An MBA Admission interview typically starts with “Tell me about yourself”. It is easy to talk about yourself but understanding what is relevant, and guiding the interviewer to the next question depends on how you answer this question. Even before you answer this question, give a firm handshake, establish rapport, engage in small talk, smile and use these tips to open the interviewer's mind to your suggestions.
Follow the 10-20-30-40 rule when it comes to dividing the answer into four relevant segments.
10-20-30-40 Rule
Personal details: family & hometown should occupy the least time in the interview. Most time should be spent explaining your passion. Education should have the second lowest priority in the conversation since most interviewers would have an understanding about your undergraduate course through the resume. Even though a large chunk of Interview time is dedicated for questions related to your work, AdCom select candidates based on their demonstrated performance on the job. Dominating the interview time with conversation about your passion, followed by your work experience, will give an overview about your motivations and why pursuing an MBA program is essential.
The gap should be obvious.
10 – Personal
When you talk about your family, stick to siblings and parents. If one of your family members had completed an MBA program, you can mention that too, provided his influence can be mentioned, strategically in the follow up answers.
20 – Education
Stick to the title of course, skills developed, and the learning experience provided by the program. If you have been part of a high achieving team – sports, extra-curricular or scientific, you can mention that too.
30 – Work
Explain your career progression with the company name, your role, and the experience you had gained working for each company.
40 –Passion
This is the most important section. Articulate your passion beyond extra-curricular. Explain how your work is in alignment with your passion, and hint why getting an MBA is crucial.
Don’t make the conversation a replica of your resume.
Testimonial - MBA Admission Interview Guide
"Having failed to clear two interviews, I finally purchased F1GMAT's MBA Admission interview guide. The common mistakes mentioned in the book resonated with my experience. It is an enjoyable read, but to get most of this book, you have to read the following chapters, at least twice:
How to do Gap Analysis for MBA Admission Interview Preparation?
Focus on the Interaction
How can you control First Impression in MBA Admission Interview
How to improve likeability in MBA Admissions Interview
How to answer the Backup Plan Question
I have used F1GMAT's Essay Review Service for two schools. The interview guide is a special book. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to cross the final hurdle. " - Accepted to Harvard MBA with Scholarship
Download MBA Admission Interview Guide
The Guide offers detailed examples and strategies to answer about yourself, career summary, innovation, frequent job switch, managing change, ethical dilemma, made mistake, contribution for the school, handling conflict, the greatest accomplishment, low grades, difficult boss, backup plan, industry, role and gives you tips on managing first impression, improve likeability and lists the questions that you should ask the MBA Admission interviewer.
Pages: 204
The Guide includes commonly asked MBA Admission Interview Questions for:
1) Booth School of Business
2) Columbia Business School
3) Ivey Business School
4) Johnson Graduate School of Management
5) Insead
6) Kellogg School of Management
7) Stanford Graduate School of Business
8) London Business School
9) Harvard Business School
10) MIT Sloan School of Management
11) Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Team Discussion Strategy + Interview Tips)
Chapters
1) Booth School of Business
2) Columbia Business School
3) Ivey Business School
4) Johnson Graduate School of Management
5) Insead
6) Kellogg School of Management
7) Stanford Graduate School of Business
8) London Business School
9) Harvard Business School
10) MIT Sloan School of Management
11) Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Team Discussion Strategy + Interview Tips)
Chapters
1. Importance of MBA Admission Interview
2. How to do Gap Analysis for MBA Admission Interview Preparation?
3. 5 Conversation Plan for MBA Admission Interview
4. Focus on the Interaction
5. How can you control First Impression in MBA Admission Interview
6. How to improve likeability in MBA Admissions Interview
7. Avoid these 4 Handshakes
8. How to highlight Personal, Cultural, and Academic Dimensions of your personality
9. What motivates an Interviewer?
10. How to Fine Tune your answers according to MBA Admission Interviewer's Personality Type
11. How to answer the “Tell us about yourself” introductory question?
12. How to answer Walk me through your resume?
13. 5 Follow-up questions to expect
14. What is the greatest accomplishment in your professional career?
15. What is your leadership style?
16. How would you contribute at the School Community
17. What is the most difficult obstacle you overcame?
18. Are you a Creative Person?
19. How do you define Success?
20. How to answer about Innovative Solutions?
21. Answering Frequent Job Switch
22. How did you Handle Conflict?
23. How did you manage Change?
24. Give an Example of an Ethical Dilemma you faced. How did you handle it?
25. Answering Greatest Accomplishment
26. How did you Handle a Difficult Boss?
27.Tell me a time when you made a Mistake. What did you learn from it?
28. How to summarize your Career?
29. How to explain low grades?
30. How to answer Scenario Questions?
31. How to answer the Backup Plan Question
32. How to discuss about Industry Experience & your Role?
33. What Questions should you ask the AdCom after an MBA Admissions Interview?
34. 7 Things to Consider for Skype MBA Admission Interviews
35. 5 Must Read MBA Admission Telephonic Interview Tips
2. How to do Gap Analysis for MBA Admission Interview Preparation?
3. 5 Conversation Plan for MBA Admission Interview
4. Focus on the Interaction
5. How can you control First Impression in MBA Admission Interview
6. How to improve likeability in MBA Admissions Interview
7. Avoid these 4 Handshakes
8. How to highlight Personal, Cultural, and Academic Dimensions of your personality
9. What motivates an Interviewer?
10. How to Fine Tune your answers according to MBA Admission Interviewer's Personality Type
11. How to answer the “Tell us about yourself” introductory question?
12. How to answer Walk me through your resume?
13. 5 Follow-up questions to expect
14. What is the greatest accomplishment in your professional career?
15. What is your leadership style?
16. How would you contribute at the School Community
17. What is the most difficult obstacle you overcame?
18. Are you a Creative Person?
19. How do you define Success?
20. How to answer about Innovative Solutions?
21. Answering Frequent Job Switch
22. How did you Handle Conflict?
23. How did you manage Change?
24. Give an Example of an Ethical Dilemma you faced. How did you handle it?
25. Answering Greatest Accomplishment
26. How did you Handle a Difficult Boss?
27.Tell me a time when you made a Mistake. What did you learn from it?
28. How to summarize your Career?
29. How to explain low grades?
30. How to answer Scenario Questions?
31. How to answer the Backup Plan Question
32. How to discuss about Industry Experience & your Role?
33. What Questions should you ask the AdCom after an MBA Admissions Interview?
34. 7 Things to Consider for Skype MBA Admission Interviews
35. 5 Must Read MBA Admission Telephonic Interview Tips