INSEAD 2013 JAN - Calling All Applicants

Hi everyone,

I just got my first interview today. It took place in the bar of a 5 star hotel in Paris and lasted 2.5h!

Interviewer was from an HR background and created his own company doing HR consulting, coaching and Talent management.

Was a very relax discussion, he didn't try to make it difficult or make me feel uncomfortable, and we covered all the classics:
- walk through resume
- describe company/position, explain market where you work
- justify career choices
- what I learnt in each of my experiences
- why an MBA?
- why now? why not earlier?
- why not an EMBA later?
- why INSEAD compared to other European programs?
- what other programs I applied to?
- what to do after INSEAD? what to do if not accepted?
- any extra-curricular activities
- what I would bring to INSEAD alumni

Being from an HR background we spent a lot of time discussing about career evolution inside my company (who initiated promotions, how proactive initiatives by employees were handled) and also HR policy regarding management of headcounts, international mobility, ways future talents are identified, trained, coached and promoted.

I've asked a few questions about INSEAD and the experience he gained from his MBA.

Despite what INSEAD or others said, none of my interviewers actually matches my professional background (other one is in Insurance). Spoke with AN who explained to me it was quite challenging for her to find alumni accepting to run interviews in August in France as many people are on holidays.

She also said the Admission committee would take place first week of September, so we shouldn't expect any answer before this date.

Good luck to all those going through the interview process right now.