Personal MBA Coach’s MBA Interviewing 101

Now that you have hit submit on most or all of your MBA applications, the waiting game begins. Interview invitations are starting to roll out so now is the time to prepare!

The interview is one of the most important parts of the process and one that I have seen far too many under estimate and under prepare for. Do not make this same mistake. Read our tips on how to prepare and set up a mock interview with our former M7 interviewers for more help.

Prepare stories!

We find bulleting works best. Research the most common questions and prepare stories in advance. Generally, 4-5 stories can be easily tailored to cover all of the top questions. Assign a story to each potential question in advance, and be flexible in case you need to move stories around if they have already been used earlier in the interview. Remember to use the framework: situations, action, result and do no get overly bogged down in background details.

Know your application!

You should be able to explain every line of your resume, essays and short answer questions in detail. Take the time to think through each and every role, project or success noted and be ready to provide further explanation as questions arise. Some schools are known to dig deep on specific points on the resume so do not get caught off guard trying to recall details from that internship you had three years ago or that paper you wrote in college. If it was on your application, it is fair game! That said, pay attention to which schools access your entire application in the interview vs. just the resume.

Practice articulating your goals.

Successful candidates will be able to explain their targeted path clearly and succinctly. Be sure you are prepared to discuss your short-term goals, long-term goals, why you are interested in this path and how SPECIFICALLY you hope to leave your unique mark.

Do your research and know the school and the culture!

While you should have already done this by now, make sure that you know the school and tailor your answers to the school’s culture. Talk to former students and find out what you can about each school’s unique interview process.

Above all, practice, practice, practice!! And remember, Personal MBA Coach is here to help! We have former MBA interviewers lined up to do mock interviews with you! Our clients have told us this is one of the most valuable steps they have taken to prepare. Email scott@personalmbacoach.com or click here to set up a mock interview today!

Scott Edinburgh is a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan BS graduate and founded Personal MBA Coach 15 years ago with the goal of providing customized one-on-one support. Scott also serves on the Board of Directors for AIGAC, the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants, and is invited to speak at MBA Admissions events globally. Our clients have been accepted to all top schools globally with a 96% success rate. They received $6.5M+ in scholarships last cycle.