During the interview process, what are the Dos and Don'ts that a candidate must keep in mind?
Do's
1. Match the School's USP with your Career goal; you must convince the interviewer that an MBA is necessary now.
2. Keep the 1 to 1.5-minute limit. Target a 1-minute answer limit for each question. 1.5 minutes for narratives around life setbacks or industry questions.
3. Don't list but show passion in how you will contribute to the school's initiatives. You can only show passion with extensive research.
4. Be on Time. Start on Time. Always Respect the Interviewer's Time. Show Respect by keeping time. It includes not starting long-winded answers.
5. Start with small talk. It is extremely important that you show interest in the person's journey outside of work. Include family, country, city, or interest narratives in the small talk.
Don'ts
1. Don't underplay or overplay. The interviewer interacts with accomplished people who cracked through the essay round with the help of consultants to underperformers trying to impress. Find the balance in tone to demonstrate competence.
2. Avoid giving generic reasons in your answers that will be used by other applicants. The common ones are around curriculum strengths, city, and placements. Use them with specific narratives.
3. Don't use Jargon. Avoid jargon even if your interviewer is from the industry or worked in the industry.
4. Don't ask How you did after the interview. Only one client I remember where the interviewer clearly said I would strongly recommend you. The person had built an excellent rapport with the person to ask this question. Typically, the interaction will be formal or formal & friendly. In such cases, don't ask, "How did I do?"
5. Steer the Answer Not the Conversation – There is a difference between strategically giving answers to steer the conversation to dominating the interview and taking over the conversation. Know the subtle difference.
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Recommended Resource: F1GMAT's MBA Admission Interview Guide