Those who are on a business school journey must consider MBA interviews as a milestone especially if your target is top business schools including the Indian School Of Business (ISB) etc. Once you submit an application to a B-school, most top B-schools continue their quest to find the “perfect” candidate through a personal interview. Generally, the interview is an elimination stage and most often the final stage in the application process, hence making it extremely important for applicants. To ace an interview for your dream B school is quite hard work and this article will help you as we will be guiding you through the MBA interview questions and tips for leading business schools.
Why Do Top B-Schools Have an Interview Round?
First thing first, let’s understand that why an interview is conducted and why it is given so much importance:
- Authenticity of the application: Since the pre-interview application process gives the applicants a lot of time to write their essays, statements and CV , B-schools like to see how original the ideas presented in the application are, and if the application really reflects the individual.
- Fitment assessment: B-schools want to ensure that their MBA program is suited to the candidate’s goals, and that the candidate is suited to their B-school. It’s not enough to just have great scores and an excellent profile; for a student to get admitted to B-schools such as ISB,, they should meet the fitment criteria. The personal interview, combined with the application essays, give the B-schools a fair idea about whether a candidate is the right fit for their MBA program or not.
- Communication Skills: A successful business grad is expected to articulate their ideas clearly which an interview will reflect.
- Promote the School: A typical interview will also contain a section in which the interviewer responds to the applicant’s questions and provides insights into the school and the program, in the process marketing the school. It is also a very effective way to attract top applicants.
- Elimination: As mentioned earlier, an interview round is generally an elimination round which helps the school to finalize on their list.
Mode of Interview
B-school interviews are conducted either by members of the admissions committee or by B-school alumni. These interviews are usually conducted in two ways:
- Personal Interview (face-to-face): Most top B-schools around the world prefer to meet the candidate in person.
- Video Interview: Many B-schools conduct video interviews over Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet.
Most B-schools will give you the option to choose from the above modes. As far as possible, one should opt for a personal interview.
In addition to these, some Indian B-schools such as ISB have a panel interview, where a candidate is interviewed by a panel of two to three interviewers.
Interview Preparation Steps
Coming fully prepared for this interview can actually make or break your top B-School admission journey. So, MBA interview questions and tips form an important part in your MBA interview preparation. Below are some interview preparation steps which students should follow:
Having read about why the university needs an interview, let’s now focus on how to make the cut:
Read your application: You may have submitted your application 1-2 months before the interview and may not remember everything, therefore it is important to read your application thoroughly to ensure you don’t digress from the narrative you’ve put forward, which would deter your chances of getting your dream admit.
Analyze the School: Similar to how a company would expect their candidates to know about them, you are expected to know about the strengths, courses, and advantages of getting into the B-school you are applying to. Research the key factors such as the curriculum (and align it with your goals), location, placement record, and the niche areas of the school. The more you research, the better your interview will go. Those who are planning for ISB admissions must know that ISB is a private business school with campuses in Hyderabad and Mohali.
Talk to Alumni: Try to connect with the alumni of the schools you’re applying to in advance–nobody else can give you a better picture of the school.
Practice: Take as many mock interview sessions as possible with different people. Establish a theme and fine-tune it.
Research the interviewer: Most B-schools will share the name of the interviewer with you 4-5 days before the scheduled interview. Look up the interviewer’s profile on LinkedIn and read about their job role and industry. However, do not send a connection request on LinkedIn before the interview; that’d be a bit inappropriate.
Common B-School Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Mentioned below are the MBA interview questions These questions are usually asked in B school interviews. While the list is not exhaustive, it covers the most popular MBA interview questions. Please be mindful to train for the answers given below.
Q 1. Tell me something about yourself?
This should be a combination of your personal and professional information. Strictly keep it under 4 minutes. Give a brief highlight of your most important achievements. Please be mindful that this question would not necessarily be your first question for all interviews. Hence, be ready for surprise elements.
Q 2. Why do you want to do an MBA?
Relate it to how this MBA will enable you to fill the skill gap and help you move closer to your long-term career goals. Your goals should be in line with what you have mentioned in your essays and applications. The interviewer is looking for whether as a candidate you are clear on what you will gain from the MBA program – network, theoretical and practical knowledge, international exposure, etc.
Q 3 . Why do you want to join this university?
This question can be answered well if you have done a thorough research for the B-school you are applying for. Your answer must reflect your enthusiasm for the college, its faculty, alumni network, curriculum and culture etc.
Q 4. Which other universities are you applying to?
Be ready to answer this question and prepare an answer well beforehand. Before answering this question you must convey strongly that this college is your number one choice. Further, mention that you have applied to more colleges only because you understand how selective this college is in its admissions process. In the end you can name 2-3 universities that are ranked alongside the one that you are interviewing for.
Q 5. What do you want to do immediately after your MBA?
While it is important to have a clear understanding of what you want, it is fine not to know the exact details or the exact company you may want to work in. Knowing the sector broadly and what motivates you for the same is more important.
Q 6. What are your long-term and short-term goals and objectives, when and why did you establish these goals, and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
Try and explain your long-term goals first and then explain what additional post-MBA experience, if any, is needed to achieve it.
Q 7. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?
Don’t talk about being hard-working, punctual, disciplined, etc. Talk about 2-3 strengths that are in sync with your long term career goals. Do not talk about specific examples if you are not asked about them.
Q 8. What is your biggest weakness?
Don’t talk about being a perfectionist, or being too honest. Talk about a genuine weakness that most people might have. But more than focusing on the weakness alone, talk about how you are working hard to eliminate your weakness.
Q 9. Tell me about a situation (non-business) when you have failed.
Explain your failure and in the end tell the interviewer about what you have learnt from your failure and how you have emerged as a better human being as a result of that failure. Don’t blame others for your weaknesses or failures.
In addition to the above questions, there are also a few other types of questions for which you should mentally be prepared including market size calculation questions and analytical/mathematical problems.