STUDENT

REFERENCE POINTS MBA INTERVIEW

50 questions to Reach an Ivy League

About The Interview Process

v Once you have submitted your application and it has been reviewed by the admissions
committee, you may be invited for an interview.
v The interview will either be conducted by the MBA admissions board or an alumnus of the school
depending on the interview process of each school.
v When you are called for an interview, this indicates that the school is interested in learning more
about you, but this does not definitively mean that you will be admitted to the school.
v Some schools significantly narrow down the list of applicants that need to be interviewed,
whereas others attempt to interview as many different candidates as they can.
v The interview is your critical final step in the application process. This is when you really have
the chance to wow your admissions board and/or alumnus interviewer.
v The interviews can take place on campus, in select cities, via Skype or over the phone.

Preparing for the Interview

v Content:
o Make sure that you have gone through your whole application a few times, and that what you
say in the interview supports what you and your recommenders have been saying throughout
your application. It is extremely important that your interview is consistent with the rest of your
application, including your recommendation.
o Ensure that you have a substantial set of insightful examples and learning that you can draw
from.
o Make sure that you answer the question, and in a concise manner.
v Body Language:
o Your posture is relaxed but still professional.
o You consistently make eye contact.
o You restrict your hand movements when speaking, but at the same time, are not too stiff or
uptight.
v Communication Skills:
o You answer the question clearly and concisely your answers should not be longer than one and
a half minutes each.
o Your manner of speaking should be engaging it is clear that you are enthusiastic about the
school and passionate about your career and experiences.
o If you need to think about the answer to the question, you request to take a minute to think
about it, dont just plunge into an answer and realize that you dont have anything relevant to say
midway.
v Tone: Your tone should be confident but humble.
v Attire: You are dressed in suitable business attire (applicable for an in-person interview). Suitable
attire is defined as:
o Men: Suit, with a formal shirt and tie.
o Women: Skirt or pant suit with a formal shirt/blouse.

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 STUDENT REFERENCE POINTS MBA INTERVIEW

v Punctuality: Please arrive at least 10 minutes early for the in-person interview (or make sure you
are available at the phone/Skype call on time). Use this time to calm yourself or go over any
notes last minute.
v Handshake/Greeting: Your handshake is confident but not too firm or abrupt, and your greeting
is cordial and disarming but not informal or uptight.
v Enthusiasm: Please exhibit a genuine enthusiasm for the school when speaking, you should not
be too formal, but you should sound excited about the school and the learning opportunities it
presents. Make sure you are not too casual or informal either.
v Etiquette: Please greet the interviewer at the beginning of the interview and thank him/her at
the end of it. Please be sure to write a formal thank you letter/email to your interviewer/s.
v What to take with you: Please only take with you a folder/portfolio with some blank
papers/notepad, a pen and your resume. There is no need to carry a laptop.
v Cell Phone Etiquette: Please keep your phone on silent or completely off. Please DO NOT keep
your phone on vibrate, because if it does vibrate during the interview, chances are they will still
be able to hear it.

PREPARE.PREPARE.PREPARE: Diligent preparation is the cornerstone of an effective interview.
Ensure you have reviewed a comprehensive list of questions prior to the interview.

MBA Interview Practice Questions

Please see below a list of questions we suggest you ABSOLUTELY prepare for before going in to the
interview.

A. Undergraduate Education

1. Why did you choose your undergraduate major(s) and/or college?
2. What was your favorite class in college?
3. Tell me the most important thing you learned at college.


B. Career

1. Walk me through your resume.
2. Discuss a decision you made in your career that you wish you could change.
3. What would be your dream job (if you had no considerations for money)?
4. Explain your career path to date; why did you choose the jobs you have had?
5. Which companies do you plan to work in post MBA? How will the degree help your get
there?
6. Why cant you work there now?


C. Current Job
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 STUDENT REFERENCE POINTS MBA INTERVIEW


1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?
2. What do you like about your job? What do you not like about your job?
3. If you got promoted today at your job, what changes would you implement?
4. Why did you choose your current firm / current position?


D. Why MBA?

1. Why are you applying to business school?
2. Why is this the right time for your MBA?
3. Why are you interested in a general MBA program?
4. What specific skills do you want to get out of this program?


E. School Specific

1. Why does this school appeal to you?
2. What interactions have you had with our school?
3. Businesses are moving to emerging economies. Why dont you graduate from a local school
in your home country?
4. What would you like to do at the school outside of the classroom?


F. General MBA

1. What part of the MBA program do you foresee struggling with most?
2. What do you see yourself doing for your summer internship after your first year?
3. What do you specifically have to bring to the classroom versus the many others who come
from a similar professional background as you?
4. What would you uniquely add to the class?


G. Personal Characteristics

1. Whos the leader you admire most? Why?
2. How would co-workers describe you?
3. Your favorite film?
4. Why do you think you are successful at what you do?


H. Career/Professional

1. What are your long- and short-term goals? Why?
2. What do you not want to do?
3. What do you think of (some current global issue: politics, economics, etc.)?
4. What is the main challenge your industry/company is facing?

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 STUDENT REFERENCE POINTS MBA INTERVIEW



I. General Leadership

1. What makes someone a good leader?
2. How did you motivate someone?

J. Leadership Stories

1. Time when you've been challenged as a leader and what you learned from it.
2. Give an example of leadership that you didn't discuss in your essays
3. Tell me about a specific situation in your professional career where you solved an important
problem.


K. Lessons Learned

1. Most valuable feedback you have received, who gave it to you and how did you respond?


L. Team Environment

1. Have you worked in a team environment? What were your contributions to the effort?
2. What would you do if a team member wasn't pulling his own weight?

M. Challenging Situation

1. Tell me about an instance where you had to negotiate something on the job. How did you
convince your colleagues and/or seniors?


N. Failure

1. What are your 3 biggest failures?
2. Tell me about a recent disappointment that you faced.


O. Ethical Decision

1. Talk about a time when your values were challenged and you had to consult your moral
compass.


P. Difficult People


1. Tell me about a time you faced conflict at work- either between you and another person or
between two co-workers and how did you deal with it.

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 STUDENT REFERENCE POINTS MBA INTERVIEW



Q. Closing the Interview

1. What questions do you have for me?
2. What did you hope we would ask you during this interview but didnt.

Good luck!

To schedule a personal session with ReachIvy, please submit a query on our website
(www.reachivy.com). All sessions are booked by prior appointment only.

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