necessarily obvious to current applicants what interviewers look for when they interview a prospect. Students have been focused on grades and tests for so long that they often forget that they’re dealing with human beings who like to be treated with respect and get a firm handshake. In order to help the current pool of applicants, I’m going outline four of the most important things that interviewers look for when they interview you.

1. Good Eye Contact

Forget your GREs and GPA for a minute. When you walk in the door and meet your interviewer for the first time, you need to greet them with good, strong eye contact. Eye contact indicates confidence and maturity in a prospective student, and is especially important when dealing with western interviewers.

If you look at your feet too much, or shift your eyes around all over the place when you meet with your interviewer, they will feel uncomfortable speaking with you. You want to give your interviewer every chance possible to feel comfortable and positive in your presence, so be sure to go in with excellent eye contact.

2. A Firm Hand Shake

One of the worst things in the world is a bad handshake. The “wet fish-handshake” as I like to call it, where you feel like you’re gripping an uncooked fish when you shake someone’s hand.

Just like eye contact, a strong handshake communicates confidence to the person interviewing you. Pump your hand 2 – 3 times, make sure your hand isn’t sweaty, and be firm but don’t crush your interviewers hand.

3. Interviewers Want to Feel Like You’ll Fit In

Interviewers need to feel like you would be a good fit for their community, and the best way to accomplish this is to get the interviewer talking about their community. Ask questions about the traditions and values of the school. By asking questions about the traditions and values of the school, you will give the interviewer a strong impression that you really want to understand what their community is all about. When they say something like “diversity is so important in our community” you are then free to echo their words and emphasize how important a value diversity is in your own personal life.

4. Sincerity

Interviewers have to meet with many potential candidates. So many candidates that their head starts to swim. The vast majority of students they interview are insincere. They don’t really want to be at the school they are interviewing for, and so the interviewer feels that their time is being wasted. Even if the school you’re interviewing for isn’t your top choice, you should always let your interviewer know that you are excited about the prospect of attending their school in the specific city in which it is located. Be prepared to talk about some of the advantages that the location has to offer, and about one of the values of the school which you genuinely respect.

If you can help an interviewer to see that you are a confident and mature young person by using good eye contact and good handshakes, and show them that you are genuinely interested in their school, they will walk away from an interview with you feeling confident you will fit in well in their community.

If you are in the process of applying for Graduate Schools or MBA Programs and would like help thinking about how to ace your interview, I’ll be offering a course called Interview Mastery which you can contact me, David, for details on at transcendadmissions@gmail.com.